In Loving Memory
PERCIVAL (PERCE) FRANK HUMPHREYS
3 September 1916 - 22 February 2006
Percival Frank Humphreys died on Wednesday 22 February, aged 89 years. He would have been 90 years next September. Everyone called him ‘Perce’. We hold in our thoughts and prayers his brother and sister-in-law Len and Joyce and his cousin Chris and Linda Bowers.
Perce was born in Rushmore Road, Hackney in 1916. At the age of about 7 years, he moved to his grandparents’ home in Elderfield Road, where he was to live for the rest of his life. The last 10-12 years he lived there on his own, after the death of his sister Renee. He left school at 14 years, which was the usual school leaving age.
Perce trained as a cabinet fitter, a trade he followed all his working life, apart from his army career during World War 2 years. During the war he served as a private in one of the London Infantry Divisions. He took part in the allied landings at Anzio on the west coast of Italy. The battle that took place there on the beachhead from January to May 1944 was brutal and bitterly fought by both sides. Perce was mentioned in dispatches for his bravery. He returned safely to England to continue his work as a Cabinet Fitter, although the house next door to his was badly affected by bomb damage.
For very many years his life outside work was dominated by three concerns and interests.
First there was scouting. After the war he took up scouting again, but took a special interest in what was then called scouting for handicapped young boys (now called special needs). He worked all over east London for many years, introducing the benefits of the Scout Movement to those who would normally have been excluded from it. He was also a scoutmaster here in Hackney at Kingsmead in a former church in this circuit. All his life he displayed the scouting qualities of independence, self-sufficiency and service to others. He looked after himself, and in spite of increasing age continued in dogged independence, never feeling sorry for himself, never expecting others to look after him. Whenever you asked him how he was you got was a determined ‘I’m all right’. He owed much to the friendship, help and care of Doris Humphries who had known him some forty years, and who will, with Elizabeth, miss him very much.
After scouting, Perce’s second love was bowling and he was still actively bowling until 11-12 years ago.
But Perce’s greatest love was the Church and the faith in Jesus Christ that he found proclaimed in it. He worshipped at Clapton Park Tabernacle, and when that closed moved here to Clapton Park about 40 years ago. He held all the offices the local church could offer, Society Steward, Trustee, and member of the Leaders Meeting. He also taught in the Sunday School which was another expression of his love and concern for the well-being of children and young people. It was very rare for him to miss Sunday worship.
With Perce’s death a generation in the life of Clapton Park Methodist Church has come to an end. A new generation has and is arising. We follow in the footsteps of so many unsung saints such as Perce. We are who we are as Christians because of those who have gone before. As we give thanks for his life, and uphold those who mourn his passing, we proclaim again the faith in which he lived and died. As we give thanks for his life, and uphold those who mourn his passing, we proclaim again the faith in which he lived and died, of resurrection life, of joy and hope given to us through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the souls of the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen.
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