There was standing room only at the back, as some 150 people filled Parkside at the Thanksgiving Service for the life of Mike Wells. These included business colleagues as well as family and many friends who had come to pay tribute to a much-missed man.
The service followed on from a committal in the sunshine at Braywick Cemetery which was taken by Mike’s good friend, Ken Rudge.
The Thanksgiving Service was led by Alan Michael and began with him welcoming the large number of people who had come along.
The opening hymn was It is well with my soul and afterwards Alan opened in prayer.
He then gave a brief synopsis of Mike’s life and explained that it would be covered in much greater detail later in the service.
Phil Bray then came up to read some lines from Pilgrim’s Progress. These were found written in most of Mike’s Bibles, and were clearly words close to him.
The second chorus was Here is love, vast as the ocean, before Andrew Rice came up to read out a series of tributes, firstly from Mike’s business associates and then from friends and family.
This was followed by a photo montage, arranged by Mike’s son, Phil and set to Matt Redman’s song ‘Never Once‘.
The third song at the service was I stand amazed in the presence and afterwards Paul Cogger came up to speak.
He opened with a few memories of Mike and also brought out Mike’s personal faith in the Lord Jesus which led to his work in organising both Christian camps and holidays for young people – something he genuinely loved.
Paul mentioned about how Mike’s life was changed forever after he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour and that, if we do likewise, as Christians, we can look forward to seeing him again one day.
He closed with the words of Jim Hill’s ‘What a day that will be‘.
Our final hymn was one of Mike’s favourites – The day Thou gavest and afterwards Victor Michael closed the service with prayer.
It was an uplifting service, full of memories both of Mike and especially of the importance of his personal faith.
A number then adjourned to the Holiday Inn in Maidenhead for refreshments, including some of Mike’s favourite cheese and biscuits.
You can listen to the Thanksgiving Service by clicking on the link below. Please note that due to a technical issue, the recording begins with the singing of Here is love.
Parkside Christian Fellowship 