As most of you know, I am one of Enid’s sons-in-law (I’ll call her ‘Enid’ though she was always ‘Mum’ to us). My reflections are my own but prepared with the help of other family members. I begin by calling to mind the person I knew for over 40 years, and of course for some of you much longer. In manner she was gentle, quietly spoken, and happy for others to take the lead in public, especially Albert (‘Dad’) her loving and much-loved husband. But underneath this quiet manner was a character of real strength, determination, commitment and convictions. Enid formed her own judgements (well-considered ones) and she put them consistently into action, though well-aware of the difficulties this might involve. She was also someone who devoted her thoughts, concerns and efforts to doing all she could to make things better for other people (her family, friends or those helped by the 3 Hs charity). Many and often were the conversations she had with her daughters or friends discussing what she could do for this person or what would make things better for that person, an attitude and habit that I know was influential for her daughters, Karen, Jackie and Ange. This may make her sound super-serious (and her commitments were deeply held and maintained); but she was also a lot of fun. She loved games of all sorts, from bowls to triominoes, shove ha’penny to crosswords; she was also fond of parties, family gatherings, seeing other people enjoy themselves and enjoying these occasions herself. She loved growing flowers; she knitted seemingly without a break. She lived life to the full and wanted to help others to do the same.
 
Enid’s personal qualities underpinned the main events and distinctive features of a long and fulfilling life. Her childhood cannot have been particularly easy; her father died when she was eight and she and her brother (‘Ian’ or ‘Jim’) were brought up by her widowed mother in Southborough. Her mother (Bertha or ‘Nan’ to us) was another strong, but engaging, character, and I guess that some of Enid’s qualities reflected her mother’s. I know that Enid supported her wonderfully in her later years. After school and a period of clerical work for a builder, she married Albert. This was the start of a marriage of 64 years: a marriage that remained fundamental for both of their lives, one of mutual love, care and shared activity and purpose. For Enid, marriage and family formed the rock on which her existence was based and which brought out her strengths of determination and commitment as well as being a source of great enjoyment and interest. It wasn’t always easy; 11 years ago they lost their eldest daughter, my wife, Karen, aged 52; and more recently she and Albert have had serious health problems over some years. But they faced these problems together; and Enid has shown remarkable resilience and courage throughout.
 
However, their marriage and family life has not been narrow or focused just on itself; Enid kept up long and close friendships, with many of you here (or watching on line). And then, of course, there was the charity, 3 Hs, (‘Holidays to help the handicapped’) giving week-long holidays for the disabled and respite to their carers. When the daughters were grown up, the charity became the main focus for Albert and Enid, working closely with friends Terry and Muriel, Robert, Freda and Eileen. Apart from acting as a helper on numerous holidays, giving wheel-chair bound clients a great time, Enid volunteered to manage the 3 Hs charity shop for an extraordinary 25 years. This involved long hours of work, often arduous, 6 days a week, along with other part-time helpers, many of whom had various challenges of their own. It was this unpaid work and dedication that led to the award of an MBE from the Queen, which Enid, typically, presented as an honour to the charity rather than her. Rarely, I suspect, has an award been more deserved. In later years, she and Albert have ‘retired’ a second time; and she has taken great joy in her expanding family, some close at hand, with grandchildren and great-grandchildren all devoted to her, as she was to them.
 
She was a lovely person who led a full and truly valuable life and helped all those who shared their life with her. She will be much missed, above all by Albert. But she leaves an example of personal strength, care for others, and enjoyment of life, that is a model for us all.
 
The family would like to thank everyone here and elsewhere for their good wishes, cards, and sympathy. Also we want to give special thanks to Rosemary, Carol and Chris, and Robert, for their extraordinary care and kindness to Enid and Albert in recent years.