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VISIT TO GERALD MOHR'S FINAL RESTING PLACE, LIDINGÖ KYRKA, STOCKHOLM, JUNE 2005
I visited Lidingö Kyrka on 4 occasions during my holiday in Stockholm from 5th to 12th June 2005. My first visit, on Monday 6 June, was an emotional one. I found it easy, despite only just having arrived in Stockholm, to make my way to the old church - tube to Ropsten and either a 204 or 212 bus. The bus driver told us when we reached the stop. We climbed the hill to the church, looked inside its small but beautiful interior, then I went in search of Mr Mohr's niche. I walked downhill through the graveyard until I came to an archway which led into the U-shaped garden where the cremation niches were. Instinctively I turned to my left and quickly read the names - all Swedish - until I suddenly stopped, just seeing "GER", as his stone was covered in growing ivy. I removed the ivy to see his name, date of birth and date of death. That is all. Nothing more. I ran my fingers over his name and spent a few minutes alone with my thoughts. I was then joined by my travelling companions, who took photos for me. I placed a picture of Mr Mohr from his film "The Angry Red Planet" above the niche and took a few photos. Most niches had a cup attached to them to insert flowers. This was the import of my second visit two days later to the Church Office to arrange for a cup to be permanently attached under Mr Mohr's niche, as I intended to return on 11 June to commemorate his birthday. Of course, after concluding the business with the Church Officer, I returned for a few minutes, placing a picture of him from his "Rawhide" episode above his stone. After leaving, my friends and I had lunch in the new Lidingö Centrum. Nearby was the library and I thought to check whether any newspaper article had been written around the date of his death, so went up and did some research. The local newspaper, Lidingö Tidning, did not have anything. However, the next day I went to the State Library in Stockholm and did find one article in micofiche in one of the Swedish papers. A chance remark to my companions then prompted me to phone the Lidingö Tidning on the Friday morning, offering my reason for being in Stockholm as a local interest article. The Editor, Joachim Björk, was delighted and invited me out at 2 p.m. that afternoon to the newspaper offices. I arrived in a downpour of thunder and lightning and met Joachim, who interviewed me then drove me out to Lidingö Kyrka once more. He took a number of photos of what I intended to leave the following day (the newspaper was closed over the weekend so couldn't do it on 11 June). Here's the article:
And then came the last visit, at 11 a.m. on Saturday 11 June 2005, the date of what would have been Mr Mohr's 91st birthday. I had purchased an oasis of artificial white daisies which had a yellow ribbon and a small ladybird therein. My reason for this was the quote from his Bonanza "The Abduction" episode - his "dying" words were "Ask Daisy." I also attached a heart which was a fridge magnet and the card I had prepared beforehand and inserted in a plastic folder to protect it from the weather. And then I had to turn and walk away from this beautiful place, not knowing when, or if, I will return.
bravenet.com