A Farewell To John Cave MBE

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e didn’t know John Cave MBE, part of the Holyhead committee that twinned the Welsh town with Greystones, but, luckily, Kathleen Kelleher did.

Which is why she and former Greystones mayor Stephen Stokes attended John’s funeral last Tuesday.

Here’s a few words from Kathleen on the occasion…

Former Mayor of Greystones Town Council, Stephen Stokes, and I attended John Cave’s funeral. Those who knew our beloved John from his many visits to us will remember a true gentleman.

John was involved with our twinning project from the very beginning. He always established an immediate rapport with those he met, including those of us here in Greystones. John was involved in too many community enterprises to note here.

He was a regular on the Holyhead scene and became a regular on the Greystones scene as well. All of us, at one time or another, posed for his many photo shots. John was an intrepid photographer for our St. Patrick’s Day Parades. His thousands of photos are now part of his archive in Holyhead, started taking photos in the 1950s.

John’s special love of Ireland might have come from the fact that his birthday is our National Day.

John’s funeral was held last Tuesday in St. Cybi’s Church, Holyhead. The funeral was a wonderful tribute to his rich and full life. Speakers included Albert Owen MP. The superb Funeral Tribute was written by Richard Burnell, another friend of HH/Greystones Twinning.

Classical music featured as part of the ceremony, and the final going away song came from the impressive Holyhead Male Voice Choir.

The church was packed to capacity with mourners lining the church avenue. Guards of honour were provided by the RNLI. Holyhead Fire Station members stood at attention as his funeral passed on way to cemetery.

John will always have a special place in our hearts here in Greystones.