Thanksgiving Service for Brig Clinton Henshaw CBE
Clinton had been a member and a former president of the Sutton Scotney & District branch of the RBL for many years. Our membership had been very saddened to hear of his passing in April, shortly before our branch meeting. Karen Ralph, from the Sutton Scotney Women's Section, and I were therefore honoured to be invited to attend his Thanksgiving Service as Standard Bearers, representing the RBL and our respective branches, which had been an important part of Clinton's later life.
It was a bright, but fresh, day on Tuesday 6th May, for the Thanksgiving Service at the Holy Trinity Church in Wonston. Karen and I had arrived an hour early to stand sentinel outside the church door, in case folk arrived early. It was fortunate that we did. Several had already arrived...and they kept coming, right up to the hour. There were well over a hundred attendees. Every pew in the church was filled, extra chairs had been brought in to line the aisles, people were standing behind the back pews against the wall. A camera had been set up to stream the entire service live on to a TV screen that had been set up in a marquee behind the church with additional seating! The turnout for Clinton was simply fantastic.
For Karen and I, the only space inside was stood up, just inside the door. The service was very special. Of particular note was Clinton's daughter, Caroline, who spoke exceptionally well of her father, and Clinton's Granddaughter who, together with her partner on the guitar, sang a beautiful rendition of Lenard Cohen's, Hallelujah.
Clinton had served in the Royal Green Jackets throughout his military career, so it was fitting, and a wonderful touch, to have two buglers from the Rifles regiment come and sound the Last Post and Reveille. It was at this moment that Karen and I dipped our Standards in an act of homage, paying our respects on behalf of the RBL to a wonderful friend and colleague. Together we all observed a one minute silence.
It is a solemn duty that Standard Bearers perform at funerals and thanksgiving services, but it is a service we are truly honoured to provide.
Benn Hitchen
Sutton Scotney & District Branch Standard Bearer
