Arriving here from humble roots in 1924,

The year that Mahatma Gandhi walked out through freedom’s door,

We had our first ever Labour Prime minister - Ramsay MacDonald was his name,

Whilst Anne grew up in Olive Grove

In Leeds, of Marks and Spencer’s fame.

Her schooling unremarkable, whilst

a swimmer strong and brave,

Then as the war broke out she

Looked to soldiers she might save.

A member of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force,

Which opened up a new door,

As Anne looked to different horizons

She returned to Leeds no more.

Whilst in her base WING in the RAF

She met a special man just right,

Both of them working on the aeroplanes,

They managed to reach dizzy lovers heights.

So they travelled south to Brighton

To begin their married bliss,

And in 1950 it started, with that special loving kiss.

Then Anne turned her skills to nursing

As in Brighton she did train,

But after all the war excitement,

Things stayed too much the same.

So pretty soon they chose to move and

Maidstone became their special home.

Then in 1958 - which was a vintage year,

They gave birth to a special son,

Cousin Stephen did appear!

He brought them joys and tribulations,

He made them really proud

But Anne kept that real quiet,

She didn’t like to shout too loud.

All this while Anne was still nursing,

Increasing her confidence and skills,

Promotion often beckoned -

She was not dishing out pills.

Front line accident and emergency,

Where she saw a lot of life,

And then there came a second move

To Epsom now, no strife.

A lovely house to live in,

Her humble roots no more,

An amazing place near the racecourse,

With a canopy over the door

Then Anne slowly grew into a new role,

Grandmother to Ella and Lucy,

Using her worldly wisdom

To teach them to live life a little more juicy.

Encouraging them to do their best,

To spread their wings and fly,

They would be her future,

The apples of her eye.

When sadly Sid departed,

It was natural for her to go …

To Okehampton near her loved ones,

The rest I guess we know!

There was a special connection,

Anne called her “the lady that did”,

And over their get together Sundays

Towards Cabinet Sauvignon with ice Anne slid,

As she caught up with the family information,

Maryanne skilfully guided her on,

Sometimes just with her gentle words,

And sometimes with a song.

Of course with many thanks to Jess,

Steve’s saviour and Anne’s friend,

Who supported her with dementia,

Until the very end.

So across 98 years of living

Anne has seen many, many sights;

Always meeting change with resilience,

Determination, not bright lights.

No drama and no falseness - a life of integrity,

Sensible, with little fear. ….

These great qualities will remain with us,

As we hold her memory dear.