Arrangements for the funeral of John Chapple
Friday 30th April 2021 2.30pm
John’s family will be attending a ceremony on the 30th April to say goodbye to him.
Sadly due to the current coronavirus pandemic, funerals are being limited in a crematorium, so the service is by invite only.
Live Webcast
A live webcast will be available for those people unable to attend.
To access the webcast follow the link to the Wesley Media website and input the username and password details below.
https://www.wesleymedia.co.uk/
Login / Order ID: 90965
Password: mfgstnpw
You can login to the Wesley Media website from 20th April to view a test connection (and we strongly recommend you do this) but you’ll only be able to view the Live Webcast between approx. 2.30pm and 3.15pm on Friday 30th April.
A PDF of the Order of Service can be downloaded here: John Chapple order of service
Donations
If you would like to do something in John’s memory, the family are raising money for Parkinson’s UK. You can donate HERE
John’s family welcome any tributes, words of remembrance and stories about him so do feel free to leave any messages at the bottom of this webpage. (Please note comments are moderated so do not go live immediately)
10 Comments
Submit a Comment
Miss my lovely dad so much. He was a sweet, gentle man with an impressive aptitude for languages and a passion for Greek culture. He was always understated and put family first. Grateful that he was always there to support us as we were growing up. I’m incredibly fortunate that he passed on his love of books to me. It took a while to realise how lucky we were to have such a huge library in our house. At age 10, I picked up one of his Jane Austen novels, then Graham Greene, F Scott Fitzgerald, Dickens, Lawrence… they were all there on his bookshelves waiting for me to discover them. Thank you dad for all the gifts you’ve given me. Love you always xxx
Sharing in your sadness as you remember John. I am honored and blessed to have had him as my brother.
Missing you everyday Παππού. Your sweet, kind and gentle presence has left a lasting impression on all of us that will forever be missed. We would all be lucky to be blessed with a fraction of your kindness xxx
Pappou,
I will never forget your love of languages and always teaching us the translations. How you always had a camera taking photos and videos of our childhood, being the proud grandfather you were. The walks around Moseley collecting pinecones and how you would always rush and get up to make everyone a coffee without fail, even if Grimsby football was on the radio.
Love Catherine xxxx
I was very saddened to hear about John’s passing. John was one of the first people I met through the Greek Club on my return to Birmingham. He had a gentle and unassuming way of engaging people in conversation: not much small-talk, but straight into the topics that mattered most to him.
Those are some wonderful pictures in the slide-show. John clearly had a very happy life, and lived it well.
My pappou was a very intelligent man who spoke many languages and helped others to learn English when coming to the U.K. I will struggle to live up to the legacy he’s left behind. He exceeded the expectations of a working class man growing up in Grimsby. He will be missed by many.
I first met John at the Greek Club almost from the beginning and always found him to be a very pleasant person. Although I had known Maria from before the Greek Club. I had high regard for them both as brilliant and exceptional Greek teachers and I feel privileged to have been acquainted with them as teachers, Greek Club members and also friends.
In 1952-53, John and I started corresponding in Greek and English. This was arranged by his Oxford professor and my British professor at Athens University. John was already proficient in Modern Greek. He had a rich vocabulary and his grammar and spelling. were perfect. A year later, we became fellow students, when he spent a term at Athens University. We got married in 1958.
My beloved husband was my best friend, my soulmate, my “other half”, as you say in English. A wonderful and caring husband, father and grandfather. Life is so empty now. It is heartbreaking knowing he is not here with me.
He was my Wikipedia helping me with my weak memory. I was amazed at the things I had forgotten but he remembered well. I said to him jokingly once, “You are not intelligent, you just have the most amazing memory.” That is why he could easily learn foreign languages. John has an M.A. in Greek and French, Oxford, M.A.Linguistics, Leeds and M.Phil in Modern Greek, Birmingham University.
John loved everything to do with the Birmingham Greek Club and always thought that the members work hard and efficiently
to support and promote it.
Thank you for all the kind words and cards of condolence which are very comforting at this sad time for the family.
Mary
I remember my brother John for:
His discipline and studious ways that got him a State Scholarship to Wadham College,Oxford.
His humor and mischievous tricks to his Mother and Sister.
His passion for Greece and the Greek language and literature.
His political views supporting democratic socialism.
His love and devotion to Mary and his family.
His courage and endurance living with Parkinson’s Disease.
I loved and was proud of my brother John
Sending Love to my family Auntie Mary, Rosalind, Theo, and Andrew and their families from across the pond.
Thinking of all of you. What a special man Uncle John was. Xo