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A dedicated member of Newlyn Male Choir for over 50 years, a devoted family
man and friend to so many in his local community, Ivan Balls, 73, has
died at Treliske Hospital, Truro.
With talents that ranged from music to painting and blessed with a strong
sense of loyalty as well as good humour, he leaves a widow, June, daughter
Rachel, son Nathan, grandchildren Matthew, aged seven and Anna six, daughter-in-law
Morag and stepson Robert.
A service of celebration for his life will take place at Penmount Crematorium,
Truro, tomorrow at 3pm. Ivan had been a patient at Treliske since Christmas
Eve, awaiting an operation, after suffering a heart attack.
The news of his death early on Thursday came as a great shock and sadness
to all in Newlyn.
A talented tenor singer, Ivan was a leading personality in the choir
that he joined when he was 17, twice serving periods as chairman and for
many years its publicity officer.
Ivan researched and wrote its history Bucca's Song - "dedicated
to the gentlemen, past and present, of Newlyn Male Choir" - helped
organise many fund-raising events and was elected a Life Member for his
record of service. He did them proud.
Such was his concentration on research for the book that one day he was
locked inside the Morrab Library when it had closed its doors and he was
downstairs studying old newspaper records. He was "rescued"
after the library's alarm sounded.
The sense of humour and enjoyment of dialect was such that June and Ivan
called their home at Mount Lidden, Penzance, after a phrase he heard many
times in his childhood 'Wast Du Wedhen.'
He was born a "Newlyn Towner" of a fishing family at Lower
Green Street, but later moved to "Street-an-Nowan" at Tolcarne
Terrace - from close to the south pier of the harbour to close to the
North arm.
Grandfather had settled in the port from Lowestoft and father, Billy
Balls, was skipper of the long-liner Mayon Castle. His mother was Sarah
Ann Harvey Cattran, of a well-known Newlyn family.
Following education at Tolcarne and Penzance Grammar Schools, Ivan began
work at the Employment Exchange in Penzance, later transferring to St
Ives as manager, and in 1974 joined the county council as district careers
officer for Penwith, based at Penzance. He retired in 1990.
It was in 1960 that Ivan married his first wife, Elizabeth. They had
two children and lived at Hillcrest, Paul Hill and at Polgoon Close, Penzance,
but she died in 1987 after a lengthy illness. Ivan cared for her and the
family with great devotion.
In 1996, Ivan married June, a widow, at Troon Methodist Church. They
had met as colleagues for she worked in the careers service at Camborne.
She was born at Hayle and her late first husband, Gerald Bray, was a member
of the Holman Climax Male Voice Choir.
Ivan, as a young man, was active in the life of St Peter's Church, Newlyn,
and when June joined Trinity Methodist Church following their marriage
he helped with fund-raising and community service there.
A keen badminton player and motorcyclist in his youth, Ivan later became
a skilled artist in oils. His home contains many local scenes, one of
which won a place in a London exhibition a few years ago.
Much admired for his good sense, patience and steadfast friendship, he
will be greatly missed.
article copyright © THE CORNISHMAN
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