Been Away: Now Back Home

We've been south to Sheffield, for the funeral of the OH's brother. It was fairly grim, although what other sort of funeral is there really?

Brother-in-law, Peter, was a Professor at Sheffield University and when we arrived at the Crematorium we were all overwhelmed by the number of people waiting outside to attend the service. There were friends and colleagues and students and former students from Sheffield, from all over the UK and from further afield.

 

Son no 2 had been asked to do a reading; he was quite upset on the day and I worried that he might not manage, but in the event, the acting training kicked in and he made a good job of it. The text was 'Do Not Stand at my Grave and Weep' which is not a personal favourite but the OH had been asked to choose something and that was what he picked so that was what was read.

 

After the service there was a reception at the University and several people gave very moving accounts of the way Peter had touched their lives, whether as researcher, supervisor or colleague. It was comforting to know that he had meant so much to so many people and also that the work he had done was so ground breaking and important. Sadly none of that really makes up for the fact that at 61, he really was far too young to die.