This was read at Andy's funeral, I hope it gives an insight into what a fantastic man he was, brave, funny, loving, caring, sensitive. My best friend described him as a softmint, hard on the outside, but a softy on the inside. Andy was not a religious man. Wherever he has gone to, we hope that he is happy and at peace. We hope that he has gone to a better place and been reunited with the loved ones and friends, who have gone before him – especially, his Dad. Andy was a man who enjoyed his life. Therefore, we should be thankful for the life he lived…and shared…with the family and friends he loved so much. We can’t do Andy full justice in the short time we have today – but we’ll give it a try…and recall, what it was, that made Andy – Andy. Quite often, actions speak louder than words. The sheer numbers of you here today and the support, kind words and actions which Lynne and also Andy’s family have received, only goes to show, what Andy meant to you all. So I hope today’s service will help stir your own memories – of Andy Judd. And now, it’s time to clear your throats…and sing like Harry Secombe, as we sing our first hymn – Morning has broken, which is hymn number 490 in the blue hymn book. Andy Judd was born in Middlesbrough – he was a Berwick Hills lad – a true boro lad, born and bred. Andy was the youngest of the 4 Judd brothers – and no doubt he got all the hand-me-down’s from Paul, Garry and Ray! – the ones from Paul would have probably come back in fashion by that time! Andy went to Berwick Hills Primary and then on to Langbaurgh School. I think it’s fair to fair to say that school wasn’t really for Andy. One report read… “Andrew is a pleasant member of the class….when he is here!”. The best thing about school for Andy, was most likely…the hot dinners…and playing footy for the school team! The Judd household also included several dogs. Andy’s dog was Sam, and the two were inseparable. When Andy was still at home, big brother Ray, had a Doberman called Max. In Beverley Hills, they made a film about the Grinch who stole Christmas….well in Berwick Hills – it was Max the Dobey who stole Christmas – when he scoffed the Christmas tree and the decorations! He ate everybody’s shoes, except for Ray’s – that was a nice trick you taught him Ray! Being the youngest, Andy looked up to his brothers. He would sit and listen to the tunes that Ray was playing as he was getting ready for a night on the pull. Spandau Ballet, Pet Shop Boys – real mans music! These classic tunes stuck with Andy, and he would have them belting on from his loft room on Brompton Road, when he was pumping iron or on his running machine. Andy, just like his brothers, was boro daft. He was a regular in the Holgate, and later, in the new Holgate, at the Riverside. When Andy found a season ticket on the floor, outside the Holgate, he did the decent and proper thing….he shoved it in his pocket, as quick as he could! He managed to blag 4 or 5 games before he got rumbled…and nicked! Yes, Andy and the boys had to make some story up about how he bought it in the pub off some bloke who was working off-shore! He was certainly a popular and well-liked lad was Judd…everyone liked him….except the bloke who lost his season ticket outside Ayresome Park! When Andy was working at Northern Dairies in the village, he met a gorgeous girl, who worked in the lab, called Lynne. Andy would tell you, that… ‘Lynbo’ ….did all the chasing but it was the over way round. So, ‘Lynbo’ and ‘Judd boy’, started going out. Andy thought he’d better raise the stakes a little bit. Therefore, he took gorgeous Lynbo to the Southern Cross – a little bit upmarket to try and impress his new girlfriend. And soon to follow was their first Saturday night out together. “Get yourself ready for a night out” Andy told Lynne. Well, Lynne spent hours making herself look… impossibly beautiful. She looked the biz – ready for a night out. “I wonder where he’ll take me to this time?” she thought. And what a lucky girl, Andy took her to the swankiest, hottest place in town…..the Ironops club! - I bet all the old boys in the club must have thought it was Christmas! After they had been seeing each other for a while, Andy and ‘Sol’ the staffy, moved in with Lynne and her parents – Andrew & Glennice, at their home on Chipchase Road. Judd was handy for work at the dairy, Ayresome Park and his new watering holes – in the village. Andy liked drinking in the village – a new place for him – and he soon became a popular and well-liked face. After Sol, Missy came along, followed by a little puppy called ‘Max’ who picked Andy out, when he licked his hand at the shelter. Andy loved his trips away to Scarborough in the caravan, with Lynne’s family…and of course…the dogs. He also had happy memories of his earlier trips to Cayton and Scalby Mill with his Dad and the family. One such trip ended in Andy gashing his leg on the rocks – although years later, he would describe it as his war wound. The Madison, or ‘the mad-ouse’ to give it its proper name, was Andy & Lynne’s haunt. Of course, Andy loved the Boro and he was almost in love with their heroic skipper – Tony Mowbray. One night in the Mad-house, Lynne thought to herself, “where’s Andy? This was about the same time as some of the other revellers must have thought…”who’s that nutter torturing Mogga?” – Yes, it was Judd. Lynne made her way over…”You know who this is don’t you?” Andy asked excitedly and no doubt drunkenly…”it’s Mogga!...waaayyyyyy – Mogga! “How class is this, I’m out with my Lynbo and MOGGA’s just bought me a pint! They became best mates for the rest of the night – lucky Mogga! Andy always hoped that Mogga would come back as Boro boss one day – to “keep the Mogga spirit alive!”. Well, keeping this spirit alive, certainly happened in a football tournament played on foreign soil – let me explain. Andy’s work organised a football tournament – comprising of several work teams from the continent. Now Andy had previously been told that his glorious playing career was over due to his dodgy knees. “You aren’t playing Andy!”, Lynne ordered. “I know yeah, I’m just going for the piss-up aren’t I”. Well, unlike Scholesy in the summer, Andy was forced out of retirement – to proudly play for his country. He was made captain of the team – just like Mogga. The lads were all kitted out in the full England strip. Everything was paid for by work – Andy was proper buzzing. Judd banged in a few goals and his plucky team finished as runners up – losing out to the lucky Belgians. The local kids ran over to get the autographs of what they believed to be…the full England team! Not one to disappoint anybody…proud skipper, Andy Judd, held the pen in his hand…’Be Lucky, Tony Mowbray’ he wrote – just to keep the Mogga spirit alive! When he first started work there – it was like the Judd Mafia had taken over – they might as well have called it Judd’s and Co. Andy’s Dad had worked there and Andy worked with Ray, Garry, Nici and Susan. The second time around, Andy was one of the first to start working back with the firm, when they relocated back to Teesside. Andy could do all the jobs at work – working the lathe, fork lifts, the crane – he was certainly versatile. So when it came to overtime on a Saturday – Andy was a safe bet. Forget the fixed odds, just back Andy’s name to be first on the overtime list! In fact, the get well card from the lads said, “shall we put ya down for Saturday?” “How come you’re always first on the list Judd?” “Cos I am!” was the reply. He wasn’t afraid to speak his mind was Andy…or pin his boss against the wall if needs be! But of course any Saturday working didn’t get in the way of Andy going to the match. Andy has Boro gear all over the house…and even in the back garden. When he and Lynne moved into 25 Brompton Road, there was an old bird bath / feeder type thing in the garden. It wasn’t the most popular stop-off point for the local birds, so Andy bought a little duck to sit on it. Ducky was given some sunglasses and a little red & white top and he was pointed at the house behind, where Colin…the Man U fan lives. He was a clever little duck, every time the mighty Boro got a result against United, he would write a little message and hold it up to Colin, or shove it through the gap in the fence – Andy would text and say look out your window! Andy would hang his Boro top in the window, so that the security light would light up the jersey - Colin would draw the blinds as quick as he could. They had plenty of good-hearted banter down the years – Andy loved having a laugh and making someone else laugh. Let us now pause briefly. As we do so, we shall sing our 2nd hymn, ‘All things bright and beautiful’ which is hymn number 27 in the blue hymn book. You might think that the name Andrew Judd, is not the most common of names…it’s not exactly John Smith. A few years ago, the name Andrew Judd, started appearing in the evening gazette – quite frequently….in the scales of justice – to be exact. “Andrew Judd, of Berwick Hills, found guilty of…..was almost a weekly read. People started thinking…”by, it sounds like Judd’s turned into a bit of a toe-rag”. They would stop Lynne and say “I saw your lad’s name in the paper….again!”. Well of course, Andy was mortified. His name was mud…never mind Judd. In the end, the gazette came to visit Andy & Lynne to set the record straight. The mistaken identity issue had been causing Andy a real headache, and it made the front page – much to his horror. The headline read,…..’Massive Headache’. The lads at work proudly put it on the wall, and covered the word ache – to just leave….Massive Head! But the headline grabbing couple would appear in the local rag once again. The happiest day of there life was on the horizon. They ordered the wedding suits from Prenuptia in the Dundas Arcade – you know Prenuptia – that was the one that went bust a couple of years ago. And guess who had their pictures in the paper, as the unlucky couple who had been let down before their big day! There was one happy feature in the gazette however – thanks to Sarah. Andy & Lynne’s big day was featured as wedding of the week in the gazette. Andy’s next appearance in the spot light will be in the next Boro programme against Reading. His picture will be in there so please buy a copy and it will be a nice keepsake. It’s fair to see that Andy resembled a typical Boro lad – stocky, bald head, tattoo’s, staffy. He certainly looked the part and yet he was a big gentle giant, with a heart to match. Ray called him ‘hedgehog’ when he first got his trademark shaved head. Shaving his head became Lynne’s job – “You’ve missed a bit man”, Judd would say, as he checked the job, before a night out. Mind you, he didn’t always go for the baldy look, he once sported a curly perm, a mullet and he used to colour his hair – must have been the influence of Ray’s music! Andy used to say that if he ever won the lottery, he would sit down with Gibbo, and suss out which striker to buy to help the Boro cause. Just like all of us, Andy was dazzled by the skills of the little fella from Brazil. Andy wasn’t bad either, and he used to call himself Judd-inho. If there was nothing on the box on a Saturday night, Lynne would say “let’s have a romantic night”. “Yeah, I’ll stick Rocky on again shall I?” Andy would suggest. So, there would be a cosy night in…Lynbo, Judd….and Sly Stallone. Sometimes, John Rambo would also join the party. Andy enjoyed keeping fit and he had the Rocky tune on his I-pod. He was told to do gentle exercise by the doc because of his knee. He put his woolly hat on, his boro shorts and a top and went off…jogging round the park to the sounds of Rocky in his ear. “It makes me run faster” he explained. When he wasn’t doing his Rocky Balboa routine round the park, Andy was doing his weights up in the loft. He had it all up there; punch bag, DVD’s – Spandau Ballet booming out of the hatch as Lynne tried to take a relaxing bath below! It was his little den – he boarded it out, carpeted it – painted it red and white. He was very house proud was Judd and he loved to do DIY – as his loft room proved. So how should, Andy be remembered? He was a loving and devoted husband, proud brother, much loved son and son-in-law, brother-in-law and Uncle. He was a hugely popular; friend, neighbour, work-mate, match-day buddy and drinking buddy. His, was that smiling, cheeky face, you were always glad to see. Following this service, there will be a get-together at the Ironopolis Club. The Nops was a place where Andy loved to go and he had many great times in there – even though he wasn’t even a member! He didn’t pay his subs – he didn’t have to – he was a Judd! Please go if you can and share your memories of Andy. Give him the fitting send off he deserves. I’m sure Andy himself would want you, to have a good drink, a good time and a good laugh – just as he used to do. Given Andy’s love of dogs, there will be a donation box next to the flowers as we exit this chapel and also at the Nops. Any donations received will be forwarded to the dog’s trust. In the world of football, they honour their departed heroes with a brief silence or a round of applause. Well I propose we do both for Andy. We shall now observe a silence and then we will give him a rousing reception…worthy of the Holgate end In sadness at his death but with gratitude for his life, we now commit the body of Andrew Judd to its natural end. May he find eternal peace. Our service has now ended, let us leave together in peace and with hope for the future – and keep the faith in the Boro – like Andy used to say.