Ernie Merritt

Dear members, With great sadness, I have to let you know that we heard a short while ago that our dear friend, and long-time member, Ernie Merritt passed away this afternoon. Ernie was a great friend to St Chads and was never without a smile or a joke, nothing seemed to faze him and he bore the illness that returned since they moved away very bravely. It’s tragic that he fell ill as soon as they moved to be with their daughter and son-in-law in Norfolk and I am glad that we managed to visit him and June about 6 weeks ago when we had a very nice day with them. The family have advised that the funeral will be on 1st August at 1.30pm at the Norwich crematorium and that they would welcome as many friends from the club as part of a larger send-off as wish to attend. We have put a notice up in the clubhouse on which you can put your name if you would attend and indicate if you would prefer to go by coach (to be laid on by the club) or by your own transport (car). If your spouse/partner would also wish to go then please add their name also. The 1^st August is only 2 weeks away so it’s requested that you add your name(s) quickly or, if you cannot get to the club, call Brian Mackenzie a.s.a.p., latest by the end of this week if you can. There are two reasons for this, 1) it will help the family to gauge how large the catering needs to be for after the funeral and 2) if we get a coach and have spare seats then we may offer these to Ernie and June’s former church, All Saints. So please let us know a.s.a.p. if you wish to go. Please note that although the club will lay on the coach (if sufficient numbers wish to go), we would ask for a voluntary contribution of £10 per person to help cover the cost. The club will be sending a floral tribute to the funeral, we would suggest that anyone thinking of sending their own flowers please considers waiting until it clear if the family are happy with this or perhaps would prefer a donation to a charity instead. This a very sad day for us but far more so for June and their family so please give them a little time and space to come to terms with their loss. We will all have fond memories of Ernie and his cheeky smile, we have lost a true friend and a real gentleman in the truest sense of the word, a gentle man. Ernie, you were a lovely man, we will all miss you greatly but we are all the richer for having known you. Rest in peace.