- W.B.Hallam Funeral Notes: Fri 6 Feb 1998 (Wilford Hill, Nottingham.)
Walter (Bert) Hallam
Bert Hallam was born on the 13th September 1911 at Highbury Road, Bulwell. He was the son of a miner and was brought up by his grandmother at Cotmanhay. He went to school locally and finished his education, like most lads of his generation, when he was 14. His first job was at Stanton Iron Works and he remained there until he joined HM Forces in 1939.
He met his wife-to-be, Pam, in a local pub. After courtship they married, living first with family in Basford and then in their own home in Broxtowe Lane. Here son John was born.
Bert served his country throughout the Second World War and this included time spent overseas. For her part Pam did her "war work" at Raleigh Engineering.
After being "demobbed" Bert found himself a job as night porter at the George Hotel in Nottingham and he went on to become the hotel's Head Porter. He was to remain at the George for the rest of his working life and a number of folk have told me how smart he was in his uniform and courteous in his manner Bert finished at the hotel when he was 65.
However, formal retirement did not stop Bert continuing to work and he was soon driving for a sheet-metal company.
Sadly the onset of Alzheimer's disease brought an end to his working days. He was forced to give up work and for the next 9 years, as the illness progressed, he was nursed at home by Pam.
Latterly he went into St.Andrew's Lodge for respite care. While there he suffered a stroke and so remained at St.Andrew's where he regained some use of his limbs. He was to stay on in St.Andrew's Lodge until he died very peacefully on 29th January, 1998. Throughout his time in Nursing Care at the Lodge, Bert received first-class attention and the family are most grateful for the professionalism and kindness of the nursing staff.
How do we sum Bert up?
Pam said of her husband: " He was always a grand chap. A quiet man who loved his kids ". He was obviously a man who worked hard all his life and, perhaps having not known his own parents, he tried very hard to give to his own children the love he never known as a child. John said of his dad: "He had a wonderful smile, and there was always a twinkle in his eye. HE WAS THE BEST".
May Bert... your husband, father, grandfather and friend rest in peace and rise to glory. Amen.
|
1911 - 1998 (86 years)
[1] 
