A long and pretty exhausting day, both emotionally and physically. Up at the crack of dawn to make sure I arrived on time. Pouring with rain, but brightened up later. Journey by bus, train and taxi.

Great turnout, including CVA members, Fred with the Standard, Gerry, John White, Pat Higgins, Mick and Barbara Johnson, Johnny Morris, Jim Petrie, Eric and Margaret Buckmaster, Sylvie and family, Pam Winch and family, George and Sylvie Parsons and, great surprise, Paul Macdonald and Mike Smith (in their kilts), who had travelled down from Scotland, and others whose names I can't remember now. I'm sure many more would have attended if it hadn't been for the early hour. Julie Wells (Eric Harden's daughter) 'phoned on Thursday to say she had only just heard that Scotty had died, so I sent the details by e-mail and she managed to travel down by train from Reymerston. Fred told me that just over 180 people were in the chapel - standing room only at the back.

The City of London Cemetery covers a huge area and it beautifully kept. The long avenue down to the chapel was lined with veterans, CVA members, a group of young 29 Commando, the Territorial Army cadets with their three standards, to salute the cortege which was led by a piper. As we gathered in the chapel, the Sands of Kuwait was playing - Revd. George Parsons led the service, which included eulogies by Joe Murtagh, His Honour Judge Raymond Naqvi who is based with the Army in Cyprus (great friend of Scotty and Pam and had flown over from Cyprus with his wife) and, finally, one of Scotty's grandsons - Michael Champion. We all joined in with Maybe It's Because I'm a Londoner and The Lord's Prayer. There were readings from Psalm 23 and Revelation 21:1-7, the Commando Prayer, and the closing music was Black Bear.

There were footnotes on some of the pages of the Order of Service, which were typically Scotty: Do everything that is necessary and nothing that is not (Rifles Standing Order) - If anyone at my funeral has a long face, I'll never speak to him again." (Stan Laurel) - I am ready to meet my maker. Whether my maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter (Winston Churchill).

We then gathered at 1 pm for a buffet reception at the City of London & North East Sector ACF, Army Reserve Centre, where even more people had gathered, so over 200 in total. So many ex-cadets turned up who Scotty had trained as youngsters over the years, now grown men with wives and children of their own. It was so moving to hear their memories of his kindness and care of them. Many said they would have 'gone to the bad' if it hadn't been for Scotty. Friends and neighbours came along, too, to pay their respects.

Pam was wonderful (Scotty would have been so proud of her) and even though she's broken-hearted she welcomed everyone with a hug and a kiss and spent time comforting and talking with us all. Fred 'phoned Geoff in Australia and Pam was so pleased to talk to him. The huge Scott family were out in force and were perfect hosts.

We're hoping that the two Pams, Scott and Winch, will still attend the CVA meetings and Sylvie has said we can arrange taxis to bring them over to Kennington and I've promised Pam that I'll pop over now and then to spend a day with her.

The sad thing is, Scotty would have loved it!