IT WAS an unexpected celebration of the life of Prime Minister David Thompson yesterday when the Combermere School Old Scholars Association launched their week of activities at St Patrick’s Anglican Church.
The service was obviously planned before the death of Thompson on Saturday morning, but the theme running through the almost three-hour service dealt with thanks and fitted in well with the occasion.
Thanks for the life of Thompson. Thanks for opportunity by the old scholars to commemorate another week.
Reverend Angela Phillips also urged the congregants to fight the good fight using the message of Apostle Paul as an impetus to the sermon. Saying that she found the text appropriate at this time, Phillips used the scholars’ school song Up And On, Up And On, We Are Arming For The Fight as an example of the challenge before them.
Phillips also encouraged the Combermerians to carry their spirit of brotherhood beyond their association and challenged them to emulate Thompson, who advocated the importance of family being first.
“Consider the responsibility as you go forward in the future; to pass on to those whose lives are in the making,” Phillips told the congregation.
Reverend Wes Hall, a former Combermerian, was also on hand at the service. In paying tribute to Thompson, Hall described the late Prime Minister as “a fertile amalgam of the young and the brilliant”, adding: “My words have not fallen to the ground.”
Hall also said Thompson’s “life was festooned with core values taught at the Combermere School. He believed you must have integrity – because without integrity one cannot lead”.
The week of activities continues until Saturday. The sporting activities have been cancelled because of Thompson’s death.
