This is Cornwall --George Arthur James, Alverton
THERE was a large congregation for the service of thanksgiving for the life of George Arthur James, aged 85.
The service was conducted by the Reverend Julyan Drew. Mr John Phillpotts was the organist and tributes were read by Phil Westren and brother-in-law Charlie Hitchens.
George, the son of Florence and George senior, was born in Lambeth, where his father was serving in the police force.
As a family they returned to live in Penzance and George was educated at Tolcarne School.
On leaving school he served in the Royal Navy where he made his one appearance for the HMS Gambia team on the wing at the Happy Valley Stadium in Hong Kong.
On November 25, 1950, George married Elizabeth (Betty) Hitchens at Chapel Street Methodist Church.
They lived at Alverton where they brought up their family: a daughter, Margaret, and a son, Robert.
Bosun, as he was affectionately known, gained the name as kit secretary for Penzance and Newlyn RFC.
He was a supporters' club member and in 1960 George took over as first aid man for the first XV, a job he did with great dedication and humour.
Nobody seems to know where he gained his first aid skills.
While still continuing to sort out the kit, quietly in the background his wife Betty would keep the kit repaired to a high standard.
Bosun never played rugby for the Pirates but was well known as the 16th man.
Bosun was proud to hold the office of president of Penzance and Newlyn RFC from 1982 to 1987 and he was made a life member of the club.
Bosun worked for the Post Office for 44 years, mainly sorting the post on the Royal Mail train, where he had great times and made many friends.
He must have made quite an impression as a carriage was named George James in honour of his record of service.
He also enjoyed his allotment and was always ready to share his crops, which he would deliver on his bicycle.
He enjoyed family times and took great pride in everything they achieved.
He was a much-loved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who will be greatly missed but with his love, friendship and character he will always be with them.
Family and friends attending: Mrs Betty James, wife; Margaret and Roger Dymond, daughter and son-in-law; Robert and Helen James, son and daughter-in-law; Andrew and Yekta Dymond, grandson and wife; Tom and Alison Dymond, grandson and wife; Casvelyn James and Nel, grandson and partner; Gerens James and Becky, grandson and partner; Harvey James, grandson; Seren and Nini, great grandchildren; Mr Terry James, cousin; Mr Peter James, cousin, rep Mr Willie James, cousin; Mrs Belinda Hitchens, cousin, rep Mrs Betty Nicholas, cousin; Mrs Gladys and Mr Barney Nowell, sister-in-law and brother-in-law; Mr and Mrs Philip Hitchens, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, rep Linda, Martin and Adam Oliver; Mr and Mrs Charlie Hitchens, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, rep the family; Mrs Jackie Merriman, niece, rep Mickey and the girls; Mr and Mrs Chris Nowell, nephew; Mr Ben Nowell, great nephew; Mr Luke Nowell, great nephew; Mrs ML Drew, cousin; Clive and Alison Nowell; Paul Hitchens, rep the Hitchens family.
Mary Watters, Plymouth; Mrs Mary Hawken, rep George Hawken; Brian Needham, rep Mike Bolitho; Mr and Mrs R Simons, rep Mr and Mrs C Simons and family; Laurie and Kay Forde, rep Mary Allen; Mr and Mrs John Bennetts; Mr Dave Trembath, rep Rob Williams; Mrs M Blackmore, rep Mr J Blackmore; Mr Owen Barnes; Mr V Staines, rep Mr and Mrs Brian Richards; Clifford Grenfell; Mr and Mrs Peter Ellis, rep Mr and Mrs David Harvey; Mr Rex and Mrs Betty Sincock, rep Betty Carey; Arthur Edwards; Charles Parke, rep Karen Parke; Sally Coram, rep Neil Wearne; Holly Jelbert; Mrs Wendy Drew, rep Mr and Mrs N Botterell, Zara and Alex; Terry Drew, rep Dickie Evans and Penzance & Newlyn RFC, Jackie LeSaux, Phil and Rebecca; Emma LeSaux, Lawrence LeSaux, Eseld LeSaux; Miss Kewn, rep Cadan Kewn; Alvin and Jackie Williams, rep Nicky, Jason and Ross; Mr D Pascoe, G Cattle; Mr and Mrs TR Drew, rep Olivia and Evie; Mike Perkins, rep Elaine Perkins; Andrew Snell, rep Mrs Kelda Snell; David Pascoe, rep Patrick Harvey; Scott Dugdale, rep Des O'Connoll; Dave Lawrence, Mrs Betty Cary; Dave Roberts, rep Jackie Roberts; Anthony Stevenson, rep Shirley Stevenson; Tom Beckerleg, rep Ben Beckerleg and Sam Beckerleg; I Penrose, rep J Spinks; John Tallon, rep Mrs Rosemary Tallon; Mr Hedley Nicholls, rep Mrs D Nicholls; Jackie Dunn, rep Jim and Barbara Saulter, Philip Reuberry and Ronnie Dunn; Richard Jones; Simon Stone, rep Steve Larkins; Lee Williams, Mr Ivan Rowe, Elizabeth Richards, Mr Hedley Rogers; Gerry Fuller, rep Elaine Fuller; Mrs H Oakes, J Read, Trevor Churchfield; Mr Stephen Walsh, rep the Walsh family; Richard and Doreen Blewett, Mr and Mrs M Trembath, Pauline Stubbings, L Stubbings, Mrs Maureen Symons, Julie Carter, Mike Hawthorne, Mary Sargeant; Mr T Moran, rep Mr and Mrs N. Lobey and family; Mr C Murley, rep Mr S Murley and Mr M Leah; Tony Hands; Mr J Rabbitte, rep Michael and Mrs B Rabbitte; Martin Murrish; Mr G Reynolds, rep Mrs S Reynolds, Mr and Mrs C Jelbert; Mrs Wendy Stirling; Mr and Mrs Tony Collins, rep Gary Collins, Sandringham, and Lionel Washer and Terry Coogan; Mr C Care, rep St Ives RFC; Mr Michael Clarke, rep Nobby; David Lutey, Keith and Margaret Perry, G Nicholls; Dennis and Mara Way, rep Simon, Ben and Daniel; Steve Snell, rep Sue Snell; Graham Curnow, rep St Ives RFC; Roger Pascoe, rep Hayle RFC; Mike Rowe, rep the family and D O'Connell; Sarah Ashley, rep the family; Bruce Ashley, rep the family; Bryan Marshall, Mr Gordon Jeffery, Mr Coombs, Mr Gilchrist; Ralph Collinson, rep Carol; Richard Harvey, Stuart Michell, Judy O'Shea; Jacqueline Bodinar, rep the White Lion; Reg Spriddle, rep the White Lion; Richard O'Shea, rep C James; Treve Laity; Eric Hosking, rep Mr G Hosking and Mr R Charlton; Mr and Mrs Graham Paul; Mr Doc and Mrs Penny Carter; Brian Murley, rep St Just RFC.
Louise Francis, Mr Simon and Mrs Hilary Bradbury; Sam Heath, rep Mr and Mrs Gary Heath; Miss Pearce, Mr P Barrett; Roy Archer, rep the family; Graham Archer, rep the family; Peter and Vi Mitchell, Dennis Mitchell; Mr and Mrs Colin Dymond, rep Sam, Amy, Paula and Elly; Kevan Bell, Brenda Crowder; Mrs Jayne Stevens, rep Mr GS Vingoe; Allen Horne, rep the Horne family; Mr and Mrs Phil Westren, rep Ryan, Megan and Murray, Sue, Chad and Vicky James; Mr M Nicholls, rep Mrs HD Nicholls; Mr Desmond Nicholls; Mr Geoffrey Jelbert, rep Ron Jelbert and Mary Jelbert; Joff Collins; Miss Mary Holland, rep Mrs Beryl Turner, Mrs Eileen, Mrs Margaret Walton; Mrs Vera Weeks, rep Mr and Mrs Roderick Weeks, Mrs Jeanne Thomas; Mr Ken Cargeeg, Nobby Roberts; Mr Peter Blewett, rep Mrs Sarah Green; Mr and Mrs C Walsh, rep Kevin and Rodney Walsh; Mr Frank and Mrs Marian Smith, Mrs Pat Richards, Mr and Mrs Mike Garland, Mr and Mrs P Legg; Lucy Johns, rep Claire and Malcolm Johns, Oliver Johns and Alec Johns.
Mrs Penny Batten, rep Mildred George; Mrs Bobbie Thomas, rep Mr Frank Thomas; Mrs E Semmens, rep Mr G Semmens, Mr and Mrs N Booker; Mr David James; Mr Paul Greaves, chairman Pirates Amateurs; Des Thomas, chairman, Pirates Amateurs; Mrs N Sincock; Mr Des Hosken, rep Mrs B Hosken, Julia and Jason Hosken; Miss I Grenfell; Mrs Joan Barbar, rep Daphne Cornell; Margaret Walton; Mr R Jeffery, rep Mrs C Jeffery and Mr J Jeffery; Mrs Ann Tucker, rep Frank and Nancy, Mirikitanni, Kansas City, USA, and Mike and Shirley Pitts.
Mrs T Youngson, rep the Pirates Supporters' Club and Miss C Youngson; Mr and Mrs R Freeman, rep Mrs D Rule; Mr Ernie Nicholas; Mr Alan Nicholas, rep Danny Nicholas and Vanessa Rowe; Mr Mike Arnold, rep Mrs T Arnold, Miss S Arnold, Mr and Mrs D Tregenza; Mr George Trewhella; Mr Robert Trewhella, rep Mr and Mrs P Fraser and Mrs Rita Trewhella; Mr Brian Jewell, rep Margaret Jewell, Paula Jewell, Adele James, John Skewes; Mr and Mrs R Maddern; Brian Friggens, rep Barbara Friggens; Mr John Bennett, rep Mrs Meg Bennett, Peter and Lisa Bennett; Mr J Maddern, rep Mrs Mary Maddern; Mr Michael Nicholls, Mr Arthur Uren; Mr Peter Paull, rep Mrs Pat Paull; Mr Mark and Mrs. Tamsin Murley; Mr John Gendall, rep the Gendall family; Carol Drew, rep Trevellyn Drew and Perran Drew; Mr Paul Thomas, rep First Great Western Trains; Mr Jimmy Glover, rep Rachel Glover and family; Mr Eric Care; Mr Geoff Rowe, rep Jethro; Mr John Thomas, Mr and Mrs B Burgess; Mr Peter Lugg, rep Mr Mike Murphy; Mr Treve Stirling, Miss S Downing, Beverley Lugg; Jack Lugg, rep Daniel Lugg; Mr Jamie Dean, rep Penny Maddern; Mr and Mrs C Bryant, rep Mr and Mrs T Statton; Mr Terry Luke, rep Mr and Mrs Gerald Luke; Mr Peter Hemsworth, Mr John White, Mr Roger Dugdale; Mr Geoff Read, rep Penzance & Newlyn RFC.
Mrs Sue Read, Mr and Mrs E Glasson, Mr Roger Roberts, Violet Asendorf, Mr and Mrs R Worth, Doris and Godfrey Rowe; Margaret Green, rep Beth Green; Mr Graham Michell, rep Paul Cricket Club; Alan and Sue Matthews, rep Mark and Kathy Matthews; Mr and Mrs Neil Taylor, rep Mr and Mrs M Semmens; Mr Vivian Heale, rep Bryan Heale; Mr David Elliott, rep Jayne Elliott and Nigel Walters; Mr Simon Copperwait; John Briant, rep Nick Briant and family and Robin Turner; Mr CB Stevens, rep Stack; Mr J Stevens; Mrs Jane Stevens, rep GS Vingoe; Mr David Mann, rep Reg Roberts; Mr Mike Thomas; Mr Peter Michel, rep Mr and Mrs Harvey Richards; Mr J Harvey, rep Mrs E Harvey; Christine Waller, Mr and Mrs P Harvey; Mr Jimmy and Mrs Kathy Paul, rep Julian and family and Mr George Edwards; Karen and Robin Inch.
Mr Graham Waters, rep Roger Lane and family; Mr Graham Nicholas, Mr Bob Henderson; Mr Graham Rescorla, rep Mike Toms; Mr Bryan Rescorla; Julia Rescorla-Ryan, rep Mrs P Rescorla and Dennis Ryan; Miss Michele Rescorla, rep David Brown; Mr Bob Simons, rep Mandy Simons; Mr Nick Brooks, rep Ben Brooks; Mr Bernard Durrant, rep Phil Monckton and Carol Monckton; Mr Peter Marks, rep Mr Mike Legg; Robert Durrant; Gavin Cattle, rep the Cornish Pirates; Ian James.
Floral tributes:
Georgie, missing and remembering you forever, God Bless you, love Betty xxx
Dad, forever in our thoughts love Margaret, Dick and family.
In loving memory of dear Dad, farewell George love from Robert, Helen and the boys and Tilly xxx
To my Cornish father, one in a million, never to be forgotten, rest in peace George (Bosun)
From Mark Edel.
Donations were also received for Sunnyside Surgery and the League of Friends, West Cornwall Hospital.
Funeral directors: Burroughs and Kearey, the rear of Barwis Terrace, Penzance. Reported by This is 15 hours ago.