The Life of Riley

'He was a funny old bugger', they all agreed as Riley was laid in his grave, 'I believe he had a wife somewhere', said someone else in the nave. 'Two sons and a daughter', another said, 'I believe they're living abroad, 'A solitary soul, a private man, a recluse', they were all in accord. 'Yet, he'd never cut you in the street, always had time for a chat'. 'Yes', said another, 'a funny old coot, but friendly too for all that' 'He'll be missed at the club, a fine secretary; he'll have to be replaced', ‘it’s a pity his kids couldn't bother to come, unless they couldn't be traced'. 'Strange sort of chap, kept himself to himself, held his cards close to his chest, but always willing to lend a hand, he really was one of the best'. 'Ex Irish Guards, someone told me, retired with a bloody good pension'. 'Straight as a die, played a straight bat, no side, no front or pretension'. 'He always enjoyed, as I recall, playing the odd game of backgammon', ‘A fisherman too, someone was saying, spinning for trout and for salmon'. 'I also heard, though I can't verify, that he once played a mean game of rugger', 'But at the end of the day, when all's said and done, he was a funny old bugger'.