Goodbye Joe

a dear friend and colleague who's funeral service we went to today. Lots of familiar faces some welcome others not so but a very good turnout for someone who was a much loved man.

He arrived with Police motor cycle escort and all the trappings of a well respected old copper...

Having served with Thames Valley Police for 30 years and rising to the rank of Chief Superintendent he came to work for BCC where he worked for 15 years eventually becoming my boss, and second dad, then after privatisation when I took over and he retired again.

He was never far away as we lived in the same cul de sac for 25 years and we saw him quite regularly until his death in December last year aged 85..

He was a man who truly lived his life. So many achievements with his late wife plus foreign travel and belonging to many different gardening clubs and societies. He always reckoned to achieve something new each day.

I will miss him as will lots of people who knew him like I did. His three children and grandson are an absolute credit to both he and Marian and were wonderful hosts at his wake today.

But we gave him a good send off with the words of his final song which were Have a Drink on me, a song that was played as we left the crem.

There is one extra of Joe with me when I was young and handsome...

It was good weather for the dear man who would have utterly enjoyed it...