Memorial Service, A Social Weekend

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Today was Anne Kays' Memorial Service at the Unitarian Church. The opening hymn was Paul Robeson's Hymn to Nations. I followed with a selection from a John Chadwick poem for the opening words, then four eulogies by family members and friends (providing superb recollections of Anne's life and contributions), a musical Interlude (Judy Small "A Heroine of Mine"), a historical and religious reference to Anne Askew, a reading from "The Inquirer" by Florence W., and finally closing words from Sean O'Casey's, Sunset and Evening Star, and for closing music Nana Mouskouri's "Amazing Grace". I must confess I felt more uncertain conducting this service than any other, with a sense of deeply wanting it to be just right, due to both the honour of being selected to give the service by Anne and a desire to give respect to her memory. Members of the family seemed to think it went well, so I can feel satisfied with that.

The days preceding were a mixture of various social occasions. Last night was a night at the Astor Cinema to see a couple of classic B-grade Christopher Lee films; The Wicker Man and Dracula Prince of Darkness. Sunday's gaming session was Eclipse Phase where the PCs had the first real experience of an extrasolar planet and an experience not unlike the first half of the movie Aliens. Continuing to work backwards, Saturday night was a big dinner at Vicky's Restaurant with log_reloaded in celebration of her completing her Diploma of Accounting.

Comments

[helvetica]

What a beautiful post! It sounds like a lovely and wonderful service.

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Thanks for the kind words. It really was quite a happy day in many ways.

[ratfan.livejournal.com]

Wow. I just played that Hymn to Nations. That's beautiful. I could listen to Paul Robeson for hours. I just wish the United Nations really was like that.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Astounding voice, and what an extraordinary life he had. I am surprised he managed to live as long as he did given the harassment and suffering he must have experienced. Clearly made of some very stern stuff.

As for the United Nations, you're absolutely correct. There is one issue which sticks in my maw at the moment because it is the very thing that the UN exists to prevent and yet its hands are tied.

[ratfan.livejournal.com]

Hmm. South China sea dispute? Or refugees in Europe?

I don't know a lot about Paul Robeson, but I know he got into trouble about his socialist (?) politics with the McCarthy lot, didn't he? If terminology is incorrect, sorry. I've also listened to him sing the Soviet anthem at their May Day Parade, not sure of date without looking but 1940s? Honest to God shivers to the toes. And to be a black man in that era with politics the authorities didn't like, yeah, a lot of guts.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

> Hmm. South China sea dispute? Or refugees in Europe?

More the latter - Syria in particular, which even the Secretary-General admits, and for the right reasons.

> , but I know he got into trouble about his socialist (?) politics with the McCarthy

That's right. They hounded and harassed him for decades.