SERVICES
Together
Contacts
(Photo by Norman Spencer, edited by Andrew Smith)
It was with sadness that we learnt that Arthur had died in his sleep early on the morning of Thursday April 21st.
A Memorial Service for Arthur Jackson (February 1st 1912 - April 21st 2011) was held at the Uniting Church, Whaley Bridge on Thursday May 12th with tributes by those who had known him best in the many, and varied, aspects of his life.
MEMORIAL SERVICE TRIBUTES BY -
Rev Michael Peat (Minister of Whaley Bridge Uniting Church)
John Brogden (Whaley Bridge Football Club)
Nye Rowlands (Written works)
Derek Winfield (Church life)
ON THURSDAY MAY 21ST 2011
Rev MICHAEL PEAT introduced Arthur Jackson -
"A man who knew love when he saw it"
In one of his reflections, Arthur recalls that (and I quote):
"During my life I have written thousands of letters to many people in many places. I have been amazed so many times when I am told that they have retained my letters of so long ago."
It seems to me particularly appropriate that the scripture readings which we will now hear both come from letters: Letters written by the Apostle Paul to budding Christian churches in Rome and Corinth. Letters which sometimes focus on encouraging these people, and sometimes set out to challenge their ways. But always letters intended to serve people in their particular needs. Letters written by someone who cared, written to give care to others who needed it - Letters we still cherish in church today.
Arthur was a shining example of someone who kept up this Christian tradition of writing caring letters to others in need. Perhaps a good number of you here today have received from Arthur a letter consoling you in times of loss, encouraging you in times of stress, or advising you when you faced a problem. Someone close to Arthur recently described him to me as a man who had "an understanding of human foibles and weaknesses which protected him against making harsh condemnations, a love of people and interacting with them which helped him cope with all sorts of worries and obsessions which few saw!" These words could have described St. Paul, writing all those hundreds of years ago!
So, before we hear memories of Arthur's full, varied and generous life, we are going to hear some words from that master of thoughtful letter-writing. We will hear words of lasting encouragement from Paul's letter to the Christian community in Rome, and then his famous account of love written to the Christians in Corinth which, for all their popularity, are deeply challenging.
Readings: Romans 8: 35 - 39 (Authorised Version)
Corinthians 13: 1 - 13 (New Testament Bible)
Paul's teaching about what love is really about has been brought to life for us at times in the lives of martyred saints whose stories are recorded in history books. And it has been shown quietly but vividly to us in the lives of the saints who have walked our streets and shared our lives.
Paul tell us that we can do all manner of things, make a great show of our gifts in public, but without love they count for nothing: "If I speak with the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging symbol" (or as we might say today, its all just hot air!) Arthur led an active life - his various skills and commitment to community life was clear for all to see, and you will hear ample testimony to them in the tributes to come.
But there was a humility in Arthur which suggests he knew instinctively that these things were empty without love. One of the places where this comes across is a reflection printed in his book "Arthur Jackson Remembers More" - a reflection called simply "What do we value most?" In it, Arthur notes how often we hear stories in the press about priceless jewels stolen, or priceless paintings sold at auction. But what really are "priceless things," Arthur asks. Here is his answer, as good an insight into what really matters as any preacher could ever find:
"What had I of such value? I am afraid nothing on the scale I have written of. I have a possession of great to me; it stands by my bed, very small, black in colour, rather battered and minus ariel. It is a Grundig radio. How many times it has lulled me to sleep, been a welcome voice in the long night hours and, at 7.50am, provided the daily 'Thought for the day' given by bishops, Ministers, layman and people of different faiths. Many times, I have been encouraged by them to face another lonely day in good heart. From this friend I have heard of triumphs and disasters; of governments toppled; of prominent men with feet of clay: all at the turn of a switch. It gives me 'Desert Island Discs', one of my favourite programmes. I have heard many people interviewed: vain people, snobbish people, self important people - I have no use for them.
"Another treasured possession is my dog-eared dictionary. I see it was given to me by my wife on my 59th birthday, knowing as she did my love of writing and my addiction to crosswords.
"I also have a book that is over 160 years old. It was found by my grandfather in 1843 on a grave in Taxal Church Yard. In it is the complete rhyme in words and pictures of 'The Queen of Heart' and tells of how the knave was proved to have stolen the tarts. This book must have been read by countless children, among them all his grandchildren. He was very proud of it and Grandmother would fetch it out for us; we read it in turn, one of us watching for him returning from the Taxal Moors.
"So I could go on. We all have our treasures. We all have our treasures and intimate memories of our own families - precious memories indeed.
"I have yet another precious gift which has been shown to me during latter days; the concern and help of my neighbours, my friendship with many people. What need have I of precious stones?"
So today we give thanks for the life of Arthur Jackson - a man who knew love when he saw it, who knew how to give love, and knew how graciously to receive love from others.
by JOHN BROGDEN
As a junior Arthur would develop his footballing skills on the playground and the local pitches at Kettleshulme (The Hot Bed of Football).
In the early 1900's names like Jackson, Fidler Foster were all the rage, potential good un's.
At the age of 18 Arthur progressed into senior football signing for Horwich End in the New Mills and District League. His team mates then were Oldham, Derbyshire, Fidler, Beddall, Westby, Cooper, Butterworth and so on.
The changing rooms were in the old band room on Chapel Road and the
ground was, as it is now, at Horwich Park .Arthur's father was a saddler working above Carter's Newsagents and had the job of looking after the footballs. Arthur was renowned for his dribbling skills on the right wing, a two footed player with the ability to cross with either foot.
In 1934 Horwich End won the Reporters Cup and were the team to beat right through the 1930's, also winning the League and Hospital Cup in 1939. The late Bill Jones was unable to get a place in the team, this gives you some measure of how good they were.
Arthur never boasted of his own achievements, always stressing the skills of the legendary centre forward Blanksby and the elegance of Alan Fidler. Yet, in the local match reports in the advertiser, you'd often read that he scored the winning goal in a semi-final or final.
He always felt he was hampered by his terrible short-sightedness. In those days there were no contact lenses and you couldn't wear specs. He told David how on dark afternoons, late in the second half, he virtually had to guess where the ball was!
He never got sent off, although very recently admitted to David that he should have. He and a defender were kicking at each other, when the ref. stopped the game and sent the other player off. The other player said "Hey ref if you're sending me off, you must send off that other b...... so-and-so too . He kicked me.
Ref's answer - Jackson would never do that.
After a pause, Arthur looked up at David and said - "I didn't half give him a whack, but there was no ill-feeling after the game."
Horwich End F C would cease to exist at the beginning of the war in 1939 and from 1945 onwards became Whaley Bridge F.C. - from which Arthur would eventually hang up his boots.
Whaley had the famous 3 in the 30's - Jackson, Fidler and Blanksby, it wasn't till later in the 1960's that Matt Busby came up with the feeble comparison of Law, Best and Charlton.
From the late 1940's, Arthur became an avid supporter of the club watching 60 years of change go by.
During my years as Manager he would walk 2 or 3 times round the pitch, stopping to chat with whoever, if he saw a new player on the field he'd say to me - who's yon man, we'ers he from. I would reply he's the new Blanksby and Arthur would just give me a sickly smile.
In his later years he preferred to watch from the warmth of the clubhouse with a pot of tea and if anyone outside obstructed his view he would knock on the window and give them the famous stand-aside gesture.
The week that Arthur died co-incided with the week that Whaley Bridge F C received Charter Standard and the Chairman of the F A ( David Bernstein) came to make the presentation. It was a lovely sunny day, there was a B B Q going and the place was buzzing with lots of people.
The Junior Teams were there and there was a 2nd Team Kick Off at 12 noon. We held a minutes silence preceding the 1st Team Kick off at 2 o'clock and the whole place fell silent - it seemed very fitting. Arthur would have loved it.
On a personal note I would just like to say that Arthur has been a life-long friend of our family, especially my father with whom he grew up with in Kettleshulme.
Arthur was a man that stood for all that's good in life, a true gentleman in every meaning of the word.
The words - "There's only one Arthur Jackson" will echo around Horwich Park for many years to come.
Whaley Bridge Footballl Club can proudly say - we had Arthur Jackson.
by NYE ROWLANDS
As you look around the Uniting Church you see and hear Arthur’s words as he described the Hymn Notice Stand, he donated in Fonsie’s memory and the stained glass window representation of Holman-Hunt’s famous painting “The Light of the World”, still in the ownership of Keble College.
The thing is you were never formally introduced to Arthur – he just appeared and engaged you in conversation by a simple observation of an opening question. I remember well my first visit to this church back in 1982 when the person who had been sitting in the pew in front of me with his wife turned and said: “Fonsie and I were listening to the morning service today. It came from your part of the world, Cardiff. The singing was first rate.”
From then on conversation just flowed.
I spend a lot of time editing publications. Often it means re-writing, checking references, correcting spelling and altering the grammar used. When the time came to edit Arthur’s work and the large brown envelope appeared with his collected work up to that date arrived none of these skills were required. To edit his work you simple had to read them aloud and soon his voice took over as Arthur had the rare skill of writing exactly as he spoke. He was the commentator standing beside you and interpreting the scene whether it was in the Mall watching Winston Churchill triumphantly processing to Buckingham Palace or standing in the National Arboretum reading the inscription on the memorial to the young soldiers shot for desertion in the First World War. Like an artist he coloured the scene before you and added feeling and enthusiasm.
Had he been born in a different age Arthur would have undoubtedly been a respected journalist and broadcaster sharing the same following as an Alastair Cook or a J B Priestley.
Producing the photo-ready copy was not the end of the story. Deciding on the print run was an extended debate:
“How many copies shall we print Arthur?”
“Can’t see me selling more than 50”
So it went on and when the initial figure of 300 was reached there was a grave shaking of the head.
Soon his wonderful neighbours referred to as “his marketing team” got to work and the Buxton Advertiser did an interview. Leaving nothing to chance every time Arthur set off for the shops his shopping bag bulged with 12 copies of his book and invariably all were gone before he reached the Co-op.
Arthur needn’t have worried all three books were an instant sell-out disappearing far more quickly than any other local publications and hardly a week goes by from that time to this when somebody asks to buy one. Arthur was delighted to receive feedback from all over the world and always replied personally when people did get in touch, He kept the proceeds and donated them all to the charities of his choice.
I was delighted to see that Arthur kept up his writing until the very end. He lived his life simply and resolutely. He passed away peacefully and perhaps you will allow me to quote from "The Life and Times of Arthur Jackson" where he describes the passing of his own father:
‘In December 1954 I was leaving the Methodist Chapel when Rev Stansfield said:
“How is your father? “
Puzzled, I asked him: “Why do you ask?”
He replied: “I understand he has been taken ill.”
Later that evening I went up to Kettleshulme and saw him. He was sitting by the fire with my mother, seemingly not too bad.
Again, on the Monday, I went up, taking with me David’s school satchel which he had earlier made for him. It required stitching. I gave it to him. Slowly he gave it back to me and said:
“Get the thread and needle from the workshop. I will do it.”
On my return I had already done the repair. He said:
“Well, I couldn’t have done it any better myself.”
Little did he know that he would never stitch again.’
We will all miss Arthur.
by DEREK WINFIELD
How pleased I was when David asked me to say a few words about Arthur and his contribution to the life of the church. I have known Arthur ever since my early years. We both lived on Macclesfield Road and shared the same birth date - February 1st!
For many years Arthur was a Church Steward. The church then was not as we know it today. It was the same width but half as long again in that direction (indicate left). Seating 550 people it had a gallery on three sides, an elevated pulpit, above and behind which were the choir stalls and finally a huge two-manual pipe organ. Down in the right-hand corner was the Steward's vestry and this is where Arthur and his colleague would receive the preacher before the service and ensure that everything was prepared and in place and say a short prayer before the service began. After the service he would thank the preacher for his/her services and then settle down to count the collection! After the Sunday evening service Arthur and his wife, Foncie, would sometimes gather with Jack and Irene Wigley and Miriam and Edgar Winfield for supper in one of their homes and discuss all manner of things, sometimes church-related, sometimes not. This was a special time of fellowship for each of them which they all looked forward to at the end of a busy day.
As a Church Steward Arthur would have a seat on The Leaders' Meeting - the governing body of the church. All matters of church life were reviewed and discussed at the meeting and, with a building of that size, care of the property was a major item! As one of the Property Stewards Arthur would devote his time and skills to any minor repairs and improvements to the premises and be involved in decisions regarding any major maintenance and improvement. His particular skills of joinery and carpentry were always greatly appreciated at the time of the Sunday School Anniversary, held each year on the first Sunday in July. For this event a large wooden tiered stage would be built at the front of the church. It took the best part of an evening to erect and Arthur was the man we relied upon to help us. I would ask Arthur which evening was most suitable for him to come down to supervise and help build the stage. I then gathered a group of volunteers to assist! The ladies would cover the stage with blue and red fabric later in the week. This stage provided seating for 25/30 children on the Anniversary Day. During the week after the big day Arthur would meet with us again and supervise the dismantling of the stage and it's careful storage - ready for next year's Anniversary. Without Arthur's knowledge, skill and input we would have had great difficulty in building the stage. In many other ways Arthur rendered loyal service and support to this church over many years - ready to help wherever he could.
He enjoyed calling and was always welcome at 'Footsteps' and enjoyed chatting with friends over a cup of tea. He was a regular reader and sometime contributor to the Parish magazine and also attended churches at Kettleshulme and Fernilee.
He was a regular contributor to the church newsletter - indeed his skill as a writer spread far beyond the confines of this church and village. His books on life, times and experiences are bestsellers and have travelled to a number of countries around the globe. He also enjoyed writing letters to family and friends. The Methodist Church's itinerant ministry meant that ministers would live in Whaley Bridge for maybe five or seven years and then move on to another church. Arthur, however, would keep in touch with them after they had left Whaley Bridge, and these letters were greatly appreciated by the ministers and their families. He also kept a list of ministers who had served in Whaley Bridge from 1921 to the present day and recently provided Mabel Sidebottom with a copy for her archives.
Rev William Farrell, a retired minister, now lives in Cheltenham but he and Arthur have kept in touch since he left Whaley Bridge in 1971. Sadly, Arthur's planned visit to Cheltenham on 23/24th April did not take place and David received the following letter from Mr Farrell....... (read letter).