Well-liked Great Thurlow man to be remembered at memorial

The daughter of a popular, late resident of Great Thurlow is returning to the village where he lived for more than 40 years to hold a memorial tribute to him.

Zeta Bishop will hold the tribute at Thurlow Village Hall at 10.30am on June 30 in memorium to her dad, Aubrey Varnham, who died on March 20, the day of his 92nd birthday.

Mr Varnham had been living with Zeta, his only child whom he raised alone from the age of four, at her home in Bembridge, Isle of Wight, for the last six months of his life.

He had moved there from School Terrace, where he had lived since moving from Pinner, Middlesex, more than 40 year earlier.

Mr Varnham’s funeral took place on the Isle of Wight on April 20, but Zeta wanted to give the many people that knew him in his home village, and the surrounding area the chance to pay their final respects to him and to meet them herself.

“He had his funeral down here but all his friends missed it,” she said.

“He was really lovely and he made friends all over the place. He was a very popular man.

“On Facebook I’ve had so many different messages, from people in supermarkets and everything, saying ‘I was so sad to hear about your dad, he was so lovely to everybody’.”

If anyone wants to confirm with Zeta that they would like to attend the tribute to her dad, who had four grandchildren, eight great grandchildrenand two great-great grandchildren, they can call her on 01983 875739.