Order of service for Felix's burial at Sharpham Meadow
Created by Sophie 7 years ago
Felix is brought to the ceremonial shelter by Alex, Lucian and his uncles Ben, Matt, James and Ned.
Alex Murdin:
Please gather around so you can hear, family members towards the front. Welcome everyone. Following the service at the Abbey we are here now to say a few words before Felix comes to his final resting place. Here above the river, within sight of the sea and in view of the granite tors of Dartmoor we will bury Felix in this meadow. We would like to take this opportunity though to thank all who over the past few weeks have sent their memories of Felix or thoughts to Sophie, Lucian and I, and of course to thank you all who have come from far and wide to share this day with us. Our families and friends have all been a great comfort to us. Felix had a large and loving family, and group of people who cared about him. Time is short however, so we have asked just a few of them to say what they remember about Felix or to celebrate his life in their own way.
Lucian's grandmother, Lesley Murdin: Fear no more the heat o’ the sun, Nor the furious winter’s rages; Thou thy worldly task hast done, Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages:
Golden lads and girls all must, As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.
Fear no more the frown o’ the great; Thou art past the tyrant’s stroke;
Care no more to clothe and eat; To thee the reed is as the oak: The scepter, learning, physic, must All follow this, and come to dust.
Fear no more the lightning flash, Nor the all-dreaded thunder stone; Fear not slander, censure rash; Thou hast finished joy and moan: All lovers young, all lovers must Consign to thee, and come to dust.
No exorciser harm thee! Nor no witchcraft charm thee! Ghost unlaid forbear thee! Nothing ill come near thee! Quiet consummation have; And renownèd be thy grave! Cymbeline, William Shakespeare
Felix's grandfather: Roger Pierce: We have all been so impressed with the way Felix threw himself into drama at University. The director of the last show he was in has told us how talented and dedicated he was, and how he brought energy and enthusiasm to the production. Felix was also writing sketches and a play. We are all so proud of him, and Bennie would have been the proudest of all.
Kate and Ned - Felix' aunt and uncle The family has shared so many joys, and in the heartaches we have had we've always managed to stay strong and supportive. Losing you Felix is too great a loss to bear. I wonder how life can go forward yet it will simply because the love we all feel for you will propel us forward as we continue on together. We want you to know how very proud we all were of you. Your bravery to be independent, and your bravery to show your gentle side. We love and miss you so very much and you will always be a huge part of this family.
Often far away we were always there for each other and we will continue to be there for Lucian, as, together, we love and remember Felix. The Following poems remind us of the happy memories we five cousins shared.
Imaginary rockets, lego towers,
Giggling, puzzles, hide and seek for hours.
Grandmas quizzes, performing plays,
Grandpas veg patch, exploring caves.
Climbing the apple tree at Kingston Stert,
Jumping waves on surfboards, Laughing til it hurt.
Cowry hunting, icecream, walks,
Beachside Bonfires, Family talks.
Poem, Tess Pierce
Ruby:
I sit beside the fire and think of all that I have seen,
of meadow-flowers and butterflies in summers that have been;
Of yellow leaves and gossamer in autumns that there were,
with morning mist and silver sun and wind upon my hair.
I sit beside the fire and think of how the world will be
when winter comes without a spring that I shall ever see.
For still there are so many things that I have never seen:
in every wood in every spring there is a different green
I sit beside the fire and think of people long ago,
and people who will see a world that I shall never know.
But all the while I sit and think of times there were before,
I listen for returning feet and voices at the door.
Cosy:
In western lands beneath the Sun
The flowers may rise in Spring,
The trees may bud, the waters run,
The merry finches sing.
Or there maybe 'tis cloudless night,
And swaying branches bear
The Elven-stars as jewels white
Amid their branching hair.
Though here at journey's end I lie
In darkness buried deep,
Beyond all towers strong and high
,Beyond all mountains steep,
Above all shadows rides the Sun
And Stars for ever dwell:
I will not say the Day is done,
Nor bid the Stars farewell.
Both from Lord of the Rings, J R R Tolkien
Frankie:
I took the supermarket flowers from the windowsill I threw the day old tea from the cup Packed up the photo album Matthew had made Memories of a life that's been loved Took the get well soon cards and stuffed animals Poured the old ginger beer down the sink Dad always told me, "don't you cry when you're down" But there's a tear every time that I blink Oh I'm in pieces, it's tearing me up, but I know A heart that's broke is a heart that's been loved So I'll sing Hallelujah. You were an angel in the shape of my friend When I fell down you'd be there holding me up Spread your wings as you go And when God takes you back we'll say Hallelujah You're home I fluffed the pillows, made the beds, stacked the chairs up Folded your clothes neatly in a case John says he'd drive then put his hand on my cheek And wiped a tear from the side of my face I hope that I see the world as you did cause I know A life with love is a life that's been lived So I'll sing Hallelujah You were an angel in the shape of my friend When I fell down you'd be there holding me up Spread your wings as you go And when God takes you back we'll say Hallelujah You're home Hallelujah Supermarket Flowers, Ed Sheeran
Giovanna Mallucci - family friend
I have known Sophie since we were girls, around Felix’s age and at a similar stage of life, starting out as young adults. We have been the best and closest of friends in everything for all these years. So Sophie’s pain and loss is very much mine. In a strange way, I feel deeply privileged to have been with her on the saddest of days when we realised Felix had died.I want to say simply this: that gentle, kind Felix was very deeply loved. By Sophie, by Alex, by Lucian, by his adoring grandparents, by all of us – including all the amazing friends of the family here in Ashburton. This is Felix’ farewell: I feel sure that he will meet his rest wrapped in that love and that it will nurture him for all eternity.Here, I bid goodbye to a gentle soul and pay tribute to the inspirational love shown by Sophie and Alex through his life and death.
Sean Klein: Felix' Godfather
Felix is my godson – and he has made me so very proud to be his godfather. Felix was a blonde bombshell baby: cute, cuddly and funny. He had sparkly eyes and the cheekiest of grins. For most visitors to the Murdin home in Stone Street, Cambridge, in the late 1990s, the highlights were some exquisite cooking and the latest piece of stunningly intricate artwork. But for me, from February 1997 onwards, the centre of attention was unquestionably Felix. There were baby and then toddler games; the occasional attempt at a bit of a song (from both of us!); and walks in and around the city.Then I recall visits in the early 2000s to Terrace House in Ashburton. On one of my early visits, Felix showed me his room – a veritable boys den: and Felix was chuffed to bits that it was his den. On a later visit to Devon, I picked up Felix from his school in Torquay and drove him home. Now in his early teens, Felix was slightly shy – but it wasn’t long before we hit on one of his favourite topics – computer games - and then he was away. I was impressed by his passion for and intricate knowledge of the subject - even if to his somewhat luddite godfather, it all sounded like a different language!In the noughties, Felix ventured – twice - to the heart of Europe to visit me in Brussels. And we had a blast! He and Lucian learned to appreciate Belgium’s culinary delights: frîtes with mayonnaise, of course! And in the evenings, in between games of cards and card tricks, I furtively encouraged Felix to try a couple of slurps of some of Belgium’s famous beers. (This I saw as one of my key god-fatherly duties of course!). Felix cut a dashing figure as an usher at our wedding – handsomely sporting a waistcoat and purple buttonhole.Steve and I were so proud to have Felix with us - part of our close circle of cherished friends and family; an integral part of our big day. Felix also sent me letters and emails. “Thank you for the wonderful letter - and of course the cheque,” he wrote to me on his 17th birthday, no doubt with thoseeyes sparkling. “Today I shall put it into the bank, along with my other spoils, and then I shall be a wealthy man!” Felix’s words are always imbued with a bit of teenage-boy shyness mixed with flashes of total charm. But most of all, they are filled with genuine warmth and love. In Leicester, Felix went knocking on the door of show business, making his debut in 'Antony & Cleopatra' no less! (I suspect Felix was a little relieved that, unlike one of the leads, his part didn’t call for him to appear in drag!)Before the first-night performance, Felix and I met in a student-hang-out café, where Felix had already charmed the waitress: she knew him as a regular. Felix talked about his course, his new digs, his new student life in Leicester: he was clearly happy. He’d had a huge amount of fun rehearsing the play, getting to know the cast, being part of the team. He was determined the play should be a success, so much so that he turned down my offer of a meal that evening, as he was under strict instructions to be at the venue in good time and get into the part. He performed with aplomb – every entrance and line executed with focus and clarity. He was word-perfect. After the show, I did my stage-door-Jonny act and waited for Felix to emerge. But he was shy of his fans – and didn’t appear. I sent another member of the cast to find him: in his usual modest way, it hadn’t occurred to Felix that I might want to congratulate him on his performance!I shall remember Felix as the most genuine child - and then young adult: honest and loving; fair and unassuming; not a boastful or unkind thought in his head. I shall miss those letters and emails; and I shall miss all that he and I still had to do together. But no one can ever take away all those precious moments; all those charming qualities; all those cheeky smiles. Thank you, Felix, for being a unique and enriching presence in my life; you’ll always be with me, always cherished, always loved. And to use your own words, your presence has made me ‘a wealthy man’.
Lucian Murdin will play the piano: Spirited Away (One Summer's Day)Joe Hisaishi
We would now like to ask Felix’s uncles, Ben, Matt, James and Ned to help us to carry Felix for the last time.Please follow the family to the graveside.
Alex Murdin:
In placing the body of our son Felix in the gentle earth. We dedicate this small patch of earth, under the wide and open sky, to his memory.
Cover me with orange leaves and leave me To unlace the seam of oblivion and fall into slumber. Rain-sheltered, spiralled in a russet bed, folded in amber flakes: fallen glories with memories of sky-blue. Never to waken, let me be the shade that eclipses the dark, The sleep that paints no dreams, The calm that feels only itself: more than nothing, less than something never to waken until The new light comes shining, sharp enough to quicken me, whose dawn-songs can blow apart my quilt and lead me over leaf and clitter to hear the peals of a kinder copse, breathe the edge of warmer breezes, wear the sun-kiss on my brow: to be more than something, part of all.
Winter’s Sleep, Paul Foster
Sophie Murdin
For as much as it hath pleased Almighty God of his great mercy to take unto himself the soul of our dear son Felix here departed, we therefore commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be like unto his glorious body, according to the might working, whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself.
Family and friends are invited to lay a flower in the grave.
Alex, Sophie and Lucian Murdin
We have been here to love, celebrate and honour Felix Pierce Murdin. This is our final goodbye to his body but Felix’s spirit will never die. We will always love him and he will always be a member of our family.Now it is time to go, carrying him always in our hearts.