Around 45 people gathered at Parkside today to say farewell to our good friend Beryl Good who passed away on 19th January after a gradual decline in health over a number of years.

The service was taken by David Angell, who welcomed those attending and introduced the first hymn Immortal, Invisible, God only wise before opening the service with prayer

After the prayer, Beryl’s daughter-in-law, Yvonne, came up and sung Steal away to Jesus.

David read through an appreciation of Beryl’s life written by her son, Stephen.

Beryl Evelyn Good was born in 1921 in Maidenhead as Beryl Free.  She moved, at the age of 3, to Mossy Vale, where she spent the next 82 years before moving to Bethany Residential Home in Tadley.

Educated initially by her aunts, she later attended Elmslie School in Castle Hill until the age of 17.

War broke out when Beryl was 18 and she joined the Womans Royal Air Force as a Radar Operator, based near Ventnor in the Isle of Wight and it was there that she met her husband to be, Daniel Good.  They were married after the war, in Boscombe, in September 1946.

Their three sons, Christopher, Andrew and Stephen soon arrived and Beryl looked after the family while Dan was undergoing teacher-training.

In 1961 she took a job as a Wages Clerk at Maidenhead and District Laundry where she worked until she was well into her 80s.

In 1989 she lost both her husband, Dan, and son Christopher soon afterwards.

She had five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

She attended the churches in Maidenhead all of her life – beginning at the old Drill Hall, before moving to Holmanleaze and finally to Parkside Christian Fellowship when the hall opened in 1956.

She moved to Bethany in 2007 and lived there peacefully for the rest of her life.

David read from 1 Peter 1:3-4, 18-20 and spoke briefly on the subject of hope under the headings The Features of Hope, The Foundations of Hope and The Focus of Hope.

The Features of Hope: Described by Peter as a living hope.  Beryl enjoyed the same living hope in a living Saviour who was her companion all her life.  It was also a practical hope that supported Beryl in every aspect of her life.  In addition, it was a certain hope that has now been realised as she is now with Christ.

The Foundations of Hope: The Christian’s hope rests not on what may happen in the future but rather what has happened in the past – the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  God’s Son paid the penalty of sin and all who believe on him and trust him may know their sins forgiven – as Beryl did.

The Focus of Hope: Unlike hope in the world, The Christian enjoys a boundless and limitless hope that can never be defeated or diminished.  Beryl’s hope was focused on an inheritance reserved in heaven rather hoping and relying on things on earth.

David introduced the final hymn, Just a closer walk with Thee before closing the service with prayer.

A short committal service, led by David Sampson, took place in brilliant sunshine up at nearby Braywick Cemetery, where we finally laid Beryl to rest.

Finally, refreshments were served at nearby Maidenhead Rugby Club, where Beryl’s son, Chris, used to play in years gone by.

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You can listen to the service by clicking below.  Please note that the service begins some 50 seconds into the recording, once Beryl and the family had entered the hall.