Friday 4th July 2008 - An Amazing Day.

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

Dear Friends,

For those of you in the Alps who can't make it to the UK on Friday, there will be a gathering to remember and celebrate Ali's life at La Boulotte (ex-Maracas), in Courchevel 1650 at 15.45 on Friday 4th July.

With love,

Team Rainback x