Many of our SARUM members have very fond memories of ‘Jo’ Belza, who, with her perpetual smile, supported and helped the club over many years. Thirteen SARUM members attended her funeral on Friday 10th April to show our love and respect for this remarkable lady.
Jo began her love of the great outdoors while she and her husband, Jan, were living in Germany. Jo and Jan were out and about with their kids every weekend, holidays in Bavaria and Austria. Jo loved the mountains and it is true you can usually buy a beer on the top of most of them. August 1975 Jan was posted to Larkhill, and immediately joined Sarum. In those days Jo used to come with Jan to events and go round the Wayfarers course with their children, Helen & Dom. Early 1978 Jan got posted back to Germany, Detmold, where in 1979, Jo took up singing and had a part in the Gibert & Sullivan show Iolanthe. End of that year the family returned to Larkhill where Jo joined Larkhill Choral society. The Durrington Community Choir honoured Jo at her funeral with a beautiful sung service. Jo’s love of music led to her acquiring a Chapel piano in 1991 and she rapidly progressed from Grade 2 to Grade 6.
Jo’s running started in 1991, after watching the London marathon. The family went for a run and this is when Jan had to tell Jo that if she talked less she might go faster. Obviously a very “social” runner. After that she never stopped running, absolutely loved it. It was after 1979 that she got more involved with O. She always liked helping out at events and in the days when Jan was doing a lot of planning and controlling, she always helped him to put controls out the day before. Jan has said that Jo really got to love the people in Sarum, she always said that Sarum had the most friendly people you could hope to meet.
Jo had a zest for life and wanted to enjoy the many things that life had to offer. She loved to cycle and also to play badminton.
Jo continued to enjoy running until she was in her 70’s. Only last year Jo was seen skipping along enjoying the many Spring flowers, with her familiar broad beaming smile.
