A funeral service was held at the East Riding Crematorium on Monday, December 17 for Mr John Burdis of Little Driffield who died suddenly but peacefully on December 8. He was 74.
The service was conducted by the Rev Malcolm Exley & the organist was Mr Peter Maw.
John was born in the Airman’s married quarters at RAF Driffield in 1938, the middle of three sons. His dad died in World War 2 and his mum died during his early teens.
He attended school mainly at Little Driffield, which he was very proud to say he attended, particularly as he spent all his married life yards away from where the school used to stand in the village, he also attended Driffield School.
He started his working life as a farm labourer (he had a lifelong love of animals). His career mainly involved driving HGV’s, finally retiring from the Yorkshire Water Authority due to ill health.
He met Pat in 1962 and they married in Skerne in 1965. They moved to the marital home in Little Driffield after watching it being built. They went on to have three children and later two grandchildren. He always considered his parents in law Mum & Dad, no longer having his own.
He was a member of the St John Ambulance and he particularly enjoyed first aiding at motor cycle meetings/road racing and rugby matches in the local area. He was also passionate about driving, it was more than a career to him. He loved animals, he had numerous pets over the years including dog, cats and keeping and breeding various breeds of birds.
He was extremely proud to be a Yorkshireman, his favourite saying was ‘Yorkshire born and proud of it’.
Chief mourners: Mrs Pat Burdis (wife), Mr Steven & Mrs Lynda Burdis, Mr Paul & Mrs Anne Burdis (sons & daughters in law), Mrs Julie & Mr Mark Hirst (daughter & son in law) also rep Ryan & Keryn Hirst (grandchildren).
Others present: Pam & Nigel Kelly, Gwendoline Cook, Philip Cook, Maurice Wilson, Pearl Mcglen rep District Nurses, Sylvia & Brian Berry, Mr & Mrs I B Broom, Simon Pryor rep Maria Pryor & Wendy Pryor, Jean Hirst, Bob & Janet Overfield, Mrs D Lacy rep Mr M Lacy, Terry & Maureen Edmond, Sybil Throp, Andrew & Janet Cage, Keith Philipson, Mr & Mrs J Corkins, Mr & Mrs F Felton, Mrs S Burdis.