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Many of his special friends were pall bearers, and carried his coffin into the church in England, where he was buried. But lots of people could not get there, so it was decided to have a memorial service in Auckland, a week later. |
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His family, his son James, his daughter Sarah-Jane, and his wife Pippa came to the service to hear people talk about their special memories of Peter Blake. |
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Around 30,000 mourners spread their blankets and sat in silence throughout the service at the Domain, in front of the museum, listening to speakers and rubbing away the odd tear. Sir Peter's lucky red socks were everywhere, worn by the people who came, and in one of the flags on the stage. |
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Close friend and blakexpeditions executive Alan Sefton promised to do everything possible to keep Sir Peter's environmental mission alive. The world had lost a "remarkable individual, a proud and special New Zealander, a humble and caring person with a wicked sense of humour, a great human being. We must now endeavour to ensure that Peter did not die in vain". The final tributes were reserved for Sir Peter's children, Sarah-Jane and James. Sarah-Jane read excerpts from J.R.R. Tolkien's Bilbo's Last Song and James read from the last entry in his father's log written from the Seamaster. The service ended in silence as the New Zealand flag, the Blakexpeditions flag and the red socks flag were slowly lowered from the stage. . |
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