The Tribute read on 4/4/23
Created by Jason one year agoMany of us already know… but it was in 1967 Dad starred with a little unknown actor Sean Connery in the James Bond movie “You Only Live Twice”…
For those of you who don’t know… Dad was one of the sailors at the very beginning of the film where James Bond was buried at sea… filmed on HMS Tenby off of Gilbrator, but of course in the film off of Hong Kong.
Modestly dad would say, having made me first aware of the story mind you… “oh I think I was just off camera”… with his infamous sly grin… the same grin appeared every time we compared his hairline to mine by the way… yes Dad I can see you even now… with your grin.
Dad, having been born at 19A Elphinstone road Southsea to parents Dorothy and Andrew went thru a lot of change at a young age. As did Kerry his younger brother.
Firstly, my dad Shaun Kevin OBrien became who we all know to be our… John Kevin Beal. Kerry had his surname changed too!! Andrew O’Brien had been killed aged 23 on HMS Achates on New Years Eve in 1942 at the Battle of the Barents and young mother Dorothy got remarried to a chap called Russell Beal.
We have convoluted ancestry. There’s even a wonderful oil painting of my grandmother… a beautiful lady
Dorothy and Russell had another son Nicky who sends his regards from the Shetland Islands and she also remarried again to a chap called Tom Batt and their daughter and our auntie Denise is here today. Thankyou for your much support Denise through a very long 6 weeks.
Dad had in more recent life gained a personal interest in his ancestry. He did the blood test. As did I. So many connections. And the Galway connections… Yet to be discovered. I remember when we found the historical records of his father and further family. Dad said… quite recently really “you’ve told me more about my ancestry in an hour than I’ve known in a lifetime”… I ask you can you imagine that?
Dad progressed through his boarding school, a time I believed he enjoyed and gained his quiet, careful, thoughtful, mild mannered, level headed, polite ways. It wasn’t a small school but he won awards for art. I remember him telling me that he was “put” PUT WAS THE VERB on stage for the whole school to celebrate his art… he was talented!
I physically remember his grandma, another Dorothy, exhibiting her art pieces of The West Indies that she loved in the Portsmouth North End public library. I even have the newspaper cutting!! Simon, my brother, continues the artistic talent… what ever happened to mine?
So having succeeded at school Dad joined the Royal Navy. HMS Blake HMS Lowestoft (who send their regards) and HMS Tenby (aka James Bond) and gained a career as an electrician. He was an intelligent, mathematical, logical and technical person… there’s a few of us within the family I note
He found his favourite place in the world Singapore whilst in the Navy. And many of the memento’s that I have and will find eventually will come from there and his travels… I’ve already found unbeknown to me before… he had this wonderful woodern box from Cyprus that he kept his loose change in. I also have a box from Cyprus and I also keep loose change in it… too weird eh… are our lives in repeat?
Once… and no surprise here ladies… he was after all a good looking man… when Dad docked in Canada… as he walked down the gang plank girls screamed “it’s JFK it’s JFK…” yes they did. He really was close to a replica at that age.
He always took care of his appearance. Always smart and usually tanned. Infact I remember, very clearly, driving my recent Z4 boxster at speed along the motorway with the roof off and dad continuously straightening his top and his hair.
After 9 years he left HER majesty’s Royal Navy and became a father to me and shortly afterwards Simon.
Dad worked relentlessly (do you remember the Sardine & Tomato paste sandwiches Simon?) as our houses and neighbourhoods got bigger and bigger and bigger at the time when Mum and Dad worked so hard. Metal Box in Portsmouth and Auto Liv and Britex in Havant and Chichester in his later career also.
Dad loved his dogs… when we were younger I particularly remember my much missed Sam the Springer spaniel. Dad loyally took Sam for his walks daily. Often to Alexandra park, his allotment was nearby too.
On this particular Sunday lunchtime whilst Dad was walking Sam, our mum Shirley said in the kitchen that Dad had built in our house in Hilsea “I can hear a dog barking”. We the kids couldn’t. In the end mum opens the front door and the front gate…. Sam runs in on his own wagging his tail.
Can you imagine dads predicament at the precise same time? He’s only lost the family dog! Well Dad eventually arrived home about 90 minutes later looking very forlorn to face the music…. only to discover Sam already at home.
Dad and Sam were partners like Dad and Bruce more recently. Bruce even now is well known amongst many of you. Silent and considered just like Dad. Glen you did say Bruce was Johns dog eh?
In 1992 there was a split from my mum, Shirley. Not a great time I can’t lie for those in or around the situation. He acknowledged later he could have done if differently for sure and he did become friends with mum again despite signing Christmas and Birthday cards to mum with the full John Beal.
After some time Dad found his 2nd love of his life Glen; his partner and companion.
Nothing says love and companionship more than the day after Dad goes into hospital recently for his sad final time Glen becomes very ill the very next morning… always a team eh!?
Now Glen… you used words about Dad like “chalk and cheese” this is where Dads shrugging shoulders come in… if Dad got upset… could be a night out, could be a quiz with Ryan…. no argument… no shouting… just a repeated shrug of the shoulders and he’d walk off. I don’t do that at all do I Cherie? Keith? Michelle? Luke? Do I?
But as Glen would say “he loves me” and they lived together in their home. The deal: Glen the food, Dad the drinks… both contributing to their lifestyle and home.
I think as I got older I appreciated my dad even more. I remember him being delighted to give me his tools in retirement and insisting I’d buy him a beer in The Manor House pub in Drayton when I turned 18.
And ofc him showing me around the then 13 pubs of Havant for the first time. Mind you it got embarrassing how many times he would win meat raffles to friendly shouts of “it’s a fix it’s a fix” and “same old same old”… did you ever get to the bottom of the freezer Glen?
About 3 years ago Dad brought himself a new iPhone (he was always very technical and very willing to learn new things). To be honest there were a few teething issues with online shopping in particular, but he got there in the end. Well ordering a case of wine instead of a bottle well Glen didn’t mind… did you?
However ordering a ton of manure for the garden instead of a bag… I’m thankful he realised before delivery eh. I can still imagine the potential lorry beeping and reversing “where would you like it Sir?”
As we all look around this wonderful glorious church… some of it 800 years old just where Dad is now. Dad would have walked past this church tens of thousands of times. It’s reassuring.
Continue to look around and ask yourself how long I know this man or women? I’m lucky I have 4 good friends supporting me here that I’ve known for 30-45 years but my longest friend of 53 years is OUR Dad…. I’ve lost in this reality my longest friend and father.
In my line of current work people use my first name. They often get Jason wrong and I’m called Simon. Often. Truly. Does this happen to you Simon? Are you called Jason I doubt it? But last week I was called John, never before. I knew Dad was with me. 😊 I did not correct!
By the way, I do have a message direct from Dad or Lord Beal of KEYALL GLEE Chaol Ghleann (he was that aswell) he was insistent I delivered this message.
As he lays he today WITH US… and he is WITH US… he is extremely frustrated (VERY frustrated indeed!) he didn’t make it to 100. That was his goal, his aim, his ambition, bolstered by Dads auntie Pat passing away only a few years back aged 105. He wanted more life. He was always an optimist. Always in the health system. Only recently having dental checkups. Actively living life to the full until very recently. He wanted each and everyone of you to know this!
I definitely inherited this love of life dad. I Thankyou. Anything is possible.
“I was fine until I was 80” he said.
And although I saw him afterwards his final text to me was “I’m on the mend”…
Dad loved gardening into his 80s. Amongst many things he grew erm kale, salads, kale, vegetables, ofc, kale and and pumpkins (I’m glad they made an appearance Laura) did I mention the kale and he also had grape vines…. However despite green fingers he always seemed to kill Glens honeysuckle under that huge slab he accidentally placed on top of it… once or twice or several times eh Di…
He would brew his own beer and his Vin d’Purbrook, was exceptional I recall. Some still bubbling away in the garage I believe Glen? He used to enjoy a good beer festival too… he would of liked the hymn Jerusalem
One of the last things he said to me was he wanted to go for a walk in the garden. He loved his garden.
Above all he was a father to myself and Simon, a companion, a partner to Glen and a long standing friend to many.
Shortly I will ask us all to acknowledge and applaud Dad for a life well lived and for being a wonderful man and friend….
I think firstly we should all recognise he did indeed WIN the BAFTA, for his lifetime performance, he did indeed WIN the OSCAR and he did indeed WIN the lifetime achievement award for a life well lived.
And like any good James Bond film… JOHN BEAL WILL RETURN in our hearts forever
And Dad remember… YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE…. one life for yourself and FOREVER in our dreams
Now if I could ask you applaud a life well lived…. And Thankyou
For those of you who don’t know… Dad was one of the sailors at the very beginning of the film where James Bond was buried at sea… filmed on HMS Tenby off of Gilbrator, but of course in the film off of Hong Kong.
Modestly dad would say, having made me first aware of the story mind you… “oh I think I was just off camera”… with his infamous sly grin… the same grin appeared every time we compared his hairline to mine by the way… yes Dad I can see you even now… with your grin.
Dad, having been born at 19A Elphinstone road Southsea to parents Dorothy and Andrew went thru a lot of change at a young age. As did Kerry his younger brother.
Firstly, my dad Shaun Kevin OBrien became who we all know to be our… John Kevin Beal. Kerry had his surname changed too!! Andrew O’Brien had been killed aged 23 on HMS Achates on New Years Eve in 1942 at the Battle of the Barents and young mother Dorothy got remarried to a chap called Russell Beal.
We have convoluted ancestry. There’s even a wonderful oil painting of my grandmother… a beautiful lady
Dorothy and Russell had another son Nicky who sends his regards from the Shetland Islands and she also remarried again to a chap called Tom Batt and their daughter and our auntie Denise is here today. Thankyou for your much support Denise through a very long 6 weeks.
Dad had in more recent life gained a personal interest in his ancestry. He did the blood test. As did I. So many connections. And the Galway connections… Yet to be discovered. I remember when we found the historical records of his father and further family. Dad said… quite recently really “you’ve told me more about my ancestry in an hour than I’ve known in a lifetime”… I ask you can you imagine that?
Dad progressed through his boarding school, a time I believed he enjoyed and gained his quiet, careful, thoughtful, mild mannered, level headed, polite ways. It wasn’t a small school but he won awards for art. I remember him telling me that he was “put” PUT WAS THE VERB on stage for the whole school to celebrate his art… he was talented!
I physically remember his grandma, another Dorothy, exhibiting her art pieces of The West Indies that she loved in the Portsmouth North End public library. I even have the newspaper cutting!! Simon, my brother, continues the artistic talent… what ever happened to mine?
So having succeeded at school Dad joined the Royal Navy. HMS Blake HMS Lowestoft (who send their regards) and HMS Tenby (aka James Bond) and gained a career as an electrician. He was an intelligent, mathematical, logical and technical person… there’s a few of us within the family I note
He found his favourite place in the world Singapore whilst in the Navy. And many of the memento’s that I have and will find eventually will come from there and his travels… I’ve already found unbeknown to me before… he had this wonderful woodern box from Cyprus that he kept his loose change in. I also have a box from Cyprus and I also keep loose change in it… too weird eh… are our lives in repeat?
Once… and no surprise here ladies… he was after all a good looking man… when Dad docked in Canada… as he walked down the gang plank girls screamed “it’s JFK it’s JFK…” yes they did. He really was close to a replica at that age.
He always took care of his appearance. Always smart and usually tanned. Infact I remember, very clearly, driving my recent Z4 boxster at speed along the motorway with the roof off and dad continuously straightening his top and his hair.
After 9 years he left HER majesty’s Royal Navy and became a father to me and shortly afterwards Simon.
Dad worked relentlessly (do you remember the Sardine & Tomato paste sandwiches Simon?) as our houses and neighbourhoods got bigger and bigger and bigger at the time when Mum and Dad worked so hard. Metal Box in Portsmouth and Auto Liv and Britex in Havant and Chichester in his later career also.
Dad loved his dogs… when we were younger I particularly remember my much missed Sam the Springer spaniel. Dad loyally took Sam for his walks daily. Often to Alexandra park, his allotment was nearby too.
On this particular Sunday lunchtime whilst Dad was walking Sam, our mum Shirley said in the kitchen that Dad had built in our house in Hilsea “I can hear a dog barking”. We the kids couldn’t. In the end mum opens the front door and the front gate…. Sam runs in on his own wagging his tail.
Can you imagine dads predicament at the precise same time? He’s only lost the family dog! Well Dad eventually arrived home about 90 minutes later looking very forlorn to face the music…. only to discover Sam already at home.
Dad and Sam were partners like Dad and Bruce more recently. Bruce even now is well known amongst many of you. Silent and considered just like Dad. Glen you did say Bruce was Johns dog eh?
In 1992 there was a split from my mum, Shirley. Not a great time I can’t lie for those in or around the situation. He acknowledged later he could have done if differently for sure and he did become friends with mum again despite signing Christmas and Birthday cards to mum with the full John Beal.
After some time Dad found his 2nd love of his life Glen; his partner and companion.
Nothing says love and companionship more than the day after Dad goes into hospital recently for his sad final time Glen becomes very ill the very next morning… always a team eh!?
Now Glen… you used words about Dad like “chalk and cheese” this is where Dads shrugging shoulders come in… if Dad got upset… could be a night out, could be a quiz with Ryan…. no argument… no shouting… just a repeated shrug of the shoulders and he’d walk off. I don’t do that at all do I Cherie? Keith? Michelle? Luke? Do I?
But as Glen would say “he loves me” and they lived together in their home. The deal: Glen the food, Dad the drinks… both contributing to their lifestyle and home.
I think as I got older I appreciated my dad even more. I remember him being delighted to give me his tools in retirement and insisting I’d buy him a beer in The Manor House pub in Drayton when I turned 18.
And ofc him showing me around the then 13 pubs of Havant for the first time. Mind you it got embarrassing how many times he would win meat raffles to friendly shouts of “it’s a fix it’s a fix” and “same old same old”… did you ever get to the bottom of the freezer Glen?
About 3 years ago Dad brought himself a new iPhone (he was always very technical and very willing to learn new things). To be honest there were a few teething issues with online shopping in particular, but he got there in the end. Well ordering a case of wine instead of a bottle well Glen didn’t mind… did you?
However ordering a ton of manure for the garden instead of a bag… I’m thankful he realised before delivery eh. I can still imagine the potential lorry beeping and reversing “where would you like it Sir?”
As we all look around this wonderful glorious church… some of it 800 years old just where Dad is now. Dad would have walked past this church tens of thousands of times. It’s reassuring.
Continue to look around and ask yourself how long I know this man or women? I’m lucky I have 4 good friends supporting me here that I’ve known for 30-45 years but my longest friend of 53 years is OUR Dad…. I’ve lost in this reality my longest friend and father.
In my line of current work people use my first name. They often get Jason wrong and I’m called Simon. Often. Truly. Does this happen to you Simon? Are you called Jason I doubt it? But last week I was called John, never before. I knew Dad was with me. 😊 I did not correct!
By the way, I do have a message direct from Dad or Lord Beal of KEYALL GLEE Chaol Ghleann (he was that aswell) he was insistent I delivered this message.
As he lays he today WITH US… and he is WITH US… he is extremely frustrated (VERY frustrated indeed!) he didn’t make it to 100. That was his goal, his aim, his ambition, bolstered by Dads auntie Pat passing away only a few years back aged 105. He wanted more life. He was always an optimist. Always in the health system. Only recently having dental checkups. Actively living life to the full until very recently. He wanted each and everyone of you to know this!
I definitely inherited this love of life dad. I Thankyou. Anything is possible.
“I was fine until I was 80” he said.
And although I saw him afterwards his final text to me was “I’m on the mend”…
Dad loved gardening into his 80s. Amongst many things he grew erm kale, salads, kale, vegetables, ofc, kale and and pumpkins (I’m glad they made an appearance Laura) did I mention the kale and he also had grape vines…. However despite green fingers he always seemed to kill Glens honeysuckle under that huge slab he accidentally placed on top of it… once or twice or several times eh Di…
He would brew his own beer and his Vin d’Purbrook, was exceptional I recall. Some still bubbling away in the garage I believe Glen? He used to enjoy a good beer festival too… he would of liked the hymn Jerusalem
One of the last things he said to me was he wanted to go for a walk in the garden. He loved his garden.
Above all he was a father to myself and Simon, a companion, a partner to Glen and a long standing friend to many.
Shortly I will ask us all to acknowledge and applaud Dad for a life well lived and for being a wonderful man and friend….
I think firstly we should all recognise he did indeed WIN the BAFTA, for his lifetime performance, he did indeed WIN the OSCAR and he did indeed WIN the lifetime achievement award for a life well lived.
And like any good James Bond film… JOHN BEAL WILL RETURN in our hearts forever
And Dad remember… YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE…. one life for yourself and FOREVER in our dreams
Now if I could ask you applaud a life well lived…. And Thankyou
Pictures
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