Remembering Jo
Friday, and no work to be done. Lorraine lost her car keys so all up and tearing the place apart for half an hour before we found them. Then I pottered about tidying up before getting ready and walking off to a prearranged spot on the edge of Brighton to be collected by Lorraine. A gorgeous blue-skied day, and we drove off to Staplefield.
We parked near the village green, past the Victory pub, where we'd had a drink with Jo and Dave to celebrate their wedding last year, to the village hall. In this little room with its plaque mentioning it had been used by the red-cross during the war was a gathering in the village hall in remembrance of Jo. Jo's mother and sister gave eloquent and touching speeches. Jo's son Sam had someone else read his speech, but it certainly brought a lump to my throat. Also speeches from three friends including Lorraine's chum Penny. I'd only met Jo three times, but I liked her, and she was a kind and generous person without a shred of self-pity. Tributes to her were glowing and heartfelt, and she achieved a lot in a short time. Lots of sadness among her friends and former colleagues, but also the knowledge that Jo was a no-nonsense person who would want people to carry on with their own lives. I felt very sorry for Dave, a big taciturn guy wiping his eyes once or twice and saying very little.
There were drinks in the Victory but Lorraine wasn't much in the mood for small talk while I felt unusually tongue-tied and a bit awkward because I only had met a few people briefly. Eventually I took the opportunity to sleep as Lorraine began prepping for her interview next week. Lorraine and I went off afterwards for an early meal in the Shahi and then pausing for some time as Lorraine helped a young man who was lost and trying to find some flats a mile or so away.
We parked near the village green, past the Victory pub, where we'd had a drink with Jo and Dave to celebrate their wedding last year, to the village hall. In this little room with its plaque mentioning it had been used by the red-cross during the war was a gathering in the village hall in remembrance of Jo. Jo's mother and sister gave eloquent and touching speeches. Jo's son Sam had someone else read his speech, but it certainly brought a lump to my throat. Also speeches from three friends including Lorraine's chum Penny. I'd only met Jo three times, but I liked her, and she was a kind and generous person without a shred of self-pity. Tributes to her were glowing and heartfelt, and she achieved a lot in a short time. Lots of sadness among her friends and former colleagues, but also the knowledge that Jo was a no-nonsense person who would want people to carry on with their own lives. I felt very sorry for Dave, a big taciturn guy wiping his eyes once or twice and saying very little.
There were drinks in the Victory but Lorraine wasn't much in the mood for small talk while I felt unusually tongue-tied and a bit awkward because I only had met a few people briefly. Eventually I took the opportunity to sleep as Lorraine began prepping for her interview next week. Lorraine and I went off afterwards for an early meal in the Shahi and then pausing for some time as Lorraine helped a young man who was lost and trying to find some flats a mile or so away.
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