I
attended the funeral of Charlie Bowden today and attach a scan picture
of the Order of Service, which you may consider adding to the Sunset
Page or the like. I tend to add such items to our Gambia Obituary Pages,
and it appears that most members are happy to see these items there,
especially if they were unable to attend a shipmates funeral for any
reason.
I will leave it to others to write a report, but I can tell you that
while the church was not overflowing, there was a decent representation
of all ranks from Musician/Bugler to at least one PDM, plus an RSM and
two Buglers who played the usual items of Last Post and Reveille. Charlie
was conveyed from the church to Regimental March "Life on the Ocean
Wave", which would no doubt having him rocking in his coffin!
As I say above, the funeral was well attended by some who had travelled
from far and wide and the weather was absolutely wonderful, if a tad
on the cold side, and the frost was still on the footpath when we left
the church following the service at 15.00 hrs!
A light buffet of sandwiches and cakes and tea and coffee was laid on
by the family in the Methodist Hall after the service.
Can't really add much more than that, other than to say that I managed
a word with some who I had served with in the Home Fleet in 1956 and
that there was much lamp swinging going on, just like at a reunion,
but, less the alcohol flowing!
Kind regards,
Yours aye,
Bill.
