I lived the first thirty years of my life in Billingshurst, West Sussex. We moved into the new council estate of Frenches Mead when I was one year old and stayed until I was fourteen. I had a happy childhood in Frenches Mead as there were a lot of children of my age and we spent our days playing out on the road or on the green which was in the centre of the houses. When I was fourteen my Grandfather died and we moved in with my Gran in the High Street, Billingshurst.

My older brother Ray had gone off to university several year before and married Caroline around about this time. Ray is about 9 years older than me and seemed to spend most of his time studying although I remember he was very good at helping at my birthday parties, and also our Saturday mornings when he would tell his own stories of Tom and Sil and the Tigglers and do drawings of them. My other brother Colin, 7 years older than me, was not around much as he was into sport and always out with the boys.

When I was 17 I met Ian. We married when I was 19 and we lived for 3 years in the back garden of Gran’s house in a caravan. We had our first baby, Brendon, when I was 21 and he was adored by everyone, especially my Dad and my Mother in law Kath. 2 years later Ashley followed. By this time we had bought a little Victorian semi, still in Billingshurst, and Ian did all the work on it making it into a nice little home. I was very proud of my two little boys and used to dress them alike. I can particularly remember matching purple trousers and purple patterned jumpers.

After a few years I got desperately broody and our much wanted 3rd baby arrived, named Courtenay. We moved to Reigate in late 1976 and 2 years later my darling daughter Charlotte arrived and completed our family. In late 1982 we moved to Ridge Green Farm in South Nutfield when Charlotte was 4 years old. South Nutfield was a lovely village to bring the family up in and they all enjoyed various things like Scouts, Guides and particularly the cricket club.

Sadly in 1987/7 my marriage to Ian broke up. About a year later, John and I got together and after some time John and his son, Nathan, moved into Ridge Green Farm. Brendon had left home by then but times were very hectic and noisy in our house with all the banter and friends in and out and staying over but somehow we got through it. John and I married on Christmas Eve in 1993 in a quiet ceremony with only 2 witnesses.

In 1996 we moved to Rushlake Green in East Sussex and John and I bought our first home together – a very large fairly modern house set in 15 acres that needed a lot of TLC. We spent the first 2 years working on it and made it into a lovely home where we enjoyed a further 8 happy years. During this time our grandchildren started arriving although our first, Cameron, sadly died when he was 7 months old. Foords Farm was a lovely place for the children with lots of space and later they enjoyed learning to swim in the pool.

We were at Foords nearly 10 years and enjoyed every minute of it. We downsized then to our present home, a townhouse on Sovereign Harbour and have very much enjoyed living here. It is an easy to lock up and go house which has enabled John and I to do lots of travelling and we have been on many trips around the world. We visited Australia, New Zealand, China, India, Canada, South Africa, Kenya, Seychelles, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and many parts of Europe including Scandinavia. My favourite memory was South Island New Zealand but we also had fantastic holidays touring in North America where we have been 8 times and visited 25 states. We used to get off the plane, pick up a hire car and tour, stopping mainly in B&B.

Over the years I have met and made friends with a lot of people. So many have been so supportive and caring over the past months and it has helped to have that support and love. I won’t mention names for fear of leaving someone out but thank you to all.

To my children I just want to tell them I loved you all from the minute you were born and have never stopped loving. You have all turned out to be good people and I am very proud of you all.

John has been a wonderful husband and companion over the 28 years we were together and his care for me over the last months of my illness has been incredible. I just wish we could have had a few more years together.