The Tom Wilson Memorial Service – January 11th 2019.
 

The Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul at Coleshill was the venue on the 11th January 2019 for a Memorial Service to remember the life and times of Thomas William Spencer Wilson  - Old Veseyan (1929-1939).
 

Coleshill Parish Church is of a similar size to Sutton’s Holy Trinity church and on this occasion was full to capacity indicating the high esteem in which Tom Wilson was held both in the Coleshill district and further afield.
 

Tom Wilson’s obituary has previously been published in the national press and summarised on this site, but it was felt appropriate that the Old Veseyan Association be represented at this memorial service to demonstrate our respect for the man who had, on several occasions, graced the Shaggy Dogs Tea Party and been brought along by his son in later years.
 

Many of the congregation were former pupils of  Coleshill Grammar School and OVA Chairman Paul Wallis and I met with several people that we had known in past eras of our lives. We shared a pew with the Fethertson-Dilke family representatives, guardians of the Grade 1 listed Maxstoke Castle surrounded by Maxstoke Park Golf Course. Tom Wilson was a regular lay-reader at Maxstoke Church during his long retirement.
 

The service was conducted by the Reverend Nick Parker and tributes and anecdotes to Tom were made throughout by former colleagues and students together with a reading by Bob Wilson (son) and reflections by the current Headteacher of Coleshill Grammar School, Ian Smith-Childs. Tom Wilson’s diverse taste in music was reflected in an opening organ recital, God to Enfold You” sung by the choir and a closing recording of the Glenn Miller orchestra.
 

Many of Tom’s favourite hymns were sung with enthusiasm by the large congregation - ’Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer’, ’Dear Lord and Father of Mankind’, ’As with Gladness Men of Old’,  ‘Abide with Me’ and ‘Jerusalem’.
 

Attendees were invited to refreshments in Coleshill Town Hall following the service.

 

Tom Wilson, a proud and intelligent man admired by all who came into contact with him – rest in peace.