A Great Send-Off

Today we said our last goodbyes to George. He had his wish, to go to his own funeral on his restored army truck (though it did manage to break down on its way from its home in the country).











It was standing room only in the chapel at the crematorium, as many members of his group that rescues and restores old army vehicles were there. In the cortege there were land rovers, jeeps and other 4x4s (not very green, but George would have loved it). A couple of them were done up in camouflage. They are used in celebrations of landmark events in World War 2.

After the funeral there was a reception at a "working men's club" - a very old British institution, where women are just as welcome these days, and it also has veterans links. Then some of us went back to the house. It was a glorious day, 18C/65F, and we sat in the garden sipping tea. George's great nephew Harry, who is about 18 months old, was fascinated by the little waterfall feature, especially when his Uncle Lloyd taught him how to splash it about.











It was exactly the kind of send-off George wanted, with lots of laughs and lots of tears. His wife Alice, son Darren and daughter Susan really did him proud, and the people who made it all possible demonstrated their affection for a gentle, mild-mannered and very funny man.

There's a big hole in all our lives. But we are all very glad that we knew him. People who didn't don't know what they've missed.