Another picture of Dave, rather more recent, although there’s some dispute between my wife and myself about where it was taken. I thought it was at Aspland Road, but she thinks it was in his house at Hastings. She’s probably right. It gives an idea of his stature!

Yesterday we went to his funeral, which was small and private – only about 50 people! It took place at Hastings Crematorium. The vicar was from Christ Church, Ore, and knew Dave, and the eulogy was given by his friend Anne Gaye, wife of Stan Nicholls, the fantasy writer and another close friend of Dave’s. Another friend and best man, Steve, flew over from New Zealand to read a section from Sword in the Storm which was extremely moving. The opening and closing music, chosen by Stella, were Lay Down your Weary Tune, by Bob Dylan, and Hallelujah, by Leonard Cohen. Readings were from Isaiah 43 and 1 Corinthians 13, Dave’s favourite passage.

Afterwards there was champagne at Dave’s house. Many people we didn’t know, but some old friends too, like Val, his first wife, and their children, Luke and Kate, with Kate’s daughter Jordan, who is six. Also Val’s parents and sister Jenny, with Jenny’s children and Simon’s wife, who is a police officer. (Steve is also a police officer, so we felt very safe…) Also Dave’s sister, Linda, whom he’d only discovered in 1999, and her husband and two daughters – all of them lovely people. And Mary, who gave me a massage at Dave’s instigation many years ago.

Many others also present; some of them had brought pictures of Dave, and there was a collection of obituaries in the library. The one by Stan in The Times was excellent, and it was also interesting to read Russell Claughton’s in the local paper, the Observer.

The web has been full of praise for Dave:
http://www.thealienonline.net/blog/2006_07_01_tao_news_archive.asp
has most of the references.

We stayed until about 4.30 and then headed home, pausing only for some food at a Little Chef on the A21 that looked as if it was on its last legs. Food was OK, but that was about all. Arrived home at about 8.30pm.

As I write we’re having the carpet cleaned, following which we’re off to Blickling for the opening of the sitooterie – Annette and Lisa’s project. I forgot to RSVP, so I hope they let us in. We will then continue to North Walsham and probably pop in on Jessie. Weather is much cooler; hope it doesn’t go completely off the rails for the Murrays.

Incidentally, there’s a big alert at airports today after a terrorist plot was uncovered – there are fears that more people may be involved. No hand luggage is being taken on to the planes between America and the UK, because the aim apparently was to explode planes using a liquid explosive that could pass as shampoo. Fighting gets more and more extensive in the Lebanon, but we all carry on as normal. Is the world falling apart, or does it just feel like it?