A life remembered

Friday
Today, we celebrated the life of my brother-in-law, Stuart, and laid him to rest. The service was held in the small Methodist chapel which they have attended all their married life. Their lives have revolved around their church, and especially for Stuart the wider church, as in the Methodist circuit and the neighboring Methodist country chapels, as well as the local parish church - he was a great believer in the ecumenical movement. He was also deeply involved in the charity Christian Aid. The chapel was packed, with a large number being seated in overflow seating in the church hall underneath the chapel. It was a beautiful and thoughtfully planned service, reflecting Stuarts deep love of music (he had sung in the Newent Choral Society and later the Tewkesbury Choral Society), as well as the importance in his life of family, his career at Gloucestershire College of Agriculture and the church. After the service he was interred in the small churchyard beside the chapel. Following, there was a catered luncheon in the church hall, and after that a number of family members came back to the house. The weather had remained fine, and once everyone had gone, Roger, Laura and I took the dog for a walk, leaving Janet to have a little time to herself and giving me an opportunity for a blip of the evening sky. Later in the evening, we all went out to eat - Janet and her son, Andrew, my brother Peter and his wife Judy, Roger, Laura and myself. A day of mixed emotions - celebrating a life lived in love and wonderful Christian witness, joy of being with family, yet sadness as we mourn Stuart's passing - he will be deeply missed.

One year ago: A dusting of snow