NEIL MEREDITH
17 November 1955 – 22 July 2003

“A life too short for a man of such worth” Barry Cornes

On behalf of the NASC I would like to thank you all for the wonderful tributes you have paid to Neil Meredith. I know Liz has been totally overwhelmed by your many kindnesses.

Neil’s funeral was unlike any I have ever attended. Of course there were many tears and much sadness, but shining through all that was a sense of celebration and warm humour that I am sure Neil would have approved of. Most moving for me was to see Liz set aside her own deep and personal grief to enable her to enter into the spirit of the day, because that’s what Neil would have wanted her to do. You did him proud Liz.

I lost count of the number of times I heard the words ‘Neil would have loved it.’ What he would have loved most I think, is that you demonstrated so openly that there beats an enormous heart underneath all this steel and chrome, and ‘weird and wacky lifestyle’ we call Rodding. Neil would, I know, have been very proud but humbled that you chose to show that heart for him and Liz, just as he was when you all made donations towards the gift of their car, and all the other kindnesses you have shown to them in these last few months.

Neil Meredith was the best thing that ever happened to the NASC. His dedication and enthusiasm knew no bounds, and that he will be sorely missed, goes without saying. On a personal level, tackling this job without the guidance and support of the man I both loved and respected, will be a daunting task. It is a measure of his selflessness that these last few months have been a race against time to provide me with as much knowledge as possible, he also passed on his hopes and dreams for the NASC, many of which I share - but sorry mate, I just can’t bring myself to spearhead the campaign to bring Tom Jones back to the Nats.

We opened a book of condolences at Kings Lynn on the 22nd of July, which will close at the same show next year and be presented to Liz. It will be available on the NASC stand. If you have already contributed to the various websites, Barry will be printing these and including them in the book - along with the many emails he has received. If anyone else has any received emails that they would like included please forward them to: bcornes@ntlworld.com

I will leave you with the words we wrote on the NASC floral tribute:

You can remember him and only that he has gone.
Or you can cherish his memory and let him live on.

Mark Ashman