‘Daddy Pal’ Beache gets a send off fit for a king

Generations of family members, along with friends and well wishers, turned out in their numbers to give the country’s oldest man a king’s send off.{{more}}

Frederick Beache, affectionately known as Daddy Pal, was laid to rest on Wednesday at the Bascombe Cemetery in Greiggs, after a funeral service at the St Marks Anglican Church, located in the community where Beache spent most of his life.

Pal died on June 28 at the age of 108 years old, at his daughter Verna Shallow’s home in Campden Park.

Hundreds of mourners filled the sanctuary, while many others waited outside, paying their final respects to the man who was considered a ‘well sung hero’ by son Ian Beache, who delivered the eulogy.

Tributes were also presented by Lennox John, Glyger Beache and Anita DaSilva, as well as a tribute in song, by another son Edward Beache.

The sermon was delivered by Bishop C. Leopold Friday.

With a number of parliamentarians in attendance, Pal’s family offered up a rendition of the centenarian’s favourite hymn ‘The Old Rugged Cross’, as they bade him a final farewell.