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Be Bird Remembered
(​20th June 1949 - 25th June 2018 )


On the night 22nd/23rd June 2018, the airwaves across Ipswich and District buzzed with alarming news of a  catastrophic event that had befallen our Birkbeck Music Director, Be Bird.

Sadly, our worst fears were confirmed on Monday, 25th June  by Hugh Pierce, manager of the Ipswich Institute, when he posted the formal announcement


                                 'Most of you will already have heard tragic news of Be Bird. 

                                 Be collapsed as a result of what turned out to be a significant brain haemorrhage
                                 on Friday and was taken to Addenbrookes Hospital. Sadly, no further treatment
                                 has been possible . ……….................................................................Be remains
                                 comfortable but is expected to pass away within a very short time.'
 
Later with great sadness, Hugh informed us that

                                  'Be had died that evening in hospital.' 

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On the night 22nd/23rd June 2018, the airwaves across Ipswich and District buzzed with alarming news of a  catastrophic event that had befallen our Birkbeck Music Director, Be Bird.

Sadly, our worst fears were confirmed on Monday, 25th June  by Hugh Pierce, manager of the Ipswich Institute, when he posted the formal announcement


                                 'Most of you will already have heard tragic news of Be Bird. 

                                 Be collapsed as a result of what turned out to be a significant brain haemorrhage
                                 on Friday and was taken to Addenbrookes Hospital. Sadly, no further treatment
                                 has been possible . ……….................................................................Be remains
                                 comfortable but is expected to pass away within a very short time.'
 
Later with great sadness, Hugh informed us that

                                  'Be had died that evening in hospital.' 
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Ipswich Music Day 2018
Ipswich Arts Association
​Classical Stage 


Sunday 30th June 2018 



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The expected plan was that to-day Be would have been the
Master of Ceremony on the Classical Stage 2018,
sadly that was not to be.
The Ipswich Arts Association decided to honour her  memory by dedicating the Ipswich Music Day event 2018 to Beryl Bird. 
Attendees ​to the performances received the memorial-card, to mark the day. 
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St Andrew's Church.
Rushmere-St- Andrew.  Ipswich.

 
Tuesday 28th July2018

                                                                                                            Obituary and Funeral 

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On Tuesday, 24th July we said our final farewell to our much loved and respected Musical Director, Be Bird. Her departure from life was very sudden and completely unexpected: laughing and dancing one minute, only to be struck down by fatal illness moments later. It came as a terrible shock to everyone, as Be was always full of life and vitality; she will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
Her funeral took place at St Andrew's Church, Rushmere-St-Andrew, Ipswich; her local church where she was an active member. The service was conducted by the Revd. Caroline Wilson and the Organist was Mr Alan Loader.
It's an indication of just how well liked and respected Be was, that the church was so packed that additional chairs had to be set out to accommodate all her family and friends. Be, herself had planned her own funeral to the last detail, after the death of her beloved husband, Richard, who had died only four months before, but nobody expected that the arrangements would need to be implemented so soon. Even the photo which rested on her coffin, was requested by Be as 'how I would like to be remembered by my family.'
As Be had arranged, the Order of Service opened with 'A Prayer of St Patrick' (by John Rutter), sung by St Andrew's Church Choir: such a poignant choice and beautifully sung. The Revd. Caroline Wilson offered a welcome to everyone and led the opening prayer before inviting the congregation to join together  to sing 'Praise my Soul, the King of Heaven'. Denny Thick then read a comforting extract from 'Pilgrim's Progress' (by John Bunyon) and echoing the peace, the choir sang, 'The Lord's my Shepherd (by Howard Goodall).


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A short biography of Be's life was then read, much of which she had written herself, with contributions from family and close friends, detailing the defining events of her life,

her love of family, music and teaching, and expressing the comfort she found in the church and her faith.

​

The congregation was given a brief opportunity for thought and reflections about Be's life - whilst Charmaine Cooper (piano) and David Hornberger (cello) quietly played 'Vocalise' by Rachmaninov. This temporary stillness was soon dispelled when the whole congregation stood up to sing - 'The Spirit lives to set us free': a favourite hymn of Be's.
The ceremony reached it's closing stage with a reading of Psalm 121, 'I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills'; an address given by Revd.Wilson, and 'The Lord's Prayer' led by Revd. Bruce Wakeling before the final hymn ' Amazing love (and can it be)' was sung by the congregation. 

Not quite the end though !      ..........     .2 poems followed .......... chosen by Be and read by Katy Topping 
                                                             
             
Cherish the Memory                           
( Poem based on a short verse by David Harkins )

You can shed tears that she is gone
Or you can smile because she lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back
or you can open your eyes and see all that she left.
Your heart may be empty because you can't see her
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live as yesterday
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday
you can remember her only when she's gone
or cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
smile - open your eyes - and live on. 


Death (If I should go) - 
(Poem by Joyce Grenfell )

If I should die before the rest of you,
Break not a flower nor inscribe a stone.
Nor, when I'm gone, speak in a Sunday voice,
But be the usual selves that I have known.
Weep if you must,
Parting is hell.
But life goes on,
So......sing as well.


The service concluded with the Commendation and a Blessing, and the coffin was carried out of the church to a solo piano piece from 'The Last Man on Earth', written and performed by Ben Groom, the Birkbeck Singers' first piano accompanist and solo singer (Jan 2011-Jan 2016). As the congregation filed out, there was more music - a medley of Be's favourite Gershwin tunes played on piano and cello by Charmaine Cooper and David Hornberger.
Most of the congregation gathered in the church hall afterwards, giving everyone a chance to reflect on how Be had affected so many peoples lives in such positive ways. As always at such events, there was sadness, but also much reminiscing of the fun and joy she brought to everyone who knew her.
As for the Birkbeck Singers, we remember her enthusiasm, humour and dedication in turning a group of people with
little understanding of the subtlety of music and song into a real choir, capable of performing concerts in front of hundreds of people, whilst managing to make it so much fun.                                             
​                                                                                                                                              Secret Reporter DM 
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                               Farewell, Be.  Teacher .... .Inspiration...........Friend.​

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EAST ANGLIAN DAILY               'IN MEMORIAL' 

Thursday 26th July 2018 

A personal tribute to Be by Professor Chris Green  in the East Anglian Daily Times

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