Ernest Charles Beach (Ernie) Obituary
Ernest Charles Beach (Ernie) Obituary
September 1933 – December 2021
Ernie and his wife, Betty, moved to Main Street, Evington in 1963 after purchasing their house from Betty’s father. Shortly afterwards Allan was born (1964), who was followed by Andrew (1967), unexpected twins Ann and Sarah (1970) and lastly Deborah (1972).
Ernie hadn’t always lived in Leicester, but was born in Hereford in 1933 to single mother Olive, a situation that was unusual and to a degree frowned upon in those days. Ernie’s father was estranged and this coupled with being a child living through the war shaped the person he became. He was shipped off to live in Stourbridge with his Auntie Stella during the war, and told the story of how a policeman accompanied him on the train journey. He witnessed Coventry burning in the distance as a boy – it’s hard to estimate the impact this had on him at such a young age.
Ernie’s passions in life developed at an early age – dogs, cycling and football (in that order). He also enjoyed reading, gardening and listening to classical and swing music.
As a boy he would cover distances of over 100 miles with his cycle club around the beautiful Herefordshire countryside, Malvern Hills and Black Mountains in the Brecon Beacons. He continued to cycle up to about a year before he died, his Alzheimer’s (and not his fitness) limiting his capability to do so.
In 1954 Ernie was drafted to National Service to join the 13th Company Grenadier Guards and spent some happy times posted in Germany.
On his return from National Service, his electrical engineering career meant he found his way to Leicester where he met Betty at the Palais de Danse in Humberstone Gate. I’d love to know how many Leicester couples met this way in the 60s.
Ernie played football for Oadby Town and Old Vics in the 1970s, often dragging his sons to matches to watch him, maybe in the hope that they would show some interest. They didn’t.
He was a very keen horticulturist and took much pride in his front and back gardens and sat out in the sun whenever he could. He was well known in Evington for the signs he used to display in his front garden, “Help the world – plant some flowers and get the bees buzzing” being one of them.
Betty died in 1997, and following this, Ernie found companionship and solace owning a number of dogs, Lottie being his longest companion of 16 years. She died a few months before Ernie and he was lost without her. They were inseparable and were often seen walking around Evington village and the arboretum – they both got slower together as they got older.
Ernie died peacefully in Leicester General Hospital with his family around him following a short illness. He is survived by his 5 children and 11 grandchildren.
Andrew Beach
