Loved forever and never forgotten – the late and great Phillip Mark Jones (1961-2022)

Without you life can never be the same again, but for those of us who became your friend our lives are 1,000 times better for having known you.

The tributes were warm and sincere when our great mate Phillip Mark Jones was laid to rest yesterday.

Mark, 61, passed away on December 8 after a short illness. Such a sudden loss of a man who loved life and gave so much to others is very hard to bear.

I had known Mark for close to 30 years. He was a former work colleague, a fellow football and music fanatic and the best friend anyone could wish for.

We were meant to meet for our fortnightly drink and gossip the night before he fell very ill. How I wish we could have shared just one more laughter-filled conversation.

Many of those present at the celebration of his life at the Denbighshire Memorial Park and Crematorium in St Asaph on Wednesday had known him much longer than I.

His beloved wife of 18 years, also childhood sweetheart Yvette, younger sister Julie and friend since school days Jeff Hughes spoke eloquently, warmly and occasionally amusingly as they recalled their treasured times with Mark.

I could only admire the strength they all showed as they shared their thoughts and feelings on the great man.

Much thanks and praise, too, to David Watson, who conducted the service so well. His words and the conviction with which he delivered them, were so well received.

Mark was a hugely proud Welshman and it was so fitting that our national anthem Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau was played as the processional (entry) music.

We then sang the beautiful and classic Welsh hymn Calon Lân before the tributes, followed by a time of reflection dedicated to think of Mark accompanied by the wonderful Kate Bush song The Man With A Child In His Eyes

Mark adored the 1970s-80s band The Jam more than any other and before committal, the song To Be Someone, chosen by Yvette and Mark’s son Michael, rang out – an especially emotional moment. One last time to say goodbye and bless his coffin part-draped in Cymru and Chester FC flags.

To Be Someone was both poignant and fitting because Mark Jones you WERE someone – someone very special who will never be forgotten and forever loved.

Yvette read out the poem Death Is Nothing At All by Henry Scott-Holland, a most apt way to end this tribute.

But be assured Mark, this is not the end. I’ll celebrate you forever. Any time I get a chance to write about you and your life on Grassroots North Wales I’ll take it mate.
There’s probably already a plethora of stories I’ve not remembered yet, but in time I will and I’ll share them……

Death Is Nothing At All
By Henry Scott-Holland

Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.

Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you,
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of 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 that 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 an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.

Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident?

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval,
somewhere very near,
just round the corner.

All is well.
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

❤❤❤❤❤