There seems so much to say and not enough time or paper or words available to say it all, to do justice to my Mum the most special, special person we all knew. Here goes anyway, I can but try. My brother Peter has put together a wonderful website full of memories and anecdotes and it is from this I take some snippets. Thanks Peter. Gillian Mary Yeaxlee, always known as Gill with a ‘G’ was born to George and Laura Yeaxlee. They lived in Harpenden for many years and ran a Grocer's shop on Southdown Road. Dad always referred to Mum as a cockney lass…or to be more precise what he termed ‘a French cockney’, maybe due to the foreign sounding name but only Dad knows for sure. Mum has an older brother David who writes of his little sister: “As we grew out of infancy and into childhood, I used to devise any plan that would get her into trouble. I used to pull her hair, eat her sweets, hide her dolls, blame her for things that I had done, grass her up and generally be most unpleasant. As her older brother, this was my job as well as being my duty.” This torment obviously didn’t last forever and bore no ill effects as Mum and David were best of friends and David will feel the loss of his little sis forever. Mum was aunty to Ian and Mandy and great friends with Rita, David’s wife and they all went on holidays together, Mum and Dad’s last holiday was with David and Rita and I know Mum fell in love with Scotland on this trip. Mum would do anything for anyone and this was demonstrated nowhere more clearly than in mine and Peter’s childhood. Peter writes about learning to swim; “Although my Dad, Bill, was a very good swimmer it was my Mum who I remember that spent hours in the pool with me showing me how to do the 'front crawl' – although she preferred a more sedate breaststroke style. She even got her hair wet to show me how to breathe properly.” Anyone who knew Mum knows that getting her hair wet was a big deal! Always creative Mum excelled at home crafting, she made me a very fetching Easter bonnet for the local conservative club competition in Harpenden for which I apparently won first prize…lots of Cadburys cream eggs, I hope I shared them, but probably didn’t! She started to make toys for us and then also for children who lived in the street as a way to make a bit of extra money. She did a nice line in Babapappas and also Wombles - Orinoco was her best seller! Over the years she turned her very talented hands to many things to help make ends meet or simply to make something nice for someone else, I’m sure many of us will at some time have received one of her handmade cards or enjoyed a home cooked meal or bottle of home brew. She was always making clothes, altering clothes or adding more soft furnishings to the house, velvet curtains were definitely her nemesis! Any bowler whose skirt became a little tight after Christmas excesses could rely on Mum to do the necessary alterations, she never turned anyone down. I’ve touched briefly on Mum’s home cooked meals but her culinary skills really deserve a bigger mention. She was a natural and could just look at a cupboard full of things, pick out three or four items and put together a delicious meal. Nan was a brilliant cook but very messy so Mum obviously picked up the best traits but also kept the kitchen tidy! When Mum married Ian she introduced him to a whole different style of cooking. Chicken Marengo replaced Pork Chops, peas and potatoes and she did curries, Chinese stir-fry and her famous puddings like Chocolate Malteser Meringue Layer, Fruit Pavlova and Strawberry 'Flobalob'. She also made loads of cakes for lunches and Craig was always getting trouble for eating them in secret in the evening and there not being enough in the morning for packed lunches. Mum was a bit more relaxed about timings of meals than Dad - which anyone who knows Dad will realise would be difficult for him to cope with. He always said that the Yeaxlee way was "mañana! mañana!" When he visited Harpenden he soon realised if Nan said Sunday lunch was 'going to be a bit late' it could be served anytime between 1.30-4.00pm. If his Mum (Mabel) said dinner was going to be a bit late, it meant 12.05pm rather than 12.00pm! For every meal we’ve ever shared, for your limitless hospitality and wonderful dinner parties, Mum we thank you. Mum and Ian married in 1980, the photo on the sideboard at their home is one of my favourites. As both had children from their first marriages our family grew ever larger. We joined Craig and Tracey in their home in Stratford and had a dizzy childhood filled with laughter, fun, strawberry flobalop and splosh washes. Holidays were particularly full…or more to the point the car was. Luckily we were smaller then, you wouldn’t get us four across the back seat now! Our holidays were driving holidays and all of us children have fond memories of our trips. When the boys were about 15 we went to Normandy in France. We went with ‘Key Camps’ who set up tents ready for you when you arrive. Mum was delighted to see a proper camping kitchen all set out, she could make anything a home. We had baguettes, Brie and even a small bottle of French beer in the evenings…oh yes and the occasional frog. I particularly remember holidays in Kiddwelly, or ‘baby boots’ as Peter renamed it. The beach there was actually the back of the army tank shooting range, and the beach turned from walking sand to sinking sand at high tide, as Tracey found out to her cost. Despite these minor imperfections it was brilliant. Driving holidays obviously required a car and a navigator, and much to our distress Mum was the navigator. We saw places we were never meant to see, and certainly went off the beaten track. We can chart our childhood by the cars we squeezed into: Olly Opal, the blue car, Miranda Marina, the blue car, grandpa’s fiesta, the grey/blue car, another fiesta, the red car and finally on Dad’s retirement they got the Rover 216 cabriolet convertible, Mum said at the time ‘we have to get a soft top now before we get so old we look silly in it!’ One thing they didn’t have to worry about looking too old for was their bowls! Mum was a keen bowler and began playing in 1981. Not only did Mum get to Bowl with Dad but also in the early days with her Dad, George, who she adored. George was often the lead bowler and he thoroughly enjoyed the game, spending time with his friends, but most of all time with his lovely daughter. Mum and Dad played for Stratford bowls club and then moved on to Welford where they played both indoor and out. Although she never truly believed in her ability, over the many years of playing Mum reached many a final from club to county, playing alongside some great friends and family. Although bowls clubs are busy places with large memberships, I know Mum’s presence will be missed. Always in search of the perfect end or the perfect bowl, I’m sure she’s still trying now. Mum was a magnet to which we all drew at various times in our lives. For myself, Peter, Tracey and Craig there are a hundred lessons she imparted, a hundred times she picked up the pieces and a hundred occasions she made or altered the outfits for. Mum told us all the time how proud she was of us, I don’t think we told her the same enough. We are all very proud Mum. Mum’s huge maternal influence extended to her grandchildren of whom she was very, very proud. Tom, Louise, Lydia and Isobel have lost their grandmother. To you four I say this; live, love, laugh, grow, make mistakes and make amends, be happy, be proud and be honourable, be everything you possibly can be, Nanny is always watching over you. I now turn to you Dad. You and Mum were best pals. The jokes you shared, the endless teasing and ruffling of hair, the years of barbeques and Sunday roasts, family Christmases, and the love you so evidently had for each other are proof of a marriage that was so full and so happy. My only regret, and I’m sure Mum’s too, is that all this ended all too soon. Mum sparkled all the time but never more so than when she was with you. How do I bring this to a close? How do I say goodbye? Wife, Mother, Sister, Auntie, Grandmother, Friend. They say you can’t choose your family but I’m sure each and every one of us would have chosen you if given the choice. Your wisdom, beauty, loving nature, generosity and grace have enlightened and enriched us all. I've always said to people I know I would be very proud if I turned out half the lady my mum is, and yes I truly mean it! I have such good memories of you and I want you to know that we will look after Dad and teach him to cook - he now knows how to text! You are in every flower, every sunrise and sunset, every smell, every occasion, every smile and tear, every well-placed bowl, every family meal we’ll cook. You were and always will be everything to us. Safe journey, Mum, I love you so much. Debbie x