Not the film, but a funeral this morning which went a long way to conveying the essence of the man. It went from the choir of Chester Cathedral singing 'Be Thou my Vision' to 'Do you hear the People Sing' from Les Miserables (a/the? song of Sale Sharks Rugby Club). We went via Colleen Hitchcock's Ascension and Jerusalem (shades of the rugby pitch again). We sang 'Be Still, for the presence of the Lord..' which we sang 14 years ago at Brian's wife Pat's funeral. Much laughter and sadness with many stories of the man, his roguish ease, his dependability, his punctuality (sometimes arriving at rugby matches hours or even days beforehand) and the witness of the many people from widely different spheres who came to celebrate his life. I last saw him when I sat next to him at a Silk Screen showing of Kandahar - 'not a barrel of laughs' was, I think, his summary but laughter was never far from from his lips.
I did the above poster 2 years ago when he got us well lost on a Thursday evening walk, but yes, Brian, you were wanted. And we missed him there today for his presence was what united us.
PS More photos of Brian are among my album of the 2005 All Saints' Walks - the last that he organised.
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