05 March 1998

Characters: Alistair, Graham, Hayley, Jack, Janet, Kate, Peggy, Roy

• The funeral and burial pass as well as they could. A gratifyingly large turnout packs St Stephen’s for a celebration of the life of John Daniel Archer. Roy reads a moving poem, Hayley, in a remarkably dignified performance, stood up and recognised Pat’s words in the futility of finding a reason where none exist for a senseless accident. She sums up her feelings by playing “Wonderwall” by Oasis.
• It seems that the only two people not at the service are Graham and Alistair, in a bit of light relief for us listeners, Graham asks for advice and Alistair recommends he give himself a bit of a makeover, bringing him out of the 1950s, and to not play the doormat and to try to play harder to get.
• After the service, Janet is thanked by one and all, including Peggy, past differences put to one side for a greater cause.
• Janet mentions to Kate that the poem Roy recited was of his own composition. When Roy says he’s off to take Hayley home, Kate goes with him and says that she’s proud of him.

  For those that don’t know it, “Wonderwall” by Oasis is track three from their album “What’s the Story (Morning Glory)”. I’ll not reproduce the lyrics here as they’re available elsewhere (although you’ll have to search for them as static links are not supported), or if you just want more information on Oasis, but here is the poem read by Roy:

  
  He was my friend
  I didn't know until he went away
  How hard it is to show 
  Or wear your feelings on your sleeve
  Hard even to think about him
  Hard to grieve
  He taught me this
  I didn't know that one day sitting in a room
  I'd say this is all mad
  Not how it's meant to go
  That door should swing then in he'd come
  Smiling and laughing like a likely lad
  But now I wait
  And nothing's said
  The door stays shut
  And smiles and laughter dumb
  I cannot think of anything to say
  Perhaps we'll find fine words another day
  For now this has to do 
  Words are all choked up
  And will not flow
  We called each other mate
  Mostly the best
  We shared some laughs
  Some anger, but never hate
  Feelings - they all felt part of it
  What human beings do
  He was a likely lad 
  That's all we need to know
  He's gone
  He was my friend
  It all seems wrong
  I though we'd know each other 'til the end
  
  

Summarised by: Chris Harrison