Farewell to tome

jhr

jhr

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 Nov 2002
Messages
20,256
Location
Royston Vasey
jamesrichardsonconsultants.co.uk
Just returned from Tom's funeral service as, unfortunately, I couldn't stay for the wake in Emsworth. I'm sure you'll all be glad to hear that the church was completely packed out, with many familiar faces attending and a moving eulogy, amongst others, from Cutter.

Due to my dodgy navigational skills I arrived late. So full was the Church, that I had to stand outside (along with jimi and BrendanS), exposed to the elements, getting wetter by the minute and straining to hear what was being said by the bloke up at the pulpit - which seems appropriate, really.

A sad day.
 
The church was so full, that many people were outside the double doors trying to peer in, not just us three forumites. A fitting tribute to Tom.

I wish I'd taken a coat or umbrella though, suits aren't very windproof when they are soaked through, as I discovered.
 
Just returned from the gathering in Emsworth; an incredible feat that would have delighted Tom. 200 peeps squashed into the not-very-big bar of the Sussex Brewery, EBB's local, decorated with many photographs of Tom.

Ian Grant was heard to say that if Tom wasn't quite so popular there would have been lots more room!

S E Hants must have nearly come to a standstill there were so many people at the funeral.

A lovely service, and our own Cutter gave a beautiful eugology representing the virtual part of Tom's world.

Seeing the coffin (Norwegian pine of course, with rope handles but no portholes) come in, and later leave was too much for the brakes on my tear ducts, and I wasn't the only one.

A lovely service; a lovely departure for a great guy. And nice to see so many Forumites present.
 
Karen\'s farewell to Tom

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.
 
Re: Karen\'s farewell to Tom

Sea Fever. Good choice Jim. Thanks to all of you who have reported on the event for those of us who couldn't be there.
 
"too much for the brakes on my tear ducts" for me was seeing his skipper navy blue Amaya shirt on the top of the coffin as it came into the church started me off.

Full credit to Cutter, how the young nephews and nieces sang and recited (without a wobble) some beautiful words is beyond me. A very touching tribute to Tom and all his family.

I didn't go to the Sussex but will go to the scattering of the ashes.

A sad afternoon but so glad I went.

janeK
 
Bit of a sore head this morning ... and I bet there are quite a few more around Emsworth too. Mind you, although we left about 6pm, we did go on to a social gathering in the evening which hasnt helped.

I did take a few piccies on my mobile inside the pub, but no good /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Some are blurred due to shakiness, others have either got ParaHandy's head in the foreground or bright glare from cutter's motorcycle jacket!

Anyway, it was a great day - as others have already said, the service was wonderful although very tearful, and the wake was as shambolic as could be !

Full credit to cutter for his choice of words, both humourous and serious, and the perfect delivery. We were staggered by the way that Karen read 'Sea Fever' so beautifully, and the solo performance at the end by Tom's nephew did us in completely.
 
What a fantastic send off for Tom.

In true tradition the Emsworth Bad Boys where in the pub around the corner but made it just in time for the hearse, I’m sure Tom would have smiled as the last of the finest malt in the hip flask was emptied as he arrived!

His crew dressed in deckies and Amaya shirts carried Tom into the church, boy that was a tough call.

Not a dry eye in the church, not that Brendan me and a few others got in through the door, it was packed.

In the church yard various forumites gathered and I’m sure there were more there than actually knew each other.

Some went straight to the wake in the Sussex Pub in Emsworth and some stayed at the Church hall where we’d managed to plaster the walls with an assortment of pictures of Tom, again the place was packed.

Then, at the Sussex packed wouldn’t describe the amount of people that were in the pub, again I’m sure Tom would have been delighted with the attendance especially the amount of forum friends that attended.

The announcement was made that Tom had bought enough beer, two barrels of summer lightening were polished off fairly early, Toms favourite tipple.

Donations flowed into the RNLI pot which has yet to be counted but mostly notes stuck out of the temporary jar.

Karen made it through the day surrounded by friends and family and like the rest of us stunned by the passing of a great man.

Thanks for the hangover Tom.
 
Certainly was a good send off, I've never seen the Sussex so full! I suspect there would have been a good many sore heads this morning, When I left ian, parahandy and paddywaocker were in full flow, talking of moving on to malts! Bloody 'ell time to get out thought I, that'll be at least 3 sore heads today!
 
Re: Farewell to tome - hang over

i've found a scotish fiver in me pocket along with some shrapnell .. hope thats nothing to do with a sore bottom???

Ian
 
I was pleased that I made it - I asked Cutter to say hello and my apologies to the forumites at the Sussex Brewery as I had to be in Cornwall for an evening do. Sorry not to have managed to say hello to you guys who were at the church.

It was a very very good send off for Tom. All the contributions at the service were appropriate and done well.

Like another post - it was his crewshirt on the coffin that did for me.
 
Re: Farewell to tome - hang over

[ QUOTE ]
That might have been the one I lent Para....

[/ QUOTE ] Apropos of nothing; I witnessed Para trying to hand over said fiver to jimi, and jimi refusing to take it. There's a first time for everything.....

I think they went for option (3) on your menu of disposal choices.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top