I want to thank you for joining me, David, Jill and Rob and our families at Friday’s funeral in All Saints Church, Horsington, for my beloved wife, Julie. It was a great comfort to us that so many people attended – 138 I’m told – in many cases, travelling very considerable distances. We were joined by people from so many walks of Julie’s life – from her former employment in Centro, Midland Metro and UK Tram in Birmingham; wonderful kind neighbours from Horsington and nearby villages; from her cribbage team; from her railway links – the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway, the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway and the Vintage Carriages Trust. Friends from Horncastle History and Heritage Society and Julie’s archery group at Southrey were all present and we were glad to welcome them all. Thank you for the comfort and solace your presence has given us. It was a long and not very easy journey for many and I am truly grateful. I’m aware that some people travelled by train and bus, not only from around Julie’s home village of Oxenhope, but from the Midlands and even Axminster in Devon: thank you. Others I know drove from as far as Scotland, Devon, East Anglia and many areas of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. There were many in the congregation from my work days at the BBC, from Horsington Parish Council, from our Belgian friends who style themselves “The Hornby Boys” and so many good and dear friends. It wasn’t possible to speak to everyone – which I greatly regret as I had hoped to talk to everyone who came to share my loss and offer solace – and hope that I can get round to visiting as many friends and relations as possible in the coming months. Julie and I had planned – after our Aruba rip – to spend a month in Scotland, then a couple of weeks in the Isle of Man, with the possibility of going to Guernsey later. All, of course, along with every other plan and ambition, now in the dust – but Julie’s positive approach to life – “get on with it” and “do it while you can” is an inspiration I hope to follow. I’ve been humbled by the generosity of people making a donation in the church or online or by post in Julie’s memory, to the Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance (organised by Lincs Co-op Funeral Service at their Horncastle branch: https://juliebates.muchloved.com ( 2 Market Place, Horncastle LN9 5HD). Rob had joined me in Aruba the day after Julie died (and without his practical help and support, I might still be there) and I must thank everyone in Aruba who so efficiently helped us return, with Julie’s ashes: the manager and staff at the Talk of the Town Hotel in Oranjestad; the paramedics from Aruba Ambulance Service; Aruba Police and their Victim Support team and the doctor they called out in the middle of the night; the staff of the funeral home whose quiet efficiency meant all the correct documentation in Dutch and English was prepared ready to accompany Julie’s remains on the flight back to Humberside Airport. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines provided me with a free flight all the way home and special thanks must go to Becky Stevenson from Travel Counsellors for making all the arrangements; also to Humberside Airport for looking after our car and waiving excess fees. I think we were fortunate to have the service conducted by Rev. Canon Stephen Holdaway, who went to considerable lengths to understand Julie’s ebullient character and her work and travels all over the world, but especially in Tristan da Cunha (where on the Sunday after her death, the Chief Islander dedicated the service at the the island’s Catholic church to Julie). I know the church wardens at All Saints, Andrew Price and David Forman, worked hard to prepare the church and make arrangements (All Saints is classed as a ‘Festival Church’ so services are rather sparse and the building is in need of substantial repair, inside and out). I know many of our neighbours worked hard to clean and prepare the church, setting out flowers and preparing the altar (even with a Yorkshire flag!) – so much done by so many people. I was very pleased with the arrangements made by Richard Blackburn from the Lincolnshire C-op Funeral Service in Horncastle and it was a sombre moment when Julie’s brother, David, gently placed her casket in the grave space in the churchyard, dropping the first rose in as we followed suit with roses or daffodils. Sunday’s service of prayers at All Saints was dedicatd to Julie and the Yorkshire flag still lay on the altar. Thank you for joining us and being part of an important but sad day. The caterers (Sue Kind from Sue’s Tableware) and the volunteers and the committee members of the Charles Hill Community Hall worked hard to ensure a warm welcome and provide welcome refreshments after the service.

I vividly recall someone whose indefatigable energy and commitment were always to the fore. Julie had an abundance of care and consideration for others. And I remember her wit, and humor, and her unflagging optimism. Very special !!

The only important thing in life is the traces of love we leave behind. in silent memory of Julie 🕯️