Sad news

I am so very sorry to hear your news. I lost my wife recently and can comprehend the hole such a loss leaves in ones life. My wife bought Paean for my birthday - she felt I needed a “little” project. Needless to say I plan never to sell her and every time I work or sail on her I am reminded of our wonderful 28 years together.

If you need any assistance with your refit project, please do not hesitate to ask. I am sure I speak for the whole forum when I say we will be delighted to help.
 
After the service tomorrow I will post it on here for you all to read Liza the Celebrant has written something wonderful, the children have done their speeches and I've got a new frock!

If you are attending it is tomorrow at Wessex Vale Crematorium Bubb Ln, West End, Southampton SO30 2HL

service starts at 10:45 but arrive at about 10:30.

There is no wake after but there will be an opportunity to say hello in the gardens after the service.
Thank you to all of you who have offered to help organise the scattering of Mark's ashes on the Solent and we've decided upon the advice of those who privately messaged me to wait until next spring/summer so we will of course keep you informed of when that will happen so you can join us.

Thank you for all your comments and lovely things that have been said about Mark who really was a true "Solent Clown."
 
Hope the funeral goes ok and that you all find comfort in the wishes of condolences from all here at the forum, from those that have met you both and been touched by your humour and generosity.
Mark will be missed, hope you will find comfort when back on the water enjoying the memories.
 
I hope today went as well as these things can and there was both laughter and tears.

Let us all raise a glass tonight for Mark.
 
I went as Commodore of Trident Owners Association to support Mrs SC and pay our respects to Mark. Yes there was plenty of both laughter and tears as we remembered the man Mark was. Over 70 people attended, another testimony to who he was. Lisa who took the Service gave a beautiful homily about Mark, which I understand when Mrs SC can start to think about it she plans to post here. Altogether a moving and deeply sad day, but one which seemed to me to fulfill the Family's wish to celebrate Mark's life as they and we said goodbye to him.
 
Last edited:
Thanks to everyone who turned up - it was a really beautiful service
as promised here is the order of service which I hope you enjoy reading

MARK ANGLISS


Entrance : Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life - Eric Idle

Good morning. My name is Liza and on behalf of Karen and all the family, I would like to welcome you here today, not only where we will have to say our sad goodbyes, but also when we will remember and celebrate the life of Mark Angliss, a devoted family man and great friend to you all.

Whilst there are no words to ease the sense of loss that you feel and today, as we mourn his passing, we will also remember and celebrate all that Mark was and will remain to each and every one of you. If you would then like to make a donation in Mark’s memory, they may be given as you leave for MIND to help further the much needed and worthwhile work that they do.

To all the questions you have asked in the past days and weeks, there can quite simply be no answers. It is not for us to reason why or to allow the end of Mark’s life to define the person he was, the man you liked and loved. Don’t feel guilty if you laugh at the memories of the times you spent with Mark and let the tears flow as those memories come flooding back. They are all memories of the great times you spent with Mark, reflecting the reasons why you liked and loved him.

Always a local lad and man, Mark started life on 12 November 1967, a first child for Jim and Pat and he was then to become big brother to Dave and some years later, to Nick. A typical boy, he was adventurous, loved to play out in the woods and has been described as a bit of a mad professor, even from an early age. With his pal and neighbour John, he’d model aircraft engines, fix them to bits of wood and they’d sit for hours playing with them on the side of the kerb. Taking things apart and reconfiguring them into something completely different was Mark’s speciality throughout his life. Those who remember The A Team will know why Dave blames them for that!

Although he was incredibly academic, won a scholarship to King Edwards, was ‘earmarked’ for Oxbridge and could have become a top-flight lawyer, that would have bored Mark senseless and instead, he signed up for REME at the age of seventeen, being posted out to Canada, Germany and the like during his seven-year stint.

Nick will always have great memories of his big brother coming home on leave; when all was quiet upstairs, Mark would sneak young Nick downstairs to watch a horror movie with him. Once that was finished, Mark would get out a Lego set and bin off the instructions - what was meant to be a race car could well end up as a helicopter. Perhaps if Mark were a stick of rock, through the middle would be ‘Discard the rules and be creative’.

Leaving the Army, Mark set up on his own at his garage at St Mary’s, mainly servicing Landrovers and Beetles. Moving on to his workshop, he developed his passion for restorations, then assembled kit cars and creating his own designs. So highly skilled was he that Mark built a car for ‘The Man From Uncle’ - he and Karen were once sitting enjoying a meal when Guy Ritchie rang to discuss it with him.

Meeting Karen in the late Nineties was to change Mark’s life forever; as an instant family of four with Bianca and Harmony, they then completed it as Alex, Kate and Alfie - known as Fred to Mark - came along. Mark was an absolutely amazing Dad to his gang of five; he would make time for each and every one of them, no matter what he was doing, he would never judge, was firm but fair, but always so supportive and encouraging, helping them in whatever they showed an interest in.

There was always an abundance of laughter in the Angliss household; a brilliant prankster, Mark put on a gas mask and gave them a fright as they watched a World War II episode of Dr Who, with his incredible imagination, he’d make up the most amazing bedtime stories and convinced them that Karen was the grand high witch and, when they reached the age of ten, she was going to eat them! They will all forever remember ‘Rock Lobster’ when they’d all be on their backs on the floor doing ‘dying fly’ like impressions. All of Mark’s children have inherited his wonderful imagination, his creativity and his practical nature and they are all a credit to him and to Karen.

In a lovely tribute to their Dad, Mark’s children have written some of their thoughts and memories that they will now share with you :

MEMORIES OF A WONDERFUL DAD

You will all have so many wonderful memories of times spent with Mark; you can now reflect on those memories and, if you have a faith, this is an opportunity to say a quiet prayer as we listen to his favourite classical piece.

Reflection : Il Paradisum (Fauré)

Not only was Mark devote to his family but he was also a good friend to have and Andy will forever treasure memories of his great friend. In a lovely tribute to Mark, Char will now share a poem chosen specially by her and Andy for today :

CHAR

If there was anywhere that Mark loved to be, it was in the outdoors, sometimes enjoying leisurely pursuits such as long walks, looking around National Trust stately homes and castles - and sometimes anything but leisurely. An amazing runner in his earlier years representing the county when he was at school, Mark later completed several Marathons including one in Berlin when he ran it wearing ladies clothes and high heels - just to prove that he could do it.

Mark did adore the element of danger; he liked watching banger racing, going to Thruxton and following Touring Cars, going to the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Haynes Motor Museum. When he was karting though, one race was just a step too far for Karen; after watching him literally fly up in the kart, managing to get between two trees, narrowly avoiding their branches as he flew and miraculously landing safely, she made him give it up which thankfully he did.

Mark’s adventurous spirit saw him teach himself to sail using just the Ladybird Book of Sailing....most people would realise their dream after having lessons on a course but not Mark. He and Karen bought a 12-foot dinghy, trailered it down to the Itchen and ventured off, armed with said book. Unfortunately though, Mark had forgotten to put fuel in the engine and over the past year, Karen has become a dab hand at rowing and paddling. They once completed a 68-mile sail through the night, pushed to their limits as they sailed through the Solent in the dark. That night, Mark pointed out a fort ahead that was lit up; Karen realised that it wasn’t a fort but instead a container ship that they then had to manoeuvre around pretty quickly!

Both Mark and Karen were members of The Practical Boat Owners Forum; many never actually met Mark but, enjoying the posts of their sailing adventures, affectionately nicknamed him “Solent Clown” which really suited him.

This summer saw them acquire an inflatable kayak to be out on the water when there was no wind to sail and a day cruiser last year named Alouette that Mark unfortunately managed to sink - this time he’d forgotten to put the fuel can in. Running out of fuel was a fairly common occurrence but perhaps the most memorable occasion was on the way to the hospital for Fred’s imminent arrival. Between contractions, Karen had to push the Landrover to get it to the nearest petrol station but that was just Mark.

Only in February this year, Mark and Karen moved on to a bigger boat, a Trident 24 called Bambola on which they had their best adventures yet. In Karen’s words “I have lost my sailing buddy and dreams but know that he will be happy that we plan to scatter his ashes on West Solent next summer”.

On land, Mark and Karen had allotments in earlier times, they kept chickens and ducks and, with a touch of the ‘Bear Grylls’ about him, he’d sometimes bring home rabbits and teach the children how to skin and gut them. Such a good cook, usually dancing around the kitchen as he worked, Mark made a mean chilli and his Christmas dinners were just amazing; there would be an array of meat, turkey, beef, gammon, pheasant and partridge for all to enjoy. With a bit of a sweet tooth though, Mark wasn’t so keen on sharing his chocolate and would lock his wine gums and liquorice allsorts away in his safe.

Although Mark was so incredibly practical, it couldn’t ever be said that his passion extended to DIY and he was so easily distracted to do something he really wanted to do such as making a pot bellied stove or sailing boats from wood or metal. Karen once sent Mark out to buy a dishwasher - he bought a router table instead and she never did get her dishwasher! Every time one of the kids slammed a door, Karen joked that the kitchen ceiling was going to fall down because of the big crack in it and one day it did - on her head. Mark and his Army training went into ‘full swing’....mopping up all the blood, cleaning the wound with whisky and giving Karen a quadruple whisky whilst he superglued her head back together.

Even though Mark’s children would jokingly buy him slippers every year until he gave in, wore them and actually loved them, everyone including Jim knew that he’d really appreciate a single malt more than anything. Hoping to get married next year, Mark and Karen had already decided that they honeymoon would be a whisky tour of Scotland and had only recently bought a 30-foot yacht for their retirement when they planned to sail around the world which is so sadly now not to be.

Even though some of you may not have seen too much of Mark over the years, you did know that he was always there for you. If there was something you wanted to do, he’d encourage you, he could see things in you that perhaps you didn’t in yourself, he’d always have words of wisdom that would make you think, was a great listener, would never judge you and would always understand why people are as they are.

Mark truly was once met, never forgotten, not just because you rarely saw him without his trademark sunglasses, even in Winter; although he was essentially a private man, he was also outgoing and tough when he needed to be. Described as a complete and utter nutcase, mad as a box of frogs, and no angel but with a heart in the right place, you just never knew what he was going to do next, he was incredibly good fun to be around and life with him was never, ever boring. He sacrificed a part of his life that he loved for his family for which they will forever be grateful and appreciate, his family was quite simply everything to him and there is no doubt that he is and will be so very sorely missed by you all.




Remembering Mark, I will now share a poem with you :

Although I can no longer be there with you
There will always be reminders and memories that will forever remain

So, as you admire someone for their brilliant imagination, their sparkling wit, their caring, nurturing and encouraging nature, remember me
As you watch the runners in their outrageous costumes in the Marathon or as a car thunders around a race track, remember me
When you see a sailing boat as it glides majestically through calm waters, smile and remember me

Remember me in your thoughts and your memories
Remember all those wonderful times that we shared
For if you think of me, I will always be with you

Committal Words :

Mark, it is now sadly our time to say our final goodbyes to you. You were and always will be so liked and so loved and our only heartfelt wish for you now is that you may forever rest and sleep peacefully and yet, your spirit will forever live on in the hearts and in the mind of those you loved.

We can now look back and remember Mark; we remember his wonderful adventurous nature, his great sense of fun, his love for and devotion to all of his family, his true and unending friendship and a true character who put everyone else before himself.

It was a privilege to have been a part of Mark’s life, to like him and to love him and the memories that he created and shared with you will remain with you forever.

Mark’s close family would now like to spend a few precious moments with him and will meet you soon outside in the flower garden. As we leave and in a lasting tribute to Mark, we will listen to a real family favourite, the legendary David Bowie and ‘Heroes’.

Leaving to : Heroes - David Bowie (dnc)
 
Thank you for sharing the service with all. Lots of happy memories. As the new owner of Aluoetter smiled when heard that Mark had managed to sink her. Lots of happy memories were shared and hopefully bought some relief to all. Best wishes Peter
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top