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Does anyone enjoy those thrill-packed fairground rides, where you just cling on tight till you arrive safe at base station? (Personally, not my cup of tea!) Well, the last 4-5 months in the Pummell household has seemed like one of those giant Zipwire rides or the smaller ones for kids in the park. We grabbed the cable, clambered onto the seat, and launched off - gathering speed as we went, trusting that we had enough momentum to land our feet firmly on the rising ground ahead of us.
What no-one wants on those rides is to, not quite make it, and so have to swing backwards on the wire and be left dangling helpless over the drop below. Well, that definitely did not happen. We reached our destination. Though maybe it turned out to be in a different location to that expected!
That’s why, it’s with very deep sadness that I share this totally surreal and bizarre piece of news:
At 10.30am on Thursday 8th February 2018, Roy’s feet landed firmly on solid, rising ground at the end of the Zipwire. He finished the course, he completed his journey and passed peacefully away from this life, moving seemlessly back into his real, eternal life with God.
So, Roy, my dearest husband, it seems like on this particular ride I was not ‘riding tandem” with you as I usually do, but instead, travelling alongside on a separate zipwire that has it’s landing place somewhere further down the course. So,
ROY ALBERT PUMMELL 28.08.1945 - 08.02.2018
Go in peace, Go in faith, Go in love. We love you and miss you.
As news of Roy's hospital stay became known, as a family we’ve been impressed, blessed, overwhelmed, by the number of loving messages and requests for visits received in these last few days, - unbelievable! They came from contacts from many different parts of his life, and from many different decades - back to the sixties!! How can one ordinary chap have touched the lives of so many people?!
Thank you everyone who has … was about to … is going to … send greetings. it is appreciated! and will be an added source of strength to reflect upon in the coming days. I would just love to talk with and share with each and everyone of you dear people. But practicalities! That’s obviously impossible all at once, but hopefully … in time. While Roy was in hospital, we tried to set up a text communication link (thank you Pauline, Paula and Hazel for your efforts), but time pressures meant I didn’t get to send them Updates - apologies. But, I’m sure you’ll understand, that now, our focus and priority must shift onto ‘our little family’ as we together, fumble our way forwards into this totally new territory and together support each other and our small extended family.
That is why we’ve settled on a temporary system of 2-way communication for ‘Roy’s Fan Club’, instead of individual contact.
Our home number is 020 8590 1279.
This may, or may not get answered, but leave a message - I’ll regularly listen to and note, voicemail messages. Some will get a direct response - but in no particular pecking order, so please don’t be offended if you don’t get a call. I’m also changing the voicemail message to direct anyone enquiring about Roy, to this website - at caringbridge.org (
http://caringbridge.org) Helen started to set this up during Roy’s hospital stay, but we got overtaken by events! Here, I intend to gradually explain what’s happened, highlight God’s faithfulness throughout it all, and eventually give details of the funeral. You can also leave messages for us. Please share this info with anyone who knew him and is interested.
Unfortunately my regular, beloved, faithful old mobile 0780 697 6072 (with everyone’s numbers on!! ughh!!!) seems to have left this world at almost exactly the same moment as my belovedf, faithful Roy! It stopped taking charge so may just need a new charger …. hopefully. Meanwhile, I'll need to take over Roy’s new phone (0784 394 5522) - but I may not have your number on that, so please bear with me.
This comes from Rosemary, Roy’s wife for the last 50 years and this is her current experience:
Saviour, since of Zion’s city, I through grace a member am, Let the world deride or pity, I will glory in Thy name:. Fading is the worldling’s
pleasure, All his boasted pomp and show; Solid joys and lasting treasure, None but Zion’s children know. John Newton 1779
