Sad news: Mr Cleaver has died

[J Dyson]

Dear Friends and Neighbours,

Many of you will, over the years, have taken your cars to Cleaver's Garage in Farndon Road. 

Mr Cleaver – Robert – and his long-time partner Jean have served our community for decades. Mr Cleaver died earlier this month after a short illness – he was well into his seventies, and both he and Jean – who is nearly eighty – were, till August, still working long days fixing cars in his dad's old garage in Farndon Road. Mr Cleaver, a big wide grin on his face, would always say, "I'm not retiring! What would I do?" But they did take some time off, and go quite often at weekends to Dorset to walk the Jurassic coast that they both loved, and where I am from too, so we always had this in common. In fact one hot August weekend I was amazed to bump into them in Abbotsbury, near Weymouth. They were waiting for the Jurassic bus service to take them back to their caravan further along the coast. Hard-working folk. Simple pleasures. A rarity these days.

Over the years he and Jean became stalwarts in my life, helping out countless times with my various old cars, with the cars of friends too, and even offering to fix my bicycle at times too. Mr Cleaver always had a cheery "Hello!" and big smile, as his head emerged from inside an engine, or from under a car. He helped me find my current old car, a Ford Escort, now 23 years old, which had had the archetypal 'one careful owner'.

His funeral is being held this coming Tuesday, 31st October, at 11am in Cumnor church, St Michael's. I plan to go, so if anyone would like to come with me I think I'll be driving there.

All the best,

Julie 27

[FM RUBIN]

Julie

Thank you for that information.

I knew something wasn't right as I walked past the garage several times a few weeks ago and no activity.

(Young) Mr Cleaver helped me with my cars when I was in Oxford in the mid/late 70's. He checked over my first Morris Minor soft top...that I ultimately sold for more than I paid for it, and financed my central heating system. (to be ready for when I returned from hotter climates).

Then he serviced my next Morris Minor, but began to draw the line at a rusty Renault that I then inherited.

I had hoped he would be able to help me find a replacement for my written-off Polo....sadly not to be.

Cleavers, father and son were amiable, trustworthy and always willing to help.

FR

20

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