A Service of Thanksgiving for the life and work of Alan Watkins, journalist at The Independent, was held at St Bride's on Monday, 24th May, 2010.
The BIDDING PRAYER
The Venerable David Meara delivered the Bidding:
We have come to St Bride's today to remember before God Alan Watkins, political columnist, bon viveur, a journalist of the Old Fleet Street, consummate wordsmith and proud Welshman.
We remember his long career in newspapers, working for the Sunday Express, the Spectator, the New Statesman, the Observer and the Independent on Sunday. We celebrate his stylish prose and elegant phraseology: his independence of mind, his loyalty to El Vinos and his distrust of new technology.
As we give thanks for his life we commend him to God and commit his body for burial praying that at the end of his brief day is the eternity of God's love.
AMEN.
ADDRESSES
Gerald Davies, CBE, Welsh rugby centre and winger
Robert Harris, journalist & novelist
READINGS
Geoffrey Wheatcroft, Assistant Editor of Spectator, read 1 Corinthians 15, v 20-26
Anthony Howard, CBE, former Editor of New Statesman & Deputy Editor of The Observer, read from Brief Lives by Alan Watkins
Harry Watkins, grandson, read from Life of Johnson by James Boswell
MUSIC
St Bride's Choir performed the following:
Burial Sentences - Croft
Sheep May Safely Graze - J S Bach
I Know That My Redeemer Liveth from Messiah - G F Handel
Ar Hyd y nos - Welsh trad.
Libiamo Ne'lieti Calici from La Traviata - G Verdi
Hymns:
Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
Guide Me, O Though Great Redeemer
OBITUARIES & COMMENT
BBC News website
Stephen Fray @ The Independent
Donald Trelford @ The Independent
Anthony Howard @ The Independent
