SANDRINGHAM: Tribute paid to flower show’s ‘back room boy’
A stalwart of the Sandringham Flower Show who has been described as “one of the world’s gentlemen” has died after a long illness.
Stephen Pocklington, 70, of Harpley, passed away at his home on Thursday after suffering with cancer.
Friend and flower show chairman David Reeve paid tribute to Mr Pocklington and said: “He was kind, caring and a very genuine man who gave countless hours to the flower show. He was always well-mannered in everything he did. He was very placid and friendly, a really lovely person to work with.”
Mr Pocklington was headteacher of Sandringham and West Newton Primary School and was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order in 2011 for his work at the school.
He had been involved with the flower show for a number of years before becoming secretary to the committee nine years ago.
Mr Reeve said: “He was a man who, if there were troubled times with the flower show, he always remained calm, collected and rational.
He just took it all in his stride.
“Despite having very serious health issues he was never a man to talk about himself. Stephen was not a person who would ever say ‘why me?’ or bemoan his luck with illness.
He was talking about the flower show and other people. He was totally selfless and always thought of others.
Mr Pocklington was a keen singer and a great fan of cricket.
Mr Reeve said the flower show’s AGM yesterday evening would be very sad without Mr Pocklington and said: “He is so respected by each and every one of us. Particularly our thoughts are with his wife Jean. They were a very close, private couple.”
“He was one of those people who embedded himself in village life. He was not a man who sought praise or advertised what he was doing.
He was a true back room boy who sought no recognition but gave an awful lot.”
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 19 May 2013
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