Most of us have met Sir Deli Dave and Lady Linda, and as many will know, Lady Linda passed away on the morning of 27th April 2018 after a long brave struggle with a serious illness.
Carole and I went to Lady Linda's funeral to say a last goodbye to her, staying the night before at the Holiday Inn Express just off Jn 15 M1.
We met Sir Gagakev and his lovely wife Mags, also there to say goodbye to Linda. I contacted Sir Dustydog to let him know how everything went, and he suggested that I copy what I had written for all Woosies to see, this is the first real chance I've had to post it since Friday, so here goes....
We met up with Kevin and Mags on Thursday at the hotel where we were all staying, and we enjoyed a lovely meal and a few drinks together at an old pub, The Wooden Walls of Old England in Colingtree which Kevin had researched and which was really nice.
En route to Linda’s funeral we had a couple of sat-nav induced ‘diversions’ not of our making and contradictory to what we ourselves had found, so we arrived at the crematorium just before Linda was being driven in for her final goodbye.
The crematorium chapel was packed, standing room only and not surprisingly a really good turn out.
Linda was solemnly borne in by relatives in a white wickerwork coffin decorated with flowers, and the service was non religious, but very moving nonetheless. The charming lady who officiated mentioned various episodes from the life of Linda including how she met Dave as a young lady, Linda's sense of humour and happy demeanour and the music also reflected happy times in life of Linda and Dave.
Linda had asked for mourners to remember the good times, of which there were many, and for black not to be worn, so those who came to say goodbye were in coloured splendour rather than the usual monochrome funeral drab.
Typical of Linda, she asked that each of us take a bunch of flowers, which were displayed as normal, but for everyone to choose a different bunch to take home and to enjoy whilst thinking of her, an excellent idea.
Dave bore the ordeal very nobly and with great dignity, surrounded by his family and friends.
We all went to Linda’s wake at the last public house she’d ever visited which was very fitting, a charming old hostelry called the White Horse, and at least one hundred of us were served delicious and generous portions of fish and chips.
Dave very bravely made time to speak to everyone at their various tables, he told me that he’s hoping to try to continue with his caravanning because Linda would definitely not have wanted him to give up.
We often met Linda and Dave for the annual Twinwood festival and they had the tickets for this year, where we were very much looking forward to seeing them.
Dave has said that he still intends to join us and his son and his son’s partner will be coming with him which will be a great help and support for Dave, who also hopes to come to Woosiefest in Lincolnshire.
Stewart Pickersgill (Sir Roger F. Fortescue-Smythe) came to say hello and has said that he’ll keep a friendly and fraternal eye on Dave, and we’ll also stay in touch with him and will take a ride down the M6 to meet with him for a meal and a chat if he feels like company.
Dave is facing a tough uphill struggle, Of course, all of his family and friends will do their best to support him and each other, and of course if Dave needs a break in the caravan there are Woosies in all parts of the country who I’m sure would be very happy to see him.