| Location | Poole General Hospital, Poole, Dorset, England |
| Age | 78 years |
| Cause of Death | Cancer |
| Date of Birth | 27/11/1920 |
| Date of Death | 23/06/1999 |
| Visitors | 4,332 since 18/12/2008 |
| Creator |
Like Lennard Pearce, who he replaced as the senior member of the Trotter family, in the legendary BBC1 sitcom Only Fools and Horses, Buster became a household name late in his life.
Christened Harry Merryfield, he received the nickname Buster from his Grandfather, because he weighed over nine pounds at birth, and the name stuck. Buster was from a working-class background in Battersea, South London. His father, Harry Merryfield, was a packer, and his mother Lily, was a part-time waitress. Buster's sister, Irene, died in 1927 at the age of 8.
He was a keep-fit fanatic throughout his life and British schoolboy boxing Champion in 1936. Buster also was a talented amateur footballer.
After leaving school, Buster started work as a Bank clerk for the Westminster Bank (Later National Westminster). He rose through the ranks and by the time of his retirement was a Bank Manager at the Thames Ditton branch in Surrey. Buster grew a beard, and on more than one occasion, was told by his employers to shave it off. After retirement, he let it grow fully and kept it. He recalled many years later that other male members of staff also grew beards to express solidarity with himself!
Buster was called up for war service by the Army. He served with the Royal Artillery firstly as a gunner, but gained promotion to Lance-Bombardier, then Bombardier, then Physical Instructor. In March 1942 Buster was offered the chance to train as an Officer and did so. A month later, Buster married Iris Myrtle Mountford. They had a daughter, Karen. They were still married at the time of Buster's death in 1999.
In 1943 he caught Malaria and Dysentry whilst in India, but recovered.
During the war years, Buster was also a sports and entertainment officer. In 1944 he returned to England and lead a squadron shooting down V1 doodlebug flying bombs in the Autumn of that year. He was de-mobilised from the army in 1946.
Outside of work, Buster dabbled in amateur acting and dramatics as an hobby. Buster took early retirement, in 1978, at the age of 57, which allowed him to indulge in his true love; the theatre. He persuaded a repertory company to take him on. Buster performed at the Connaught theatre in London, in plays such as "A midsummer night's dream", "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat", and in "Equus" alongside Bernard Bresslaw. Also, small parts on Television came his way. Buster appeared in "Hannah" in 1980, as Professor Challis in "The Citadel" in 1983 and as a Bishop in "Strangers and Brothers" in 1984.
After Lennard Pearce, who he coincidentally starred alongside in a "Shroud For A Nightingale", died suddenly and unexpectedly in December 1984, Buster was chosen to be the Trotter brothers uncle Albert. He was seen as a bearded Baron Hardup in Christmas pantomime by a member of the Only Fools And Horses production team. Buster passed the audition, but was nervous about being accepted into such a successful series.
However, despite his early doubts and fears, he proved to be a massive success. Buster made his debut in the February 1985 episode "Strained relations". Uncle Albert had a catchphrase of "During the war" and regularly span yarns about his war service, which became a long-running gag, boring and exasperating both Del and Rodney in the process.
Uncle Albert became an integral part of the sitcom, and Buster became in demand for public appearances. He appeared as a panelist on Blankety Blank, on the Royal Variety Performance, Wogan, the Laughter Show, Bobby Davro Show, on Big Break, Noel's House Party, and pressed the button to start up the National Lottery one Saturday evening. The Only Fools and Horses series ended in February 1991, but Buster still appeared in the Christmas specials, in 1991, 1992, 1993 and in the 1996 Christmas Trilogy, and up to 1998, Buster appeared in Pantomine.
Buster called it "Magic" when people smiled at him and said "There's Uncle Albert". Like Lennard Pearce before him, Buster loved being recognised by members of the public, and was always accommodating to his fans.
Buster also did a lot of work for various charities, notably the Royal National Lifeboat Association. He wrote his autobiography, "During the War and Other Encounters" in 1996. He was also a gifted pianist in real life.
During the Spring of 1999, Buster developed a brain tumour. He was admitted to Hospital on 11th June, and died there 12 days later, with his family at his bedside.
Buster's funeral was held on 29th June. His family, friends, his agent Sandy Ross Brown, scriptwriter John Sullivan and David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, John Challis and Kenneth MacDonald (Who gave a reading) all attended. The hymn the "Old Rugged Cross" was played, and extracts were read from Buster's autobiography.
Guardian Angels
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....\..........I.I.........I..((....II....))...♫
.......\......./\I.........I..\\....II....//......♪
.........)../.../.--.__/....))==((.....♪....♫
........../.../...........I..........♪ .....♫
.............I............I............♫
.............I............I.
.............I............I
.............I............I
............/.............I
........../...............I
......../.................I
....../________.I
God gave us each an angel
To watch over us with love.
They’re always carrying messages
To Him in Heaven above.
They warn us during danger,
Encourage us to do what is right,
And will always guard and guide us,
Throughout the day and night.
God sent them to protect us,
When crisis comes our way,
And to aid us with our problems
That we encounter every day.
Thank You, my God in Heaven,
For our Guardian Angels dear.
They’re just a token of Your love
To help us overcome life’s fears.
Shirley Hile Powell
♥__LOVE CLARE__♥
Gifts From Heaven
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
A tiny golden butterfly
Perched upon my sill
His wings he fluttered gently
To give my heart a thrill.
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
On the wind I heard a song
Sung with pure delight
Trilled by a tiny bluebird
Such a lovely sight!
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
Through my window drifted
A fragrance oh so sweet
From newly blooming flowers
Came this lovely special treat.
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
I'm touched by gentle breezes
The sun warms my frame
I feel the gentle raindrops
I count them all the same.
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
They are gifts to us from heaven
To cheer us each new day
Sent by someone special
With love in every way.
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
♥__LOVE CLARE__♥
MY PERFECT STAR............
♥A BEAUTIFUL STAR IS SHINING SO BRIGHT
GIVING OFF THE PERFECT GOLDEN LIGHT
ITS BEAUTY IS THERE FOR ALL TO SEE
STARDUST IS FALLING FROM THE SKY FOR ME♥
___________________♥___________________
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_♥~00000000000_$$$$$$$$$_00000000000~♥_
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__♥_________________________________♥_
♥I KNOW I CAN SMILE WITH SHEER DELIGHT
FOR THAT IS MY ANGEL WHO IS SHINING BRIGHT
WATCHING OVER ME AS THE DAY TURNS TO NIGHT
THAT PERFECT STAR WILL ALWAYS SHINE BRIGHT.♥
copyright� Rosalind Roberts 28/5/2010
♥__LOVE CLARE__♥
JUST A FEW WORDS OF LOVE........
...,•’``’•,• ’``’•,
.....’Åℵℊℯℓ’.'
........`’•,,•’`
JUST A FEW WORDS OF LOVE FROM MY HEART
IT IS SO HARD LIVING TWO WORLDS APART
EVERY DAY MY HEART BREAKS A LITTLE MORE
WHEN I WANT TO SHARE MY DAYS WITH THE ONE I ADORE
JUST A FEW WORDS I HOPE YOU CAN HEAR THEM TOO
ALWAYS AND FOREVER MY HEART BELONGS TO YOU
I MISS YOU MORE THAN A FEW WORDS CAN SAY
WISHING SO MUCH THAT YOU WERE STILL HERE TODAY
JUST A FEW WORDS THAT ARE FROM ME TO YOU
SOME DAYS IT IS SO HARD KNOWING JUST WHAT TO DO
I PROMISED YOU THAT I WOULD TRY TO STAY STRONG
BUT YOU SHOULD STILL BE BY MY SIDE WHERE YOU BELONG
FORGIVE MY WHEN YOU SEE ALL THE TEARS THAT FALL
WITHOUT YOU HERE I JUST WAIT FOR YOUR CALL
I KNOW I WILL JOIN YOU IN HEAVEN ONE DAY
JUST A FEW WORDS OF LOVE I WANTED TO SAY.......
copyright� Rosalind Roberts 26/5/2010
♥__LOVE CLARE__♥
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ~♥x♥~ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ♥NITE
┊ ┊ ┊ ♥NITE
┊ ┊ ♥SWEET
┊ ♥DREAMS
♥ANGEL
"Heaven's Precious Angel"
I have faith that you have now gone to a better place,
and been given eternal life, by the hand of God's grace.
But I find it heartbreaking to no longer have you here,
although I know in my heart, you'll always be very near.
God knew the time had come to call you back home;
your body was tired, and couldn't function on it's own.
He called you back home again to make you whole,
but He left me the precious gift, of your beautiful soul.
His Angels took you away peacefully without any pain;
a true blessing we all received, in God's loving name.
When your time arrived and you could no longer stay,
God gave us the time, for the words we needed to say.
Difficult to accept that it was time for us to say goodbye,
and my heart aches deeply, along with all the tears I cry.
Yet I know God opened His arms to welcome you home,
and as my precious Angel in Heaven, I'll never be alone.
�Pamela Hall ~Angel of the Heart~
♥__LOVE CLARE__♥
EE YOU AT HEAVENS GATES.........
♥...+...♥...+...♥...+...♥...+...♥...+...♥
./\...._
(...\.( ). *
(._Y..\/
.... /__\
.....././
ONE DAY I WILL SEE YOU AND HOLD YOU SO CLOSE TO ME.
*ღ..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........ღ*
THERE WILL BE SMILES ALL AROUND AND NO-MORE MISERY
*ღ..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........ღ*
FOR I WILL BE WITH THE ONE THAT I LOVE AND ADORE
YOU WILL BE THE ONE WHOS WAITING WHEN I KNOCK ON HEAVENS DOOR
*ღ..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........ღ*
YOU ARE STILL MY WORLD YOU MEAN SO MUCH TO ME
ONE DAY WE WILL BE TOGETHER WE SHALL BOTH BE FREE.
*ღ..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........ღ*
THERE WILL BE NO MORE OF THIS HEARTBREAK NO MORE PAIN.
*ღ..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........ღ*
I WILL BE WITH THE ONE I LOVE ONCE AGAIN
MY ANGEL WAS TAKEN FROM ME WAY BEFORE TIME.
*ღ..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........ღ*
I USED TO FEEL MY ANGELS HEARTBEAT SO VERY CLOSE TO MINE.
*ღ..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........ღ*
ONE DAY I WILL BE WITH YOU WHEN I HEAR YOU CALL OUT FOR ME.
*ღ..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........ღ*
AT HEAVENS GATES MY ANGEL WILL BE THE FIRST ANGEL THAT I SEE........
copyright� Rosalind Roberts 27/4/2010
*ღ..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........ღ*
♥__LOVE CLARE__♥
2.5.2010
♥__GOOD MORNING ANGEL__♥
A Very Special Angel--
Came By To See Me One Day--
She Looked Me In The Eyes--
And Said Listen To What I Say--
I Know Your Sad And Lonely--
Your Heart Is Full Of Pain--
I Have Something To Tell You--
This Is Why I Came--
I Know You Lost Your Loved One--
I Know Your Very Sad--
But Your Loved One Is Happy--
And Now They Feel So Bad--
Your Loved One Wants You To Be Happy--
To Live Again Once More--
Smile And Be Happy--
You've Heard Of Heavens Door?--
This Is Where They'll Meet You--
When Your Time On Earth Is Through--
With Open Arms They'll Embrace You--
What I Say Is True--
They'll Always Be Beside You--
In Everything You Do--
Please Listen To What I Say To You--
For What I Say Is True--
Written By Jayne M Roddy
♥__LOVE CLARE__♥
..It Only Takes a Memory
∗.⋆. .⁂...*.*.∗.*.*...⁂. .⋆.∗
I cry for you each night and day
Im sorry, i just do
For it only takes a memory
And my heart aches more for you
∗.⋆. .⁂...*.*.∗.*.*...⁂. .⋆.∗
Sometimes it hurts me so bad
Where i just cant take no more
To me life is so cruel
Everyday feels like a chore
∗.⋆. .⁂...*.*.∗.*.*...⁂. .⋆.∗
Before i go to bed at night
I always kneel and pray
Please take away the pain i feel
And help me through another day
copyright� Vicky Deaville
∗.⋆. .⁂...*.*.∗.*.*...⁂. .⋆.∗
♥__LOVE CLARE__♥
♥_Miss Me - But Let Me Go_♥
*ღ.......*ღ*.......*ღ*.......*ღ*.......ღ*
When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me,
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room,
Why cry for a soul set free.
*ღ..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........ღ*
Miss me a little, but not too long,
And not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love that we once shared,
Miss me, but let me go.
*ღ..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........ღ*
For this journey that we all must take,
And each must go alone.
It's all a part of the Master's plan,
a step on the road to home.
*ღ..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........ღ*
When we are lonely and sick at heart,
Go to the friends we know,
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds,
Miss me, but let me go.
*ღ..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........*ღ*..........ღ*
♥__LOVE CLARE__♥
★....★....★....★....★....★....★....★.......★
★... Goodnight ★ Beautiful ★ Angel... ★
★....★....★....★....★....★....★....★.......★
We gaze up at the dark night sky ★
We see a star that twinkles ★
With everlasting light ★
Shining down from heaven ★
All through the night ★
Twinkling and glowing for us to see ★
Our precious angel watching over you and me ★
Sweet dreams precious angel ★
Copyright� Leza 9/4/2010
♥__LOVE CLARE__♥
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