Percy Mercer

Paul Ivan Mercer

1944 – 2025

Eulogy

The following is a copy of the eulogy presented by Percy’s son Philip Mercer at his father’s funeral held in Deopham parish church on December 18^th 2025.

My Dad

“The man who never owned a passport or a mobile phone!”

Dad was born on April 8th, 1944, to Frank and Ivy in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, and was the middle sibling to his sisters, Pat and Penny.

He always said he was a “war baby”, although we were never sure which one.

Dad had a normal childhood upbringing and started his school years at Sawbridgeworth Primary before going on to the High School. He was no scholar and could be mischievous, but not naughty. Having said that, he told us he got the cane on several occasions, and the chalk board rubber would come hurling towards him frequently, but he never divulged the reason for his punishment.

It goes without saying that he excelled at sport throughout his school days and afterwards played football regularly for Sawbridgeworth and Hatfield Heath.

At the age of 14 he became the local butcher’s boy, delivering meat on his bike all around the town and was often given a joint of beef to take home to his mum. He was asked to become an apprentice butcher when he left school but declined this offer, because he wanted to play football on Saturdays. Instead, when he left school at 15, he became an apprentice carpenter at a local joinery. He served his apprenticeship for 3 years and had several jobs afterwards, none of which were in the trade.

He once had a position with Securicor as a dog handler, in control of a brute of an Alsatian who unfortunately bit a young lady at a pop festival he was patrolling – resulting in a police caution. He also used to patrol warehouses at night as a security guard, and in news new to me, dad was apparently a bit “light fingered” with the contents in his early days! Ironic.

Dad saw mum at a dance 1961 when she was 16, he said he just had to talk to her and that “she was beautiful”. They were married in 1969 and lived in Sawbridgeworth until 1976, when they moved here to Deopham next door to the Queen Vic Pub, which mum’s sister Pauline and her husband John had bought the previous year.

Although Dad was a man who could talk about football, cricket and sport in general until the cows came home, he was a man of very few words of endearment. On his wedding day he stood up to make his speech, he welcomed everyone, turned to mum, patted her on the head and said, “Thank you for coming” and promptly sat down again.

I’m told dad was bursting with pride when I came along in 1978, but did he ever change a nappy or do a night feed – no! Different generation, I guess.

Dad became self-employed, a jack of all trades – a master of none. His jobs included working on Banham Market on a Sunday, selling cards and gift wrap, and latterly manning the petrol station on the Hingham to Watton Road in Hackford.

An avid Arsenal supporter and still a sports lover, Dad coached Morley Youth football and played cricket and football for Deopham until he came home from playing once, threw his boots across the room and said he wasn’t going to play again – a statement all sportspeople make at some stage.

In 1997 Dad became extremely ill with Myeloma, an incurable but treatable Cancer, and was the first patient to receive a stem cell transplant at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.
At this point, aged 53, he retired – although some say he already had. He took on a paper round on his bike, helped at social events in the village and became an ‘odd job’ man at Hingham Primary School where mum worked for over 25 years, among other activities that he enjoyed……..
Oh I forgot to mention the bookies – how can I forget about the bookies given that he was very frequent punter in those days. He always used to say he was going down the bookies to see his girlfriend ‘Coral’.
During his retirement he joined several evening classes and learnt how to upholster, Ratan caning, picture framing and of course his famous glasswork – angels being his speciality, which so many friends and relatives have fondly received from him over the years.
He was truly a talented man.
After 18 months of treatment, dad went into remission.

He was a devoted family man and always looked after us, so much so that when he was giving me a driving lesson in Deopham a cattle truck drove round the bend too fast and collided with my car. Bear in mind that this was 1995; Dad proceeded to get out of my car, grab the driver and ‘politely’ say a few words. Needless to say, the driver admitted liability and the insurance paid out. (A bit of old school justice). I was also fortunate that Dad always used to watch me play men’s football home, away, come rain or shine. The lads on a Sunday, some of whom are here today always used to ask me how Dad thought they had played – half the time his comments couldn’t be repeated but I always seemed to have played well, more than likely a bit biased maybe.
When I became a Police Officer Dad was extremely proud, and in later days would tell everyone “That’s my boy, he’s in plain clothes now and does drugs!”

Mum and dad were both thrilled to become grandparents and cherished the time they spent with the grandchildren, Lilia and Evan, caravaning in Sizewell, Suffolk. The kids were reminiscing the other day about how Granddad always used to be up early with his betting slip in his hand and drag them down to the bookies to see ‘Coral’ – there’s a theme here.
Dad’s face lit up whenever he saw the kids, especially Lilia dancing and Evan playing football – he was beyond proud of them both.

A stubborn man, Dad was apparently never wrong; even on our wedding day he dinked a car in the car park at Dunston Hall, but denied it until he was blue in the face.

After 20 years of remission, which is truly amazing, dad’s cancer reared its ugly head once again in 2019.
Him and mum spent the past 6 years attending the Weybourne Day Unit at the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital on a regular basis, dad always showing a brave and positive attitude during long waits and treatment.

As a tribute from a dear friend said, “What a fantastic innings, it’s hard to believe he is finally run out”.

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