I've attended two memorial services in two days - and they could not have had more in contrast. Nigel Dempster's was held at St Bride's Church, Fleet Street, and was packed with journalists and friends from the fourth estate. The following day, Mary and I attended Lord Renton's memorial service at St Margaret's Church, Westminster, attended by people from the first, second and third estate. John Major's address at the latter (he succeeded David Renton as MP for Huntingdon) was a study in how these things should be done, because he not only captured a little of the 99 year old's remarkable life, but his sense of fun and kindness right to the end. This church was also packed - an incredible achievement, remembering that not one of his contempories was sitting there to honour his life. If he'd died at seventy, they would have had to take Westminster Abbey.
1 Comments:
Good words.
It's heartening that so many are willing to appreciate and celebrate a quietly decent life, or, in the case of Mr Dempster, (borrowed words)his "flawed, outragous humanity".
These characters are life-enhancers, and God bless them for that.
It's an interesting contrast to a fallen political figure heard on the radio over the weekend, who, having previously admitted involvement in a deeply-DEEPLY unsavoury trist, continues to piously prognosticate as a self-appointed political and moral guardian........remarkable.
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