1:20:28
Good morning, and a warm welcome
to you all on this cold day.
1:20:33
Our service will begin in a few minutes.
1:20:35
But first we have asked Matthew,
Gareth's closest friend,
1:20:40
to say a few words.
1:20:50
Gareth used to prefer funerals
to weddings.
1:20:54
He said it was easier to get enthusiastic
1:20:56
about a ceremony one had an outside
chance of eventually being involved in.
1:21:03
In order to prepare this speech,
I rang a few people
1:21:06
to get a general picture of how Gareth
was regarded by those who met him.
1:21:12
'Fat' seems to have been a word
people most connected with him.
1:21:18
'Terribly rude' also rang a lot of bells.
1:21:23
So 'very fat' and 'very rude' seems
to have been the stranger's viewpoint.
1:21:28
But some of you have rung me
and let me know that you loved him,
1:21:32
which I know he would have been
thrilled to hear.
1:21:36
You remember his fabulous hospitality,
his strange experimental cooking.
1:21:43
The recipe for duck รก la banana
fortunately goes with him to his grave.
1:21:49
Most of all, you tell me of
his enormous capacity for joy.
1:21:55
And, when joyful,
for highly vocal drunkenness.