Bruce Pilkington

Bruce said to me a couple of times that the time in Fellhouse was one of his happiest times of his life.
I'm lucky to have many very treasured memories of Bruce's and Jill's time up on the hill. One of the yearly highlights was the traditional "Sausage on the stick" get- together with friends and neighbours on New years day. We were usually the first ones to arrive and the last to leave. A whole day of great company, fun, good food, plenty of drinks, fireworks, (Bruce! I will never forget our polka dancing across the sittingroom). The kids enjoyed their chocolate treasure hunt in the grounds and eventually fell asleep on the large, comfy satee. I remember elegant dinners up in the Fellhouse, our yearly winter solstice celebration at ours and lots of spontaneous chats in the kitchen. It makes me smile to think back to our surprise trip to Wheelbirks, when we took you out for a Knickerbocker Glory. You had a great, playfull sense of humour (the kids tried for ages to blow out the reading lamp!). There is so much. It was beautiful to have you as neighbours and friends.
Unfortunately the last three years had been hard on you and a new chapter in our friendship began. Particularly during the last year, we became a lot closer. I got to know you from a new side. It was a pleasure to support you and to make your life as good as possible. We started to share and talk about our individual problems and sorrows. I'm very grateful for your support, knowledgeable advice, interest and warmth. Thank you for having been my friend during my own difficult time.
It gives me peace to know that on your last day you had two visitors, fresh flowers on the table and some good food in your stomach. You had a lively chat with the gardner just an hour before you died! You looked so relaxed and peaceful. You were surrounded by people who treasured you.
I will miss you, Bruce
Doris xx

I've known Bruce for over 20 yrs now, and was lucky to be the person that would spend the most time with him in his last 3 yrs. Sunday mornings will never be the same, a coffee made with evaporated milk, a biscuit (only one) and a couple of hours of crack. He was a very knowledgeable bloke and we discussed everything from religion, politics, history(especially roman and ww2), quantum mechanics, science, space, heavy industry and everything inbetween and around that, except sport. Neither of us understood the attraction to it. He was a very black and white person, but if i could give a well reasoned argument, he would go away and think about it. If he thought i was right, the next time he saw me he'd mention it. From the outside he could appear to be a grumpy old man, but when you got past that he was intelligent, funny, knowledgeable, inquisitive, a book worm, he liked his solitude, but equally he could be the life and soul of a party. He loved books. I had been left many old books and the last quarter of a year he'd been reading a series of books on our monarchs. A book on each one every week. From William the conquer to part way through Edward VIII, he was very precious about books and always without fail made sure they were returned.
His 80th was celebrated last May and we had a small party for him which my dad managed to attend even though he was very ill. Bruce was very touched.
The last 3 year's hit him hard though, his wife left him, it was getting harder to live where he was, he could no longer keep on top of things and he started having little strokes due to a blocked artery in his neck. An operation fixed that and the only damage, one leg was slightly weaker. He was lucky to have a caring group of friends around him, Vanessa and James down the track and Doris and myself. We got him move off the hill into a little flat with running water, electricity and oil central heating. It was cosy and he was very happy there. He damaged his toe in November and it ended up turning neucrotic which led to a toe amputation and christmas and new year in the freeman. Mentally that crushed him and he was never right again. He came home in the new year and we his friends, did the best we could to care for him until he past away. I became very close to him at the end and his sincerity and warmth are a cherished memory, he was more family than friend. He always said that he wasn't afraid of dying, just not keen on the ways of getting there. He would have been pleased with his out, the paramedic thought he was dead before he got to the floor.
80 years of age.
Sleep tight Bruce, it was a pleasure to be your friend, i gained much by it and have lost so much at your passing. Thankyou for your support during my cancer, my seperation and my dad's passing.
Alistair

Bruce was a great friend for many years and helped me through some difficult times. I wish I had made more effort to stay in touch in recent years. He will be greatly missed by many. The photo is Bruce at the start of our Roman Wall adventure, still fresh in my memory as if it was yesterday.
Alwyn and I send our love to Jill.