On Monday, last, the 31st January 2022, the family laid our mother to rest. As reported in an earlier post, she died on Boxing Day 2021 with our sister holding her hand.
Our mother was born on 14th December 1931 into a world far removed from the world we now live in.
She met our father through sailing…
The pair bought the spritsail barge May Flower from Green Brothers of Maldon and sailed her to Leigh-on-Sea with a bunch of club sailors in 1950.
They married a year later…
The barge was supposed to have been a fifteen year project … it lasted for 31 years!
The barge was soon to take most of her time – never mind household chores and a growing brood of children, the barge was all consuming.
Water had to be collected by barge boat for fifteen years too…
Our parents carried out many extensive structural renewals during the 1950s and early 1960s. Mother also stitched up a new mainsail in 1960/61 too…
The press got hold of the affair!
Weekends were spent dropping down river to Queenborough, Stangate and often a stop-over at Hoo if tide or wind not conducive for a return to Whitewall Creek.
After stitching up a new mainsail and the fitting of a new mainmast and sprit, our parents went racing alongside the professional sailormen in the annual Thames and Medway barge matches.
When the trading matches finished in 1963, both were heavily involved with a new Medway Match Committee, with a new beginning in 1965. Mother designed the programmes and drew a course map – the design is still in use!
The family’s last sail on the May Flower came in 1974. Our father had gone blind by then and Graham, my eldest brother, sailed as skipper.
A house was found a few years later and by 1980 the barge was sold.
Mother never let go of the water though!
Our parents had a little 10′ dinghy for a number of years. Both came sailing on our first boat, Blue Tail, a Yachting World Peoples Boat, and later on Whimbrel our Finesse 24. Mother continued with this joy regularly over the years.
Sailing was a life-long passion. Our mother also sailed with my sister on her Topper and Mirror dinghies, with her youngest on his Albacore and over in Canada with our eldest sibling in his home rigged dory!
Our father died way back in 1994 leaving our mother to enjoy a third of her life doing just what she wanted to do…
She studied for a fine art degree before having to cease due to ill health. During this period she painted, sketched and illustrated. Those that know my books will be aware of the latter.
Her art and family took precedence!
For our mother’s 80th birthday, we secretly booked the spritsail barge Edith May for a whole day trip. All her children and most of her grandchildren were aboard.
As we were thirteen, I went third hand!
A move to inland Devizes did not stop her ‘frolics’ upon the water: she went on canal boats on little trips!
As a finale to her life, that bob dressed her coffin with a simple floral cross.
It was a touching tribute.
We had a crematory service first before a celebration of her life at St Johns Devizes, attended by many of her family and friends, past and present.
As a final tribute, I add the concluding lines from the eulogy we put together, written up and given by me…
‘Finally, after a series of falls during the Covid pandemic of 2020, she moved to the Merlin Court Care Home. There, the staff caringly looked after and nursed her during her last sixteen months. To them, the family offer huge gratitude.
Last autumn, after a lapse of a year from touching her pencils or paints, mother took part in an art session, painting a delightful array of flowers.
It was wonderful…
A last hurrah…
So, sail on mother. Wander the eternal shorelines and wooded glades. Sit, ponder, and sketch, for ever…
God Bless.’