Anne

 “If you have nice things to say about me, please don’t wait until after I’ve gone.”

I’ve heard this said by people, but Anne knew that she was loved, appreciated and admired.

We are still permitted to say nice things about her, to give one another comfort and to celebrate her life and express our gratitude for being a part of it.

Anne loved people. She made friends easily. Very good friends. And because she loved all of us, we all loved her in return.

Big sister. Boss. Protector. Encourager. Adventurer. Inspirer. Her royal Majesty - a part she loved playing all her life.

Reg and I were her brothers, but that doesn’t mean that we took the help, support and solidarity she showed us for granted. Nor the support she gave her own immediate family and to ageing relatives. That was down her empathy and generosity of spirit.

Although we are all deeply saddened and forlorn, we all have lovely, funny, and outrageous memories.

One of my first, as a young boy, was of Reg and I being woken up very early in the morning to go downstairs to prepare a cup of tea for mum and dad to drink in bed. A creak on the stair. Hush!, said Anne, turning round with a stern look on her face. None of us were allowed to boil a kettle. We were all too young, so up we came with two cups of cold water, tea-leaves from the caddy floating on the top. Mum and dad made a brave pretence of being delighted.

Her Majesty came to visit on a number of occasions, often accompanied by Princess Margaret (cousin Jane), resplendent in their plastic tiaras and brightly coloured marigolds. Everyone would be instantly drawn into the game. My colleagues and I decked out our office with bunting. The boss bowed and kissed hands. People on an EasyJet flight wondering - ARE they? Friends in France were drawn in too, playing the part of overawed serfs.

And the gatherings! It was always the more the merrier. Everyone was welcome and treated wonderfully. Barbecues. Four extra ranges had to be borrowed, we were so numerous. Frying-pan badminton in the garden. Christmases. Parties. Parties judged particularly successful whenever a gang ambushed Anne, fully clothed, and tossed her in the swimming pool! And Anne there, always at the centre of it all, making sure everyone was having a wonderful time.

I could go on. We all have lovely memories with Anne at the heart of whatever was happening. We all have cause to say, “Thank you, Anne.”

xxx