“For he is an Englishman”
This is my text for today it is taken from the book of HMS Pinafore and remains steadfast in the heart of those who know about such things!!
Elaine and I had a couple of nice talks about Alan
And one was “He is an Englishman”
But I am also aware that he is OZ-TRAL-IAN
How deeply Alan loved this country, was passionate about conservation
And the modern day issues that face us
Elaine is tiring of the present day discussion of execution
But I am sure Alan would have
a few wise words to say
For me, as a Christian
I have a slight problem
I don’t think Alan would identify himself as a believer
YET he would sing in our choir
The Corowood Choir
‘Jesu du bist meine Freude’
But more excitingly, he and Elaine used to play for our Christmas Eve Service. Simple Carols.
For a Children’s Service.
His sensitivity as a musician
was very apparent to me.
I am a Cellist......he was much better than me
Quelle est cette odeur agreable?
There was more to it than that
Elaine and Alan played the Christmas mystery
and their relationship
was just amazing
(I suspect she would demur)
I shudder at the intimacy
Family. Children and grandchildren
They had their issues
But Elaine and Alan
had love.
If w are sad about anything today (and of course we are)
it is that Alan has gone
You know they loved each other
Alan struggled to name this as God’s love
as Jesus’s love
I don’t have such a struggle.
He was a lover,
Quiet...yes
Restrained....Yes
But also he gave himself to love :
Elaine, his children, his grandchild
This country: for he is Australian
and I for one
am glad to have shared my life with him
Good man!, Great scientist! Great father! Great and even greater grandfather
