On October 25th 2025, our dear friend Owen Elias was laid to rest at Ludford Memorial Meadow, with a wake held at the Beacon Room at Ludlow Castle. Owen was a longtime member of Ludlow and Marches Humanists. Another of our members, David Trotter, spoke in tribute of Owen’s full and varied life and we wanted to publish those words here.
My Name is David Trotter.
I was honoured and touched to be asked by his family to say a few words about my friend Owen Elias.
Owen died at his home on Wednesday 1st of October at the age of 97. It was his wish to be buried in the Ludford burial ground next to his beloved wife Joan who died in 2016.
Owen and Joan had a long and happy marriage. They raised four children –Bob, Annie, Helen and Sarah. Sadly Helen died in 2022.
Owen was born in 1928 in Cathays, Cardiff. His father died when Owen was 11, after which he was brought up by his mother. He must have been a bright boy as he attended Grammar School. After school he started work as a trainee with the local electricity company. His ambition was to join the R.A.F. but he was thwarted in this, even unable to do National Service, as electricity supply was a “reserved” occupation.
However, fate intervened when he was admitted to hospital with appendicitis. A young trainee SRN caught his eye. Her name was Joan.
Fraternisation twixt patients and nurses was off limits so a plan was needed. On discharge he left his washbag behind. Returning to collect his property as an ex-patient he spoke to the nurse and asked her for a date – we know the rest!
He worked for the electricity company in Cardiff and then was moved to Porth in the Rhonda. At about the age of 32 he was moved to Surrey on promotion. Over the following years more promotions were earned and more moves for the family had to be made. His employer was now known as the C.E.G.B. (Central Electricity Generating Board) and his last post was as District Engineer at Boreham Wood in Hertfordshire. Owen was a member of The Institution of Engineering and Technology.
Owen retired aged 58. The family moved to Ludlow in 1989 buying Linfield Bungalow on the Linney. With typical energy he became involved in the life of Ludlow. He was involved in so many activities.
Here are a few:
- Town Council – Mayor 1995 to 97
- Probus, Humanists, Civic Society, Friends of the Library, The Weirs Trust, Friends of Whitcliffe Common, The Men’s Shed.
I don’t know how they found the time. But Joan and Owen travelled in retirement visiting France and Spain in their caravan and going further afield to the USA and India.
Throughout his life Owen was a frustrated aviator. Always interested in flying and aircraft. So at the age of 88 he took up gliding. Who wouldn’t? To his disappointment the club wouldn’t let him go solo!
I am now going to read a poem by David Harkins, “He is gone”.
He Is Gone
By David Harkins
You can shed tears that he is gone
Or you can smile because he has lived
You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left
Your heart can be empty because you can't see him
Or you can be full of the love that you shared
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday
You can remember him and only that he is gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
Last Words for Owen
My name is David Trotter. I have been a friend of Owen’s for some years. I feel honoured to be asked by his family to say a few words on this sad occasion.
Today we are present to see Owen’s wish carried out. That his body be buried next to his beloved wife Joan who has laid here alone since her death in 2016.
Owen was a Humanist. He did not believe in an afterlife. He thought that we have just one life and that we should live the best life we can, both for ourselves and for all other people. This he certainly did.
His family are here and they can look back over the years with fondness and memories that will last a lifetime.
For us all. We remember a man of wide experience and keen intelligence, tempered with a dry sense of humour. We will miss him.
Let us now stand together, bow our heads and reflect on the life of Owen Elias for a few moments.
Thank you