Zambia World Wide

Hi !

This is purely "for information".

My father, Gervas Clay, moved into Elliscombe House Nursing Home about four years ago. 

About six months after his well-attended 100th birthday party, he was diagnosed with senile dementia.

Last Wednesday, he apparently consumed an entire box of Belgian chocolates!

The following day, Thursday 16th April, his 102nd birthday, seven of us called in to see Dad in his room at tea-time, bearing a decorated cake, with candles.

We serenaded him, and had a good "party" for an hour and a half - and he slept soundly all through it, despite attempts to rouse him !

He finally passed away on Saturday afternoon about five o'clock, never having woken up.

A merciful release - for us all !

We are proposing to have a private family cremation at Yeovil (date not decided yet), followed by a "public" thanksgiving service and committal at North Cheriton on either 11th or 15th May.

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DEAD FLOWERS BY REQUEST

So when I come to die
Throw no fresh flowers to me;
I have loved them in my life,
Bury them not that be.

But take some old dead flowers
Whose fragrance has gone on,
That they and I may cross together
The unknown Rubicon.

G.C.R.CLAY
12 July, 1932.
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He has often reminded me of this over the past few years....

Gervas was educated at Furzey Close, Lancing and New College, Oxford, and was an accomplished track athlete, particularly a hurdler, and a leading light in the Achilles Club.

Gervas went out to Northern Rhodesia in 1930, in HMOCS.  In 1960, as Her Majesty's Resident Commissioner in Barotseland, the Queen Mother stayed with him for four days.

He then retired to became Director of the Rhodes-Livingstone Museum, now the National Museum of Zambia.  His book, "Your friend, Lewanika" was published in 1965 by Chatto, after his return to England.

Gervas was a keen philatelist, and a leading light in The Rhodesian Study Circle.  He was also a keen shot, and only gave up at the end of the season before his 87th birthday.

After retirement, Gervas went through the Gilwell training program, and as appointed Scout County Commissioner for Somerset.

A keen bridge player, he was also very interested in Family History. Some 18 years ago, he telephoned me to say, "My research into the Family show that every son has outlived his father.  Today I am older than my father was when he died - and I'm setting you a moving target !".
No, I DON'T want to live to his age.  For the last twenty-odd years, his stock answer to "Hello, Dad - how are you?" has been "Surviving."

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From Lancing College School Report for Summer Term, 1926:- Latin - His success [in the Exam] is evidence that the Age of Miracles is still with us; I wish I could claim the credit for myself, but I cannot regard it as the result of anything but Divine intervention.
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If you should have any "anecdotes" about Gervas, we would be most pleased to receive them.

Regards

Robin Clay

Robin_B.ClayATvirginDOTnet