Funeral planned to perfection - and a pilgrim

​As funeral singers, we often find ourselves discussing funeral service choices with the family in a rush before the event, as they were left with no clue as to what the deceased actually wanted for their funeral.

Not so at a funeral this week, which was like the deceased himself - 'organised'. He had left precise instructions as to hymns and music, and had even dictated his own eulogy for his grandson to read. (A tough call, but the lad did his grandfather proud.)

So, when a member of the family realised just two days before that a choir would not be available, she simply rang us with her late father's music choices. We suggested adding a sung entry (Ave Maria), rather than unspecified organ music, and that was that, booking made, problem solved.

And what a good, honest, British funeral service it was, led by an excellent Padre with just the right mixture of celebration and sombre ceremony. It was a joy to sing one of my favourite hymns, "He who would valiant be (To be a pilgrim)", and I was grateful for Padre's extra baritone vocals as the setting was rather low even for me!

There are funeral services, and there are moving, life-affirming funerals that make you feel proud to have been part of it. This was definitely one of the latter.

Just to say a huge thank you for singing at my father's funeral yesterday. You have the voice of an angel, and the entrance solo set the scene for a very moving service.

LH, funeral in Bordon, Hampshire