They say that at a funeral it’s important to celebrate a life lived well and not to dwell in the regret of the loss. Better therefore to remember and smile than be sad.
Last week’s funeral and commemoration of Willy Pickance was a wonderful opportunity to remember a life lived well, although many tears were shed as we said our fond farewell and our hearts go out to Penny his longstanding partner.
I learned a huge amount about Willy that I never knew. He lost his dad when he was very young, and his mum then made sacrifices to give Willy the best possible start in life. I learned thanks to Richard that Willy was welcome in every sailing club in Cowes. I wasn’t surprised. I also never knew that Alexi was his longstanding neighbour and would mow his lawn over the summer when Willy was often away sailing.
At the wake Derek shared a poignant story of how he, Willy and three other chums would regularly go out walking. The common thread to these walks was a pint or two and a chinwag in the local pub. So, when after a more recent walk the landlord asked “table for five?”, the group’s answer was instinctively “yes” and then, on reflection, “no, four.”
So here’s to you Willy and in memory of you and of all the Oaks sadly no longer with us, we will resuscitate a legacy Club motif for our centenary. Willy would have loved the fact that it’s the one on the front of the ‘old-school’ sweatshirt he’s wearing in the picture of him you walk past on the way to the gents in the Clubhouse.
And here it is. When the centenary merch arrives let’s wear it with pride and be thankful for everyone that brought us to where we are.
