This was the Eulogy for my Father that I delivered at his Funeral Service on Monday 28th January 2019. My Father, Conrad David Lewis was born on 10th July 1932 in Bargoed, South Wales, the oldest child of Frederick and Violet Lewis. He is survived by 5 siblings (Val, Max, Bernard, Gaynor and Irene). Margaret (the 2nd oldest after Dad) passed away at a few months old. My Granddad was a company secretary and Dad used to tell me stories about his rocking horse and fantastic toy trains. The good life changed when Granddad Fred had an operation which went wrong, the anaesthetic damaged his lungs leaving him breathless and unable to work. The lovely toys were sold and Dad had to become the “man of the house” at an early age. This made him financially careful for the rest of his life. To help his family Dad earned money delivering newspapers and telegrams. For the uninitiated Bargoed is on the side of a very steep hill and even mountain goats struggled to deliver telegrams!! This also helped him when he played for West Park Rangers (a football team with a squad drawn from West Street and Park Road, where the Lewis family lived). During World War 2 the Lewis family took cover under the stairs and Conrad looked after his sister Val when the German aircraft flew overhead. Dad loved challenges and Granddad Fred showed me a clock that Conrad had taken apart and rebuilt, it still worked despite the fact that there were several bits left over!! It was no surprise that Conrad went to the Technical school in West Street and then “Glam Tech” to study engineering. To help his family Dad worked on building sites and the workmen teased him because he had a skinny physique. The foreman put him on the wheelbarrows and Dad’s muscles soon grew!! After gaining his engineering qualifications Dad worked at Guest, Keen & Nettlefolds in Merthyr Tydfil until he was called up for National Service with the RAF in Malta. For a Welshman the lack of rain in Malta was unbelievable and Dad loved it. When Dad first reported to 37 squadron, it was a sunny day and the flight sergeant just saw a tall silhouette in the hangar opening and shouted “Guard of Honour.” This role required intensive drilling but led to more travel, smarter uniforms and better food. Dad met many dignitaries including Sir Robert Menzies the Australian Prime Minister. Dad’s brother Bernard exchanged correspondence with Conrad (aircraftsman no 2763199) on such things as piloting a Shackleton bomber. As for hobbies Dad set up a photography club and also became a blue belt in judo. Dad was offered a 12 year RAF commission but turned it down. I think that this was the best decision my Dad ever made, as otherwise, Andrew and I and our children would not exist!! Dad was a motorcycle enthusiast and after leaving the RAF in 1957 bought a Matchless motorbike which he kept in a neighbours garage. Bernard was allowed to help service the bike and to kick start the engine and rev it wildly!!. One of the most important moments of Dad’s life was when he met the “love of his life” my Mum, Shirley who nursed him back to health after a motorcycle accident. After a whirlwind romance they married on 3rd October 1959 and spent the next 59 years with rarely a day apart. Mum and Dad honeymooned in Bournemouth on a shoestring budget and Dad always promised to take Mum back to Bournemouth in style. Mum is still waiting to go back!! The young couple moved to Leicester (Dad worked in the power station and Mum in the General Hospital) where their first child Mark arrived on May 15th 1960. Shirley and Conrad soon moved back to South Wales to save money and lived with Mum’s parents in Pontypridd. My parents spent a lot of time with Dad’s baby sisters Gaynor and Irene. My young aunties were like older sisters to me and I loved them. During this time my wonderful Uncle Max bought me a trainset because Dad would not let me play with his one!! After 2 years Mum and Dad saved enough money to buy a property in Newport. My beautiful brother Andrew was born in Newport on April 2nd 1963 during one of the UKs longest winters. Dad was thrilled as he now had two sons to sit on his motorbike!! I can remember my parents having a huge argument when I was small because Dad was using Mum’s new grill pan to dry off his spark plugs and to clean his motorbike chain!! One day I packed my suitcase (containing my teddy) and set off to visit my Grandma. Dad cleverly tricked me into coming home as I did not have enough bus fare!! In 1965 Dad was promoted and we moved to Norwich where Dad saved my brothers life. Andrew climbed onto the garage roof with an old curtain for a cape because he thought that he could fly like superman. Mum kept Andrew talking whilst Dad swooped onto the roof, grabbed Andrew and brought him safely back to earth. In 1968 we moved to Dymchurch as Dad was now in charge of Dungeness A and B powerstations. Dad took up judo again and he allowed Andrew and I to go for training runs on the beach with him. We were too slow and so Dad would sprint a mile ahead, turn around and then meet us on the way back. When Dad won his judo Brown belt he hurt his shoulder and Andrew had to change the gears to enable Dad to drive home. In 1973 we moved to Tunbridge Wells as Dad became the planning director for the CEGB. He hated commuting to London and missed hands on work. Dad visited Thurrock powerstation where the Superintendant wanted 6 weeks to complete essential maintenance. Dad as a Chartered Engineer asked for a boiler suit because he could do the work in 2 weeks. The Superintendant had to agree to 2 weeks. My father told me about a Board meeting where a request for a £5 billion nuclear powerstation was approved in 10 seconds flat. Whereas £5,000 for a bike shed at Littlebrook took an hour to approve. The Board members did not understand Nuclear Reactors but they knew what a bike shed looked like!!. During this stage of his career Dad got his Black belt in Judo (fighting 2nd Dan and technical 4th Dan for international coaching). Dad started a judo club in London for the CEGB. At 40 years old Dad decided that he wanted to learn Karate and achieved a black belt. We moved to a bigger home in Tunbridge Wells (Rymers Close) in 1976. Dad built a York stone patio and developed a “fairy glen” of wild flowers where his sons and their friends held competitions to launch sparkling wine corks as far down the garden as possible. My friend Julian was pretty handy with a wine bottle and usually won!! Julian was loved by Dad like a son because he rode motorbikes, collected stamps & coins and would never knowingly throw away anything that might be useful in the future. They were like two peas in a pod!! Dad also loved Julian’s wife to be Wendy who first impressed him with her politeness when leaving a Rymers Close party despite being slightly the worse for wear!! Dad bought old motorcycles and did them up but then decided to buy new bikes. He added a sidecar to his 1500cc Honda Goldwing and took Mum on European touring holidays. Dad also loved vintage cars and around 1980 went with Andrew to buy a 6.3 litre fibreglass Jensen CV8 from Lord Strathcarron. When I got married to Sarah in 1986, Dad was thrilled with her, especially when she agreed to be driven to church in the Jensen. Dad promised to get Sarah to the church on time but made me laugh when he said he was going to drive Sarah a very long way around to give the car a good run!! When Andrew married Janet in 1992 Dad was absolutely delighted with her, although he would have ideally used the Jensen as a bridal car again!! Both Mum and Dad hoped that their Grandchildren would start arriving but were kept waiting a while longer. When Katy was born in Maidstone Hospital on March 5th 1995 Mum and Dad raced to cuddle her at only 4 hours old. Dad sometimes found it hard to show his emotions but he was a big softy really. Mum always said that if Dad had had daughters he would have shown a softer side and the birth of Rachel on April 2nd 1998 proved this. With 2 beautiful granddaughters Dad was totally besotted. That said he was delighted when his first grandson Robert was born on 29th September 2000 as he knew how to bring up boys!! Dad loved taking photographs and making videos and DVDs. As a result Rachel & Robert called Dad “Grandad camera” as he always had a camera in his hand!! In1989 Dad retired having already paid off the mortgage. Mum and Dad retired to Cornwall where they had experienced wonderful holidays. They moved to St Issey near Padstow but Dad became frustrated as the nearest DIY shop was an hour away and workmen promising to do work “directly” were always late. Dad asked Sarah and I to view new homes in the South East for him. We created a shortlist for Mum and Dad and they chose St Leonards on Sea. They moved to Robsack Avenue in October 1990 and the longer they lived there the happier they were. Frequent holidays, a garden backing onto a Saxon wood with birds, squirrels, and foxes and great neighbours. After over 28 years Mum and Dad felt secure and safe in their home surrounded by loving neighbours (Steve, Cheryl, Linda, Alan & Oum and Viv & Jim). Steve was particularly loved by Dad and was entrusted with his house keys (unheard of in my living memory!!). And guess what Steve is another motorcycle and car enthusiast. In his later years Dad kept busy with his train set, stamp and coin collections and working on his beloved Jensen CV8. In my last telephone conversation with Dad he was still ordering me to put the Christmas decorations up the loft and change the carburettor on the Jensen. Rest in peace Conrad, a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle and friend.

Our wonderful neighbour Conrad. We have known Conrad and Shirley for the last 28 years as our neighbours across the road. Conrad has been an exceptional, kind, funny, helpful, knowledgeable and overall and fantastic person who was always happy to give advice and help at any time. He would always pop over to let us know when they would be away on holiday so we could keep an eye on the house and of course put the bins out. Steve was even trusted to hold a key. It was always reassuring that Conrad and Shirley were over the road and could be called upon at any time and we to them. We have fond memories of Conrad, and we would often see him tinkering in his garage on his beloved Jenson, Goldwing. or any other machinery including the Lawnmower. I even had the pleasure of having a ride up and down Queensway in the Goldwing's side car which seemed pretty scary to me. He often had the odd neighbours popping in to the garage for a chat and look over his beloved car, especially Steve who could often be seen helping out with various jobs. Conrad always spoke so highly of Shirley and his beloved family which you could see meant the world to him. He will leave a great void, and will be dearly missed by us both. Cheryl and Steve xx.

Grandad Conrad, I don't have an earliest memory of you, because you've been with me for my whole life, from three hours old. You've seen me from baby, to first steps, to toddler. Through moving away from you and Grandma to the midlands (jumping on planks to flatten the new grass in the new house's back garden). Through my horrible teenager phase and slightly nicer teenager phase, through University, and graduation, and into my first job. Most of life is documented by you, in old VHS videos and then DVDs when those came into fashion. Thank You. Theres then tonnes of photos - which were pretty much always off guard, and if not, finally "satisfactory" after five minutes of posing and technical difficulties. I'm so glad I have all of these to look back on now, and I'm going to try to never complain about having photos taken again. I remember the biggest, strongest cuddles, and the "pushion of invisibility" to hide from scary parts in movies (that's toddler me's pronunciation of cushion, by the way). I'll miss coming to say good morning and good night whenever I saw you. And the best bear hugs. And I'll even miss you being grumpy, although I think if I've inherited anything from you, it's probably the grumpiness and stubbornness (but all you ever needed was a cuddle to fix it). I'll miss my emails from you. I'll miss my notes you put in with the photos that you would send me. I'll miss you signing off cards "xxxxxxxx *to the power of what ever age I was at the time*". I'll miss that I honestly think you could fix anything. Like the time I accidentally blew up my hairdryer after leaving it on American voltage ... it was in the bin, but you took it out after I'd gone home and totally fixed it!! I know Grandma always talked the most on the phone, but I'll miss you chiming in. Or shouting from where you'd walked back into the lounge because we were "talking nursing". My particular favourite phone moment was when you told me and Grandma that we needed to finish our conversation soon because you got charged after a certain time on the phone ... to which Grandma pointed out "but Conrad, Mark rang you...". Purely brilliant. I love that the last thing I said to you was that I loved you LOADS. I know how much you loved me, and few people will love me as unconditionally, or be as proud of me. I can't explain how much I love you, miss you, think of you, remember you, Always Yours, Katy XxxxxxxxxX