Stories

Extract: This is a story about a funeral...

Lest We Forget -

Hawkeye Publishing 2020

Lest We Forget

The sounds of trumpet practise echoed from our home. In the midst of which came a knocking at our front door. Standing on our doorstep was an old, old man.

‘I was just walking past and I heard your boy playing,’ he said.

‘Yes,’ I replied.

‘Would he play for me tomorrow?’

‘For what purpose?’ I enquired.

‘For a funeral.’

‘Would you like to come in?’ I invited. We introduced ourselves and I led him into our sitting room, where he exclaimed,

‘Oh, you’re a girl.’

‘I think so,’ Laura replied as I introduced her to the old man.

With a cup of tea in hand we sat and chatted for a few minutes.

‘What can I do for you?’ Laura wanted to know.

‘I help out with RSL vets, (Returned Serviceman’s League veterans). One died last week and his only relative is a nephew in Queensland. Unfortunately, he can’t make it to the funeral.’

‘That’s very sad,’ I said. ‘He must have been a lonely old soul.’

Turning to Laura he asked, ‘Would you be able to play for the funeral tomorrow?’

‘What would you want me to play?’ she asked.

He explained his needs.

We talked for a few more minutes, he finished his tea, said goodbye to Laura and I escorted him to the street.

Next day, wearing her school uniform, we met the old man at the gate of Cheltenham cemetery. While we walked together to the gravesite the old man talked to Laura about the service. The hearse arrived with the funeral director and three of his staff. The funeral ceremony began and Laura stood where the old man suggested, on a low hill.

On a bitterly cold, still, dry winter’s day at one o’clock, The Last Post reverberated throughout the cemetery and beyond. So consuming was the music that people began to leave the gravesides they were visiting and walk towards the grave of what had been a lonely old digger. Laura was requested to play a hymn and people openly wept while she played Abide with Me.

I stood aside to allow the public to speak to Laura and with the group we slowly walked towards the cemetery gate. In the street, people had stopped and some asked,

‘Who is this beautiful musician?’ Laura spoke to everyone who waited and asked to shake her hand.

In this time of isolation for Covid 19, we should remember that in the happiest and most joyous of times, there are people living isolated and lonely lives. We can all help in our small way.