As someone who grew up locally and then returned to the area when my own children arrived, I have the privilege to go to many funerals of people I have known since childhood.

I say privilege, because when the dead person was old and had a good life, such occasions are actually a time to celebrate their achievements and qualities.

These occasions also remind me how much very different life was (not just in the 70s, see above) but for my parents’ generation, who grew up during the War and then put up with years of austerity and rationing.

Earlier this month, for example, I went to the funeral of 85-year-old Denis Ogan, a long time Chorleywood resident (and neighbour of my parents), who taught French at Merchant Taylors’ for most of his career. Judging from the tributes at his funeral, Denis was an entertaining and inspiring master, who passed on a lifelong love of France and all things French to his pupils, though I suspect his legendary sense of humour and passion for football also had something to do with his popularity.

His son Charlie reminded us that Denis grew up in a modest home in South London, winning a scholarship to grammar school before becoming the first boy from his housing estate to go to university.

After Oxford and National Service, the young Denis was offered the chance to become a professional footballer, but turned it down - because the pay was lower than that of junior school teacher.

How times have changed indeed.