Dear Friends
Friday 4th July will long be remembered for the very special send off for a very special man - our beloved Ali.
The sun shone, the Churchyard sparkled, friends met, smiles exchanged, memories shared, the Church packed, the flowers beautiful, the music wonderful, the words powerful, the tears flowed, the singing emotional, the laughter spontaneous, the tributes moving, the love palpable, the VW camper van raised applause, the village gridlocked, the pubs busy, the wine flowed, the mountains of sandwiches and cakes eaten, the memories happy, the loss irreparable.
God Bless you Ali-we love you so much and you'll live in our hearts for ever. Sleep tight Darling. xxx
Order of Service http://www.skinewgen.com/Alistair%20Rainback%20Order%20of%20Service%20v2.pdf
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us and for the best wishes from all of you who were thinking of us elsewhere, you lifted our spirits and helped us through a difficult day. It was wonderful to see so many old friends, to meet new ones and thanks for the photos and stories about Ali you shared with us.
As a family we have been touched by all the love and support that’s been shown and for the hundreds of letters, cards, emails, texts, phone calls and visits and we do hope that will continue. Ali’s blog has drawn people together, reunited old friends and inspired many and we thank you for the wonderful comments and are proud that others too recognised his worth and loved him as we did.
Ali was a true STAR and in order to keep his memory alive we are planning some big fund raising events for 2009. Please watch out for information about ‘Ski for a STAR’ and ‘Cycle for a STAR’ which we hope will be challenging, memorable and FUN in true Ali Rainback style!!
Many of you promised to raise money in Ali’s name and we do hope that you’ll post your ideas and dates on the Blog so we can support your efforts great or small. Let’s try to keep those promises and raise as much as possible to enable us to help others through tough times as Ali would have done. We would love to keep in touch so please send your contact details to:
Alistair.rainback@skinewgen.com
With happy memories, heartfelt thanks, hope for the future and all our love
Diana, Ian, Simon, Jo, Jeanette, Charlie and Archie xxxxxx
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
+of+Ski+School+of+the+Year+2005+Party+008.jpg)
25 comments:
Dear Diana and team Rainback,
I wish Friday could have been a meeting under better circumstances but joyous celebration of one of the greatest guys you will ever meet is what we had and I am just so glad I could make it!
Myself, Stu and Scott the policeman all talked openly about him and his positive effect on us as individuals. I have had emails from other ski colleagues inquiring about Ali, testament to the mark he made on his industry and the people he came into contact with.
Ali was a wonderful product of a supportive and loving family, this came through in abundance on Friday and throughout the campaign. Ali taught us all that life is for living and people are for listening to and building life long relationships with. For this alone I thank him for as well as all the laughs, jokes and inspiration on the slopes.
I was so impressed with the service and the tribute. The camper van so Ali and the photo's, a real tapestry of the great life he led.
I only hope that you guys and Jeanette can with time, begin to function without him but safe in the knowledge he will always be with you somewhere.
I am not greatly spiritual but on Saturday as I had lunch with my wife's family, I looked up on the mantle piece and an orange dicast VW camper van was there, I had never seen it before. My mother in law said it was Harry's and my wife said totally off the cuff, It is a sign that Ali is O.K! We looked at each other and laughed out loud. She who must be obeyed is right again I believe.
Simon is a great guy and your message to him so right. It was also lovely to meet Jeanette. We had a nice long chat, she was so charming and strong.
Lets remember Ali and all make an effort to meet again on the planned events and ensure his bed is always there as the Hospice was for him.
You all did him and yourselves Proud!!!
Take care one and all and hope to speak soon.
Love and best wishes,
Ian and Lindsay Parker
Team Rainback
Glad to read the above, although disappointed that I was unable to be there in person.
I agree with Ian's comments above, lets take the psoitive out of what has been an emotinal roller coaster for you all.
Ian, I think you have my contact details from when we have exchanged mails, so rather than 'bust' the inbox please can you add me to the list of many thousands who would like to keep in contact.
Love and respect to you all for being so dignified through this whole difficlt process
Love Danny G
Dear Diana, Ian, Simon, Jo, Archie, Charlie & Jeanette
Words cannot express how very sorry we were not being able to attend on Friday. I (Chris)was so upset when I got a call from Hospital to go ahead with a major operation planned for Wednesday 2nd July. I knew an operation was on the cards but when I received the call it was totally unexpected and so sudden. The realisation that we would be unable to say fairwell to Ali left me with thoughts of opting out of the operation but commonsense told me that really wasn't an option so I went ahead. I am now recovering and feeling pretty sore but each day there is an improvement.
We did think of you all on Friday and knew Stewart and Jo would be representing the Conways so were pleased about that. Sarah was unable to attend as she was far away near Madrid attending a Medical Conference all week.
Stewart told us what a wonderful service it was and we have looked at the Order of Service on the blog.
The love, support and encouragement you have given Ali over the years made him the wonderful person he was. He was loved and admired by so many and you should be very proud. Ali knew life was for living and probably did more in his 36 years than most people do in a lifetime. Not only did he live life to the full he built lasting relationships with people and time was something he gave in abundance.
We will cherish our memories of very happy times with Ali, the Christmas in Alpe D'Huez when we all enjoyed a Christmas dinner in the tiny flat he and Stewart shared and then unwrapped presents together, and teaching us to ski powder, skiing down the piste with wobbly rubber legs, very comical, there are so many happy memories.
We will keep in touch and help if we can to achieve your dreams in Ali's memory.
All our love to you all from all of us.
The Conways
Chris, David, Stewart, Jo, Freya, Sarah & Daniel xxxx
Dear Team Rainback
Thanks for putting the order of service on Ali's blog, it was great to be able to read it as I was not there in person.
A truly fitting ceremony which more than reflected Ali.
I wish you all well for the future & I look forward to supporting you on ski & cycle for a star
Good luck to you all for the future
Hugh Pelling
team Rainback,
I raced hard for Ali on Sunday in the etape du tour that he and I were scheduled to do last year. with his piccy stuck on my handlebars he helped me up the climbs and he inspired me to batter about a dozen people in the final sprint.
thanks mate, I'll keep racing for you!
John T
The words that you have written above about Friday, say everything that I would want to say about the day.
It was a very sad but special day, Ali was there with us all helping us laugh just when we needed it during the day with all of the good and funny memories.
Ali would have been very proud of Team Rainback and all of their efforts to make the day, a day Ali would have loved.
I will never forget him and he will always be with us, smiling and helping us through hard times, inspiring us to find happiness and enjoy our lifes to the full!
I would love to help with any fundrasing events that you may be running for 2009 and also want to try and help raise some money for Ali. I need to still think about how, but I am sure that with all of us that are in Morzine/Les Gets, we can come up with something, I will keep you posted!
Ali, enjoy the fresh powder up there!
Lots of Love,
Sally & Mo xx
I agree with all of the above!!! I would love to carry on the fundraising in Ali's name and as I am in chatel near morzine perhaps we can join up eith Mo and Sally! We look forwards to hearing plans for ski and bike!!
I am only sad that Ali never got to see that I passed my ski instructoer exams..but I am sure he will be shouting in spirit when i give it another bash!!
The students at school are watering 'Little Ali' religiously and the tree has geown at least 20 cm since we planted it!
We will keep in touch,
Steve Lesley and yogi bear.
Despite not being able to make it on the day many of us have been saying our farewells and celebrating Ali's life, in our own way on friday 4th july. It was nice to see that familiar smile on the order of service!!
I believe that fundraising in any form is always essential when it concerns something as important as this. I am entering the Great North Run in October and raising money for Cancer Research. Research is required if Cancer is ever to be beaten! It can aid the early diagnosis and strive towards successful treatments.
Please look at my justgiving web page for more information.
www.justgiving.com/help-shit-happen-less
thank you
Angus
Hey All,
I was just emailing this poem to Big D and EeeeeYun and though that the blog community would appreciate it too. I couldn't find who the author was but I think it's perfect for Ali.
Not, How Did He Die, But How Did He Live?
Not how did he die, but how did he live?
Not what did he gain, but what did he give?
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man, regardless of birth.
Not, what was his church, nor what was his creed?
But had he befriended those really in need?
Was he ever ready, with word of good cheer,
To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
Not what did the sketch in the newspaper say,
But how many were sorry when he passed away.
Lots of love
J-A
Hi Team Rainback,
Well, I just can't break the habit of reading the blog & now I have added the just giving page to my list of things to catch up with regularly.
Not surprisingly you have reached 1/4 of your target already - that is brilliant, but I would expect nothing less, Ali's legendary status lives on.
I have smashed my fundraising target for the Hospice by taking part in the Triathlon, I've raised over £1,200 - WOW! Like John T I will continue racing and raising money for the hospice, although I will try and avoid cycling up mountains ;-).
The words written by fellow bloggers are fabulous. Ian and Lindsay described the funeral brilliantly and J-A's poem is great!
Looking forward to seeing you all sometime soon.
Thinking of you, lots of love,
Nikki x
I completely agree - I still look at the blog every day and have also added the Just Giving site to my favourites. Old habits die hard!
My 8 year old daughter Katie is going to be doing her first ever triathlon (50m swim, 800m bike and 600m run) on 26th July, and we'll try and raise a bit of money for HOSF. Not sure we'll get anywhere near Nikki's grand sum (well done Nikki) but every little helps as they say at Tesco!
We'll keep you posted as to how she gets on.
Keep blogging everyone.
Sheila
xx
Dear Team Rainback,
I'm another that logs on everyday to check progress. I didn't find this site until after the horrible news. There is just so much hope, love and inspiration on here from so many wonderful people.
What I also find is that you all as a family are just so totally and utterly amazing. I lost my father a year ago very suddenly so understand some of what you will be feeling. But to lose a son, a brother and a fiancee just seems so much worse. You're all just so incredibly brave and amazing.
The above maybe sounds a bit patronising, I'm not sure how to word it better, but I mean what I say from my heart.
Best wishes,
AR XX
Just a little note to say good luck to Sheila's daugther, Katie. I am very impressed, a triathlon at 8! I waited until I was 30 to do my first triathlon.
Good luck with your fund raising efforts too, every little does help.
My key tip to Katie would be not to go too fast at the start so that you have enough energy for your run at the end! All the best, Nikki x
Hi Team rainback, just a wee hello to say I am still thinking of you all dearly, I have been away over the 4th July but left a wee note for Ali in a church in Sweden! I have heard through friends how the day went and it sounds like a celebration of life. So just a big hug to you all.
wee friend e x
Hurray, bloggers unite - well, all you online savvy lot, have you googled Ali Rainback recently ? there are threads (email conversations) all over the place. The best way to help is find a suitable place to start a thread, tell them about Ali and leave a link to Ali's Just Giving page. If you check out 3 Counties Radio you'll see that Diana has already been getting the message out there.
So lovely to have the conversation going again.
L x
ps I've been thinking about this, of course it isn't 'the best way to help' obviously going out and taking part in a triathlon is much better, but it is one way....
still keeping an eye on the blog and have read the coverage on the 3 counties radio site.
My thoughts are very much with Jeanette right now and I hope that she knows she has lots of love in cyberspace.
xx
Thanks for the advice Nikki. I've passed it on to Katie, however I think it'll go one of two ways. She'll either be so pumped up she'll go full throttle and conk out at the end, or she'll freeze with nerves and go nowhere! I guess we'll see on the day, although I'll probably be more nervous than her! Have you got any more tri's lined up?
J-a - if you still read the blog, can you update us on the ex-bats? I'm missing hearing about the chickens!
Sheila
x
Sorry I have not been able to blog lately but I have popped a little note in the post to you Diana, Ian and Team Rainback. The 4th July was very, very special and thank you for your amazing courage. Looking forward to keeping in touch and seeing how we can help further with Ali's fund raising. Best wishes to you all, still thinking of you all very much and of course will never forget Ali The photos on the 4th were fanatastic,k as was everything else but I just felt I did not have enough time to go through them all.... Do hope jeanette, Simon and Jo OK.
Sally and family X
still checking the blog.
still thinking of you all Team Rainback.
still making sure i live my life more like Ali lived his.
Still checking the blog too but nothing I type ever seems appropriate so I keep deleting.
Still thinking of you all.
As for the Chickens - Glyn has named his three posh birds Cilla (Black) (red feathers and black tail feathers), Dusty (dusty white feathers) and Lulu (she's a french something or other and Lulu sounds French (was his weird reasoning)). One of the ex-Bats turned it's toes up and is in Hen Heaven but Wingy is running around happily flapping a wing and the other (nameless) exbat is the only one regularly producing eggs. Each day we get an update on how many eggs. Apparantely the other day there was an almost cylindrical shaped one. "Must have shot out like a bullet from a gun!" said Glyn. We have been getting more cakes recently too which is a bonus!
Anyway, think about Ali a lot too, especially down at Polzeath over the weekend when I was visiting the elderly and like the blogger above still trying to live by the Ali Principle - life is short, make it count.
Lots of love
J-A
Hi Team Rainback & Bloggers,
I am still checking the blog too and thinking about team Rainback lots.
Very similar to J-A, I don't really know what to write, I just want you to know that I am thinking of you all. I have seen lots of articles about Ali and heard Diana's radio interview. Ali's certianly left a trail of inspiration behind him. Long may that last!
Love to you all,
Nix x
Remembering and thinking of you all.
Bridget.x
Hi all,
Just thought I'd let you know how Katie got on with her tri at the weekend.
Swim (50m) 01:39
Bike (800m) 07:31
Run (600m) 03:52
Overall time 13:02
She came 8th (out of 8!) but I was very proud of her. She swam well but got left way behind on the bike section (some of the 8 yr olds had proper race bikes, unlike her Raleigh Diva pink thing with only 6 gears!) In true Ali style, she didn't give up and did the run without complaining. She still had a smile at the end and spent the rest of the day giving out the medals to other children and congratulating them as they came through the finish.
We'll collect up the little bit of money raised and pop it on the Just Giving site once people have coughed up.
Sheila
x
Well done Katie! And thank you to Sheila (Mum) for letting us know. I was wondering how the triathlete-in-the-making had got on!
Love, Nix x
Post a Comment