Sunday February 3rd, 2008. Mark GOODRICH and Valentyna POPOVYCH of Grace Road, Desford. They were married at Peckleton because Desford Church was closed at the time for re-furbishment.

Monday April 21st, 2008. John Maurice BURCHALL of Oak Road.
Known as Jack., he was 97. He came from Barlestone; one of a family of five, of which one younger sister Mona survives him. He married his late wife Harriett EDWARDS in 1936. She came from the cottages in Hunts Lane, Desford; then known as “the bungalows”. She died in 1981 and her death affected him very deeply. They had three children. St. Giles Church, Barlestone was Jack’s place of worship, where he was a regular worshipper, serving on the P.C.C. and in any practical way he could. His working life was at the Desford Pit, where he was a surface worker, in charge of the winding gear and where he was noted as a stickler for punctuality and for being a man of his word. His other great love was his garden, in which he worked tirelessly and from which he would give away its produce to family and neighbours, with characteristic generosity. When he could not sleep at night, he would get up and work at making jams and marmalade. He and his family moved to Oak Road when the houses were newly-built, in the 1960s, to a new steel-framed method of construction. He stayed there to the end of his life and, in latter years, could be seen riding his bicycle along the road, wearing his cap. Gardening and cycling kept him a fit man. Last year Jack. had a big operation and then picked up a water infection and then was found to be anaemic. His health then declined and he died on April 8th last, in his own home, as he would have wanted; surrounded and lamented by his close and supportive family. The hymns sung at the funeral were personal favourites; “Lead, Kindly light” and “Sweet is the work, my God and King”, to the tune “Deep Harmony”, which he and his wife Harriett would sing together as a duet. His cremated remains are buried in the Desford Churchyard, in the Garden of Remembrance and to which church he would come to worship at the early service of the Holy Communion.

The Rector was invited to officiate on Friday January 4th, 2008 at the Gilroes Crematorium, Groby Road, Leicester, at the funeral of Patricia (Pat.) Ann REED, late of St. Martin’s Drive, Desford. Aged only 47, she was born Patricia Ann COWLING ON August 1st, 1960 in Southern Rhodesia, where her father was serving in the R.A.F. She was one of a family of three girls and two boys. When very young, she was struck with illness, which left her prone to ill-health throughout her life, but with which she learnt to live with courage and determination. She returned as a child to the U.K. and grew up in Blackburn, Lancashire. She married her husband Graham on April 6th, 1988. They have two children; Kenny, who gave a tribute to his mother during the service and Leanne, who read a poem and who sang in the Desford Church Choir. Pat. worked at the Caterpillar and also with Graham’s firm. Pat. collapsed at home, just before last Christmas and, despite efforts, could not be saved. The exact cause of death was not known when the funeral took place. This was attended by a large number of friends and family and included some lively dance music, which Pat. had enjoyed.