It is now over eighteen months since Richard died and we miss him every day. Since his death, we have been thinking of an appropriate way to tangibly recognize his life which we regard as a very important part of our farewell to him.

We will be commemorating Richard’s all too short but meaningful life by installing a stained-glass window in our parish church, All Saints, Woodham; this is where his memorial service was held and where he had attended with us on many occasions. It is a place which has given us so much solace.

The theme of the window is ‘Remembrance and Service’, two cornerstones of Richard’s life. The design of the window can be seen in the image above. It will be sited on the south side of the church, attracting sunshine most of the day, and is appropriately behind the Calvary and War Memorial in the garden in front of the church. The plan is to have it installed in time for Remembrance Sunday this year as Bishop Peter (the retired Bishop of Bath and Wells) will be visiting to bless the window.

We hope you agree that this will be a fitting tribute to someone who was held in such high regard by so many, including you.

With this in mind, we would be delighted if you felt you’d like to be involved in this commemoration and consider contributing to the not inconsiderable cost of the creation and installation, approximately £15,000. If not, then just say a prayer for Richard, or think of him which is probably the same thing.

This Justgiving page has been set up which is linked to the All Saints Church charity, meaning that donations can benefit from Gift Aid. Any contribution will be very much appreciated.

To mark such kindness, a list of donors will be recorded and housed in an oak box situated on the ledge in front of the window. Future visitors will be able to refer to the book and appreciate the meaning of the window as a tribute to be appreciated by generations to come, long after we are all gone.

To celebrate Richard and his installation, we will be holding a Family & Friends commemoration day on Sunday 16th November at 2pm at All Saints Church, followed by afternoon tea for family and friends. We would be delighted if you are able to join us and look forward to hearing from you.

With thanks for your ongoing support.

Kind regards.

Judy & Mike Smith