Brecon Cathedral is a beautiful edifice - even if scaffolding spoils the internal perspective at the moment. I was there this afternoon to give thanks for the life of Austin Walters, whom I liked but did not know that well. But I do know his feisty widow, Edna who is a really good friend. She has been a great supporter of mine for many years. It was also great to meet so many of the Brecon and Radnor Conservatives, of which Austin and Edna had always been such an important part. Of course funerals are inevitably sad occasions, but I do try to make them celebrations of life.
Jonathon Evans MEP, recently selected parliamentary candidate for Cardiff North was also there. We both talked to as many people as possible at the post funeral do. Jonathon really is a top man - and I hope his talent is quickly recognised by David Cameron when he transfers from Brussels to Westminster at the next election. B and R is an Association which deserves an infusion of enthusiasm. Big job for Suzy Davies. I want to help where I can.
It was worth going to listen to the Dean. He didn't mince his words. His comments after the reading of St Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians was blunt - even by my standards. This is St Paul's Letter that highlights the importance of 'love' as the basis which gives meaning to human emotion. "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." Clearly he had been deeply offended by the way Tony Blair had used St Paul's letter as a device to exhibit a contrived form of false love. Love should not be confused with public exhibitionism and sentimentality. Don't know whether anyone else noticed - but it had a big impact on me.
The last hymn was "Guide me, O thou great redeemer", one of the best hymns penned by William Williams of Pantycelyn. The Dean told us that Austin was a descendent of William Williams which made the hymn a bit special to all of us. We gave Austin a good send off.
4 comments:
Joy of joys, the Wannabe Celebrities have gone and done another "special" with Hello! How can Lembit Opik ever hope to retain this seat in rural Wales?? The man is clearly out of control, or being controlled by that ghastly family. Interestingly, as my neighbour's just pointed out, the lying lech tried to make out there was no overlap between him taking up with these dreadful dysfunctional people and Sian Lloyd. Well, if our memories serve us right, he was still with Sian Lloyd conference time last year and beyond, and yet now he's happy to admis he'd already met those saddos. How on earth does he think he can get away with the way he behaves? Last night in the pub we were all saying how much we're looking forward to the Weather Diva's book. Let's hope she nails him and reveals him for the charaltan and liar he is
Blimey (as we used to say when I was young). I almost had to delete this one. To be fair, Mrs Irimia had marked Dec 6th down on her calender as the date the relationship was consumated (well after conference). She told the Mail on Sunday that before that, they had only cuddled up to keep warm. I posted on this at the time
Glyn there has been a discernible mellowing of your views [and the scales falling from your eyes] about being around politicians over recent weeks.
Yet you still hanker after another dose of it - this time in a House of Commons which is slipping slowly towards a separated settlement.
The best of luck to you as you try to make that work, keep your views and values intact and uncompromised, and - at the same time - attempt to live out the text you quoted: 'If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal'.
cleckanndra - I've never looked upon politics through rose tinted glasses. I know what the world is like. There are total s**ts and many good people. To keep disillusion at bay, you have to be realistic about what to expect. Truth is I really enjoy it, good and bad. The trick is knowing a 'noisy gong' when you hear one.
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