Not wanting to pick up a needle and thread in her new surroundings of
Huntingdon, she embarked on a few different jobs, but it wasn't until 12
years ago when she came across a job that suited her down to the ground
and a job that she had wished she had done all of her life. The job was as a
care assistant at Huntingdon Community Centre helping adults with special
needs. Her caring nature meant she had finally found her perfect job... My
mother loved her job and the people she helped, but the added bonus was
the people that she worked with... They may have stated out as colleagues
but the bond and rapport between this tight group of ladies meant that they
were primarily friends and colleagues second. Each week they would
organise meals out where they would be put the world to right. They would
go on weekend breaks, to far flung places such as Paris, Monaco, Rome
and in one case St. Andrews to attend the marriage of my wife and I... She
loved those nights and city breaks but most of all she loved her “girls” who
sit here today.
So I have told you a brief outline of my mother on where she came from and
what she did and valued but how would you describe her... The words, fun,
warm, caring came up many times when speaking to others... but for me she
was just a typical Glasgow mother, perfect in every way. She was the voice
of reason, the shoulder I would cry on and the person I would run to in time
of need... Never did I see a tear from her eye; not because she was
heartless but she was too busy helping others. Even in her final days, she
was taking care of me, making sure that I was okay and everybody around
her was okay... As my tears flowed she stayed strong.
My mother will be sorely missed by all of us here today and especially her
grandchildren Maddie, Charles and Monty, who brought her so much joy.
Never was she happier when the kids came bounding through the front door
looking for a biscuit or when watching them at one of their theatrical school
or sporting events. They were her world and she was their super gran...
When we told Monty, the youngest of the grandchildren, that God had taken
gran to heaven, Monty demanded that we get him on the phone NOW and
tell him to bring his gran back... I wish so much that we could have done this
for him.
We must thank God that my mother’s illness was not a long drawn-out affair
and thank the medical staff who tried to do everything they could for her. In
the very last days when she was in the hospice, we must thank all the staff
at the Sue Ryder hospice who looked after her and who also looked after my
Dad, Sister and I so well... We will always be indebted to their
professionalism and kindness in our darkest hour.
Mum, I speak on behalf of everybody here today; we will miss you dearly
and thank you for everything.
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