Thank you all who have sent such kind messages to us either online or in other ways. We have wanted to make the most of our farewell to Vicky and so with heavy hearts have turned our mind to her funeral arrangements. Like her we hope these will be a little different!
The funeral will be held at Memorial Woodlands, Earthcott Green, Alveston, Bristol on Saturday 24th November. You can find a printable map at http://www.memorialwoodlands.com/contactus.php. There will be a secular service in the chapel there, starting at 11am. After this Vicky's immediate family will then accompany her body to the local crematorium for a short committal ceremony, before we return to join you all.
We hope that everybody will stay and share the food and drink that will be provided in the reception rooms at Memorial Woodlands until and after we rejoin you. We intend to provide mementos of Vicky's life and exploits there and hope that you too will bring along anything you would like to share that will help keep her memory with us. There will also be a Book of Remembrance for you to add tributes.
We have the whole of the Memorial Woodlands site for ourselves until 5.30pm, so hope to get the chance to see you all.
Instead of sending flowers we would prefer that if you wish to do so you make a donation to St Peter's Hospice who cared so compassionately for Vicky and us in her last days. The facility to do this will be provided at the funeral.
Love from Diarmid and Martin
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13 comments:
Dear Martin, Iona and all of Vicky's family - I came across this and hope it may be of some comfort:
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there.
I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripenend grain
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there;
I did not die. (Anon, 1989)
Thinking of you all, love Jane (Haley), Tim, Ellen and Charlie XXXXXXXX
I have found comfort in the words of this poem over the last few years. My Mum put it aside before her death and I have always thought of it as a message to get me through the hard times. Let me share it with you...
I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one,
I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways,
Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days.
I'd like the tears of those who grieve to dry before too long.
And cherish those very special memories to which I belong.
Looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday and sharing many very special memories.
Margot, John, Rowan, Ceara and Lochlan
All change please.
Ladies and gentlemen we have sadly arrived at our destination.
Thank you for the company, and for keeping your feet off the seats, mostly (you know who you are).
Our passengers have come from across the globe to join us.
Although it's just a big old red bus, it's been a real rollercoaster ride.
Now there are a few miles on the clock, the transmission is struggling and several sprockets need replacing -
Vicky is right now driving old red bus, via Woodlands on Saturday, back to the depot for a full reconditioning and refurb.
Then, no doubt, off on their next adventure - celestial or seafaring this time maybe?
The Conductor xxxxx
Pink is the colour? Due to Vicky's penchant for pink clothing do you think it appropriate for the ladies to wear a hint (or more) of pink on Saturday ... and of course the gents should they so wish?
Lizzie x
Dear Joan, Diarmid and Anna
Thinking of you all at this very sad time.
Nick and I hope to be with you on Saturday as I think Carol mentioned yesterday.
With love Tricia
I came across this last weekend. It's from a poem by Nicholas Heiney and thought you might like to read it, too.
I sing, as I was told,
inside myself.
I sing inside myself
the one wild song, song that whirls
my words around
until a world unfurls
my ship’s new sail
I catch the dew and set
a course amongst the ocean curls
The silence at the song’s end
Before the next
Is the world.
See you Saturday. Charlotte xx
Dear Martin and Diarmid,
Sadly I cannot be with you all on Saturday. I'm counting on Gill and Claire to carry my love and thoughts to you all and especially to say farewell to Vicky. It's only fairwell for now Vic. You'll always be in my thoughts.
Love to Joan and all the family.
Sarah Barnetson.
I was sent this and think it is beautiful, thought I would share with the bus as we near the end of our journey together.
When tomorrow starts without me
And I'm not there to see
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me
I wish so much you wouldn't cry
The way you did today
While thinking of the many things we didn't get to say.
But when tomorrow starts without me
Please try to understand
Than an angel came and called my name
And took me by the hand
And said my place was ready
In heaven far above
And that I'd have to leave behind all those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away
A tear fell from my eye
For all my life I'd always thought
I didn't want to die
I had so much to live for
so much yet to do
It seemed impossible that I was leaving you.
But when I walked through Heaven's gates
I felt so much at home
When God looked down and smiled at me
From His great golden throne
He said "This is Eternity
And all I've promised you
Today your life on earth is past but here life starts anew".
You have been so faithful
So trusting and so true
Though there were times you did some things
You knew you shouldn't do
But you have been forgiven
And now at last you're free
So won't you come and take my hand and share your life with me.
So when tomorrow starts without me
Don't think we're far apart
For every time you think of me
I'm right here in your heart
With all our love
Zoe, Mat and Izzie
Joan and family
Sadly I will not manage a trip dowm to Bristol this saturday. I am sorry about this however I will pay a wee visit up to mum and dad where they are buried in the Corstorphine Woodland Burial Site. Pink will be worn by myself and I am sure Scott will also be doing the same.
So much love to you all from up here in Edinburgh and Joan when you are back in Edinburgh we would all love to see you.
Thinking of you all Jenny, Scott, Corey and Kerry-Anne x x x x
Out here in Durban in the Clipper race village, I was walking past the main marquee this morning.
Up on a table, a large flat screen was showing video footage of past Clipper races and there before me was Vicky filling the screen as she enthused about the adventure yet to come.
A bit later in the video, there she was again, on board Bristol Clipper, counting down the clock off Southsea Castle as the fleet was unleashed on our adventure.
It seemed very apt, very life affirming and downright perfect that it was Vicky herself who was doing the communicating with such enthusiasm, on the start of a new journey.
We'll be taking time out to walk at the edge of the Indian Ocean next Saturday as you gather in Bristol and our love and support will be with you.
To you all
I was not a close friend of Vicky. We knew each other through Weston Tourism and then Conference Bristol. She was the consummate professional with a light touch. A wonderful sense of humour and since her illness, I have been humbled by her ability to deal with what has been thrown at her. Her grace, dignity and humour showed the sheer strength of her character which will live on in her delightful daughter. You might find the following of some comfort from The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran
"For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is it to cease breathing but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?
Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.
I hope to be with you on Saturday.
Angela Cary-Brown
Dear Martin, Iona and the rest of the family
We're sorry that we won't be able to make it to Bristol on Saturday to join you all. We will, however, be thinking of Vicky and remembering all the great times we had together. She will be sadly missed but the memories will always be there.
Wishing you lots of love and strength
Lisa, John, Finn, Millie & Hamish - Sydney
Martin, Iona, Joan and all the family and close friends
What a priviledge to have shared Vicky's goodbye with everyone yesterday. It was such a hugely emotional but vibrant day and really brought home to me what a fulfilling life Vicky has had. The complete sadness of the loss of Vicky to everyone was tempered with this thought. I hope it will be of some comfort to you in the next weeks/months/years. And what a turn out! The tributes, poems and music were all heart renching and my IPOD now has the Abba and Mara tracks loaded onto it - absolutely beautiful. I shall have to stop playing them as I'm running out of tissues. I played them to the children this morning as we lounged in bed and I talked to them about how we had said goodbye to Vicky. Sam has instructed me that he would like 'Who let the dogs out' and 'Is this the ways to Amarillo?' at his funeral! Martin, just let us know what we can do to help - we will continue to be there for you as long as you can put up with us!
Love from Diana. Matt, Sam and Daisy
xxxx
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