Mr Lionel J Meredith OH 1949-1955
Tuesday 18 May 2021
On Tuesday 18th May, Lionel John Meredith of Moreton on Lugg, sadly and suddenly died.Lionel John Meredith 6 Nov 1937 - 18 May 2021Lionel was born in Kington, Herefordshire in 1937. He grew up on a farm with his younger brothers, Terry and Robert, just over the border in Radnorshire, Wales before leaving aged 11 to board at Hereford Cathedral School.When he left school, Lionel joined Lloyds Bank in Hereford although he soon after went to complete his National Service with the R.A.F. On completion of that, he returned to the bank and found himself posted to various branches around the country. He met his first wife, Liz, on a train when he was travelling back from a Liberal Democrat dinner. They married in 1969 and had three children, settling in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire. Tragically, Liz passed away in 1982.In 1988, Lionel took early retirement from the bank and moved back to Hereford. Soon after he became a local County Councillor for the Liberal Democrats, having been an active supporter of the party for most of his life. In recognition of his service to the County the civic flags will be flown at half mast on the day of his funeral. Another great love of Lionel’s was football and he was a lifelong supporter of both Burnley Football Club and Hereford United, latterly Hereford F.C.In 1991, Lionel met, Jill at Hereford Baptist Church and after a courtship of only 13 years (!) they married in 2004. He then moved to live with Jill in Moreton on Lugg and started to take life only a little slower. Although no longer a Councillor, he remained active with the Liberal Democrats, regularly attended Hereford and Burnley’s football matches and also enjoyed going to the Races. He had a keen interest in history and the railways, was also for a time a member of the Traherne Society and remained an active member of Hereford Probus and of Hereford Baptist Church. As well as a love for his home counties of Radnorshire and Herefordshire, Lionel had a keen interest in, and affection for, Ireland and travelled there numerous times over the years. He and Jill also travelled to many Northern European countries, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. They were also members of Hereford Twinning Association, travelling to Dillenburg, Germany, many times as well as hosting return visits.In his last decade Lionel became Taid (Welsh for Grandfather) to Chelsea, Jayden and Zachary.Lionel was a straightforward man who demanded little of those around him. We shall remember his quiet, reliable presence and his kindness but also his humour and his telling us random facts and statistics about politics, football and geography! He will forever be in our hearts and memories.Helen Meredith (daughter) and Jill Meredith (wife)