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As if to order, the sun shone for the funeral of Cornwall's own "Sunshine
Boy", artist Sir Terry Frost RA. The great and the good, just about
anyone who is anybody in the art world, packed into St Peter's Church,
Newlyn, for the occasion and it says much for how much he was admired
and liked that there were as many people standing as there were sitting.
During the service, a special tribute was made to him with a fly-past
of seven helicopters from RNAS Culdrose - a touch which would have astonished
and amused him but one which he would also have appreciated.
As well as loving life and laughter, Terry Frost also loved poetry and
three of his sons, Anthony, Adrian and Stephen, read poems by W S Graham,
W H Davies and Federico Garcia Lorca. A copy of Lorca's "It is True"
backed by a reproduction of the artist's "Spiral for Aldeburgh"
was included with the printed order of service, while the church was decorated
with and his coffin carried flowers in colours associated with him. The
coffin also carried his familiar red beret.
The service was conducted by the Rev Robert Strange, Vicar of St Peter's
Church, Newlyn and special prayers were given by Fr Cormac Breathnach,
parish priest of the Roman Catholic Church, Penzance. In his eulogy Rev
Strange, and with humour Terry Frost would have been the first to enjoy,
outlined the artist's long, busy and creative life, speaking of his affection
for colour and light, and his love of local life, especially that of Newlyn.
An artist who, as he said: "Had the time and talent to enrich our
humanity", in many ways a magician, one with "his own vision"
and for whom "Life was just a bowl of cherries", it goes without
saying that Terry Frost will be greatly missed.
Later that day a wake for Sir Terry was held at The Old Coastguard Hotel
in Mousehole where he was remembered with great affection by the many
present. On his instructions guests were served Guinness and champagne
- which was accompanied by some rather posh bacon sandwiches.
And in a moving end to proceedings guests gathered at the front of the
hotel to release scores of coloured balloons into a clear blue evening
sky in a final farewell to this much loved and respected man.
A memorial service for him is being held in London at a later date
article copyright © THE CORNISHMAN
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