Farewell Eleanor

We were up and about quite early. We had to go down to Cardiff. Today is the day when we say a final farewell to DIane’s young cousin who succumbed to the ravages of cancer last month.

We headed off just before nine and had a trouble-free run across country. We arrived at our hotel about noon, and that was after a comfort break at Membury. Urban-Cub, Cousteau-Cub, and Ellie had arrived before us and made their way to a local Frankie & Benny’s for lunch. We caught up with them there. Ellie had a ballon on a stick and the static from the balloon was making her hair stand on end. This seemed to give us all endless fun.

We returned to the hotel where we got ready for the service, then drove across to the Crematorium, poignantly passing the church in which the young Eleanor and Kevin got married four years ago. It was “family only” but despite that, the chapel was full. It was a very gentle service with some heartbreaking memories; a very fitting send off. Halfway through the proceeding young Ellie, who was being very good, could be heard to ask “Can I do dancing now?”; Eleanor would have liked that.

We gathered outside for a few minutes but were told that we should all make our way to the school where she had been Head of English. A family room had been set aside for us, and there was a Celebration of her life planned for and hour later. We reconvened at the school (which was very impressive). Some refreshments had been prepared so that we could have some tea or juice before the next service. The school hall started to fill up as we chatted. People who had been touched by Eleanor arrived from all over.  The large hall was packed.

At four, the second service kicked off. This included various readings, songs (she had been a very accomplished musician), photos, and reminiscences from her parents, her colleagues, and even some of the school children. She was clearly a very much loved, very devoted, and very inspiring person. When the service finished we moved through to the school canteen where dozens of tables had been laid out with sandwiches, cakes, wraps, sausage rolls, and various nibbles. Along the back wall was a run of tables providing tea, coffee, juice, wine, and various other drinks. The throng descended on the goodies, but despite several hours of grazing made very little impact on the food. As people started to disperse a plea went out for people to take the remaining food rather than see it wasted.

We returned to the hotel. Urban-Cub, Cousteau-Cub, and Ellie had left about an hour earlier and were clearly holed up for the night in their room. We knocked gently, but there was no answer. We retired to the bar where the few remaining members of the family had gathered. We had a quiet drink with them before they set off home to Brighton (yes, at 10 o'clock at night they were just setting off!). We returned to our room and settled down for a good nights sleep. We'll drive home tomorrow.