On Sunday morning, October 17 the crew from RNLI Rye Harbour carried out the moving task of scattering Michael Keat’s ashes.
Debbie Peters had been Michael’s carer for over twelve years and knew him well. Michael was a merchant seaman with a career spanning many years as a senior crew member on various ships including time in the Gaza Strait. Debbie, knowing his love of the sea since a child, organised to have his ashes scattered off the beach by Rye Harbour lifeboat crew, fitting in view of the fact that in his will he left money to the RNLI.
The coast has a tranquillity like no other place. It is a source of pleasure and freedom in many people’s lives including Michael and his late wife, Rowena. The scattering of the ashes was a touching and moving ceremony, the peace and closeness of nature providing a perfect setting for saying goodbye. The most obvious symbolic meaning of this scattering is letting go.
Debbie commented afterwards, “It was a beautiful send-off for Michael. He loved the sea and would have been touched by the poignancy of the day. I cannot thank the crew of volunteers at Rye Harbour enough for the way they carried out the service with such caring and professionalism.”
Image Credits: Kt Bruce .