Friday 23 June 2017

Celebrating a Life. Pete Goodridge

We went to Pete's Big Sendoff on the Summer Solstice.
Sad to see him go,but happy thoughts and celebrations of him and how his actions had touched so many.

Songs were sung, and,as he had chosen a while ago, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" by Eric Idle was sung led by his daughter and son and joined in by the 300 or more of the rest of us.

He had been to a burial at the Memorial meadow a while  ago and said he'd like it here, with the sheep grazing over him in the Winter, at the top of the slope with a good view of the rolling hills of Gwent.   He has a view of a field of barley and a wooded slope as well,for a man who planted trees.  All that,and as a potter...it is good clay soil.

Then up the road to his local pub, where a sign greeted allcomers..we are sorry but the kitchen is closed today as we have lost our great friend Pete.
Inside a great Pete style buffet awaited and people played boules outside..the only sport Pete had won an award for!
The weather was perfect for doing as he had ordered..talk to three persons that you'd never met before...and to many old friends.

One comment came from many...you just expected him to come round the corner and say "and how are You today?"

It was a great Sendoff and left you feeling sad but glad.  
He always said he'd never reach 65..


4 comments:

kjsutcliffe said...

((o))

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

It sounds like Pete lived a good life and was truly loved by many.

Michèle Hastings said...

Sorry for the loss of your friend. It looks like you all gave him the perfect send off that he had wished for.

Fresca said...

Sad, but loving--and funny: the Eric Idle song!

And the idea of a potter becoming clay is so fitting and solid and good...
R.i.p. your friend Peter