Sentiments
What I remember most about our lovely Cliff is that he was always such a hard worker. As soon as he was able to work, he got himself a paper round and when he was old enough, he had a Saturday and Sunday job cleaning cars at the local showroom. We used to have some really bad winters, but I don’t ever remember him moaning! He then worked all through his college holidays with a scaffolding company and laying concrete slabs......anything that earned him money!
It obviously paid off for how successful he became and we couldn’t have been more proud when he obtained his Masters degree and graduated from Pepperdine University. We went for just the weekend, as his Dad was working on a big film, but we wouldn’t have missed it for the world!
When the whole family went to France to celebrate his wedding to Mitra, I could see then just how happy he was with his new life in California. He later became a wonderful Dad to my beautiful Grandchildren.
I am so proud to have had such a caring, loving son who became a wonderful husband and father himself.
- Anita, Cliff’s Mother
In the Sixties, as a family we used to travel to Spain for our annual holiday. The car was a small family car gear change, no air conditioning, no power steering, with Teresa, Sarah, and Cliff in the back ( Cliff standing on the bump in the middle sometimes for a better view). The journey would take us three days; bed & breakfast for two night’s stay. On the way, the three would play games in the back, never complaining even though it was very hot for many hours. We’d have many stops for snacks and drinks and checking the toilets out (one of their favorite things to do!).
On the journey we had many dramas as in those day there were no motor ways and some roads were single lane, and few people spoke English. But Cliff and the girls took it all in stride. I worked many hours in those days but managed most years to get away for four week holidays and Anita and I and the children would start our little adventure to Spain.
Cliff and I would have been the first up in the mornings and would walk to the bakers in the port for the morning bread french sticks. Still warm, on the way back we would break the ends off and eat them; that was our treat. Wonderful days which I will treasure forever. Definitely some of the best periods of my lifetime.
God Bless you Son. You are in my heart forever xx
Terry, Cliff’s Father
I was born 3 years after Cliff, but we remained very close throughout our childhood. Despite the age gap, he never treated me as an irritating younger sister, although of course he may have thought it many times! Every week, Mum and I would go and watch him play football, playing for his team the “Addlestone Wanderers”. Odd name for a team now I think about it, but they were very good and often winning medals and trophies! I really liked football, but in those days girls weren’t allowed to play at school. Fortunately my lovely brother would let me join in with him and his friends in the garden and so developed my love of football! Every year, on FA Cup final day, we would cycle up the shops and buy lots of sweets and go home and watch the match on TV.......regardless of if our favourite teams were in the final! I always loved going in Cliff’s bedroom when he was out and I would play his records on his record player! Now whenever I hear a song by Elton John, The Who or Wings, I always think of him. Another song that reminds me of Cliff is “Vienna” by Ultravox. Every Saturday at 5pm, Cliff would come and pick my friend and I up from our Saturday job and drive us home......he was always playing that song in his Ford Escort! Shortly after I got married in 1989, Cliff went to live in Silicon Valley. Despite the distance, he still managed regular visits back to the UK and he always made us so welcome when we visited him in California. On one visit he lent Nick and I his car and all his ski gear so we could go to Lake Tahoe and ski at Heavenly. They say you can choose your friends but not your family, but I would 100% have chosen Cliff as my brother! I consider myself so lucky to have had him in my life and just so sad that he was taken from us too soon. He will forever be in my heart.
- Sarah, Cliff’s Sister
Growing up for Cliff & Sarah, with me as an older sister must have had its challenges!
My memories, when we were very young, was that I would ‘mother’ them...(not that they needed mothering from me, given we were blessed with the most wonderful Mother AND Father) but in my self proclaimed role, I remember picking them up and brushing them off when they fell off the swing or roundabout (probably as I was pushing with too much vigour!), taking over as Project Manager to improve their SandCastle building skills in Gandia and along with my cousins, lining them all up and ‘teaching’ them how to dance, or learn something which didn’t involve sport, and in which they weren’t remotely interested!
We’d spend long days together during the summer holidays (and in the back of my fathers car en-route to Spain!) and never once did Cliff argue with myself or Sarah.....Cliff always smiling, calm, never getting upset ...a path which he was to follow throughout his life
My regret, now he has been so sadly and prematurely taken from us, is that I wasn’t fully aware of all he achieved after those wonderful childhood days.
Despite visiting him many times in his glorious California, Cliff was modest beyond compare, and I was never truly aware of his accomplishments, not just in his business life, but of the amazing and deep relationships he’d formed with so many family and friends in the US.
I’d love to have heard all the anecdotes from his life in America, all the amazing sentiments his friends, family & co-workers told with such love, and to have heard of the wonderful acts of kindness Cliff performed for so many - Sadly, it was only when we lost Cliff, it became apparent, that not only had he accomplished such greatness in his career, but also just how many people’s lives he’d touched with such kindness, compassion .... and fun
But, whilst I knew he was amazing - I’m now taking comfort from the fact that he was actually even MORE amazing ..... and that makes me very proud
In his life, Cliff touched so many, but in his passing, so many lives were changed forever 💔
- Toz, Cliff’s sister
In my eyes, my dad was the perfect father. I was told it was inevitable to drift away from our parents as we entered our teenage years, but I honestly cannot remember a single moment when I felt less than 100% love for my dad. Our relationship was golden. Even though this loss is devastating for everyone my dad touched, I know that the love, wisdom, and purity my dad carried lives on in every one of us. His loving smile and unforgettable laugh will always have a special place in my heart.
- Ayla, Cliff’s Daughter
As a naive seven year old, I always thought bringing a girl scout themed build-a-bear dressed in a pink shirt and pink boots to a Target was normal. Looking back on that now as a thirteen year old, I am starting to see that my logic was flawed. But as I stroll through the aisles of that now-nostalgic Target store, I remember feeling so proud holding my dad’s hand and feasting my eyes on all the goodies to buy. My dad made me shamelessly proud of myself, no matter what crazy antics I came up with. He taught me to own my faults and embrace the embarrassing. From dressing up for themed Halloween parties to singing to random pop songs in the car, he showed us to be proud of who we are, and I will forever live with that in my heart.
- Sonya, Cliff’s daughter
My Sweet Angel
Words keep crumbling under the weight I ask of them to carry in your honor. As if I am trying to fit an ocean into a drop. How can it be done? Silence is the only space I have found to be vast enough to hold all our precious memories and pure enough to hold our truth. You are and forever will be my ocean of pure love and joy. I will savor every drop until we meet again my angel.
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If I could breathe every other breath so I could share them with you and bring you back, I would start holding my breath now my love.
- Mitra, Cliff’s wife
Cliff was my wonderful cousin, sports partner, confidante and my best friend with whom I laughed so much.
He had the unique ability to keep calm and see things clearly, no matter how stressful the situation.
I would love to hear his soothing views on the mad world we now find ourselves in.
- Darryl and Grainne, Cliff’s Cousin and his wife
We have some wonderful memories of Cliff, as a little boy, playing with Darryl. As they grew up, going camping together, getting soaking wet, tent being blown away, and still the pair of them, always laughing . When he moved to America, he would visit us, and of course still smiling, saying very little of just what he did for work. Or indeed, how talented he was. An amazing man, who will always be in our hearts forever. Here in New Zealand, we have a special place for him in our garden. That way we can talk to him. It overlooks the sea, a beautiful spot, just for him. Rest In Peace our beautiful Cliffy. Wish we could Hug you Tight.
- Pat and Jack, Cliff’s Aunt and Uncle
In the loving memory of our dear son Cliff who in our family was loved, respected and held dear as our own children.
We will never forget your loving soul, your smile, your patience, and your calm and caring presence. There is not even a moment that we don’t think about you. We are so proud that you were, although for a brief time, a part of our family. Your memory will be with us forever. While we miss you infinitely, we believe that you were not to suffer in pain and were therefore relieved from it. We love you, that’s obvious, and we are sad to lose you, but you left us the gift of two angles Ayla and Sonya, the forever love in Mitra’s heart who loves you from the bottom of her heart, and your beautiful family with whom we will always be connected in your memory. We are proud of our granddaughters who are dealing with the circumstances graciously and wisely. Love you!
- Maman, Cliff’s Mother-in-law
For the first anniversary of our dear Cliff’s passing
With humility, our dearest did not desire a ceremony after death. It was his wish that attention not be drawn.
We respect his wishes, and for this reason, we honor him through this website created by our beloved Ayla and Sonya.
Not a moment passes that our dearest Cliff is not with us, present in every breath we take.
We remember him as soft-spoken, a man of few words. Behind the stillness, he held deep understanding, enlightenment, strength, and compassion — all of which he gifted to humanity.
In this way, his thoughts, demeanor, and spirit transcend death, and remain with us for eternity.
May he rest in peace!
- Papa, Cliff’s father-in-Law
A year has gone by, each of us dealing in our own way with the deep sorrow that weighed down on our hearts heavily when you were called upon to start your flight to freedom. We cried about the change but were reminded (by Buddha) that “Everything that has a beginning, has an end. Make peace with that, and everything will be well”. These reminders and realizations didn’t take away the pain or our feeling of suffocating loss, loss of a gentle loving soul from amongst us forever (or until we meet again) but time…oh yes time heals gradually and the theater of life continues to put up a new daily show! Khalil Gibran says “Pain is the bitter poison by which the physician within you heals your sick self. Therefore, trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility; For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen, And the cup he brings, though it burns your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with His own scared tears”. So we go on….
Dearest Cliff, you left behind your footprint of ‘Love’ as a lantern to light up our way back to you. No higher state of happiness than to know that everyone loves you, really misses you and not a single person has anything unpleasant to say about you. You showed us how to live fully and harmoniously. Your angels are following in your footsteps. You’d be very proud to know that they have grown up a lot in the last year, grown into young ladies with beauty, grace, good heart, intelligence and even your British sense of humor at times😊 Till we meet again!
- Nasrin, Cliff’s Sister in Law
It was a “gift“ to know Cliff. He asked for so little, and gave so much.
How lucky can someone be to have something that makes it impossible to forget him.
What we once have enjoyed ,we can never lose as all that we love deeply become part of us. Our dear Cliff will never be forgotten 🌹❤️❤️
- Shirin, Cliff’s Sister in Law
Cliff embodies so many inspiring qualities. What resonates with me most in this moment is Cliff’s smile, his kind heart and gentle demeanor. But while his presence was quiet, it was giant. My heart still aches for our casual check-in conversations in the kitchen. In the last few months, I’ve wondered what he would have to say about our current events. What council would he offer to his two girls? What wise words would he share that would bring a sense of calm and peace? He’s sorely missed. Not only for the days that have passed so far, but for all the days that are yet to come. He’s missed and yet he’s carried in my memories and in my heart.
- Sahar, Cliff’s Niece
Cliff, many have said that you were quiet. But your absence has been loud. Maybe unconsciously, you taught us all how effortless it can be to live a life with joy. You are so missed. Love you.
- Bahar, Cliff’s Niece
Cliff,
You are the best,
You were the best,
And
You will be the best
Because what you taught me will continue to go on
And that is: Love, Peace, & Compassion.
- Brian, Cliff’s Brother-in-Law
Cliff: You enriched us with your open heart in such a short period of time and elevated many of us by your conduct showing us the way things ought to be. We miss you dearly.
- Farhang, Cliff’s Brother-in-Law
Everyone in the family always tells me that I remind them of you Cliff, well If I can grow up to be half the man you are...that would make my life. You have been the best uncle. Loving you always
- Jamie Apsey-Brown, Cliff’s Nephew
Sadly, Cliff and myself did not see much of each other over our later years, however, I have the most wonderful fun and happy memories of our younger days. Myself and my brother Mark with Mum and Dad would go to Ottershaw most weekends where we would all play in the garden and in the tree house. We would then always do a "Play" for Mum, Dad, uncle Tel and Aunty Nin. The memories of these days are priceless and will never be forgotten.
We also used to have holidays in "Gandia" in Spain where Uncle Tel would always make us do exercises on the balcony. Such fun happy days !!!!!
I was lucky enough to see Cliff and his lovely family a couple of years ago at Teresa's house where we had an amazing day although sadly, this was the last time I saw Cliffy.
Cliff truly was an amazing and lovely gentleman who will always been in my thoughts.
God Bless. All My Love
- Tracy, Cliff’s Cousin
**********sentiments from Cliff’s celebration of life**********