"Hello Fran and Chris

I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you for what you did for us on Wednesday it was a very special day, not a word you normally associate with a funeral.

The coffin was amazing with all those football shirts so beautifully arranged, the flowers were just perfect so thank you Fran for organising them and please pass on my grateful thanks to the florist, they had that sort of 'just picked' feel which couldn't have been better, and of course for Kermit who rode shotgun. Absolutely perfect. When we pulled out of our house yesterday the cars had to stop and you could see the drivers smiling as we went past.

His service was very special, it was full of all the important things to him, his music, his tea and cake, football shirts the list goes on, and you incorporated them with such love and care, thank you so much.

Yesterday was without a doubt one of the hardest days of my life as we stood around the coffin saying our final goodbyes, I clung onto Father Stevens words, that he was starting his new life, without that I don't know how I ever left his side.

Sadly mum didn't come to that service, she simply couldn't cope but she did exactly the right thing, the service at Musbury is the service to remember for him, so she went out with her carer Suji for tea and cake instead. Perfect. Mum said when she is strong enough she will watch the funeral service back so she can hear everything that was said, but for the time being she will concentrate on taking time to recover from a long and very emotional day.

I have attached the words that Paul wrote for yesterday which may be of interest to you. We are going to have a bench delivered to The Old Rectory in his memory which will have a plaque including the words - Big race tomorrow! So they will always have a memory of him, that very precious and loveable rogue who has left a HUGE void in our lives.

Thank you again for everything and if we are ever in Lyme we may well pop in and say hello just for old times.

Best wishes

Mandy"