The Funeral Of William Stone

William Stone, the last surviving British veteran of both World Wars, was buried yesterday.

There was a lot going on yesterday - but this was the most important news. This was history, and the passing of history; nothing else really counts for very much. In the words of his family, Mr. Stone lived a long and happy life, usually the sign of having lived a good and worthy life. RIP.

There are sick people about who will have viewed the news of Mr. Stone's passing with joy and relief - there is now one less very old man to be paraded in front of the cameras every November for the unsophisticated to get sentimental about, or to develop admiration and respect for; the closing of his long life's book heralding its imminent removal from the shelf in favour of more acceptable versions of history.

There may be an especially hot and uncomfortable position waiting in Hell for those who think that way.