Thursday 21st January 2021 12pm 

Malcolm, Noreen Alex and I would  like to thank you for coming to support us, at this extremely difficult time.
I know some of you have travelled a fair distance to be here and we are extremely thankful that you have managed to travel, considering the current restrictions, we understand the reasons that many are unable to attend.

It is very hard to think that mum is Mum no longer with us, which will take some time to get used to.
Mum was exquisite, kind hearted, caring, funny, fair and incredibly protective of Malcolm and I. She spent many years putting her own life on hold, as a stay-at-home mum to bring us up dealing with whatever challenges arose. She was a constant presence as we grew up.
Jacquie lived and grew up with family in Ealing, being born into very uncertain times. She was an only child. Mum loved to tell a story and had many to tell from her childhood, growing up during WWII. The detailed stories that she told us over the years would eventually come in handy, when we would help her fill the gaps in her memories.

Mum became a shorthand typist, her last full-time job before retiring and favourite, was at Guide Dogs for the Blind whom she also supported on a voluntary basis during the 90’s along with Diabetes UK and Hillingdon Hospital’s Diabeticare up until recently.

Mum had a great love for singing, musical film, theatre and dancing.
Mum joined The Acton and Ealing Operatic Society in the 60’s.
She met Dad in 1971, after dad replied to an advert mum had placed, for more male singers for an upcoming show, they would later marry in 1975. Hence us.
Mum also met Rhona, creating a friendship that would span 47 years.
She appeared in many shows, creating lots of memories along the way.
In the 90’s mum began to attend the Oak Tree Pub, after a chance meeting in the launderette with the Landlady (Margaret), singing her favourite songs, along with others.
The singalongs continued for over 25 years at different venues creating friendships and memories. Mum enjoyed Malcolm playing his guitar to her friends even though she didn’t always like Malcolm’s music tastes.

I know Malcolm and I didn’t appreciate mum’s singing wholeheartedly when we were teens, we would sometimes warn our friends, when they came round, that mum would probably want to sing to them, which mostly she did much to our embarrassment, but that was mum, singing was her life,
Mum loved her animals she grew up mainly with cat’s however she did live with a dog, a budgie and a tortoise, however she wasn’t too keen on the tortoise. Mum and dad allowed Malcolm and I to have a cat. Dad didn’t like cats much however I think he was outvoted on that one and he knew how much mum loved her cats with pictures up everywhere.
One of mum’s proudest moments was when she became a Nan.  She loved Alex very much, quite often looking after him or taking him out for the day and loved it when the family would all get together for birthdays.  Whilst Alzheimer’s meant that she wasn’t always able to articulate her thoughts or feelings, we know that she always took comfort in seeing Alex when he came to visit.

When visiting mum she would always be ready with a cup of tea and biscuits. Mum was addicted to biscuits and once ate a whole tin, granted her mum was not best pleased by the empty tin when she returned. I never realised quite how addicted mum was until I started doing her shopping, when she was no longer able to. I would have to buy at least 6 packs to see her through the week and sometimes this wasn’t enough, if ever there was a situation we would more often than not, sort it out over a cup of tea and biscuits.
Mum even had a story to tell of a cup of tea. In fact it was a cup of tea that was never to be drunk, much to mum’s disappointment, mum and nan were going to visit her godmother in Buckinghamshire, her grandfather had just made a pot of tea at home, however our nan insisted that they leave at that point. They needed to wait for the bus situated outside Abernethy’s Department store in Ealing, Luckily for mum and nan the bus came on time. Even though they got to their destination safely, they heard a bomb blast from as far away as the Hanwell Clock. It was later learnt that Abernethy’s received a direct hit killing staff customers and anyone standing at the bus stop. Had they stayed for the tea and got the bus 10 minutes later things would have turned out very different and we would not be sitting here today to celebrate mum’s life.

Mum, Nan, Wife, Friend, Neighbour, and Colleague I’m sure you all have your own memories. I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say you’ll forever be in our hearts and will miss you every day

Thank you for everything  Love you and miss you always.