David (Doctor Who) Tennant's mother
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TEARS were shed as Doctor Who star David Tennant said a last goodbye
to his loving mum.
The Paisley actor paid an emotional tribute to Helen McDonald at her
funeral, telling mourners that she had "made the world a better
place."
Heartbroken David took time out from filming the hit sci-fi series in
Wales at the weekend to return home to say a final farewell to Helen
after she lost her brave battle with cancer.
He was joined at the funeral service by other members of the family -
including his dad, the Very Rev Dr Sandy McDonald - as well as around
600 more people whose lives had been touched by 67-year-old Helen.
Caring charity worker Helen, of Dykebar, Paisley, courageously fought
cancer for five years before she passed away on July 15 with David and
other family members at her bedside.
David couldn't mask his sorrow as he paid tribute.
He paused on several occasions to compose himself as he spoke of his
great pride in living in the light of his mother, and being part of
her family.
David told mourners: "I will always be proud of all that mum did and
that she made the world a better place.
"I am privileged to have known her and received her love.
"Now that mum has gone, the world has lost a lot of its colour."
David's tribute came as, together with his sister Karen and brother
Blair, he read passages from a Bible which Helen had been given for
her 21st birthday, when she attended St George's Tron Church in
Glasgow.
Courageous Helen read sections of that very same Bible every night.
It was at St George's Tron that Helen and her husband Sandy first met.
The Very Rev Dr James Simpson, who conducted Saturday's funeral
service at Renfrew North Parish Church, described how, shortly after
that first meeting, Helen had to go into hospital and Sandy visited
her there with a beautiful bouquet of white tulips.
"Helen's mum was already in the infirmary, speaking to Helen, when
Sandy came in with his flowers," said Dr Simpson, who is a chaplain to
Her Majesty the Queen. "Like most men, Sandy was a bit embarrassed
about carrying the flowers, so he dropped them by the bedside and
rushed out of the hospital.
"Helen's mum told her: 'That young man is serious about you.'
"And, soon afterwards, she and Sandy were married."
Those happy days of Helen and Sandy's romance were poignantly
remembered by a beautiful bouquet of white tulips - just like the ones
he had courted her with - which lay on the communion table throughout
the funeral service.
And during the commemoration, the congregation sang inspirational
hymns which had been chosen by Helen.
They included Henry Francis Lyte's great hymn 'Praise My Soul, The
King of Heaven,' which extols the eternity of creation and the brevity
of human life.
There were tears in the eyes of many mourners during the singing of
another of Helen's favourite hymns - Horatius Bonar's 'I Heard The
Voice Of Jesus Say, Come Unto Me And Rest.'
But there was happiness, too, because Helen didn't want those who came
to celebrate her life to leave the church downcast.
At her own request, the final hymn she chose was 'You Shall Go Out
With Joy And Be Led Forth With Peace.'
And, as the congregation sang the final lines of the chorus - 'the
trees of the fields shall clap their hands' - everyone in the church
clapped their hands together to create the sounds of joy and happiness
which Helen wanted.
David, who took time out from filming a Doctor Who episode in Wales to
say a final farewell to his mum, told mourners: "She wanted this to be
a service of celebration and it is easy to celebrate her life."
The celebratory aspect of the service continued right to the very end,
with an unusual departure from tradition.
As he led his family from their seats in the front pews down the aisle
to the vestibule to thank people for coming to the service, Sandy - a
former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland -
clapped his hands and joined the congregation in singing some of
Helen's beloved gospel hymns.
During the service, Sandy thanked everyone for supporting his family
in their time of tribulation - especially the Rev Lorna Hood, minister
of Renfrew North, where he and Helen had made their spiritual home
after 'gypsying' round other places during his lifetime in the
ministry, which took him to charges like St Mark's Oldhall in Paisley
and incumbencies in Edinburgh and Bathgate.
Mrs Hood was unable to attend the service because she is in the United
States at present.
Sandy also paid tribute to staff at Paisley's Royal Alexandra
Hospital, Charleston Medical Centre and ACCORD Hospice, as well as
other carers who had looked after Helen during her long fight against
cancer.
Earlier, Helen's committal took place at a private service at Woodside
Crematorium in Paisley attended by members of her family and close
friends.
During her life of service to her family and community, Helen - who
was highly respected for her charity work - was chair of the Paisley
Friends of ACCORD Hospice.
She was also a volunteer for Arthritis Care, the WRVS, the Samaritans
and elderly care charity Contact.
Garondo Marondo
600 people, that's a really good turn out.