In Memory of Stephen Bennett

Please send your comments to be added onto this memorium page

I am so sorry to hear of Stephen's passing. Though I had never met him personally, he lent a lot of support towards my piano playing through my Youtube site. My condolences to all of Stephen's family & friends.

Mike Woollett

Australia

From Paul Ludbrook

Dear friends,

Thank you so very much for all your kind tributes to Stephen. I have found them of great help & support although I'm at the same time saddened .Stephen was a truly loving & kind person & the 10 years we were together were the happiest of my life .The qualities that shone from him lightened up my life & all those that met him. He was so proud to have had George Logan play on his piano during the H&B weekend . I know he worked hard to organise that special weekend & I'm sure all of you who attended would agree it was an outstanding success.

I miss him so much & even now I can't believe he's gone but his presence is all around me & the love everyone has shown me has helped me come to terms with my loss

Thank you Paul for setting up the tribute page on the website & the thoughtfulness of contacting LBC & the sound clip.

Much love to you all & a very BIG heartfelt thank you

Paul

Paul, I am still in shock after hearing the news yesterday.
Stephen was a lovely guy and you were both great together.
It was lovely staying with you both in 2004 when we had the Hinge and Bracket weekend and I just have to say a huge massive thank you to you both for all the hard work in arranging it.

Myself and Ryner send our condolences and hugs to you, as do Frank and Bill, Paul and Malcolm, Linda and Peter, and Richard who knew Stephen for many years.

I just can't believe why someone so nice and genuine is taken from us all.

You've got my number if ever you need anything I'm just a call away, you know that.
Love

Paul & Ryner
Xxx

HI Paul,

I just can't believe that Stephen had died, we only met him at the Buxton get together, but found him a lovely man, with so much knowledge of all the interesting characters of British entertainment.

When we didn't make the gathering at his house one evening, he invited us specially to visit one afternoon.

Being something of a hoarder, we still have paperwork for the Buxton weekend.

Would like to have any news of what happened.

Best wishes from Frank and Bill

Dear Paul,

So sad to hear of this - it was kind of you to let me know.

I remember that they were a very close couple and Paul must be devastated.

It's a big shock about Stephen, he was a lovely man.

Love Linda & Peter

Please pass on our condolences

Malcolm & Paul

Dear Paul, and Everyone else,

How sad and shocked I am am to hear of Stephen's death.

I had known Stephen for over 20 years since the days when he was a partner in a Player-Piano business in Slough. We rather lost touch when the business closed down and Stephen moved away from London. We renewed our friendship earlier this year when we discovered we were both members of the H & B Fan Club.

I stayed with Stephen and Paul back in March when I had to go to Derbyshire on business. We all spent a lovely evening together, consuming a few bottles of wine, listening to piano music and watching old film clips.

Like you, I cannot believe he has gone. A sharp reminder of our own mortality.......

Rest in peace Stephen.

Sincerely,

Richard

Hi Everyone

I just wanted to drop by and say how sorry I am to hear the sad news about Stephen Bennett. My heart goes out to Paul at this time.

No words can ever ease the pain, I know as I have been there and lost a loved one....however our thoughts and love are with you as this very sad time.....We are all here for you Paul, please know that we feel your loss. Be strong and remember the good times.

God bless

Lana xx

Really sad news Paul.

Stephen wrote to me out of the blue and offered to copy his 12 episodes of The Good Old Days onto three DVDs for me which he did. They have given us all so much pleasure and it was such a kind thing to do. Special thoughts are with Paul, he is really going to be missed.

Love Doris

Lovely gesture and message, Paul, well done.

Like a lot of us, almost everything I know about Stephen is from the last few days, but he looks indeed to have been a kind-hearted, humorous and lovely man. And - I'm sure he'd be chuffed no end to be immortalized on the website of the artistes he admired so much!

Isabel

Hi Paul,

That is such a lovely idea sending flowers. Although I never met Stephen, from all the messages that have been sent, he sounded to be a really lovely guy. Such a sudden and sad loss – why is it that the good are always taken far too soon.

My thoughts will be with you all today at the funeral.

My best wishes go with you.

Ann

Dear Paul,

such sad news about Stephen. We'll be thinking about you both tomorrow and particularly at 1pm. Lovely to talk to you (Paul Ludbrook) on the phone the other night. Will be great to see you in the next couple of weeks. RIP Stephen, gone, far too young x x x

Stu and John

Paul,

I never met or corresponded with Stephen but would like to offer my condolences to those who did.

Anne

So sorry to hear of the death of Stephen.

Ruth

Dear Paul D

Peter and I have just got home from the funeral.

It was a most beautiful occasion, as befitted such a lovely charming man. If I understood correctly, Stephen had chosen the poems and music himself and discussed the details with Marge Rose from the Humanist who took the service.

The songs were all by Ivor Novello, and there were two poems, both incredibly moving, All is Well by Canon Henry Scott Holland, and Remember Me When I am Gone Away by Christina Rossetti.

I was tightly hugged by Paul who remembered me from the Buxton week-end.

Although a funeral, it was a wonderful tribute to Stephen, who was the most charming and kindly man. We are the poorer for his passing, and my thoughts are with Paul as he rebuilds his life.

I've saved you a copy of the service sheet, for the archives

I thought you probably wouldn't make it - it was short notice for work etc, and it took us over 2.5 hours, and we are a LOT nearer than you. I felt privileged to be able to represent us all, - I would love to see you again though!

Paul was so dignified also, and I was really pleased to hear they had been able to have a civil partnership, albeit from Stephen's hospital bed. I imagine he has some very hard times ahead. Apparently he was with Stephen when he died and had been at his bed side for most of his illness, so Stephen had the comfort of being with the person he loved best in the world. It's a shattering loss though, and we always meant to go and see them, and of course, never did.

Take care and don't be sad.

Love and hugs from Linda xx