Gertrud, Murray, Gill, Iain and Lucy… family, friends, running colleagues, business colleagues and clients.

I am sure that you, like me have been looking for reason, for logic trying to rationalise the events of late – and like me can find no answers – almost no sense to this and it is at these time s that I have to turn to the scriptures (the word of God) and Isaiah 55 vs 8- 9 come to mind where it says (God speaking) “that My ways are not your ways………” and so my faith and trust in Jesus Christ holds me firm and that the Sovereignty of God is my anchor.

You might ask who Kevin is as I am not even from Durban – but Alastair is my cousin – his step grandmother and my mother in law are the same person, making him my cousin. However I guess that over the years he really became my friend. I also through the marriage to Gertrud have a lot more cousins?!!

I met Alastair in the mid to late 80’s when he came to Cape Town to run the 2 oceans marathon which I think he ran 9 times. I remember meeting Greg – one of the first friends who came to CT to run. Later of course he came with his girlfriends – each of whom stayed with us – until Gertrud who we knew was the one – whom he later married. That does not mean that anyone was better or worse – it’s just they were a match.

We are here to remember Alastair. I am reminded of the passage in the gospel of Luke- about the parable of the lost coin, the lost sheep and the lost son. I am not here to talk about that but rather that it reminded me that there are 2 sides to a coin and maybe some of you have only really seen the one side – but I have been privileged to experience both.

Alastair could be so much fun – and he had plenty of that. He could also be very frustrating and challenging. Children loved him.  

 There was always much light hearted banter around – but then there were also the many serious discussions. Alastair loved to debate and discuss.

 While I did not really know him on the work front I could imagine what it was like. Pedantic, demanding, hard working, straight talking but also caring and compassionate. If I ever had the need of the services that Alastair offered I would most definitely had every confidence in using him. He worked hard.

 Alastair was frugal yet generous – frugal as his 15 year old car bears testimony to but at the same time he was very generous – and I am sure that many here today will bear testimony to that. But Alastair was not just generous with material matters or finances – but also with his time he gave to people. My own personal experience was on the running front. You might know that Al’s best time for the half marathon was about 78 minutes – which is less than 4 mins per km and mine was 2 hours – yet when we ran some together he would wait for me and finish together – encouraging me all the way. Of course that did not always happen and he was an excellent hill runner and there were time when I saw him powering his way up those hills – with those muscular legs – and those big calf muscles.

 Alastair had many friends BUT he was also very private.

 He had the most enquiring mind – he asked questions, he debated, he argued, he discussed – BUT he also listened. I can remember sitting in the lounge till the early hours of the morning discussing many things – like marriage, selfish love, self-less love. We discussed books we had read or should read, and particularly over the last 6 years we had many discussions over the Christian faith. There were many questions and Alastair always looked for reason.

 It is here that while I was preparing for this ceremony that I felt I needed to look to the scriptures and I felt that Jeremiah 29 vs 12-13 was appropriate. Imagine how surprised I was that when you look at the brochure – you will find exactly the same verses that Gertrud had chosen referred to including vs 11. I would like to read it and it should come up on the screen. This was when God was speaking to the Israelites through the prophet Jeremiah. (New King James Version) “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for me with all your heart” This I guess is when all the head knowledge you have moves to your heart and this is what I could call faith.

I was privileged to know the man who still had the inner child present…….

He was

Fun but serious
Demanding yet caring
Intolerant of wrongdoing yet loving and compassionate

A man whose integrity was never in doubt.

Getting back to the coin – the 2 sides - joy and sorrow – that today we are sorrowful as we mourn the passing of Alastair – but we can also be joyous as we celebrate his life.

Your brother has not left
he is around the place -

he has just gone
outside for a while

he'll be back
he has a joke to tell you.

He's saying he's off
that there is somewhere to visit

but he's not leaving really,
it's not possible, you're brothers.

He's talking to your
        mother
and giving your father
        a hand
he's talking to himself
        as you do.

This is time for him
to do other things - go home

for a while, sort things out,
see the neighbours

but he'll be here.
He'll keep a sweet eye on his wife

and you will hear him laugh
now and then

when he drops in
to share secrets with you -

and remind you, he's
still up to mischief.

...