Reg Bolton’s funeral

M and I attended Reg Bolton’s funeral yesterday, along with MR, and a couple of people from Curtin. The rain (we’ve had a lot of rain this week) stopped long enough for the morning to be bright and sunny. The funeral was held in St George’s Cathedral, on St George’s Terrace in the city.

It was a beautiful service, right from the beginning with the Perth Harmony Chorus singing that circus classic March of the Gladiators (also known as Thunder and Blazes, original music by the Czech composer Julius Fučík; I know all this now because I spent some time looking for the lyrics to the song, I think I might have to go to the library and look in a book!).

Reg’s wife Annie read a passage from The Little Prince.
“And when your sorrow is comforted (time soothes all sorrows) you will be content that you have known me. You will always be my friend. You will want to laugh with me. And you will sometimes open your window, so, for that pleasure . . . And your friends will be properly astonished to see you laughing as you look up at the sky! Then you will say to them, ‘Yes, the stars always make me laugh!’ And they will think you are crazy. It will be a very shabby trick that I shall have played on you . . .”

Reg’s children Jo and Sophie spoke of their dad – Jo with a bright yellow gerbera in his breast pocket, Sophie with red ribbons in her hair. Sophie shared Reg’s motto: “It’ll take as long as you’ve got, plus five minutes”.

Reg’s sister spoke for all his family who were unable to come from England and farewelled Reg who must be “clowning with the angels”.

An old friend of Reg’s spoke of all the encouragement Reg gave him over the years.

A young man from the Nyoongar community gave a moving eulogy and thanked Reg for all the advice and support Reg gave him over the years. (I’m not sure, but I think I recognised Dr Richard Walley walking with the troupe – does anyone know if he was there?)

An Aboriginal dance troupe honoured Reg with a haunting song accompanied by didgeridoo (beautiful acoustics in the church).

I don’t think there was a dry eye in the congregation.

After the service we all lined the drive out from the cathedral as the family went to Pinnaroo for a private ceremony. People clapped and waved as the hearse with Reg’s coffin, covered with flowers and a set of juggling balls, went past.

Reg inspired me with his friendliness and warm heart. Everytime M and I went to his place in Maylands he was welcoming and good to talk to – and I loved watching his interactions with people of all ages and backgrounds (there were always people in his circus shop). He even talked to me, an avowed non-circussy person. I’ll remember him, and hope to emulate his ever-cheerful, ever-open and can do attitude to everything I do in my life.

Edit Monday 31 July 9am: Sirexkat attended the celebration of Reg’s life on Sunday, and writes about it on her blog.

Categories: RegBolton, meaning-of-life