This afternoon we are saying farewell in Birmingham to a dear friend who my wife and I have known for nearly forty years. Howard Waldron passed away peacefully at St Mary’s Hospice just after Christmas, aged 64. He had been ill for a few months. To his wife Marie (Toner) and family (Catherine and Michael) our deep sympathy. Marie is from Carlingford, Co.Louth where her mother is living. Her nephew is the Ireland international and Leinster rugby player Devin Toner. I reproduce here the order of service at the Robin Hood crematorium and I am publishing part of the tribute I gave during the ceremony.

Howard was a lecturer in economics for many years in Birmingham, Coventry and at the time of his retirement, in Stratford-upon-Avon College, where he was very involved in latter years with the recruitment of international students from China. He will be greatly missed. I never met anyone who could analyse the economic situation or the state of the £ with such a gift for making it understandable to the ordinary citizen (let alone students!). Rest in peace dear friend and may you find the path to heavenly eternity. Your common sense approach to everything will be sorely missed by all. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dilís.

ORDER OF SERVICE

Entrance Music Benedictus (The Armed Man) by Karl Jenkins

Welcome and Opening Prayer by Reverend Chris Turner

Tribute by Peter Toner, brother of Marie

Tribute by Lynn Nuttall, Stratford College

Music: The Long and Winding Road by The Beatles

The long and winding road/That leads to your door/Will never disappear,/I’ve seen that road before.

It always leads me here,/Leads me to you door.

The wild and windy night/That the rain washed away/Has left a pool of tears/Crying for the day.

Why leave me standing here?/Let me know the way.

Many times I’ve been alone/And many times I’ve cried,/Anyway you’ll never know/The many ways I’ve tried.

But still they lead me back/To the long and winding road,/You left me waiting here/A long, long time ago.

Don’t leave me standing here,/Lead me to your door.

But still they lead me back/To the long and winding road,/You left me waiting here/A long, long time ago.

Don’t leave me standing here,/Lead me to your door.

Poem: Epitaph On A Friend read by Catherine Waldron

An honest man lies here at rest,/The friend of man, the friend of truth;

The friend of age, and guide of youth:/Few hearts like his, with virtue warm’d,

Few heads with knowledge so inform’d;/If there’s another world, he lives in bliss;

If there is none, he made the best of this.

Tribute by Jim (Matthew Boulton College, Birmingham)

Music: The Parting Glass sung by Eoin Gaffney (Malahide)

Of all the money that e’er I had, I’ve spent it in good company

And all the harm that e’er I’ve done, Alas it was to none but me.

And all I’ve done for want of wit/ To memory now I can’t recall.

So fill to me the parting glass, Goodnight and joy be with you all.

A man may drink and not be drunk, A man may fight and not be slain.

A man may court a pretty girl/ And perhaps be welcomed back again.

But since it has so ought to be/ By a time to rise and a time to fall,

Come fill to me the parting glass, Goodnight and joy be with you all.

Of all the comrades that e’er I had, They are sorry for my going away,

And all the sweethearts that e’er I had, They would wish me one more day to stay.

But since it falls unto my lot/ That I should rise and you should not,

I’ll gently rise and I’ll softly call, Goodnight and joy be with you all. Goodnight and joy be with you all.

Tribute by Michael Fisher in memory of our many walks together:

A Little Poddle (leisurely amble) by Ann Bristow from the Alfred Wainwright Society Poetry Competition 2011

It’s just a little poddle/ To the left then round that bend/ Up to the top/ Then down/ Then up/

Til we come back down again

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It’s just a small leg stretcher/ To break us in/ And then/ Tomorrow we’ll do a big walk/

And sort boys out from the men

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We’ll stop just in a minute/ And then we’ll have a rest

Come on now keep on going/ The view’s just past this crest

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We’ll lunch upon the summit/ With a panoramic view

Then down we’ll go to have a pint/ And maybe a crisp or two

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It’s just a little poddle/ A nice round walk with views

And somehow all the better/ For having good friends go with you!

Judge’s comment: ‘Brings back memories of family walking and persuading others there’s not far to go. Read it with a big smile.’

Bolton Abbey by William Wordsworth

From Bolton’s old monastic tower
The bells ring loud with gladsome power;
The sun shines bright; the fields are gay
With people in their best array
Of stole and doublet, hood and scarf,
Along the banks of crystal Wharf,
Through the vale retired and lowly.
Trooping to that summons holy.
And, up among the moorlands, see
What sprinklings of blithe company!
Of lasses and of shepherd grooms,
That down the steep hills force their way
Like cattle through the budding brooms;
Path, or no path, what care they?
And thus in joyous mood they hie
To Bolton’s mouldering Priory.

So in reflecting on Bolton Abbey, Malham, Ambleside, Keswick, Powerscourt, York and all those joyful expeditions in England and Ireland and in the family’s case much further afield, I hope that even in the face of death, my words this afternoon can be those of thanksgiving.

We are thankful for Howard, who shared his life with us. A dear friend, for whom love and family were so important. A wanderer, whose life was lived with vigour. We give thanks for the struggles of life and for the triumph of character over trial, of courage over difficulty, and of belief over sorrow.

May God grant us such strength in the memory of Howard that we may be thankful for the gift of life given to each of us. In our hearts, may the loss of Howard be balanced by thanksgiving for a life that in our case was shared with us, ever since we first met here in Birmingham nearly forty years ago. Amen.

Quiet Reflection:  Music: In Paradisum by Fauré

Prayers and Commendation and Exit Music 

Albatross by Fleetwood Mac

Donations, if desired, can be made directly to St Mary’s Hospice