A good send-off

I travelled up to Cromarty with friend Moe and her husband Ian to attend a celebration of the life of our friend David, who died last week after a battle with cancer. His cremation had taken place in a private family ceremony in the afternoon, but all friends had been invited in the evening to acknowledge and reminisce at The Old Brewery, which is the home of  the Cromarty Arts Trust of which David had been a leading light. He is going to be sorely missed by them and all who knew him.

After glowing tributes to David in a packed hall there was an excellent buffet supper, then people drifted into different rooms and I ended up in the bar, where a few of David's friends from his folk music connections had gathered and started to play the various instruments they'd been asked to bring. Moe, Ian and one or two others sang, though everybody joined in the choruses, others just helped in making music. It was a right good ceilidh, without the dancing.

The late ex-Laird MacFreuchie had taught David how to play the guitar when they'd been in the scouts together back in the dark ages, they had been each other's best man at each other's wedding, and along with Moe, who'd been at school with David, they had formed a successful folk group called Tricycle. Moe is the last remaining wheel now...