Ed's immediate family followed the coffin in, and took their seats to our left. Lisa, Courtney, and Chelsea gave brief orations, halting to compose themselves every now and then, but they struggled through bravely. We filed out into the cemetery and congregated around a wreath with Eddie's name on it. Got to say hello to Beryl, and Dawn and Lisa, before heading back to the car and driving to the Crabtree public house in Frimley. Good turnout for the Big Fella. Got chatting to a chap who introduced himself as Errol...a youthful looking black man who astonished me by saying he was 71. He lives in the same block as Beryl and Ed, and had bonded with Ed during lockdown over a shared love of fast cars...Errol drives an F-Type Jag! Errol had been a youth team footballer with Palace, but had found himself head-hunted by The Pru for his computer savvy. Lovely bloke.
Lisa and Beryl came over for a chat...Beryl seems to have a strong support network around her, there being several widows who get together over a coffee for a chat on a regular basis. Dawn came over...she looked a bit hassled, as usual. Chatted about her falling out with her Aunt Susan, and about cousin Carol, who is in a care home with vascular dementia. Her partner, who basically looked after her, died suddenly after a fall on a shopping trip a couple of years ago, and Dawn was rueing having been made executor to his will, which still hasn't managed to get through probate. We left about 1430 to drive back to Islington. Got stuck in traffic on the North Circular. Warmed up the chicken stew for dinner, which I served with mashed potato and vegetables. Nowt on telly...ended up watching a documentary about the life and career of Elizabeth Taylor. We were all a bit weary...Kath went to bed early to read her book. Aki and I bathed before bed...
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