Funeral Address Delivered
by Bill Bevis
at the Funeral of
Frank Otto Stoe Man (1914 –1986).

One would only have to look round this chapel to realise how much Frank meant to us all and how much he will be  missed by Allwynne, David, John, the rest of his family and all his many friends.

On such a sad occasion, it is so difficult to find the right words, especially for Frank, who was such a reticent and modest man with a strong dislike for anything bordering on praise.

However Allwynne has asked me to say a few words, so I must risk his disapproval.

Frank and I have been friends for about fifty years, during which time we have been together in many diverse circumstances.

In Malaya where he was a well liked young enthusiast on his first overseas contract,  participating in all the usual activities.

Then later during the war years in the Malayan RNVR.  The fall of Singapore when we were lucky enough to have him join our ship after his own was lost.  Without his support and quiet efficient unflappabi1ity, we might well have joined the ranks of the many who failed to get through.

The courage, humour, and fortitude which he showed then in the face of the difficulties and dangers of that journey across Sumatra to Java and ultimately to Australia, was repeated later in UK when he was awarded the DSC for his staunch work in the channel.

He continued his success story after the war in Malaya where as a family man, he had to overcome all the difficulties of rebuilding, complicated by the Communist war, while at the same time playing a large part in the expansion of the Malayan Navy, reaching high rank and obtaining a well earned OBE for his services.

Then home to a Directorship and later retirement.

Frank embodied so many of the Kipling standards and which to-day are so often ignored or belittled --- modesty, 1oyalty, unselfishness, kindness -- - - and that sense of humour and the twinkle in his eye.  In fact he was a gentle man in the true meaning of both words.

Finally in retirement and his seventies, or " injury time' as we called it, we sometimes talked about the end of the road --- and if it is any consolation to know, he has gone as he wanted to go --- quickly and with the minimum of fuss and bother.

Which is fine for Frank but much too sudden and much much too soon for Allwynne and the rest of us —- and our sympathy and support must surely go out to his family -------

While wishing Frank a calm sea, a following breeze, a safe haven and on behalf of all his Malayan friends——salamat jalan.