Thomas Edward Mitton. 1919 - 2006
This morning saw the funeral take place at St Michaels Church, Bishop Middleham of Coxhoe Branches most senior member Tommy Mitton.
Standing room only was the order of the day for a man much loved and respected by all who knew him. In keeping with Tom’s love of life the hymns chosen were rousing and rarely have I heard “Praise My Soul The King of Heaven” sung with such gusto by a congregation. Adam Lamb, a native of Kelloe, and known to Tom through his Freemasonary connection, read a moving eulogy, which in a very few minutes encapsulated Tom’s life and loves. It was delivered with great care, respect and a little humour for a smashing fellow.
From a personal perspective it was only a few weeks ago that I sat and had a chat with Tommy in the café at Sedgefield Community Hospital, as usual his razor sharp wit was to the fore as he questioned me as to the reasons I should be sitting chatting to him at great expense to the British Taxpayer when I should be really getting on with my job. Of course my retort was to hell with the taxpayer when I could have the opportunity to spend a few minutes in the company of a great and wise man. Such opportunities rarely come along.
We all know what a solid Sunderland supporting man Tom was and put people like myself to shame with his endless devotion to the cause. It’s heartening in some respects that he did get to see great teams at Sunderland in the past but saddening that he witnessed our decline too.
Tom leaves a wife Jean, who will be closely supported and cared for by her son Brian and daughter Susan along with Julie and Keith and Brian’s lads Ross and Alex. We offer them all our deepest condolences at this sad and difficult time and they will be comforted in the knowledge that Tom left a great chest of treasure and joy in the memories he left behind.
Adam Lamb quoted Abraham Lincoln this morning, it sums up Tom very well.
“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, but the life in those years.”
posted by Huyton Hoofer @ 2:22 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Well said Jack, it was a great shock to us all when we learned of the sad death of Tommy.
Adam Lamb did a top job summing up Tommys life even when he mentioned the dark side of the SAFC connection. It is only when you hear an eulogy when you realise what a person has been upto in their lives and why they are so respected.
Tommy will be sadly missed by all the Branch members, his wit and comments will be never heard again but will be remembered for every.
I'm sorry I didn't hang around for a chat this morning Jim. Work beckoned and the prospect of Tommy berating me from on high was too much to consider.
Yes Lamby did a good job and it was fitting tribute to a great man.
Brian,
Learnt this week about the sad news of the death of Tommy. You'll keep the greatest memories of this great man,I'm sure he was a fantastic man.
Walter Perez
Many thanks to all of you for your kind thoughts and actions.
I'm feeling much better now but had a tough week last week. My dad was 87 years old but his death still came as a shock as he was very active. He'd never really had any illnesses but was starting to slow down a little bit. I decided not to go to Wolves so we watched the game together and enjoyed it. He collapsed suddenly on the Sunday night and suffered a massive heart attack and could not be revived. It was a shock to us all but he'd have hated to have ended up badly incapacitated in hospital so I'm glad that didn't happen. Unfortunately that's been the case with some of his friends and he always said he hoped he didn't end up like that.
The funeral was last Friday and I'm back at work now so things are getting back to some normality. I gave the Norwich game a miss but was at SOL tonight for the SLG meeting and Youth game and will be at the game this coming Saturday. Things will never be the same but we all take a lot of comfort from the fulfilled life he had and the great kindness shown by everyone. It's been comforting to me and the rest of the family to know that my dad was so well thought of by so many people. The kindness has just been overwhelming. We'll all miss him, especially at the game, but my dad would not want us to mope around and he was always of a positive outlook himself. Let's all remember him like he would have wanted.
Thanks again.
Brian and family
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