Toasting Trevor Goddard
Stories of Trevor's life as told by those closest to him
No Fear
In the words of Eric Goddard:
We used to go to a swimming pool called West Wickham, which near Bromley, it was not far from where we lived and it had a high board. When we first went there, we used to put arm floats on both he and his sister. People used to think we were mad. Sarah would be in the front, Trevor would be behind and I would be in the back. We used to walk down the side of the pool singing, “Swimmers of the world unite, blow up your arm floats very tight.” It went on and on and on, and then make them jump in the pool and they wouldn’t sink because they were in arm floats. We sing out loud and people would look at us as though we were mental, which we probably were. It was good thing to get the kids going and they never had any fear of water or anything like that.
The day before he was seven. We went swimming, as usual, he said, “I’m going to go off the top board.”
I said, “Never.”
He said, “It’ll be okay.” He climbed all the way up these steps and stood on the top and said, “here I come Dad.” He just dived in.
I thought, ‘The guy, he’s not even seven. I wouldn’t go off there now.’ He did it and that was that. He never really showed fear for anything. He wasn’t big as a youngster, but if someone picked on him in school, he’d stand his corner."
Coming to America
This is the story of how Trevor came to America in the words of a man Trevor emulated, his father Eric Goddard.
In 1986, he and a friend of his, whose name I have forgotten, came to America for a 3 week holiday they flew from I think it was Gatwick to certainly New York. I said to Trevor, “Why don’t you go to one of these car agencies where Americans leave cars all over the place and they want them delivered back to their home. That’s what they did. They went into an agency in NY and there was a Maserati had to be taken to Beverly Hills. They were allowed, I’m not sure if it was eight or ten days, to do it and that was it, they delivered, I think they had to pay for the petrol (gas). But, anyway they took the car to Beverly Hills to this house. Prior to delivering the car, Trevor put it through the carwash and cleaned it, and then delivered it to the guy. They guy said, whoever he was, he said, “That’s very good of you. Here is $250.00, which will help you on your holiday, for looking after the car and for being sweet enough to clean it. Then he said to Trevor, “How long are you here for?”
Trevor said, “We’re here for three weeks.”
Then he said, “I have an old Plymouth,” and it was a Plymouth. “a Plymouth motor car in the garage, you can have it for $300. and when you’re about to come back, I’m sure and second hand car dealer will give you that $300., so you’ve got a car for nothing.
Trevor said, “I haven’t got $300., I’ve only got 250.” That’s what the guy had just given him.
So he said, “Give me the money back and you have the car for 250.
Trevor who was a bit of a dab hand at building and that sort of thing, he said, “I notice you have some floors around your swimming pool, it needs pointing. I will do it for you.” He spent a day pointing the guy’s swimming pool. Then Trevor took the car and off they went.
After the three weeks, Trevor phoned and said, “I’m going to try make it here Dad. I like it very much; I’m in love with the country, I like the people. His friend came home and Trevor stayed.
Loyalty to Friends
Trevor’s favorite childhood song was:
When We Were Two Little Boys
Two little boys had two little toys
Each had a wooden horse
Gaily they played each summer's day
Warriors both of course
One little chap then had a mishap
Broke off his horse's head
Wept for his toy then cried with joy
As his young playmate said.
Did you think I would leave you crying?
When there's room on my horse for two
Climb up here Jack and don't be crying
I can go just as fast with two
When we grow up we'll both be soldiers
And our horses will not be toys
And I wonder if we'll remember
When we were two little boys.
Long years passed, war came so fast
Bravely they marched away
Cannon roared loud, and in the mad crowd
Wounded and dying lay
Up goes a shout, a horse dashes out
Out from the ranks so blue
Gallops away to where Joe lay
Then came a voice he knew.
Did you think I would leave you dying?
When there's room on my horse for two
Climb up here Joe, we'll soon be flying
I can go just as fast with two
Did you say Joe I'm all a tremble
Perhaps it's the battle's noise
But I think it's that I remember
When we were two little boys.
Do you think I would leave you dying?
There's room on my horse for two
Climb up here Joe, we'll soon by flying
Back to the ranks so blue
Can you feel Joe I'm all a tremble
Perhaps it's the battle's noise
But I think it's that I remember
When we were two little boys.
Words by Edward Madden and Music by Theodore Morse © 1903 SHAWNEE PRESS INC and HERMAN DAREWSKI MUSIC PUB CO - All Rights Reserved - Reproduced by kind permission of REDWOOD MUSIC LTD, London NW1 8BD
Trevor, as a boy, stated to his father, “I would never let a friend of mine down.”
Eric Goddard, shaken, explained, “That was his creed. That was from being a little lad of about two, all his life.”
Love for His Parents
Clara and Eric
One fact Clara and Eric Goddard want the world to know about Trevor: “He was always very loving to his parents, very genuine to us.”
Mr. Goddard conveyed a couple stories which illustrates how highly Trevor thought of his father:
While is Santa Barbara Eric was approached by a man. “He was not a down and out, but sort of raw that way. He was mouthing at me. Trevor just walked in between us and said, 'You leave him alone; he’s my Dad.' The guy just said a few words and walked away.”
October 2001 Trevor and Eric were on the pier in Santa Barbra. Fans approached them and said, “You’re Lieutenant Commander Brumby aren’t you?” Trevor put his arm around his father and said, “Yes and this is my Dad from England.” Only then did he talk to the fans and sign autographs.
Tidbits
Trevor played the drums in a rock band when he was a teenager.
Trevor start playing football (soccer) at seven years old and cricket shortly there after. He played goalkeeper on his soccer team and passed the passion on to his son Travis.
Trevor always ran. Hurt his ankle stepping into a pothole, one morning when it was still dark while running in Bromley and had trouble with that leg ever since.
Myth: Trevor was born on October 14th 1965 in Perth Australia.
Truth: Trevor was born on October 14th 1962 in Croydon, Surry England.
Myth: Trevor grew up in Balga, Australia.
Truth: Trevor grew up in Bromley, Kent England moving there when he was 10 months old.
Myth: Trevor has a brother.
Truth: Trevor has only one sibling, Sarah. The man said to be his brother is actually his cousin.
Myth: Trevor’s parents are divorced.
Truth: They have “never had a day apart” and “have married since 1958”.
Myth: Trevor had troubles with the law and ended up in reform school.
Truth: According to his father, Trevor tested authority, but never got in any serious trouble. Eric describes it as, “Trevor becoming himself.”
Myth: Trevor committed suicide.
Truth: The LA county coroner ruled Trevor's death as accidental.
Myth: Trevor kept the fact he was English from close friends and family.
Truth: Trevor's family and closest friends knew he was English. His sons wore English sports' jersey, in fact Travis wore the same jersey as English goalkeepers.
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