Inverness council worker behind poetic tribute read at Best funeral

Published on Wednesday 7 December 2005 02:17

A MOVING tribute read out at football legend George Best's funeral was revealed yesterday to have been written by a Scottish council worker.

The poem by Julie MacLennan, the principal administrator of corporate services at Highland Council in Inverness, was picked from the mountain of letters and cards sent to Best's grieving family to sum up the mood as the footballer was laid to rest.

Best's son, Calum, struggled to keep his emotions in check as he read Ms MacLennan's words at Saturday's service at Stormont Castle in Belfast.

Her poetic tribute included the lines:

You walked amongst us, just a while,

Weaved your magic, made us smile.

Your life, so full of light and tears,

We lived it with you through the years.

Ms MacLennan said yesterday: "Like many others, I was deeply moved by last week's events, and I hoped that these feelings were expressed in the poem.

"I was very, very honoured that it was read out at the funeral service but, in respect to the family, I do not wish to make any further comment."

She told colleagues she had written the poem as a personal tribute to the family.

She said she was a keen football supporter and had been a great fan of Best.

And she added that she was the most surprised person in the world when she heard her name being read out by Best's son.