Adieu to Forbes Wastie

A sad, of course, but glorious celebration of the life of one of the College’s greatest servants took place on 5 December 2024 in St Saviour’s Church.

Some 300 people attended the funeral which was led by the Conduct of Eton College, OE Stephen Gray (Powell 1979–84) whose College contemporary Mark Le Brocq (Craig 1979–84) movingly sang Handel’s Where’er You Walk accompanied by organist David Force (College Music Department 1991–2015).

Forbes’s three sons all contributed: William (Powell 1983–88) read from the Book of Revelation, and Jonathan (Powell 1978–83) played Chopin’s Nocturne in C sharp minor. Jeremy (Powell 1976–81) gave the eulogy and his daughter Emily read Robert Burns’s Epitaph on My Own Friend. The College Choir, conducted by Director of Music Dan Jordan, led the singing of hymns and sang Rutter’s The Lord Bless You and Keep You before College Chaplain Revd Daniel Merceron gave the final blessing.

Following a private cremation, the family joined the congregation at the Hydro Hotel where there was much reminiscing and friendships made and renewed all with the common thread of how Forbes had touched their lives.