Saint John’s Church was packed on Wednesday 27th March, as people from all walks of life came to pay tribute to Vernon Chapman.
His key involvements in projects such as the Eldon Community Centre or the Millennium arches here in Shildon; the transformation of the Civic; being Santa Claus for so many years down at the Civic; being a school governor at Timothy Hackworth; being on the Town Council, District Council, County Council, and being made Alderman in honour of his many good works was paid tribute to during the service by both friends and relatives.
His dedication, and the many projects that he put his hand to, were, it was said, not because he cared about the projects as such, but because he cared about the people whose lives such projects would improve.
Vernon was a North East man through and through, born in Bishop Auckland, growing up as one of ten. Going to school in Bishop he left to work as a butcher at fifteen, before joining the DLI and becoming one of the youngest Bugle Majors ever. He played the last post in Durham Cathedral on Remembrance Day when only 19 years-old.
It was through the military that he met the lady destined to be his wife, Agnes, meeting through the TA and subsequently getting married at Saint Andrew’s, down the hill at South Church, in late March 1963.
And he was, one of his long-time friends said, “quite simply a kind man”. Being a convenor in the GMB union was part of that expression of caring too, for his Union work, like his council work, was a commitment of years. Whether it was his involvement the Daily Mirrors ‘Splat the VAT’ campaign, or his determination back in 2005 to see the Shildon People’s Centre thrive despite funding issues, Vernon was always trying to make a difference.
Even in recent months as his health deteriorated he would still be out, doing as much as he could.
Reverend David summed up the service by saying that, “We have been blessed to have a man of Vernon’s commitment and determination in our community looking out for us, he will, be much missed!”
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
