IN MEMORIAM

Irwin Alan John Lofty Grounsell.

1936 to 25th May 2012.

AAS Arborfield Intake 52A

1954	2012

Announcement posted on the A.O.B.A .Forum.

John 'Lofty' Grounsell.

by GregPeck53b » Sat May 26, 2012 8:27 am

I regret to inform the membership of the death of yet another of our ilk, word has reached me that John 'Lofty' Grounsell 52a, who resided in NSW, has passed away. John's wife Glenys passed the sad news on to Joe Plant, a former member of the boxing squad circa the early fifties and Joe informed me, I believe that Trevor has the details in full and he will no doubt add to what I have said. I do know that John had been poorly for some time and was dependent upon an oxygen bottle to maintain his mobility.

Maggie and I extend our heartfelt sympathy to Glenys and the family on their loss.

Greg Peck 53B.

The Service

Re: John 'Lofty' Grounsell.

by Trevor 52A » Mon May 28, 2012 8:51 pm

I've spoken with Glenys and she tells me that the service for John will be held at the Crematorium, Coffs Harbour, NSW on Friday 1st June at 13.30hrs, local time. I'm sure that on the day there will be a moment for us to think of John and his family at this sad time.

Trevor Stubberfield 52A.

Messages posted on the A.O.B.A. Forum

Re: John 'Lofty' Grounsell.

by Larry » Sat May 26, 2012 8:33 am

RIP John (Lofty) my thoughts are with your family

Larry Jarvis 56B.

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Re: John 'Lofty' Grounsell.

by Derek Driver » Sat May 26, 2012 11:11 am

My condolences to John's family. RIP

Derek Driver 57A.

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Re: John 'Lofty' Grounsell.

by tonywilson56b » Sat May 26, 2012 6:16 pm

Deepest condolences to John's family and friends RIP

Tony Wilson 56B.

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Re: John 'Lofty' Grounsell.

by TeeCee55A » Sat May 26, 2012 1:51 pm

Another of our past Apprentice Drum Majors now departed.

I'm sure that Trevor will be able to give an adequate remembrance of John Grounsell as he was of the same intake and is well recorded in the Pipe Band section of the '49'ers website.

I didn't know him as his div passed out to allow mine in, but certainly a well known and respected figure in Pipe Band folklore.

Your Duty done, John, stand easy.

Tony Church 55A.

A tribute to Irwin.

Very sad news that we of 52A have lost one of our leading figures and our thoughts will be with Glenys and family at this darkest of times for them.

Arborfield at large has also lost a leading figure as 'Lofty' lead the pipe band as A/DM in the early to mid 50s period.

Although known primarily as 'Lofty' and latterly 'John' his first name was actually Irwin. I didn't find out until, some 50years after saying our farewells, he got in touch from Australia. It's one of those Arborfield quirks when nicknames were used and later nobody knew what the real names were. It makes life difficult, and somewhat embarrassing when trying to hunt down lost friends, if you can't come up with a first name or even a correct initial. It’s something that ‘civvies’ have difficulty in understanding.

He was very tall and had good bearing which identified him as a potential Drum Major very early on. The jump from A/T to A/DM was too big a step so he first lead the band as a Corporal before being promoted to full Drum Major. He took delivery of the new mace for the pipe band when two were presented to the Arborfield bands.

The photos of the pipe band that have been gathered together will show just what an imposing figure John was when in the lead. They can be seen from the links at the foot of this page.

Later in life John relied on a constant supply of oxygen to aid his breathing, possibly the result of his days as a ‘Volunteer Fire-fighter’ in Australia. A great debt of gratitude is owed to such selfless people by the greater public.

Parades are over John. Thank you for brightening our lives with music. The best of memories are ours.

Trevor Stubberfield 52A.

Death is nothing at all – I have only slipped away into the next room –

I am I, and you are you – whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by my old familiar name; speak to me in the easy way which you always used.

Put no difference into your tone; wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.

Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.

Let it be spoken without effect, without the ghost of a shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant.

It is the same as it ever was; there is absolutely unbroken continuity.

What is death but a negligible accident?

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?

I am just waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner …

All is well.

“Epitaph” – Henry Scott Holland (1847-1918)

Photos can be viewed by clicking in the centre of each wreath below.

John’s Photo Album.	Pipe Band Photos.

What better way to remember John than with a full blooded version of ‘Auld Lang Syne’?