Sisters

I set off for Swindon early this morning to rendezvous with my sister, Rosie, before she drove me to pick-up one of her sons, Andy, near Newbury, and together went on to Hampton Court Palace.  

Our uncle Peter, who was our mother's only brother, died recently aged 95, bringing to an end a family generation who lived through the second world war.  As very young kids, Rosie and I grew up quite closely with Peter's children in Southend-on-Sea, and I have many very fond memories of our times together particularly at our grandparents beach hut.

Today was his funeral which was held at the Chapel Royal inside Hampton Court Palace, where Peter was well known as a regular attendee. The service was reverential and very moving, recalling his interesting life and quite accurately reflecting the great affection in which he was held.

The Chapel was built by Henry the Eight, and later added to by Sir Christopher Wren, who had designed the choir stalls where we were sitting.  It has an amazing decorated ceiling, which i can't describe adequately, and unfortunately photography was not allowed inside.

After the service we were all invited to share food and wine at the adjacent Mitre Hotel, beside Hampton Court Bridge, in a room hanging over the bank of the River Thames.  I took a few pictures there but it was not the occasion to  intrude topo much with a camera.  

As we were about to leave to drive home, I saw Federica and her sister Francesca talking together.  They are Peter's grand-children, having grown up in northern Italy with their mother Anna, my cousin, who married an Italian man from that area.  They were very devoted to their grand-father and I was very glad to see them together, so asked if I could take their picture.  They kindly posed for me for which I thank them.  I mentioned Blip to them so maybe they will get to see this happier picture, although it was taken on a sad day.