Nicholas Parsons was a man who brought laughter into so many people’s lives. A frequent visitor to Rye, his picture is one of the first you notice when entering the front door of Mermaid Inn. He died at the age of 96 two years ago but because of the pandemic his memorial did not take place until April 2022.
St Paul’s Church Covent Garden was packed with his family, friends and colleagues and as you can imagine it was a joyous occasion with many funny anecdotes.
Revd Simon Grigg, rector of the church, warmly welcomed everyone. Gyles Brandreth was the first to pay tribute to his great friend. He wore the most wonderful striped blazer echoing Nicholas’s love of blazers. Gyles has a way with words and had the congregation in fits of laughter. Angela Rippon read the lesson from St. Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians and Dame Sheila Hancock read The Owl and the Pussy-Cat by Edward Lear. Nicholas loved the poems of Lear and used to give talks around the country on his poetry. The most wonderful bit of theatre happened as she was reciting the poem: a sleek black cat sauntered up the aisle onto the altar and looked amusingly at the congregation. My money is that Nicholas popped in and checked we were all having fun.
Dame Esther Rantzen, resplendent in yellow and blue for Ukraine (we had been asked to dress ‘celebratory’) gave tribute to Nicholas’s great charitable contributions, almost too many to name – and he cared about them all. Unforgettable, composed by Irving Gordon, was sung by James Cleverton, so apt, as who will ever forget Nicholas.
Paul Merton, one of the many panellists on Just a Minute paid tribute too, reminding us that
Nicholas was the host of the comedy panel show from its first broadcast on 22 December 1967 through until 2018 without missing an episode.
The final thoughts came from Revd Canon Roger Royale who had been “booked” to take Nicholas’s funeral way back in the 70s. He had so many amusing stories to tell and the audience loved them all. Laughter rang through the church, and we all sat there enjoying our own special memories of the special friend we had all been so lucky to have.
Image Credits: Kt Bruce .
Wonderful tribute and photographs!!