Jo has very kindly requested that we share the transcript of Graham’s funeral service as so many were unable to attend. Included is a link to the reflection music, with accompanying photos, played at the service.
Celebration
Of Life
Graham David Walker
17th July 1953 – 8th January 2021
North Hertfordshire Crematorium
Holwell
Tuesday 19th January 2021
4.00pm
In Loving Memory of
Graham Walker
Entrance
Music: Jerusalem, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir
Words of Welcome
Celebrant: Graham Ellis
Eulogy
Graham Ellis
Tributes from Family and Friends
Read by Brian Burke
Reflection
Music: The Power of Love, Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Time to Give Thanks
Graham Ellis
Farewell
Graham Ellis
Closing Words
Music: Angel, Robbie Williams
Welcome
Good afternoon, on behalf of Grahams family, I offer you a warm welcome and thank you for coming together today. My name is Graham Ellis and it is my honour to be here with you today as we gather to celebrate the life of a very special man Graham Walker.
I know that today is a sad day but I hope that by the end of our time together you’ll feel glad to have been part of it. That you will have felt that it’s been a special time for each of you in your own way, to say goodbye to a man who touched so many of your lives.
Whatever cares the world has for you outside of this room, leave them there and take this time to remember and to celebrate Graham’s life and to grieve his loss. Your grief is valid, so feel free to remain silent, cry or laugh as you need to.
When someone we love dies nothing can prevent the sorrow and sadness that we feel.
Grief, unfortunately, is an inevitable part of life.
When we fall in love, we invite the possibility of grief
When we have children, we invite the possibility of grief.
When we simply love, we invite in the possibility of grief.
Grief is the price we pay for love and the only way to avoid grief is to avoid love.
Graham is no longer with us, and it’s natural that we should be sad because in a practical sense, he is no longer a part of our daily lives.
But the joy, the reassurance and the gratitude of having had him in your lives will never be lost.
So today is not just about saying a sad goodbye, it is a day to give thanks for his life so that he will continue to live on in your thoughts and in your hearts forever.
Eulogy
Graham David Walker was born on Friday 17th July 1953 in Cambridge to his parents Fred and Pat. He was the middle brother of three, Michael the eldest and Alan the youngest.
Graham and his brothers enjoyed a loving and a happy home in Newham, Cambridgeshire where they grew up, and the family were all very close. Graham was always pointing out the house and the places he grew up on regular trips to Cambridge.
When Graham was five years old he was approached by a man in the park. He offered the young Graham some sweets in return for him pulling his trousers down…. Graham thought this a bargain and was happy to oblige.. imagine his mums face when he went home and relayed the story… the Police were promptly called who came round to chat to Graham.
They thought he was such a bright little spark that they asked his parents if they could use him as bait to catch this horrible pervert. The sting was set up and the man was jumped on and arrested by the Police just as Graham was about to lay hands on his sweets. The WPC led Graham away who was really upset because he had missed out on getting his sweets. He was so upset that the nice WPC stopped at a shop and bought him a big box of fruit pastils, the kind you only ever got at Christmas. Young Graham was so impressed with this act of kindness that he attributes that act, and not the sting, as the reason he later joined the Police Force.
He was a very bright lad, so much so that at the tender age of just seven he travelled alone from Cambridge to Leeds on the train to visit his Uncle and Aunt. His parents told him to get off the train when he saw Uncle Tommy and Aunty Cath on the platform, which he did.
He passed his eleven plus exam and managed to get into Cambridge High School for Boys which was known as The County. Alan did tell me that the family have no idea how Graham passed his 11 + and even now suspect that he maybe cheated!
He had a great time at ‘The County’ though Alan told me that his brother enjoyed being there far more than the school did! It was a very posh school who graded all the boys depending on how good they were at Latin and to give you a better idea of just how posh it was one of the lessons was ‘Field Gun Practice’.
Graham was very mischievous, in fact ‘shocking’ was the word that Alan used. The school ran a Saturday morning detention which Graham was booked in to every week. His parents were blissfully unaware though as he pretended to go to swimming club every Saturday and even thought to make the towel wet before returning home.
By far, the greatest thing that Graham got from ‘The County’ was that they introduced him to Rugby which went on to be a massive part of his life, not always for the good though….
He was so naughty at school that Alan was not even invited to apply.
Graham left school in 1969 aged 16 and immediately enrolled in the Herts Police Cadets. The night before he started his course he was down the Robin Hood pub with friends, got a bit drink and ended up crashing his Motorbike on the way home so in his cadet picture he’s the one a white bandage around his head instead of a helmet! He graduated and became a regular and was based at Letchworth. The reason he joined the Hertfordshire Force was because he didn’t want to have to nick his mates in Cambridge!
In 1972 Tragedy struck when he suffered a brain haemorrhage as a result of a Rugby injury. There were doubts as to whether he would live and if he did whether he would ever walk again. He (unwittingly) signed the discharge papers with the Police Force and spent a year in hospital and then spent a further two years learning to walk and talk again.
Graham being Graham, he made a full recovery and re-joined Hertfordshire Police as a regular but had to start from scratch.
Despite being advised never to play rugby again Graham returned to the game he loved and in 1978 he sustained another very serious injury to his neck. He did not realise how serious it was at the time but later that day, while on duty and apprehending a criminal (Who had spat on his car and was being shown how to clean it with his face) he felt a severe pain in his neck and was to soon find out that he had actually broken it and was incredibly close to being paralysed. He spent a year in a full cast from his bottom lip to his shoulders and once again pulled through, having used up 2 of his 9 lives.
He went back to the force and was soon promoted to CID; he was then seconded to the Regional Crime Squad and was also an authorised fire arms Officer and was part of the protection detail protecting The Queen Mother.
He went on to become an Acting Detective Inspector in the Regional Crime Squad at Finchley office, these were his most happiest days, playing true cops and robbers, Sweeney style. He was involved in some high-profile investigations and managed to get to Barbados undercover, following a drug ring. His greatest achievement from that two-week deployment…. Learning to water ski….
On his return to Hertfordshire, he was promoted formally to Inspector and posted to Hatfield where he reconnected with Jo.
Graham and Jo got together properly in the late 1990’s and we will be hearing from Jo a little later but for now, they were married on 17th April 2004 in Las Vegas and in marrying Jo, Graham gained a son in Michael who he went on to adopt and in marrying Graham, Jo gained extra family too in the form of Graham’s two boys Paul and David.
We are going to hear everything about Graham as a Dad shortly when we hear from Michal and Paul. As well as a Dad, Graham was Grandad Graham to Stanley and Arthur. Graham was a fantastic Grandad and was totally besotted with the boys.
Going back to Grahams, incredible career. From Detective Inspector for Hertfordshire, he was promoted yet again this time to Chief Inspector, and posted to Scientific Services, based in Welwyn Garden City. He had no idea about the world of forensics and felt like he had landed on Mars. Never one to not seize an opportunity Graham set about changing the world of forensics!
He quickly decided that the working conditions were unacceptable and sought building advice from his friend, Dave Murray, where they re-designed the building on the back of a fag packet.
He got the current building condemned, much to the dismay of the Chief and the police authority! and then secured £3M to fund a brand-new building that was named The David Sharpe Building in honour of one of the previous Chief Constable who had tragically passed away. The building still stands today although Grahams office that he designed is now three offices!
Graham also had responsibility for crime scene investigation and management and it was on 17th October 2000 where he was thrown into the management of the Hatfield rail crash which killed four people and injured over seventy. Graham led the body recovery and identification as the Senior Identification Manager.
Just 18 months later a high-speed train de railed at Potters Bar killing seven and injuring seventy-six. Of the seven killed five were from other countries. The incident attracted National and international coverage, and was managed at cabinet office level. Once again Graham and his team were called in to do what they did best and recovered and identified the victims.
In 2002 Graham left Hertfordshire on transfer to the Child Murder investigation Team in the Met. He dealt with some horrific cases in the short time he was on the unit, including a preacher from Africa who was stealing and selling babies, passing them off as miracles…
Then on 26th December 2004 a Tsunami, which turned out to be the deadliest disaster in modern history killed nearly 230,000 people. Graham was the man chosen to lead Britain’s recovery team and he arrived a week later to a scene he described as ‘beyond horrific’.
And it wasn't just the scale of the job, the conditions in which Graham’s team had to work included live wires, rabid dogs and temperatures of 50C. By the end of the first day, 60 of his team members were wounded in various ways, 50 had vertigo, 45 were suffering headaches and one person had sustained a head injury.
8,000 Britain’s were originally reported missing, in the end 141 were known to have died. Graham said he was never daunted by the scale of the task. He was quoted as saying "I believed all the way through that we would be able to say, 'If your loved one was here then we will find them'.
Graham and his team worked for over a year recovering the British bodies and bringing them home to their families.
Graham was the inventor and developer of Disaster Victim Identification or DVI which is now a process adopted by Police Forces worldwide.
Graham became known as The Master of Disaster and is the Best in the World at it. He flew back from Thailand at the end of his time there and was on the steps of the plane when he was met by the Assistant Commissionaire who wanted to shake him by the hand and promote him there and them to Detective Super Intendant.
In July 2007 Jo was with Graham at a hospital appointment where he was having a consultation about his ancles. The consultant had reviewed his X-rays and had asked how on earth Graham had walked in as there was nothing holding his ankles together. At that point Grahams phone went to tell him about the London bombings known as 7/7. Graham left the hospital and Jo barely saw him for the next two weeks because, sadly, his Internationally renowned services were yet needed again. Polly (May be at funeral) his sidekick and partner in crime, saw firsthand the pain that he was in, yet he still managed to get up and down that underground to ensure that the victims were treated with dignity and respect and that the families had their loved ones returned.
Graham retired from the force in 2008 but his legacy of DVI lives on with teams all over the UK and all over the world.
So, what made Graham happy? Well, his family are clearly very much at the top of that list and I think his incredible career is also up there too.
He loved rugby and had done so since he was a boy. He used to play at School and then later for Shelford Rugby Club and when he moved to Letchworth he joined Letchworth Rugby Club. Bearing in mind those horrendous injuries he had sustained, in 1978 he was told never to play again and he didn’t… for seven years.
He was Captain of Letchworth’s 1st and 2nd teams. In 1991 he joined the committee at Letchworth Rugby Club, in 1995 he coached a County team which he got all the way to the finals at Twickenham, twice.
He became chairman of club which he enjoyed for seven years alongside club president and good friend Brian Burk, during which time the club had a very fruitful upturn due to Graham taking out two Saracens players for a drink, getting them drunk and convincing them to join the lower ranks of Letchworth. The Pinnacle was in 2014 when he was made President of Hertfordshire Rugby where he served for two years. He recently re - energized the club with the “25 club” somehow managing to get gentlemen to part with £25 each money to go towards improving the game…. He was so enthused by the response and was looking forward to many more 25 club outings.
Eventually, Graham turned to, what he called ‘the dark side’….. or Golf! He joined Letchworth Golf Club and loved it, especially all those golfing trips away with the boys which I believe was called ‘The Tight Club’. I am sure that Paul Hughes will be letting us all know about the stories and Graham’s golfing prowess shortly when I hand over to Brian.
Graham loved the sunshine and the warmth of the sun. I gather he only had to look at it to get a tan, much to Jo’s annoyance.
He loved all those trips to Spain with family and friends to visit Jo’s parents, they also enjoyed trips to Portugal and Jo even got him out to Barbados a year or so ago.
He enjoyed reading, especially on holidays and especially about rugby or players autobiographies. He had a photographic memory so would regularly conjure up a fact from a book he had read years before.
He was not a big one for TV, that is, of course, unless the Rugby was on.
He really enjoyed supporting charity events, he was a fantastic public speaker and would always be asked to run charity auctions or do some after dinner speaking and he was part of ‘Scrum Dine with me’ which is a charity that supports retired rugby players.
Finally, he loved dogs, their current dogs are the labs Ted and Dave who Graham was very close to and then there was James who has now sadly passed away who Jo told me Graham was very fond of and who was old, lumpy and smelly, a bit like Graham.
I spent some time recently with Graham’s family and I asked them how they thought he would like to have been remembered. Inspirational, Fun Loving and Go Getting were the phrases I got back and a Leader of Men.
I also asked them what they would miss most about him. Jo told me that she and Graham were an incredible team together. He was her Anchor and her voice of reason and she is not sure who she is without him.
Alan told me he would miss his brothers incredible smile and Paul said he would miss his rock and all that amazing advice.
Jo would like to take this opportunity to thank Brian Burke in advance of his readings shortly and she would like to thank all of their friends, especially Sharon, Kay, Pip and Hughesy for all their support now and over the years. Jo has been so overwhelmed by the support she has received from so many people..
Graham was only 67 when he so sadly passed away and he will be so missed by his family and his friends. The best way to cherish his memory is to remember everything that was good in his life.
He had met the love of his life in Jo and they had enjoyed over 20, incredible years together. He loved his family and was clearly, very much-loved back in return and he had enjoyed such an incredible and distinguished career and had made the difference to so many people’s lives.
As we know, he had endured several serious injuries, has ancles had caused him to lose his mobility and eight years ago he was diagnosed with cancer but Graham just took it on and was a fighter.
He had endured two stem cell transplants and a tracheotomy and the last year did see him deteriorate. He never complained, he had no regrets he battled on till the end with his love for life and incredible attitude.
He spent the last 4 weeks of his life in Hospital and thankfully, Jo was allowed to be with him towards the end and she spent 3 days and nights by his side and he passed away so peacefully, in her arms. He is now at peace and re united with these he lost along the way like his parents, Jo’s Dad and also the dogs.
Tributes from Family and friends
Jo, Michal Paul and Grahams friend Paul have all written some lovely tributes to Graham and I would like to invite Grahams friend Brian Burke up to the lectern who is going to read them on their behalf.
Firstly, may I just say how honored I am to be able to do this for my good friend Graham ... the Boss ....and secondly I’d like to say to Jo and all the family that there has been an almighty outpouring of love and condolences from so many over the past ten days it has been difficult to keep up.
So now as he would say in Committee let’s get on with it!
About fourteen years ago we had an almighty party at the club to celebrate my fiftieth and Graham shepherded me all day to make sure I turned up at the right time and also in a semi sober state as we had been down at a match in St Albans all afternoon. Almost immediately after we had arrived and my welcome greeting from a beautiful Marilyn look alike Gray produced the big red book and entered into an hour long ..this is your life ... with every cringeworthy moment included from a stellar cast .... what a weekend!
Then at my marriage just two years ago he performed a mighty miming act with the two Welsh boys Richie and Johnny which brought the house down .
Whatever this multi-faceted man did he did well and I am proud to say that having known him over forty years and worked closely with him at the club we never had a harsh word or falling out ... a mighty mighty fellow Mr. Walker...to say how much I will miss him as you all will ....well words cannot describe it but I can tell you now that whenever I need advice in the future I will still be asking him.... and the answer will be in the wind!
So, now this afternoon I will do my best to articulate the tributes to him by those who loved him the most .... it is a real This is your life .... Come on down GW!
The first is from the love of his life Jo who has these beautiful words to say .....
I first met Graham in 1990, I was a young police officer working at Hatfield. I think Graham saw early potential in me as he tried to talk me into attending his public order training, explaining that I would have bricks thrown at me and be set on fire. I politely declined but felt an instant shine to this slightly crazy man.
Our paths didn’t cross again until 1999 when he returned to Hatfield as my shift Inspector. He completely abused his position of authority, summonsing me to his office only to steal a secret kiss…. My shift thought I was about to be sacked the number of times I was called to his office! He definitely wouldn’t get away with that now…
I fell in love with Graham like everyone else pretty much on first sight. As serving police officers we had a lot in common and we worked together on some of the most traumatic and challenging investigations.
Graham was my best mate, my soul mate, the Arthur to my Martha, and Harold to my Hilda. he turned my life around. We were together 20 years and I can honestly say that during that time I think we had two notable arguments. Our relationship was something few people have the privilege to experience, and many can only dream of. We were a team, when I fell down Graham picked me up, and when graham fell down I did the same. I have never felt as loved as I did by graham, we were absolutely made for each other.
Not only was he an incredible husband, he was an incredible dad and grandad. He took Michael under his wing as his own right from the get go. He was immediately tested when a 4-year-old Michael welcomed him on our first night together with projectile vomiting. Graham barely bat an eyelid and very quickly had the situation under control, at this point I knew he was a keeper…
We married in Vegas surrounded by family and friends (As they would not let us go without them) and had the most incredible time. We got in the wrong limo, left Michael on the steps of Caesars Palace, but apart from that…….
I can honestly say that there has never been a dull moment during our 16-year marriage.. We have shared some incredible holidays with family and friends, whilst Graham continued to find himself in the middle of mass disaster and mayhem on a regular basis, and throw Letchworth Rugby Club in on a Saturday and anything could happen…. And often it did….. the times I have had a call to say, “it’s all gone tits up Jo” or “It’s all going horribly right” after a club rendition of Angels by the boys on the bus.
I remember him being negotiator on call, and we were at the club, he was dressed as Elvis (As you do) and got a call that someone was barricaded in and threatening to kill themselves. I remember how annoyed he was that he had to leave the party…… He did make it back after a short time having completely defused the situation purely by his presence and outfit!
When Graham was diagnosed with cancer I was devastated, Graham took it all in his stride and announced right from the start that he would not fall into the statistic of 50% not making it through the first two years. He endured countless rounds of grueling treatment to buy himself more time with me and his family. There was never a question of giving in or giving up, he fought it like a lion, and he kicked its arse for some time.
When I retired from the police, we finally were in a position to enjoy the nicer things in life and we remodeled the house and garden, he got to have a summer of it and he absolutely loved his home and what we had crested together, which was basically another party space for him to share with those that he loved.
Grahams health deteriorated rapidly this year, and he still retained his positivity, I never heard him complain or feel sorry for himself, his only wish was to have more time with me, the grandchildren, and future grandchildren. He had a zest for life and wanted to go on. Unfortunately, the illness finally caught up with him and he died in my arms. He was peaceful and finally pain free. I spent those final few days at his bedside and when I ran out of things to say to him I sang the power of love to him. I am sure he will not forgive me for that because he had no choice but to listen…..
Graham, I loved you more than anyone could ever love you, I protected you like a lioness, I nursed you during the bad times, and I laughed with you through the many more good times. The outpouring of love for you has been overwhelming, but not unexpected as I have had the privilege and honour to be your wife, everyone else has just got snippets of the magnificent human being that you were.
I hope you have found Norm, and your loyal steed James, and that you are watching us idiots trying to pull this together. The tribute being planned for your birthday will be the time to truly celebrate your life and I know that you will be there on the sideline with a pint.
I will Love you forever, your Honeypie xx
The second is from Jos’ son Michael for whom Graham became a real Dad and a wise counsellor
Dad
There aren’t enough words that I can say to sum up just how much of a living legend and an inspiration you were to me and so many other people. I’m going to miss your calm outlook on the world, how you always knew exactly what to say and do, all of your amazing stories from a lifetime of getting up to your usual antics and I’ll even miss all of your terrible dad jokes, even the most cringey ones that we had to laugh at because of how bad they were (and they were always bad, like horrific).
You were my greatest teacher in life, I can’t thank you enough for raising me and having such a large role in shaping me into who I am today.
I would also like to say how touching it has been to hear so many stories and memories from so many people who knew you. It shows how many lives you have touched, people from so many different walks of life: Colleagues who have worked with you, the boys from the rugby life that you lived and breathed and even people who got to know you just from a pint at the pub.
So many people have amazing stories to tell about you and it always brings a smile to my face to know how highly people thought of you.
I can’t tell you how many people are going to miss you, I’m hoping you can give us the same strength now that you had for such a long time, because things are going to be so different without you.
Until we meet again, I love you Dad
Rest in peace
The third is from Paul Graham’s son from his first marriage to Sue who has followed Dad into the world of rugby management and is chairman of Sheffield Tigers
Graham Walker, Boss, My Dad.
Growing up with Dad it became apparent from an early age that I would need to share him with the many that knew and loved him. Walking through Hitchin from Barclays to Woolworths, some 15 shops could take hours due to the amount of times we were stopped with the sounds of “Ello Gray!”
My 8-year-old self would say “Dad how long will we be”? 26 minutes and 42 seconds was usually the reply. Little did I know that moving into my teens this popularity would A bring an extended family in the form of Letchworth Rugby club.
The “Family” BBQ would be 30 rugby players in the garden drinking, which is when the mischief would begin. Hey Paul what toys you got? All teenagers have good toys. I will never forget the look on his face when he walked out to see Brian Burke with a football on his head and blood pouring down his legs with the Irish twang “missed you again fecker” as they were reloading the air riffle which was quickly confiscated! He said to me you should know better just as 3 burley rugby players wheeled past the bottom of the garden on my motor cross bike shouting High ho silver, yee Ha! Dad looked, sighed and said, I give up, get me a cigar son!
As a teenager I somewhat enjoyed life, Dad was always there when needed and always maintained that I would be fine in life when I was ready.
Dads work ethic never wavered, either in the Police work or the rugby club he put his all into everything. People look from the outside and think what a bloke, look at what he has done or achieved but those close know that it was hard work that got him there! All his achievements with his national and international jobs in the police and his rugby accolades with Letchworth and the County came from hard work and dedication. He liked to play hard but he worked hard to make the life that he so enjoyed.
We both moved onto new chapters in our lives, me to Sheffield and Dad not so far to Stevenage, then Guilden Morden. Jo and Michael must have had a shock when I landed through the door. I have never seen Dad so happy and I truly believe that Jo and him were meant to be. Their life, their relationship, they had it all in my eyes. True love, Dad was complete with Jo, MJ and their dogs.
Even though I was in Sheffield, Dad was ever present in everything I did, his love and advice always there. I used to sit at the bar in the rugby club or the local pub and tell stories about him sometimes to a look of disbelief, at how one could achieve so much, until he arrived himself and recited the stories, pint of IPA in hand and with a crowd round him hanging onto his every word.
He had such a wonderful way of looking at the world. Business, women, rugby no matter what, he always seemed to have the answer, a gift he was blessed with. Always reading a situation with the right words at the right time. The best bit of advice he has ever given to me was my wife, Louise. After a few minutes of meeting, she scurried off nervously to the toilet, he turned to me and said to me, if you mess this one up mate, we are finished. She is the one. Yet again had the ability to read me and a situation perfectly within seconds.
I married Lou, as warned, with Dad as my best man. Then along came Stanley and Arthur. For all the things he has achieved I believed those boys to be his proudest. If you ever saw him with the boys it was a joy and a pure love. He was kind, soft, fun, and somewhat different with them. A hero to them just as much as he was to me. They love him just as much as he loved them. Some things never change though and I remember seeing Louise with a panicked look on her face and I spot a 5- and 7-year-old laughing uncontrollably clinging to the back of his beloved moon raker golf buggy doing about 30mph down Church Street with Dad and one of his favourite sayings “What could possibly go wrong”.
Lou has been our rock throughout this time supporting me, our boys and Jo. She visited Dad the day before he passed. I know that the words “my favourite” will stay close to her forever. He was always glad we had her to look after ‘his boys’. He always credited her with the life we have “up T North” and he loved her very much.
So, Dad here we are, I hope I make you proud with the Northern branch of Walkers, I have worked hard to make this life for myself which was only possible with your influence and guidance. I will strive to be the best man I can be.
I know you loved us very much and we love you. There is a huge heart shaped hole in our lives. You will be up there with a pint of IPA and a cigar still guiding me. The words - shall we have a very last one son? Dad, you have finally found the very last one.
Rest easy, we love you Dad.
A poem for Grandad Graham
Grandad,
We know you can no longer stay with us,
you fought long and hard to be with us.
We know you now watch over and protect us.
Although we cannot hear your voice or see your smiling face,
We know deep down in our hearts that you have not left us.
Love your boys - Stan and Arthur.
The fourth is from his best mate Paul Hughes who Graham enticed back from senior rugby and who with myself became part of the gang of three who helped to transform the clubs fortunes some twenty years ago .... hopefully this one will give you a laugh and the flavor of a day out with the Boss
Tribute from Paul Hughes
I’m delighted to say a few words for my best mate Graham ... the Boss ...to all who knew him
So many stories. Most of them can’t be told ! because what goes on tour stays on tour ! anyway...we would be here all night recounting them all and that is what the planned day of celebration will be for this Summer
So I am just going to regale you with one which involves myself , my pal Woody and Graham (coach of Hertfordshire at the time ) when we played for the regional crime squad of whom Graham was the captain against the Flying squad down at Finchley in a mud bath in London.
Like all good inter copper games in those days it was mid-week so they would not lose any leisure time in playing and Graham needed a few ringers from his county side .....hence ourselves ....as let’s face it both teams were pretty crap !
So the game kicked off and Woody caught it beat two and to passed to me and I dotted down under the post easy Peasy.
With the following kick-off I caught it beat three passed to Woody and another seven pointer was added to the score board. At this stage neither us noticed the looks that some of the Flying squad Hardman were giving us. However Graham was well aware and came over and behind his hand whispered “lads lay off a bit and stop running and just pass to one of our guys when you get the ball. It will even it up “
So following the next kick-off having caught the ball again I passed it to our police inside centre. I’m not sure if he actually took the ball but went straight into his opposite number and before we knew it, 28 old bill were beating the living Bejesus out of each other leaving myself and Woody gazing in amazement and very scared or words to that affect !!! .....
This was certainly a different brand of rugby from county rugby
However the game was only an Hor d’oeuvre for what was to come .... starting with about 10 pints in the clubhouse and songs and much jollification between the teams , the blue light Taxis picked us up for a rendezvous down in Piccadilly where the heavy mob were dealing with all the real villains.
Ensconced in the Rozzers arms myself and Woody were making some headway with undercover female agents when a bunch of real hard faced Sweeney characters with their noses spread across their faces came in and after a few minutes were convinced that we are undercover newspaper reporters. Again myself and woody were very scared or words to that affect!!!
Fearing an absolute pasting we said ,,,,no honest we are rugby players with Graham Walker..... who at the time was right across the bar
so they dragged us across aforesaid bar and said to BOSS “do you know either these two?” ....of course in true BOSS fashion he said “never seen them before in my life! “
Luckily his broad grin caused them to lay off and more blue light taxis were called to whisk us off to Kings Cross for the last train to the provinces.
Of course when you have 20 pints floating about inside you there’s only one way to travel and that is first class.
By this time myself and Woody were more or less speechless and unable to say anything when the ticket inspector asked us for our tickets. Bright as a button boss immediately produced his warrant card ....” don’t worry these two are my prisoners and I’m taking them to Stevenage Nick to spend the night ! “Job done !
At the end of the line the trusty gold BMW was ready to auto pilot us home after a fantastic day out..... but only one of many.
So that’s my little tale But we could fill a book with them and maybe we will at some stage.
In the meantime it just remains for me to say goodbye BOSS you’re a fantastic character and friend and will be missed by the whole of the rugby community and everyone else who knew you.
To Jo Michael, Paul and the family we extend all our sympathies but know Graham is looking down and saying come on Uzzi get on with it and get some beer because one more won’t hurt there’s always time for a very last one !
So as requested Boss we will keep an eye out for your lot ,so you can leave us now with nothing to worry about. I will miss having our cheeky sundowners beers , I will miss talking rubbish about absolutely everything , I will miss trying to work out your golf scores ,but most of all I will miss my mate! Love Uzzi
Paul and Pip extend our sympathy.
Lastly I would like to read the wee poem I wrote which hopefully ties in all the vast areas of Graham’s life ......
Brian’s Poem
Boss
He would not go gentle into that good night
Because he is Boss and he will fight
While breath is left there is no doubt
He’ll still tell us all it will all pan out
He will not go gentle at the end of day
For in his twenties when told he couldn’t play
The game he loved he didn’t let NO have dominion
Just went ahead and got a second opinion
Skippered both seconds and then first teams
And led legends to success on that field of dreams
And then reshaped the club as millennium loomed
Never listened to naysayers or voices of doom
No he’ll not go gentle as evening falls
Not a man with his guts ... his charisma, his balls
He sorted out crises from Rail crash to Tsunami
And still had time to head the County & black & amber army
And enjoy the Craic and cigar and beer
With his legion of mates .....
We’re all a broad church here
He will not go gentle out of this life
For the love of his family and Jo his wife
They were his all and for they
Know if love could save
he would be here today
No he’ll not go gently from this hospital room
Till he tells us all you may rage but let there be no gloom ....
I loved my life I fought my fight
Time to pick up my torch that burned so bright
And do not feel that dark despair
For at Legends Lane I am still in the air
I am still in your thoughts I am still in your hearts
From My wife, friends and family death cannot part
For I am the Boss, be that wrong or right
And no way will I go quiet into that good night !
BB - 12/1/21
So, goodnight sweet Prince and may flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest...
Thank you
Reflection Music
Thank you so much for that Brian. We are now going to listen to a beautiful song which is ‘The Power of Love’ by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Jo has chosen this because it was very much ‘their song’ and she even sang it to her him in Hospital. While we listen, we are also going to be able to look at some lovely photos from Grahams life so please take this time to watch, listen and to think about Graham in your own way.
The photos with reflection music can be viewed here … https://youtu.be/1SyESQs5sdY
Prayer
We will now say the Lord’s Prayer, please feel free to join in if you would like to.
Our father, who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy name
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done
On earth, as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from Evil
For thine is the Kingdom, The power and the Glory
For ever and ever, Amen
Our Time to Give Thanks
For all that Graham was. We give thanks
For the memories we treasure today. We give thanks.
For all that he was as a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a Grandfather, an incredible Policeman and a friend. We give thanks.
For all that was good in his life, his love for Jo and the family and for his job and of course, Rugby. We give thanks
We remember all who mourn his passing, especially for his family circle and his friends.
May they know strength in times of darkness and hope in times of despair.
As we remember Graham today, we remember all whom we love and see no longer, but most of all we give thanks that he was part of our lives and a part of us.
Commendation and Farewell
Please be upstanding
Let us commend Graham onwards in the love of his family and friends.
Into the freedom of wind and sunshine, we let you go.
Into the dance of the stars and planets, Graham, we let you go.
Into the wind’s breath, we let you go.
We love you. We miss you. We want you to be free and happy.
Go softly. Go onwards on your journey. we let you go.
Graham, you have completed your journey here on earth. Your life we honour, your departure we reluctantly accept. Your memory we cherish forever.
We wish you well as we send you on this next stage of your journey with our blessing, love and thanks.
We grieve at your passing and we stand here, together, honouring your life. And we give thanks for having had the privilege of sharing it with you.
Rest now at the end of your days, your work is done.
Rest in the hearts and minds of all who knew you.
May Jo, Paul, David, Michael and the rest of your family and friends find comfort in the memories of your life and the times you spent together.
May they find support and love both from one another and from their friends in the days, weeks and months to come.
And may they find strength in their hearts Graham, because of your unending and enduring love for them. Rest in Peace Graham.
Closing Words
Please be seated.
Well, that brings us towards the end of our service and as I said at the start, I hope that you feel glad to have been a part of it. On behalf of the Jo, I would like to thank you once again for coming together today.
Sadly, the situation we are all still in means that we are unable to get together after the service as we normally would but Jo and the family have arranged memorial for Graham on 17th July which would have been his birthday and it will be a Charity Rugby day, hosted by Letchworth Rugby Club where you will all have the opportunity to once again celebrate Grahams life but this time you’ll be able to raise several glass in his honour, raise some money for charity and where you’ll all get the chance to share your own stories and memories of Graham.
When you leave here today, leave with peace in your hearts and the contentment that you came to honour and to say farewell to such a special and very much-loved gentleman.
It has been an honour for me to have been chosen to deliver todays service and it has been a privilege to have got to have known Graham and his family in a small way.
As you entered the chapel today, we heard Jerusalem performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, chosen, not only because it’s beautiful of course because of it’s link to Grahams beloved Rugby.
This final piece of music has been chosen by Jo, not only was it their first dance at their wedding but also because it has been so drunkenly sung at so many rugby events. Thank you.
