THE BELLS rung and the final watch began.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Four knights stood guard for their king one last time at Kryal Castle on Monday, during the medieval funeral service for the castle's founder and builder Keith Ryall, who died on May 1.
A town crier announced the common bereavement at his death before bringing in the men in heavy suits of armour to stand before their King while members of the Ryall family eulogised their patriarch.
Members of the family read some of Mr Ryall's own poems and shared their memories, in what was truly a celebration of all of the extraordinary man's creations.
"I remember when the first brick was laid in the castle foundation. He held my hand and said 'I'm going to make you proud'. I replied 'you don't have to build a castle, I'm already proud of you'," said his daughter Jenny.
The children who were lucky enough to grow up in a castle made clear they knew how special it - and Mr Ryall - were.
"For all of us kids, the castle was our playground. The wooden horse of Troy was our cubby house, the towers were great for slumber parties and the maze was the best hiding spot," Jenny said.
The head of the family is now Joyce, who told The Courier shortly after his death of the flair he had throughout his life.
"He was a man of ahead of his time," she said.
"He made my heart sing. He was man of dreams and early vision. Anything he did in his life, he gave it his all."
His single-mindedness and dedication came across in each eulogy, and will stay with Mr Ryall in Creswick cemetery, with his spectacular coffin itself emblazoned with the castle battlements.
Following the eulogies and readings, the crowd of 300 followed Mr Ryall's coffin out to the arena so the knights could put on one more show for him.
Members of the family placed a tribute on each of the 10 lances used in the memorial joust.
Keith Ryall was buried at the Creswick cemetery.