Although not a short story, I wanted to include this, which is what Jim said at his mum's funeral.

Jim's memorial service was held on Thursday 9th November 2023.

Below is the Order of Service Booklet.
Underneath that is Grazia's letter to Jim and the music we chose.

We've received many many kind words and memories of Jim from everyone, and below, in no particular order, is just some of those we've been sent.

Apologies if your words aren't here but you'd like them to be, or if your words are here but you'd rather they weren't.

(you can always email me to say!  keith@keithmcmurray.co.uk)

We're so very sorry to see Jim go.  A tremendously sad loss indeed.
 
I have never forgotten his selection of 78 rpm Beniamino Gigli records which he played repeatedly at # 8 Hilden Avenue in Tonbridge, in the early'50s, and which have also inspired in me a similar proclivity. We will miss him deeply.

Please pass on our loving thoughts and condolences to Grazia.

Our love to you all.

Clive

Not sure there is anything I can tell you about Jim that you don't already know.  But I regard the period I was working at the McMurray Gallery as the most educative experience of my life, largely due to the man himself , his kindness, consideration for others and keen sense for justice for mankind in general.
Such a caring man, in hindsight it was no surprise he ended his working life in counselling.
 
I am also forever grateful for his encouragement for my foray into the world of making art which has remained a life long and valued interest.  He was such a positive influence.  This was an impressive trait especially after I managed to cause destruction to the pot plants whilst house sitting in the 1976 heatwave while your family were away on their Italian summer holiday-a mistaken display of trust in my green fingered abilities!  He always found the positive somehow.

Much love
Geraldine and Giles

Your dad was such a wonderful kind caring man and touched so many lives.

I owe him my eternal thanks for suggesting graphic design might be the way to go career wise !!

And feel grateful to have known him for so many years and shared so much with you (me) as a family.

Little Rach

First of all, attached please find a group of photos taken when we were last in Brighton visiting with you, Jim and Grazia.  It was a very special occasion for us.  I took pics of many of the pictures and paintings on the wall in the house, and I believe these are also some of Jim's paintings?

Secondly, my memories of Jim, when visiting during my travels, and from time back at Hilden Avenue, are always his engaging smile.  He was attentive, caring, thoughtful and kind to us, "annoying little cousins – savages from Peru" who had taken up residence under his mother's care!   Clive recalls his records, and I remember hearing Mario Lanza played constantly ha ha! Later, as we all got caught up in "life's challenges", I recall conversations with Jim when visiting you in Hove, and he was then carrying out strenuous but rewarding work with many of the disenfranchised.  He spoke with much compassion about the people under his care and this responsibility. It mattered greatly to him, and probably when he was not compensated very well for this. We also spoke of his paintings and recalled the passion he had for the arts. The last meeting in 2018 I think, as seen in the photos, Jim was courageous with his Parkinson's but always jovial, engaged and loving.

Rodney

The kindest, most decent man I have known.

Mike

I am so so sorry.  Jim was *wonderful*.  He must have been the most loving dad anyone could ever hope for.  He was always so kind to me, so gentle - and so elegant.

I found this picture of Jim and your Ma and mine in the beach at PSG. They look so happy and relaxed.  I'm sending you a massive hug and will be there next Thursday.

Love Kate

I'm so sorry to hear about Jim.

I remember always being kind of fascinated by Jim's gentleness, and his smile, which shone out beyond his shyness.

And here we are, we children, no longer children any more. His smile shines through yours.

I know my mum and dad both loved Jim immensely, and I'm sure my dad has told you himself of how much he truly admired him, and I'm grateful they were friends through so many years of their lives.

All my deepest love,

Ben

Avrei voluto non ricevere mai questa notizia. Una grande persona, a cui ho voluto molto bene

Anna

I am so sad about beloved Jim. I have been thinking about you all very much.

I thought he was so cool growing up - he wore cool jeans and shared with me the first ever Leonard Cohen song I had heard!

My favourite memory is Grazia asking him, rather forcing him, at a Kennilworth Avenue family party, to perform his sword dance that he had perfected whilst at school in Scotland
We had a Scottish reel after to celebrate !

A photo of a family visit I took just a few years ago.

Sending love to all

Suzie Andrew and the girls x

I am devastated to hear the news about Uncle Jim . He was a wonderful man , husband, father and grand father ; our thoughts are with you all at this time.

All my love Ginny xxx

Caro Jim, ci è giunta la notizia che ci hai lasciato, ci ha addolorato molto.  La nostra conoscenza è lontana, la dobbiamo alla tua cara moglie Grazia nostra amica fin dall'infanzia.  Caro Jim, di te abbiamo un ricordo bellissimo: la tua gentilezza, il tuo sorriso, la signorilità e la tua buona accoglienza; quando ci si riuniva nel vostro salotto di Porto San Giorgio, con Grazia e le sue e nostre amiche, tu molto discreto ascoltavi e intervenivi solo su qualche persona di tua conoscenza; erano tempi bellissimi, ora possiamo solo salutarti con tutto il nostro affetto mentre alla tua adorata moglie inviamo un caloroso abbraccio.  Caro Jim rimarrai sempre nei nostri ricordi.

Dalle amiche di sempre LUCIA e BIANCA di FERMO.

Oh Lord I'm so sorry, very sad news. He was magnificent x love to you all x

John

Ci dispiace tantissimo!!!!!! Sono veramente triste, era una persona straordinaria.

Adriano

I loved him, he was kind and gentle and wise with me.. as are you Kat.  That comes from him.

Jason

RIP Uncle Jim, the most lovely gentle man who made the world a better place.

Jane

He was such a lovely man - not just in appearance but in soul. He was such a many talented person, interested in so many things, and so gentle and unassuming.

Love to you all,
Suzy & Pigi

Caro Jim,ti ringrazio per avermi sempre accolta con affetto e dolcezza nella tua bella famiglia, di avermi fatto sentire parte di essa e di avermi aiutata, grazie anche ai tuoi racconti e insegnamenti, a crescere felice.Nelle estati della mia giovinezza, ho trascorso insieme a te, zia Grazia e i miei adorati cugini, Hamish, Kathleen e Keith, momenti meravigliosi che non dimenticherò mai e per i quali ti sono profondamente riconoscente.Ti sentirò sempre vicino e, pensando al tuo sguardo e al tuo sorriso, mi sentirò protetta.

Anna Clara

Grazia, you and Jim have been the most wonderful friends over the years. We have supported each other through thick and thin and I hope our friendship will continue. Jim was the most remarkable man - as polished by you of course! We shall never forget the stories of you driving home from London after your fairs with a car stuffed with cash and jewellery. And the occasion you were followed and Jim shot up somebody’s drive until they had gone past. 007 had nothing on Jim! We are here for you at any time.

Much love Liz  

Our very warmest sympathy to you. Your Dad was a truly lovely man and we were privileged to have him as a friend. It is always so difficult to pick out  specific memories as much of the delight of his company was his conversation and the wide spread of his interests. Some random thoughts. Use what you want to.

We met Jim and Grazia when we got married and moved into our first home, a flat in Ravenscar Lodge in what we called West Wimbledon but was really Raynes Park. Jim and Grazia were the only other young couple – I think by then they had been married for a couple of years. Otherwise they were all older people in Ravenscar Lodge and as Liz was a nurse we had a few mildly noisy nurse evenings. The other residents used to complain to your Mum and Dad about our riotous behaviour!

Grazia and Liz used to push Hamish and Ian up the hill in their prams to Canizaro Park. You will of course know that Jim and Grazia met in Libya after Jim had given up his job with the British Bank of the Middle East (of which is father was a director). He was one of only twelve expats in Bahrein and they used to drive into the desert for parties. He eventually resigned from the Bank to go to Libya to paint.

I believe he meant to go into the countryside to paint the local Arabs but instead he met the young and gorgeous Grazia and understandably changed his mind, staying in Tripoli and painting portraits of wealthy Italians. Eventually he returned to London to enrol at arts school and he sent a telex to Grazia who was still in Libya saying ‘will you marry me?’ to which she replied ‘Yes.’ And so he drove his Morris Minor through Europe to Italy and then by ferry to Libya where they  were married.

We saw Mum and Dad for days and evenings with the children in their house in Wimbledon which was always good fun. I remember we were there during the miners’ strike when every so often the electricity would be switched off for three hours to save coal. The lights duly went off and the evening got darker but they didn’t come on again. We looked out and all the other houses had lights. Jim had forgotten to pay the bill!

But most of all I remember Jim because of the pleasure of his conversation. Literature, art, politics, Italy – Jim could talk interestingly and knowledgably on all of these. He was a truly exceptional and lovely man.

Andrew 

Here's some photos Katty and I picked out for the photo album at Jim's memorial service.

Unfortunately we don't know what order he would have wanted them to be read, but nevertheless below are the complete works as they stand in his folder marked 'Finished Stories'.