SERVICE FOR THE LATE ALFRED BENJAMIN RICHARDSON
Alfred Richardson, or Alf as he was more affectionately known was the first born to Winifred and Alfred on the 1stNovember 1930 at Cuthbert Road, Edmonton. He later grew up at 77 Stockton Road, in a small 3 Bedroom house in Edmonton North London.
Brothers’ David, Terry and Sisters, Thelma, Pat and Brenda, (Brenda, who has since sadly passed), Brother Terry recalls they had a tough but happy childhood. Being a large family, money was tight, but could remember that they always had a good meal on the table
Alf was a smart dresser and when he went out with his close friend Alan, they were always known for wearing Trilby hats. Alf used to enjoy regularly visiting the Speedway at Haringey stadium where he loved to watch the car racing.
Alf did his service in Malaya with the Scots Guards between 1948 & 1950 where he rose to the rank of Sergeant during the uprising. He was a Bren gun carrier, which at the time was the most powerful small arms rifle. Alf was well known for being able to strip and rebuild his rifle within a very fast time.
The years moving on and into his early 20’s Alf met Katherine whilst working at the Jap Engine plant in Tottenham and clearly the young couple got on very well together as love blossomed and they were married on the 26th March 1955 – which was also the same date as his then mother in laws birthday. They were delighted when their daughter Lynn was born followed by Keith and GarY completing the happy family unit.
Alf was a talented engineer who working specifically on textile machinery, firstly with Klingers and later with Scraggs. His work saw him travel extensively, to Asia, Russia, North America, South America, as well as closer to home within Europe, sometimes for long periods of time. Always delighting his children on return by the many differing gifts hebrought back for them. Being away from his family and home sadly took its toll and he and Katherine were divorced.
Alf & Katherine lived in Park Lane, Tottenham which, as many of you know, is the home ground of Spurs, Alf’s Father was an avid Spurs fan so it’s no surprise that Alf was weaned on football, especially Spurs and so over the years he grew to love not only watching but being a part of football to the extent of becoming a qualified referee, gaining many recognition trophies along the way.
Later, Alf married again to Sadie and settled in Ballymena, Northern Ireland where he had two more children, Brett and Stacey. Alf was also step-father to Denise.
Brett, Stacey and Denise recall happy childhood memories of holidays at the caravan in Portrush on the north coast. Dad would take them winkle picking in the local rock pools and to Port Braddan to collect dulse seaweed. He also used to take them to the mid week evening stock car racing at Ballymena showgrounds. They used to have to race to eat their ice cream before it was covered in grit from the racing cars.
Brett and Stacey recall Saturday mornings and afternoons travelling with Dad to football matches he was refereeing at. They would clamber into Dad’s Datsun estate, sometimes with their friends and all sit in the seat in the boot. They would wave to other drivers out the back window quite often to the annoyance of Alf whose view was being blocked.
Brett recalls how his teacher Mr Crooks enlisted Alf’s help to set up a football team at Brett and Stacey’s school, Ballymena Academy. Being the football fan that he was, Alf happily gave up his time to help out.
Later, when Alf was no longer travelling for work and after the breakdown of his second marriage, he worked in Moore’s, a local electrical store in Ballymena. He worked in the repair department and was well thought of within the team.
Alf enjoyed a good social life with his friends, who he affectionately referred to as ‘The Boys’....Aidan, Boydie, Jimmy, Jack & Bertie.
As most were referees, The Boys they would meet up regularly, be it for local and district referee meetings, golf outings, the annual referees trips to Blackpool or the weekly Thursday night training where they played UniHockey.....Stacey has been reliably informed by Jimmy that this often descended into seeing who could hit each other the hardest with the stick!!
Alf enjoyed doing his daily crossword puzzles in the Daily Mirror, which he bought religiously, every day but Sunday.
He was also an ardent supporter of the Maidstone United Football Club and was a season ticket holder for the past 3 years, where he enjoyed going to with his son-in-law Dave. Being a qualified referee, Alf would always make a point of walking around the pitch before thematch to talk with the referee and linesmen. He was always vocal from the stands if bad decisions were made and often shouted to the linesman when to put up his flag and also at times where to stick it when they made a wrong decision.
Through his two families Alf was a proud grandfather to, Jamie & Samantha, Katie & Jack, Benjamin & Alexander and also his great grandchildren.
Evidence of Alf’s love for life and adventure can further be demonstrated in a story of when he was visiting Brett and his family in Sweden about 5 years ago. Alf always said he loved to visit Sweden when the snow was on the ground and on this particular trip he was taken sledging with his two grandchildren, Benjamin and Alexander. The delight he gave to the boys who cheered on ‘FarFar’ (Swedish for Grandfather) as he whizzed down the hill on their sledge. He told Brett this was the first time he’d been sledging and absolutely loved it.
During the war, whilst he was very young, Alf was evacuated, firstly to Norfolk and later to Wrington in North Somerset. In July 2017, Alf took a trip to back to Wrington with Stacey and her fiancé Tom. They visited the house, Uplands, where he had lived with his mother and siblings during the evacuation. Alf spoke with the current owner and she was fascinated to hear stories about the property long before she lived there. Alf’s recollection of the house, the land and the staff who worked there was so vivid and accurate that Stacey said it was like he was recalling events from the week before. It was evident that the period spent living there was a happy time in his life and one that he held warmly in his heart.
In later years, Alf returned to England and was fortunate to get back in touch with his first wife Katherine. Their friendship once again grew and they formed a companionship.
Alf was the sort of person who would do anything for anyone and never grumbled. He always had a ‘can do’ attitude and was always right. Whether it was driving directions, advice on D.I.Y, to the best Columbian coffee to drink, Alf’s way was always the best way.
Recently Stacey received a letter from her Aunt in Northern Ireland who summed Alf up to a tee ....
“Your Dad was one of life’s true gentlemen, always cheerful no matter what and made the best of whatever life threw at him”
Alf is going to be so very sorely missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.