Family mourns dad’s death

The grieving family of a popular St George’s man yesterday paid tribute to him as their ‘rock’.

Graham Spurling died after getting into difficulties while swimming on Ferry Reach last Thursday afternoon.

His devastated wife, Joan, said the couple’s daughter, Mellissa, was the apple of her father’s eye and her husband had always been there for his family.

Mrs Spurling, who met her husband when she visited Bermuda from New Jersey in 1986, told the Bermuda Sun: “He was such a kind, humble and gentle man.

“That was what first attracted him to me.

“He was a thoroughly good person and something told me right when I first met him that this was the man for me.”

The couple were married at Christ Church in Warwick on June 21, 1987, and lived in St George’s near Mr Spurling’s parents, Burnelle and Frances, and the rest of his family.

Mrs Spurling said: “Graham was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease around 18 years ago.

“But despite everything he was always so brave. He always remained positive and upbeat.

“He always showed huge courage and dignity, and he always put his family and his friends first. Melissa was his pride and joy.”

Earlier this year the family travelled to the UK and Italy to visit old college friends of Mr Spurling, as well as the university where his daughter was studying.

Mrs Spurling said: “It was the first holiday where we had been able to do whatever we wanted to as a family because of his Parkinson’s. Graham met school friends he had not seen for decades and saw where Melissa was at university.

“He loved Italy and loved the way of life. We were already talking about going again.”

Melissa, 23, who is currently studying Law in the UK, added: “My dad always told me I could do anything I wanted to and he taught me everything I know.

“He helped me learn to swim, to ride my bike and to sail. 

“He would help me with my math’s homework.

“He was always there for me and had so much patience.”

Mr Spurling was born in St George’s and grew up in the Ferry Reach area with his brother, Keith, and sister, Sally Walsh.

He attended St George’s Grammar School before graduating from Saltus and moving to the UK to study at St Paul’s university in Cheltenham. He returned to Bermuda and taught at St George’s Secondary School and Whitney Institute before moving to the Bank of Bermuda, where he worked for more than 35 years before retiring.

The 61-year-old had been out kayaking last Thursday when he pulled his kayak up at Ferry Reach to take a swim.

Two members of the public rushed to his aid when he got into trouble, but they were unable to resuscitate him.

Keith Spurling told the Sun that his brother knew the waters of Ferry Reach like the back of his hand and had swam there thousands of times since he was a child growing up in the family home near the BIOS station.

He added: “Graham lived his life in St George’s.

“He loved swimming and being in the water. He loved to be outside, but was very much a home person. He was devoted to his family and was surrounded by a very strong family support system.” 

Close friends of Graham Spurling have described him as a devoted family man with a heart of gold.

Clem Talbot, who worked with Mr Spurling at the Bank of Bermuda, said he was a ‘quiet giant of a man’.

While David Peniston told the Bermuda Sun that if you looked up the word ‘decent’ in the dictionary you would find a picture of Mr Spurling.

The 61-year-old’s friends were last night united in grief after his sudden and tragic death last week.

Mr Talbot added: “I had known Graham for nearly 40 years since we met at the bank. He was almost like a brother to me and we would meet up every week for lunch. I don’t think anyone would say a bad word about Graham.

“I would often bounce ideas and speeches off Graham when I needed to listening ear.

“He was an extremely special person who is going to be very much missed.

“He was quite unassuming, but had a heart of gold. He was very family orientated and loved his daughter, Melissa.

“I will remember Graham as a quiet giant of a man and someone I could always go to for advice.”

Mr Peniston had known Mr Spurling for more than 20 years, and the two men’s daughters attended Bermuda High School for Girls together.

He said: “You could travel the length and breadth of Bermuda and you would not be able to find someone who would say a bad word about Graham Spurling.

“He coped with Parkinson’s disease very bravely and kept on moving forward.

“I never heard him complain once. He just got on with his life.

“He was one of the most unassuming, kind people I have known and it is so sad that he has gone.

“My thoughts are with his family at this time.”