January 12, 1932 – June 24, 2021
It is with profound sadness that we advise that our Dad, Graham John Beaman passed away peacefully after a very short illness on Thursday, June 24th
At his home on St Andrew’s Drive, Blair Estates.
Predeceased by his loving wife Lillian (Lil)
Formally of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, he arrived in The Bahamas in August of 1955 to take up a position at The Balmoral Hotel. It was a three year contract. After being here less than eighteen months, he met Lillian Knowles at an RAF function and shortly after they were married. He worked out his contract and remained in The Bahamas up until his death.
Our Dad loved The Bahamas, the weather – it was never too hot for him, the sea and the way of life. He especially loved Long Island where our Mother is from. He loved the people the remoteness, the climate, the hills; he couldn’t get enough of Long Island. He would take off early in the morning exploring in the bushes, finding wild orchids , digging up old bottles and broken crockery from the earlier settlers – he would order books to try and identify what he found to establish a time frame, he just loved every visit there . He had an avid interest in photography, and on one particular visit took an amazing photo of sheet lightening and received a special mention from The National Geographic Magazine.
He kept himself busy with many hobbies – he collected Bahamas stamps and has a huge cataloged collection – wherever he travelled in the world he would try and seek out stamp fairs and go along to see if he could increase his collection and many times he did!
Our parents moved to Freeport for twelve years up until their retirement. He worked at The Princess Casino and had very fond memories of his time there, and the friends he made. He also said that was the best job he had ever had – he enjoyed his work and the Freeport community.
Of course his main love was his birth home. He loved Shrewsbury and would tell anyone who would listen all about his love of the hills and mountains and fields and about his up bringing. He enjoyed the countryside and could identify all wild shrubs and flowers all surrounding landmarks and villages – He was very patriotic and proud of his heritage. Dad enjoyed singing; he was in his church choir as a young boy, and also in the Royal Air Force choir during his National Service. As a boy, he was interviewed for a position with the St Paul’s Cathedral choir in London, passed the test, but was just a year too old to take up the position. We often talked about how different his life would have been should he had pursued that opportunity.
He lived through the Second World War as a minor and had many stories to share of his experiences. He held a special love for his Mum as they spent so much time together during the war whilst his father and older brother were working around the clock; driving trains either full of passengers or ammunition.
He loved and enjoyed all things English especially a half pint of best lager, fish and chips and his favorite, Cadbury’s Dairy Milk.
We visited his home every year up until the pandemic hit and on each day leading up to a trip he was excited as if it was his first.
Dad loved his adopted Bahamian family immensely – he had so many brothers and sister in laws, plus nieces and nephews – he just enjoyed them all. Dad was full of humor, always finding the lighter side of life – joking about everything with a subtle English humor.
Dad was a gentle, quiet, private person never loud or drawing attention to himself – he adored his children as well as his wife. He provided a stable loving home environment for us to enjoy. Every weekend when he was off work, our home was filled with beautiful music of the popular artist of the day. He loved his music and anywhere we travelled, we had to find a music store so he could browse and pick up what music he didn’t have. He spent every minute with us as children – he helped to fill our lives with the understanding that families stay and make memories together. We enjoyed the beach every Sunday, or a soccer match on Ft Charlotte – he took us to visit English ships and submarines when docked, he taught us to love and respect all things, especially the wild and animals.
A major influence in both our lives – he taught us so many things as he was always with us – he was our security and along with our Mother we were his life.
We knew as soon as Mum left us last year, it would not be long. He was lonely without her as they would talk for hours and hours about any topic. They were each other’s companions.
Last Thursday, June 24th, 2021 at 4 pm he closed his eyes for the final time.
He is survived by his son Peter, and his daughter Heather.
Family and friends in England, Michael Beaman, Robert Beaman, Claire Beaman and Ruby and Max Beaman.
Special friends Peter and Vida Cowlishaw, and Neil and Freda Gourlay.
Family in Nassau, brother in law Edward Knowles and many, many nephews and nieces and extended family.
Also his companion and protector our pet Soho.
Many thanks to Dr Agreta- Eneas Carey, Nurse Clarke, Nurse Chantelle Brown and Samuel Strachan. Special thanks to Nina Bent-Smith who loved and cared for our Dad like her own.
It was his wish to be cremated and his ashes scattered over his beloved Shropshire, which will be done at a later date.
| They may own castles on the banks of the Rhine where you hire an orchestra each evening at nine – but richer than I they will never be…. I had a dad who spent time with me. |
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