Forgive Our Foolish Ways – 'a punter must have written that,' he said

Edna looked for the greenfinch on special days. He came only rarely, like some old family friend and this was when you could get things done, even in a reluctant December dawn, while George was still snuffling away upstairs. Edna admitted to herself that this was when she was happiest.

On this strange day, surrounded by everyone she knew but still feeling like a spectator, it seemed to her that the funeral was long ago, rather than several minutes. Had the music been right? Yes, probably. The Wizard of Oz was in there when people perked up and she could vaguely remember singing Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, hymn number 481, at school. It was disappointing that the number had changed but there must have been a few updated hymn books in 50 years.

It had been George’s favourite, as well. Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, Forgive Our Foolish Ways . . . a lifelong gambler, well aware of his own shortcomings, he rejoiced in the second line. "A punter must have written that," he said, but Edna thought it highly unlikely, Hubert Parry having taken his inspiration from a Quaker poet.