We buried a freind today
Raylah
Jeremy Elsom
Fri 4 Dec 2009 22:38
|
Richard would have been the same age as me if he
had not died prematurely eleven years ago today. He was my farming
neighbour and my wife met his at playgroup when we had our
children. He was tall and thin but also strong and had a
chiselled jaw and piercing eyes a bit like an eagle. He was also very
forthright and after giving you his strong opinion would stare hard at you
challenging you to disagree,but with a grin on his face. He was
also a shooting,hunting and fishing type and very much a mans man. He was
not therefore the sought of person I would normally become friends with but
he had other more subtle qualities .I found that underneath he was quite
sensitive and by continually taking the Mick out of him I could make
him drop his defences .We sailed together with a group of other
guys in Scotland for years and I remember long walks in the Hebrides
with him where he would open up and speak of his family and his personal
life.
Anyway eleven years ago to the day he
died. At my launch party for this trip, his wife came up to me
and said would I scatter the last of his ashes in the Atlantic .What
an honour. At 11.30 in the morning we assembled in the cockpit,David ,Simon and
me who knew Richard well and Norman and Sara who had not met him.I said
some personal words ,some with difficulty and at position
20.14N 32.24W we said goodbye to our friend,Richard rest in
peace.
|