A centenarian who regularly kept family and friends entertained with songs and poetry he learned in his schooldays has died at the age of 102.
George Pemberton could still remember by heart the poems he learned as a boy and would recite them to delight fellow residents at Pendine Park’s Hillbury Care Home in Wrexham.
His memory never failed him even in the last weeks of his life when his health deteriorated as a result of a persistent chest infection. He died peacefully at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
His son, retired Wrexham hairdresser, Keith Pemberton, said: “Dad was as sharp as ever, his mind was alert even when he had to go into hospital. When it came to near the end he couldn’t talk anymore but he was in no pain. I asked him if he was OK and he nodded back to me.
“He was a lovely man with not an ounce of malice in him, he was very happy and loved a good singalong.”
The funeral will be held at Pentrebychan Crematorium, Wrexham, at 3.30pm on Wednesday, July 9, followed by a wake at Hillbury Care Home where he was a resident for more than a decade.
Keith said: “There really is no better place to celebrate dad’s life. He made so many friends at Hillbury, he loved it there, he was comfortable and happy. The staff were always kind and on his 100th birthday there was a big party for him, with all the carers and residents involved. Even the Mayor came along.
“When I approached Hilbury to ask if we could hold the wake there, they were only too happy to agree. It might seem a little unusual, but that is where most of his friends are from the latter part of his life. It will be a fitting way for them to say there farewells.”
Hillbury Care Home manager, Cindy Clutton, said: “I only knew George for a few of his almost 12 years at Hillbury, but during this short time the memories he has left me with will always bring a smile to my face, be it when he was entertaining us all with his singing, or telling us some of the poems he learned at school. This just shows you what an excellent memory George had, as he could still recite them word for word almost 100 years later.
“George was blessed to have a good life and great family support from his son, Keith who, like George, has been a big part of the family in Hillbury.
“George is going to be greatly missed by each and every one of us.”
Mr Pemberton first went to live at Hillbury with his wife of more than 70 years, Ida Laura Minnie, who died several years ago after suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
Keith, who ran the Way-A-Head hairdressing salon in Wrexham before retirement, said: “At the time when my parents first went to Hillbury dad really didn’t need the facilities of a care home but mum, with her Parkinson’s disease worsening, needed the support it provided. They were very much in love and he wasn’t going to let her move to live somewhere without him, so he paid for a place for himself to go there as well so they could be together. They were very happy and comfortable. When mum died he feared he might have to give up the double room they had had but the people at Hillbury kindly let him keep it. They realised that it had become his home by then. He loved that room, with its big window looking out at the birdhouse, plants and pots in the garden.”
The son of a herdsman, George – who would have been 103 in October – grew up in Saltney Ferry with his two brothers and four sisters. His mum died when he was 11 years old and he was taken in by the Lovett family who ran Saltney’s Red Lion pub.
By the time he was aged 14 he had secured a milk round job, using a cart pulled by a pony he bought from Ireland. During the Second World War he served as an aircraftsman, posted to the Orkney Islands. After the war he went to work with British Rail and British Telecom as a linesman before retiring nearly 40 years ago.
He met Ida when he was 21, eventually marrying her and they settled in Chester at a house in Tarvin Road, where they lived for 52 years before moving to Kingfisher Court and then to Hillbury on the advice of Ida’s doctor.
From the moment he arrived at Hillbury he became a firm favourite with fellow residents who he would entertain with his poetry and renditions of his favourite song, “Hole in my Bucket.”
“It got so that the other residents would ask him to sing it to them,” said Keith. “Dad was a great character and always obliged.”
