Puddle spire

The church was packed today as we said farewell to Paul who has been assistant vicar in the village for many years.  He was a friend and fellow ringer and a lovely man, gentle, kind and compassionate. No one would ever have had a bad word to say about him. He retained his smile and good humour all through the five years he battled prostrate cancer and even took a baptism the day before he died despite being obviously very weak. So many people attending the church service was not great given the current Covid situation. I found a socially distanced spot standing at the back and did not partake of the refreshments offered in the church hall afterwards. We rang the bells for him after the service.