ALBERT EDWARD JOHNSON

Transcription

1 A Tribute To ALBERT EDWARD JOHNSON ( ) Albert was born in Birkenhead on 31 st January 1936 to Albert and Dora. He was the second son of three boys: Les, the eldest, died as a baby in 1937; and Robbie, the youngest, died in Following time as a wartime evacuee, Albert returned to Birkenhead and joined the Merchant Navy at fourteen without completing his education. When he was seventeen, Albert met and fell in love with Valerie Stuart. Val was Albert s first and only true love and they married in Our Lady s Church, Birkenhead, on 15 th February Albert and Val were not just husband and wife; they were also best friends and life-long partners. In February of this year, they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Their daughter, Tracey, was born in 1964, but sadly two further children both died soon after birth. Devastated by their loss, Albert decided to resign from the Merchant Navy to be close to his wife. Albert tried several different labouring and driving jobs until he gained employment at Whitbreads, a local brewery, for whom he worked for the next twenty-five years. In the early 1980s he took a redundancy package from the brewery and tried his hand at several self-employed occupations, including taxi driving, before starting work at Birkenhead Technical College. He retired from there in the early 1990s, aged fiftyfive. In 1991, Albert and Val s granddaughter, Daisy was born, bringing great joy and pleasure to the doting grandparents. Albert was especially fond of Daisy and fully encouraged and supported her blossoming singing career. He arranged and attended many of her live performances. In 2002, a grandson, Calum, was born bringing further joy and happiness to Albert and Val. The year 1992 brought a new twist in Albert s life. After winning some money on the horses, he bought a gold watch from a jewellery shop in Wallasey, as an investment for his granddaughter. The so-called Maybrick Watch took Albert into the world of Ripperology and although it brought an element of controversy into his life, it also brought new friendships with researchers, writers and publishers who shared an interest in solving the most infamous of murder cases. Albert always believed the watch to be genuine and he proved his own personal honesty by not only allowing the watch to be scientifically tested, but by actually paying for the tests himself. Albert s

2 brother, Robbie, was a key support to him at this time. Albert adored his brother and he was devastated when he was tragically killed in In early summer 2008, Albert found out that he had cancer and that he had only three months to live. The news was both shocking and unexpected. He spent the final weeks of his life in his home in Wallasey under the loving care of his wife and daughter. He died in October. His funeral mass on 29 th October was held in the same church in which he had been married some fifty years earlier. Albert lived a full and active life. He was a great raconteur and he could keep his family and friends totally enthralled with stories of his life at sea. Although he travelled the world, Albert was first and foremost a family man and his favourite sight was the view of his beloved Birkenhead and Liverpool as his ship entered the Mersey after a long voyage around the globe. Albert was a man of many talents, though he also enjoyed the simple things in life such as a drink, especially a glass of his favourite tipple, Bell s Whisky. He loved music and could cut a dashing figure on the dance floor. He enjoyed a flutter on the horses. His coffin was even decoratively painted to show a lively horseracing scene. However, there was far more to Albert than just these activities. He was an intelligent and creative man with a wide range of interests and past-times. He was a talented and prolific poet. He was not afraid to show his feelings and his poems were unashamedly emotional, full of love, affection and poignancy. Albert was also a skilled oil painter. Albert was a spiritual man who believed in God. He had a clear sense of morality and was a man of his word. He was kind, caring and compassionate. He was a true gentleman and he will be very sadly missed by all who knew him. By Chris Jones and including words and thoughts from the tributes made by Val, Tracey and some of Albert s friends at his funeral The Thoughts of Shirley Harrison Since the controversial Diary of Jack the Ripper landed on my desk fifteen years ago, my address book has burst its overloaded seams, stuffed with the names of the dozens of colourful characters who have crossed my path. In the search for the truth about James Maybrick I have met amiable eccentrics, scientists, police officials Ripperologists of all kinds.american, Spanish, French and German, genuine researchers, sceptical, vicious critics, sometimes ranting, sometimes even libellous. I have made friends and enemies too. But of them all Albert Johnson shines out as a constant star. A truly honest man. He brought the now famous Maybrick watch to London in 1993 and from that day I met him many times in many different circumstances. He was a gentleman, in what turned out to be an often murky world.

3 Albert bought the watch originally as an investment for his granddaughter he was at first innocent of the enigmatic engraving within its case - J. Maybrick I am Jack. But once my book was published and the world learned of the discovery of the Maybrick Watch, Albert was subjected to unending and sometimes cruel crossexamination. He bore it all with good humour - always ready to attend functions, meet the press and put the watch though forensic tests. Like the rest of us he wanted to know the truth. He was offered a great deal of money for his watch but only recently, when he was ill, did he seriously consider selling. Together with his devoted wife of 50 years, Val, Albert was welcome wherever he went. Everyone liked and trusted him and our gatherings will just not be the same without his kindly genial humour. Albert Johnson - Gentleman and Gentle Man Some memories from Caroline Morris Every now and then you may be lucky enough to meet someone whose smile can warm the chilliest day and light up the dullest one. Kind, selfless and unfailingly good-humoured, Albert was one such person and I consider myself fortunate indeed to have enjoyed his company on a number of occasions over the last seven years. The first time I took my husband to Liverpool to meet Albert and his wife Val, Albert popped into the bookies and when he emerged he insisted on treating us to a Chinese meal with his modest winnings. Later that night Albert took us dancing in Lime Street and that man could dance the night away and leave us all exhausted. Behind the twinkling eyes and dancing feet was a sincere and sensitive soul who felt very deeply about life and love and treating others as he would wish to be treated. Albert was utterly devoted to his family and would tell Val how much he loved her every day of their married life. He was the kind of man who would take nothing and no one for granted and was thankful for the smallest of mercies. I only saw Albert get upset when he perceived that someone else was hurting or being treated unfairly. There was never a trace of self-pity. This is how I will remember Albert: sunny smile, dancing feet, warm heart and generous soul.

4 Spirits of Free Enterprise Albert Johnson [With kind permission of Val Johnson] I seem to be floating and so very light, Suspended at some height. I descend to the quay wall, Mum, Dad, I call. There are many people about. No one seems to hear, no matter how loud I shout. I see my Mum, and seem to float to her shoulder, Tears run down her face, why does she look so much older. I am by your shoulder Mum dear, You do not seem to see or hear. I talk to you with no response, Please Mum answer just once. My heart is breaking seeing her tears, Please tell me why, to stop my fears. Why do my words not get through to you, No matter what I try to do. You are cold and wet Mum dear, You must get dry and warm, Please, Please, Mum hear. I try to wipe away her tear, She may see me more clear. Where is Dad Mum, I cannot see him anywhere, He would not leave us, because of the love we share. I look around and see faces I have seen before, It seems only seconds ago I was on the Ship, now on the shore. What happened as I held each hand, We were listening to the ships radio band. I felt the ship sideways tilt, Then I seemed to be sucked down into silt. Now here I am by your side, Watching the tears down your face so quickly slide.

5 I feel a touch and turn my head, Joy, Someone has heard what I have said. My eyes brim with tears, As if I had not seem him for years and years. My heart was so glad, Where have you been My Dad, My Dad. He held me to him in strong embrace, As the tears ran down his face. Not a word he said, In his arms all my fear was shed. He gently pushed me from him, and looked me in the eye. My Son, My Son, why so young in years that you had to die. Do not be silly Dad dear, Being so young I will not die for many a year. Many people young and old gathered, and heard what was said, Someone old came, and stroked my head. It is true little boy, all that your Dad has said, My Dad whispered, they are also dead. I cannot understand, is it because I am so young, And to my Dad I tightly clung. To die, did I tell some lie, I said with sobbing sigh. You are with me now my Son, you will never again be alone, Such a little boy, you have no sins to atone. So young you have never thought really bad, Sins you know nothing about, being such a little lad. I still could not believe as I looked into Dads face, To leave life so young, it must be some mistake. My Son, My Son, I do not lie, Today many souls were taken to the sky. Now stop the tears, do not cry he said aloud, Come let us sit on that big white cloud. I will fill your heart so full of joy it glows, And I will slide you down all the rainbows.

6 Now we will both kiss Mums cheeks and make them glow, And with these kisses, she will feel we love her so. Now whisper, I Love you Mum, Before I take you for a walk around the sun. We will roam the sky, holding each others hand in play, As we look down on Mum each hour of every day. We will help to stop her tear, With whispers of love, to let her know we are near. We will be together again, And the life we had together will be the same. We will travel together to the vast beyond to meet our Christ, Who will take us all to paradise.