Members of Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club have said goodbye to a good friend and close colleague described as a ‘unique individual character’.
There was a large turnout of Rotarians among the attendees at the funeral of Albert Ernest Parker, better known to his friends as Bunny, which was held at Shrewsbury Crematorium on Monday. The service was a celebration to the life of Bunny who, at 93, was Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club’s oldest member. He was also one of their newest recruits.
He joined the club in 2017 and as Rotarian Willie Strachan told the gathering at the crematorium:
“I’m very proud to be here recounting tales and memories of Bunny on behalf of all his friends in the Rotary Club, many of whom are here today. Bunny joined our club in the summer of 2017 on a transfer from Long Eaton Rotary club which he continued to visit when he could.
But way back, and we’re going back 70 years, Shrewsbury and Shropshire were favourite places for him. He would regularly tour Shropshire on his motor bike stopping to take in the wonderful views and drinking coffee from a flask. He was asked if he had a blonde companion riding pillion but he was coy on that one. The Square in Shrewsbury was a gathering place of a Friday evening for Bunny and his biker friends. They would get together and have fish and chips before all heading off to Wales for the weekend to climb some hills.
Bunny made a great contribution to our club, He would turn out whenever he could despite the occasional adversity. He had problems with his teeth but still came to eat what he could. There is the memorable accident at a club meeting when he broke both his wrists after a fall, but carried on eating his meal before attending A&E.
We were always amused at our Christmas tea party for the elderly. Bunny always helped. Rotarians would taxi and chaperone the elderly people to and from their home to the party. Bunny was more than happy to do his bit, despite being older than nearly all his guests. Memories from fellow Rotarians are of a thoroughly nice man who would chat to anyone, sometimes at great length and often recalling fascinating insights of a long and varied life well lived. Someone who had a unique and individual character, was positive, humble, with an enquiring and alert mind.
