On Thursday, over 500 people, including many OXFC members, gathered at the Lakeside Pavilion to farewell Kerrin O'Sullivan, and to support our beloved life member Brendan 'BOS' O'Sullivan and family on their terrible loss of a wife, mother, grandmother and friend.

The service was an uplifting tribute to Kerrin, who had battled bravely against cancer for five years, with the gathered congregation hearing personal recollections about Ker's life from family members and close friends.

There were plenty of tears, but any celebration of Ker's life was bound to induce smiles and laughter too. She lived a life of adventure and wonder, and it is clear she has passed this on to her children Chloe, Phoebe and Jack, all of whom spoke beautifully about their Mum.

There were songs and touching videos, favourite poems and a very moving letter that Ker had recently written to BOS, all of them displaying the positive outlook that had characterised her life and attitude, even in the toughest moments.

Master of Ceremonies Matthew Hannebery held things together and related some of his own special memories of a dear friend whose travels had taken her to many places, including, remarkably - and not exactly by design - to Tehran during the Iranian Revolution in 1979.

Brendan O'Sullivan's words were, at the same time, full of sadness at Ker's passing and joyful over the great times during the forty-plus years they shared. His continued contributions to our club through extremely trying times, all with Ker's blessing, have been exceptional, and we share his great sadness at this time.

Our sincere condolences and sympathies are with BOS and his family and friends.

It is customary to offer ‘Rest in Peace’, and we do so.

And in the case of Kerrin, a psychologist,an educator, a writer, and an inveterate traveller, perhaps we might too recall some words from James Taylor, who reminds us that ‘Our golden ones, sail on, sail on, to another land beneath another sky’.

Sail on, Ker. Godspeed.

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