5 brian speirs
bspeirs@hotmail.com
Location: crediton
IP: 95.149.48.33
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 Sunday 7 Feb 2010 13:39:57 EST   |
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Well done Jaki, David, your dad would be very chuffed by your effort and skills to engage so positively in response to nature's will and move on to raise this website on behalf of your dad.
Thinking back to the hospital, after being told by doctors that Bill would not recover, a visitor arrived. Pat introduced a man as Jack to me as she left for a brief rest and Jack and I sat for a while chatting reflectively of Bill as he slept. He did not know I had been told Bill would not recover and I did not know he was Jack McConnell, previous First Minister of our country. We talked quietly and he spoke with great encouragement and said that Bill made a huge contribution to Scotland and our culture in so many ways, and that if Bill didn't make it home many people would say the same. That gathering he spoke of came barely a week later at Bill's funeral when our country's First Minister Alex Salmond and his deputy were in attendance. Friends and colleagues of Bill spoke with great feeling and gave testimony to Bill's contribution to Scotland and the wider world community who value the fact that Scotland has produced many sons and daughters that by their will and character have made a difference for the good of humankind.
As a family who always worried that Bill worked too hard, was away from home more than we wanted, wondering where it would all end up, we have been greatly reassured that at the end of his days the people who shared his working life did stand up to speak up for him and his contribution to Scotland and the wider world community. Although in the rough and tumble of politics I'm sure it was tough going, but the obituries showed he was loved and respected for what he tried to give, and by all sides of the political spectrum, as a leader and thinker, a force for good. He always listened to other people's opinions and I think Bill felt non-violence had a chance to change things through debate and where intelligence could interact with empathy and compassion. He epitomised this higher ideal.
On behalf of the family I give thanks to those who spoke so warmly and respectfully of Bill on the day of the gathering, including his friends and colleagues George Galloway, Campbell Christie, John Foster and Jack McConnell.
Again on behalf of the whole family special thanks to all who travelled a great distance to support us, our uncles, aunts, cousins from the Islands and the Goil, and to Catherine, Kenneth whose mum was very ill and to one of Bill's friends since childhood Ross Bennett who whose wife was also critically ill, we send our love and thoughts to you and your families. |
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Glad to have found website (at last said Jaki)will make sure I keep looking and will add what I can - looking forward to 7th March 2010 - a fitting tribute