RIP Alan Whicker – Whicker’s World

Alan Whicker, who has died today aged 87, was an intrepid traveller and his understated, knowledgeable style endeared him to millions who watched his journeys on TV throughout the 60s and 70s.  His eulogy will be interesting, and I have no doubt his obituary will throw up some interesting facts too!    His death brought to mind a poem by Tolkein  called “I sit beside the fire and think of places I have seen…”     I often suggest this as a reading for a funeral, especially where their loved one enjoyed travel and adventure in their younger or more able days.

I sit beside the fire…     J R R Tolkein

I sit beside the fire and think of all that I have seen,
of meadow-flowers and butterflies in summers that have been;
Of yellow leaves and gossamer in autumns that there were,
with morning mist and silver sun and wind upon my hair.
I sit beside the fire and think of how the world will be
when winter comes without a spring that I shall ever see.

For still there are so many things that I have never seen:
in every wood in every spring there is a different green.
I sit beside the fire and think of people long ago,
and people who will see a world that I shall never know.
But all the while I sit and think of times there were before,
I listen for returning feet and voices at the door.

If you would like a Celebrant led funeral for your loved one, which puts them at the centre of the ceremony, do check out my funeral page for more details about how I can help you say Adieu, Goodbye, Auf Wiedersehen, Au Revoir….