Parish of Leatherhead - Sonya Grove, 1935-2024
In Loving
Memory ofSonya Pearl Grove16th October 1935 - 23rd March 2024St Mary and St Nicholas Leatherhead Thursday 23rd May 2024 at 11.00 am |
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ENTRANCE MUSIC
WELCOME AND OPENING WORDS
Ian Whitlam - Licenced Lay Minister
HYMN: O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
READING AND SHORT REFLECTION
John 14: 1-6
By Ian Whitlam
MUSIC
In Paradisum - Faure Requiem
Ashtead Choral Society
TRIBUTE TO SONYA
By Andrew Grove
Well, that was quite moving. Thank you the Ashtead Choral Society. Mum would have absolutely loved that.
Good morning and thank you all so much for coming or joining the live stream to celebrate Mum’s life. I know that people have travelled from near and far to be here and that alone is a tribute to my very dear Mum.
Mrs Sonya Pearl Grove, Sonya, with an i or Sonia with a y. Sony, Son, Wife, Mum, Step Mum, Nana, Step Nana, Step Great Grandma and just 3 days before she passed a Great Grandma for which she was completely elated at the arrival of Luca. However you knew her, she was sure to have touched you in her own inimitable way usually leaving fond memories to cherish.
Born in Croydon in 1931, though she would insist that I point out that Croydon was a very different place back then compared to now. She was the first child of Harry, who served in both the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy, and Phyllis Scott of Worcester Park where Mum grew up. Some 15 months later, her sister and probably best friend arrived – Dear Angela, who we sadly lost in December 2022. They couldn’t be more unalike yet at the same time as close as two peas in a pod. Lots of laughter, smiles and love: I can almost hear them now singing their favourite song, “Sisters”.
They couldn’t have had the most normal of childhoods with the threat of war hanging over them until it finally broke out. The fact that she rarely talked about those years shows the deep and profound impact it had on her. Two bombs landed very close to their home. That was far too close, so the wee blonde and the bubbly brunette were evacuated by train down to the West Country, to be specific, South Molton.
Many years later this spawned the families annual search for the roof top garden and the cabbage field which has its own story. They didn’t stay too long as they were home sick, and Phyllis was missing them both terribly. Thankfully war was over. The celebrations must have been magnificent because not more than 9 months later, her little brother Tony arrived!
At 14, Mum became quite ill with TB but that really was the only time I ever heard of or saw her be poorly until her latter days. In fact, for quite a while she was like a car – Both knees replaced - A full set of new tyres; Cataract surgery – A fresh pair of windscreen wipers.
Mum had many different jobs. Amongst them a shampoo and receptionist, a Nurse a PA, a charity worker where, would you believe, she bathed old ladies, but she started at Shannon, an office equipment supplier based in New Malden, in the typing pool. It was here where her youthful eyes happened upon a rather handsome, young executive called Cliff. Mum was 29 when they
married, and she went to live with Dad and her new 4-year-old stepdaughter Joanna. As it happened, that was to be her last move into what was the second and last house she ever lived in. She stayed happily at Highlands Avenue for just short of 60 years. Half of which were with Dad and half on her own.
As one might expect over this period, she became a recognised member of the community: whether that be through the Church, her Choir memberships, social and charity events, the horticultural society, local neighbours, the children’s schools and many other areas.
February 1965 saw the arrival of Cliff and Sonya’s first child, Alison. An academic ballerina who at an early age had an about turn to follow her dream of becoming a Jockey. Come August 1968 a sporty type arrived although from the figure you seen in front of you today, you might not believe it.
The involvement on the School’s PTAs at St. Giles but more importantly West Ashtead created another bond of goods friends affectionately known as 'The Gang'! They used to have some of the most outrageous dinner parties and always, always celebrated Valentine’s Day together. I am truly delighted to see so many of them here today. In fact, The Gang still meet up, although
nowadays it is far less riotous and generally consists of a sandwich, a cup of tea and a piece of cake followed by a fight for a blanket and a wee nap.
Mum always enjoyed her holidays. Of course Music was always a very important part of her life. After Dad’s retirement they increased their participation in both activities although this was cut short by Dad’s early passing, but it didn’t deter Mum. I was always proud that she went to Cuba, on her own, aged 74 but then she surpassed that by going on a Caribbean cruise aged 78.
Her last holiday, when she was about 83, was with her good friend Jill and involved New York, The Queen Mary II along with more island hopping around the Caribbean.
Mum was a member of Ashtead Choral Society for many, many years and it was lovely to hear from them earlier. Initially I thought thirty years, but Dad has been gone almost that long, so I suspect it was probably closer to 40. Through them, she sung in many different places from The Festival Hall through local churches and concert halls to an elegant and elaborate Spanish Cathedral that was virtually empty due to a mix up with the dates.
The annual tour and my cousin Jeff’s Choral Holidays were where Mum was able to combine her two passions and add to her experience of singing on the European stage and help her to overcome the loss of Cliff. I know she treasured these times though in the end walking up hills did for her.
What an ideal time then to become a founder member of the RAC Book Club at Woodcote Park. Once a quarter I was given an Amazon shopping list which along with a pallet of Tenna Maxis included the next 3 books to be read. In all the time she went, there were probably only a handful of books that she really enjoyed but that didn’t deter her from meeting up with another group of good
friends. Well, it was either that or the lunchtime glass of champagne that they occasionally enjoyed on special occasions - like it was a Thursday.
Dear Mum, at 88 your life was a very long, a very full and certainly one well lived. Your quirky ways, your song, your laugh, your smile, your piercing eyes we’ll miss them all: but more than that we’ll miss you most.
So, God bless you my very dear mum and don’t be too hard on Dad.
Cliff and Sonya's wedding
HYMN
Spirit of God, unseen as the wind
POEMS read by grandchildren
The life that I have
read by Joe WarburtonThe life that I have
is all that I have
and the life that I have
is yours
The love that I have
of the life that I have
is yours and yours and yours
A sleep I shall have
A rest I shall have
Yet death will be but a pause
For the peace of my years
In the long green grass
Will be yours and yours and yours.
Those We Love
read by Aston GroveThose We Love
don’t go away
they walk beside us
every day
Unseen, unheard
but always near
So loved, so Missed
So very Dear
Heaven’s Embrace
read by Aston GroveOn Angel’s Wings
you were taken,
But in my heart
You’ll stay
In God’s light
you will find joy,
till we meet
again someday.
If I Should Go Before the Rest
read by Tilly Mae Warburton
If I should go before the rest of you
Break not a flower nor inscribe a stone,
Nor when I’m gone speak in a Sunday voice
But be the usual selves that I have known.
Weep if you must, parting is hell,
But life goes on, so sing as well.
I’m Free
read by Joe Callum GroveDon’t grieve for me, for now I’m free,
I’m following paths God Made for me.
I took his hand, I heard him call.....
Then turned, and bid farewell to all.
I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to sing, to play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
I found my peace.... at close of day.
And if my parting left a void
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss
Ah yes, these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened .... deep with sorrow
I wish you sunshine of tomorrow.
My life’s been full.... I’ve savoured much.
Good friends, good times....
a loved one touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief.
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me,
God wants me now.... He set me free.
Remember
read by Joe Warburton and Callum GroveRemember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no longer hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann’d:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember; do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad
HYMN
Make me a channel of your peace
PRAYERS
concluding with THE LORD'S PRAYER
MUSIC
God be in my head - Walford Davies
Sung by Jeff Stewart
COMMENDATION AND FAREWELL
EXIT MUSIC
Bluebird - Charles Villiers Stanford
Immediate family adjourn to Randalls Park Cemetery
Leatherhead, 12 noon
COMMITTAL AND BURIAL
CLOSING WORDS
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Thank you for your kind words and sympathy at this sad time.
Close family and friends are invited to join the family for
light refreshments after the service
at RAC, Woodcote Park, Wilmerhatch Lane, Epsom KT18 7EW
If desired donations can be made online at lhawkinsandsonsltd.co.uk/obituaries/315
or c/o L. Hawkins & Sons Ltd, 2a Highlands Road,
Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 9UX
Monies received will be sent to:
Friend of Leatherhead Parish Church
Princess Alice Hospice
Cancer Research
Ashtead Choral Society
Sonya in a Leatherhead Parish Church Choir photo 1 March 2009
If you can add to this page with your own recollection of Sonya please contact the editor
Page created 27 May 24: last updated 29 May 24