The music for the Celebration was chosen with care by myself and the girls. The songs were different from the usual Christian music but each one played a significant part in Peter's life and therefore also in ours.
We had Ralph McTell singing 'The Streets of London' for the entry song, one that Peter always played when practising on his guitar. He busked on the London streets when he was a student and then, a few years ago, met up with Ralph and they swapped stories of the early days.
Our next choice was not exactly a song, more a story, but was really BIG in our house. Back in the 80's when we all came to know God in a personal way, a young guy came to our Church and performed some mime. He became our friend and we had some really good times so we chose The Champion as the music but in our mind's eye we were all watching this . . . . .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7oZKXIVkWE
The next song was by Don Fransisco. It held resonance for two reasons:
1 - Our first date was to go to a Don Fransisco concert.
2 - When we journeyed out to Nigeria, Peter always included this song in his repertoire . . . .I'll Never Let Go of Your Hand.
I saw him playing his guitar out the front of the Church, happy memories for me and our Nigerian brother and sister.
After the blessing, the strains of Acker Bilk could be heard as we left the chapel. When asked if he could play his clarinet, Peter always played this tune.
I don't think it was the sort of celebration folk expected but then we are not the usual kind of family. Peter and I travelled all over Europe, into America and Africa. We made friends wherever we went and always, always managed to find a local Church . . . . in Africa there were lots!
To celebrate a life is to rejoice for the honour of knowing the man. One friend said it all when she said: It was a privilege to know such a character as Peter.
. . . and it was . . .
The service sounds just as you and he wanted, with memories in all you chose.
ReplyDeleteFaith x