28 from Pat round the back
BERT EVANS A poem
Y
our politics were so very
Goodbye my dear friend. From „Pat round the back‟.
A
nd what can be said of you, dear Bert. You were a fine man. A dignified man.
Upright and honourable. A true gentleman. A trooper in every sense of the word. And what did you value in life? Your values were the ones which we could all live by. The values of hard work, love of family and service to oth- ers. The love of your wife, children and grand- children were the pivot of your world. Your life touched so many others and the world in which you lived you embraced with verve, candour, and a wonderful sense of humour. You were a man‟s man to the core. You were a man who knew instinctively how to conduct himself with kindness and dignity. Time spent in your company, Bert, was never time wasted. I always came away feeling enriched and enli- vened. The stories of your schooldays and your experiences during the war years always left me spellbound and, at times, rocking with laughter – always wanting to hear more, espe- cially the songs! I felt so privileged that in the relatively short time in which I knew you, I learnt so much about the value of the friend- ship of an older man and I held that so dear in my heart.
different from my own, but I held in deep respect the place from which that had come. I valued the fact so highly that this never interfered with our rapport and lively interac- tions! You always had time and space to listen to me about my work, which you knew I hold as so very precious to me. You always validated what I did, even though it was of a different time and philosophy from your own. I valued this so highly. You never denigrated what you didn‟t understand in my presence, Bert. You always listened graciously and pon- dered on it quietly.
I
t was my immense joy, privilege and pleas- ure to have known you and to have been in
your presence for the short time that was avail- able to me. I thank God for putting you in my path, Bert. Lucky me. Last week, when I went into the school garden, there was the lavatera that you so kindly donated to us at Valence, in the corner of the quadrangle. It was in flower.
“And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice
Love mercy, and walk humbly with your God”.
Micah. Chapter 6: Verse 8
28
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