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This is the tribute that David (contributions by Paul) wrote.  It was read at Dad's Thanksgiving service on November 14th.

  Here's a picture of him outside Buckingham Palace in 1955.  His mother, Ivy, had just been given an OBE.   To his right is Margaret (my mother).  Also in the picture are his sister and brother, Joan and John.

Picture of Dad and Clare circa 1995

And a picture of Dad circa 1939

Press cutting found by Peter Elliott:

"On Thursday, Commander P W Habershon, younger son of Mrs I L Habershon of The Barn Guilthwaite Rotherham set sail for the Mediterranean in H.M.S. Armada.  Commander Habershon is commander and chief engineer of a flotilla of three destroyers, H.M.S. Armada, H.M.S. St. Kitts and H.M.S. Barfleur. The ships will be in the Mediterranean for about 18 months and will be attached to the Mediterranean Fleet. On Monday Mrs Habershon left Rotherham for London where a farewell party was held for Commander Habershon, who joined the Navy in 1939, just before the war. During the war he served on various ships.  For six years now he has been commissioned in England.  Commander Habershon has four children-three sons and a daughter."  (1957)

On May 24th, 2003, various Habershons wended their way to Yorkshire to say our final goodbyes to Dad.  Not everyone could make it, mainly due to final exams, but there was a good turnout:  Jean, Sarah and Kate; David, Libby and Charlie; Paul, Nicholas and Clare; Richard, and me.  David brought Dad's ashes.  I kept the box on the chair in my hotel room overnight.  It brought back memories of those times when I'd visit England, and on the night before I left, Dad and I would go up to London for some good Indian food and to see a show.  We always stayed at the Vanderbilt and shared a room with the bathroom down the hall.  Thrifty to the end, he was!  Anyway, I hope he wasn't too horrified at my extravagent £40 room with private bath this last time.

The ashes committal service was at the church in Whiston, just outside Rotherham.  The vicar met us at the gravesite and the service was short.  We buried his ashes with his father's, mother's and brother's.  He's in a nice place with a good view of the local cricket pitch.

I don't think any of this would have happened if it wasn't for David taking charge and making sure Dad had a proper send-off.  He would probably still be at the Yeovil Crematorium -- not that there's anything wrong with Yeovil -- Dad had some major bridge victories in that town.  Thank you, David for organizing all this.  It is so good to be able to picture his final resting place in my mind.  I hope other Habershons feel the same way.

Below are some pictures of the church and gravesite.  Tacky?  I don't know.  There is another family grave further to the left.  I've put a picture of it on the Winter page.

Rest in peace, Dad.