An emotional funeral procession marched down Eltham High Street on Monday in tribute to the beloved couple who died from coronavirus within days of each other.
Brian Rawlings and Paula Bond, 75 and 73, spent over 50 years together in south east London and were described as "generous, kind and always together", but both sadly passed away in January from the virus.
And on March 1, Brian and Paula's friends and family gathered to celebrate their lives, with a small church service at the Holy Trinity Church in Sidcup.
Whilst numbers were restricted due to the lockdown, the funeral procession travelled safely from Brian and Paula's home in Sidcup to the church, then after the service marching through Eltham High Street towards Hither Green cemetery for the burial.
Brian and Paula were laid to rest with their son, Benn Rawlings, and their grandchild, Thumper, who died as a baby in 2003.
The 'amazing' Eltham couple spent 50 years together, and leave behind daughter Sophie (43) and three grandchildren aged 16, 13 and 5.
The couple were both quite ill prior to catching the virus, Paula suffering from Alzheimer's and Brian with COPD and emphysema.
Brian died first on January 5, 2021, then just seven days later Paula passed away on January 12.
Long-term family friend Claudine Farrugia described them as an "amazing family" who were "always together" and always "generous and kind."
She also set up a small fundraiser to help bring the family some happiness and a bit of "light at the end of this long, cruel tunnel," adding that she wanted to do anything she could for them after the cruel double blow.
Speaking after the funeral, Claudine said the day went "as well as it could with Covid restrictions," with grandchild Ben reading out a lovely eulogy the day after his 16th birthday.
Beautiful flowers were displayed on the hearse and at the cemetery, and Claudine said multiple close friends joined the family in waving Paula and Brian down Eltham High Street as they could not attend the church service.
To read the full tribute piece on Brian and Paula, click here. You can read more or donate here.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here