The hearse turned the corner by Pen Y Cefn Isa Farm around twenty five past eleven. I could just see it above the hawthorn hedge of my field.
It was moving at a slow walking pace, with Ralph’s closest walking behind.
Already a fair , socially distanced crowd had gathered outside the church and the workmen builders cementing bricks around the new build behind my cottage had quieted their radio and had laid down their tools as requested.
Sailor John and I stood on the lawn of our respective gardens and waited.
It wasn’t long before the funeral cars appeared.
One of the younger women in the party carried Ralph’s shepherd’s crook which was a nice touch I thought.
Sailor John and I bowed our heads to Lywenna who was sat stiffly in the second car.
We have waved to her so many times as she passed through the lane over the years.
I watched the outdoor service from my field. Village Elder Islwyn and the gravedigger stood to one side in their yellow workmen coats and in the far corners of the Churchyard , little knots of people stood to attention as a Welsh Minister took the service, his thickly accented baritone catching the faint breeze to where I stood allowing me to hear the odd phrase or word above the caws of the Crows in the trees surrounding the village pond and the far screams of seagulls flying over the fields to the West.
I did think about the funeral this morning. Your description is moving....I'm glad you bowed your head...little things like that gesture may be disappearing...I hope not x
ReplyDeleteI remember following my Nan's hearse and seeing amongst the shoppers an elderly gentleman stop and remove his hat as we passed. It was a small gesture but it really touched me. It will help Lywenna to feel the respect shown today. x
ReplyDeleteI love that little glimpse of quiet respect. Thank you, John.
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing this, john. I hope his widow finds comfort in her memories and that the villagers will assist her in the coming weeks.
ReplyDeleteThe loveliness of your town and its people is brilliantly told in your post, John. May Farmer Ralph Rest In Peace among those who went before him.
ReplyDeleteArleen said what I feel beautifully.
DeleteNice that you were able to be there for the procession. I'm sure the family appreciated the community support.
ReplyDeleteI am a part of something important here a real community
DeleteI, too, thought of the funeral late this morning in North Wales, of Gentleman Farmer Ralph and his family,and of the village which has lost a kind soul.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fitting send off, too. May he rest in peace and those who loved him and those who were his friends and neighbors live in peace.
Peace be with you.
Hugs!
Thank you babs, that means a great deal
DeleteI wonder if it will be something that continues after Covid.
ReplyDeleteI hope not , I love singing at funerals
DeleteI meant people standing along the roadside watching the cortege go by as a mark of respect. It is what is happening here too.
DeleteBeautiful description.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lovely sendoff for a pillar of the village. You paint a wonderful picture as always, John.
ReplyDeletei've ridden in too many hearses in my lifetime. i think you always feel numb on those rides.
ReplyDeleteMe too
DeleteAnd I agree the journey experienced is often surreal
An old tradition, the graveside funeral.
ReplyDeleteGood to know that he had a village sendoff
I'm sure Farmer Ralph's family felt the love of the village as they grieve the loss of their beloved.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a child, strangers stopped and bowed their heads when a hearse went by, and neighbours closed their curtains. These little marks of respect are noticed by the family and give a small crumb of comfort. Sadly, in many places, they have disappeared, but not in Trelawnyd I'm pleased to see. xx
ReplyDeleteThe welsh do funerals very well
DeleteMore deaths should be treated with that kind of respect.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
The rituals around death are important and are getting lost
DeleteYes I also remember all the street drawing their curtains as a mark of respect if there was a funeral , and to let the family of the deceased know that we were thinking of them . So nice that he had a good send off with all the village showing their support xx
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother taught me to draw the curtains , I don’t know if the procession noticed but I closed the cottage curtains this morning
DeleteA touching description of Farmer Ralph's services. I love the dignity and respect of such services. It means so much to the family and is so deserved.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing, beautifully written,
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteDiolch John.
ReplyDeletecroeso
DeleteFarmer Ralphs resting place sounds beautiful x
ReplyDeleteIt’s my home flis
DeleteMay he rest in peace, still part of his village, his home.
ReplyDeleteYes x
DeleteHow lovely that the community came out to pay their respects today. I'm sure the family appreciated that.
ReplyDeleteThe welsh generally love a good funeral
DeleteWhat a lovely tribute you and the rest of the village provided for him and his family. I am glad you were able to participate and share it with us.
ReplyDeleteI am glad I swapped my duty so I could watch it
DeleteYou paint a wonderful moving picture John, you habe a real gift.
ReplyDeleteThank u
DeleteMay Farmer Ralph rest in peace. Thank you for sharing the details of his service. My one and only British style funeral was for my Nan, and I loved the quiet dignity and respect of it all.
ReplyDeleteWhat I did notice that someone had cleared the flower beds next to the lytch gate and had planted some spring flowers
DeleteLovely tribute
ReplyDeleteWhen my grandmother died I travelled behind the hearse in a car with my sisters. We were immensely moved when a lollipop man removed his cap and bowed his head and a police car pulled back from a side road to let us pass. These gestures meant a great deal to me on a day when my heart was breaking.
ReplyDeleteA nice memory and an important one
DeleteIt all sounds a perfect end to what has been a life of a much loved and respected member of your village community John.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteDid they bury his crook with him? I hope they did, I find that very touching.
ReplyDeleteLovely tribute may Farmer Ralph rest in peace knowing that Lywenna will have all the support she needs from the people in the village.
ReplyDeleteReverence, regard, respect
ReplyDeleteexpressed beautifully in your written words.
Peace . . .
Your description is very moving x
ReplyDeleteYou painted such a beautiful picture John. The village did him & his family proud. XXXX
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written and such a lovely tribute.
ReplyDeleteAt the funeral procession of a friend of mine, a lollypop lady stopped the hearse to allow a couple of children cross the road. In my day, children were told to stand still and doff their school caps as a funeral cortege passed by.
ReplyDeleteEvocative. Beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the First Day of Spring!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for so gently describing the procession ... if Farmer Ralph's widow reads your blog, I am sure she will be pleased with how you described it all!
I pictured it all so well, like one of those movie funeral/burial scenes where one really gets the true feeling of being there, dressed in black with a veiled hat.
ReplyDeleteHappy Spring John.
Such a sweet tribute and beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteThank u xx
DeleteIt's nice that you were able to watch and participate while still allowing plenty of space. I could see it all in my mind's eye!
ReplyDeleteThank u
DeleteI admired the way you finished this account: "...the odd phrase or word above the caws of the crows in the trees surrounding the village pond and the far screams of seagulls flying over the fields to the West." Very evocative.
ReplyDeleteThank you
Delete