Thank you all for taking time today to celebrate the life of Jack. Jack was the eldest of three brothers born to Jack and May Davies .Born 19 April 1937….Jack came into this world along with his brothers Terry and Brian on Old Lane Chadderton. He attended Freehold school and it quickly became apparent that he was a bright and clever child. His childhood was like any other at the time….spent playing out with his brothers ….he loved his bicycle…. playing at being a mechanic taking it to pieces and putting it back together again ….a love that led him to enjoy repairing motor cycles and cars all his life….. in later life mostly for his daughters!! He loved his bike rides and it was on one of these rides to Stockport…long before the roads were dangerous, that he and his brothers set off on their bikes, with a picnic carefully prepared by mum. They took their bikes and had a lovely day …is was only when they got back and mum asked “Where’s Brian"? that they realised they had lost him….he had fallen behind on the way home and they hadn’t noticed…his bike was small in comparison to theirs ….needless to say he was panic stricken …well alls well that ends well….Brain arrived home alone 1 hour later , very red faced ,and out of breath…."They left me" he said….needless to say she didn’t let them go that far again!! Jacks love of animals centred around the many family pets that he had in his childhood …he loved his Border Collie and Alsatian dogs and would always be the one to feed and walk them. Jack was maturing into a very handsome and clever young man …lucky he was told, to have both brains and beauty. A family trait that he was very happy to pass down to his daughters and his grandchildren…. . It was at Hollinwood Secondary school that Jack became the real academic…showing his aptitude for Mathematics and the Sciences. He worked hard, passing all his exams with flying colours... he then took the entrance exam a year early for technical college. He was on his way ……… Jack was later to achieve Degree equivalent in Mathematics and Engineering….He used his knowledge throughout his working life and it was also a massive help to his 3 girls when it was their turn to study …always offering a helping hand with their maths homework. Whilst serving his apprenticeship at AV ROE he attended night school always in pursuit of knowledge and skills….. Lots of long days and hard work were paying off. Jack served his National Service in the RAF at Bury St Edmonds….his interest in Avionics and Aviation grew and grew at this time and later he was to return to AVROE…as a fully Qualified Avionics Engineer. Jack signed the official secrets act and was invited to work for the government as a loss adjuster …assessing both Civil and Military Aircraft ….some of you may well be thinking …well I never knew that!! Well that was Jack …Honest and true to his word he was sworn to secrecy, so he never told you!! Jack was a lover of hobbies ….taking up many interests during his life…bowls, golf, making and flying Model aircraft , motorcycles and photography to name a few ….. In fact it was when Jack was really becoming interested in photography that he told his brother Terry and sister in law to be, Freda ….."There’s no need to get a photographer for your wedding …I’ll do it"!! On the day he happily took all the photos ….trouble was when they got back from honeymoon, Jack had decided to sell all his equipment and with it all the wedding photos !! All that was left were a few proofs!! "Sorry" he said "I needed the Money" …. That was Jack, always the entrepreneur never missing a business opportunity!! Another such time was when he said to brother Brain…."Leave your motorbike at my house when you go away …it will be safer”. He was to be seen riding it around the bowling green at Stanley Road Conservative club one day and the next, he’d sold it ….telling Brian on his return from holiday …."Well I got a good price"!!! It was in his 20’s that Jack married … and was later to become the proud and loving father to his beloved daughters Susan, Pamela and Jacqueline. He was to dedicate his life to them…working hard to provide and care for them….also to become a loved and cherished uncle and great uncle. Day trips and outings with his girls to see his family,spread far and wide across the UK were frequent and enjoyable. He would love to visit his Uncle Harry in Yorkshire, Uncle Norman in Preston, Uncle Bill and Uncle Sid….he loved his Aunty Alice, Aunty Lena and Uncle Walter …he loved his family. Jack was making tremendous leaps in his professional life and was soon to become a Certified member of the Institute of Production Engineers and even more letters appeared behind his name. He worked for Carborundum in Stockport and later at Trafford Park …he travelled far and wide and often returned bearing gifts for his daughters from such places as Poland and Russia x We have come this far without talking about Jacks wit and fantastic sense of humour…he was incredibly funny and his one liners …right up until he passed away he had you literally laughing out loud…he would love to tell jokes and always loved to be entertained by a good comedian. He loved to whistle his favourite tune and was always happy with his lot .He had the Davies twinkle in his eye. Jack made many lifelong friends during his time …the fantastic College Avenue gang were to become very special to him throughout his life. He was also kind and loving ….with a very soft heart… and he loved to help and care for his family in every way, all his life. He was a problem solver …never resting until he had a found a way to help you. He loved to socialise and to party …never missing an opportunity to have some fun. His smile and laughter could light up and fill an empty room. Jack loved his holidays …travelling was second nature to him even as far back as the 70s he took his family on many holidays to Greece. A take-over bid was made for Carborundum and Jack was sadly made redundant ….it did not deter him and after a summer partly spent with his beloved mother May, at her caravan in Kirkham with his girls…. he applied for and got a job as Works Manager at Allison Products, Diggle…in true Jack form he later went on to buy the company!! As a direct result, many family members were lucky enough to work there for him…..under his wing and guidance…and it was here that he learned he was to become a proud granddad……to a four legged friend…Susan’s young foal Solo x It was around this time that he met June, who was to become his loving partner until the end… they just simply clicked and shared a very full and active life together …….holidaying abroad regularly.In recent years they have taken holidays in Spain, Darren and Sharon and their children… happy memories for all to keep….they have travelled far and wide to Canada, Australia, America…and still had plans to travel next year if healthy…. in fact only a month ago they were enjoying spending time with Jackie and George in Greece with their grandson and good friend Liam…… and boy did they have some fun !! enjoying home made beef stefado.....Jacks favourite Greek dish. They made many friends all over the world ….. With Jack and June you were guaranteed fun and laughter. Jack had a small set back in his 50s with a heart attack … and with June by his side he made a full recovery and didn’t let it stop him from living life to the full. Jack ended his career at BarJack, another engineering company he set up. Until he retired at 65, he had mostly enjoyed a happy and successful career in engineering …achieved by hard work and dedication. Jack and June enjoyed many memorable visits to Cornwall, to see his beloved daughter Pamela and her 'feathered family'…. Often sharing his favourite food…..Indian curry…..on the Barbican in Plymouth. Jack became great friends and step dad to Gary, Steven and Darren and later their wives Samantha Sharon and Karen. ….Jack and June’s family began to grow when the grandchildren arrived…. He embraced it with all his heart he loved and adored and was very proud of them all…..always taking a keen interest in their lives ……..Amy, Liam, Sophie Jake, his beloved Grandchildren from his daughters and Bethany, Lewis, Nathan, Elliot and Charlotte from his step sons ….he was still helping them with their homework right up until last week!!! Jack and June enjoyed many holidays in Wales….happy times making memories with Junes sister Elaine and her family. Christmas time was always a very special time for Jack… family and friends were always welcome and could be found at Jack and Junes on Boxing Day … it became a tradition in the Davies – Hall clan to party into the early hours …. sampling the delights of Junes famous buffets….enjoying Jacks famous chilli con carne… listening to him playing his much cherished ukulele ….the drinks always flowed, with everybody singing ,dancing telling jokes and generally having family fun together…precious memories indeed. Christmas festivities were quickly followed by New Year’s Eve antics….fancy dress fun for Jack and June... In later life Jack developed COPD....a chest and lung condition,which was to prove to be a constant struggle for him.... but he didnt let it beat him and still continued to Live his life as best he could x Such happy, happy times spent with this exceptionally handsome, clever, funny but mostly loving and caring man, I am sure will be treasured forever, by everyone that had the pleasure to know him…. A devoted father and family man, a dedicated partner to his love June and a true gentleman… This is Jack Davies… We shall all, I am sure hold him safe within our hearts forever..X