The tyranny of distance prevents me from being there to farewell my Auntie Margaret. So, in the circumstances, the best I can do is to write this brief message about her and what she meant to me.
 
While some of my earliest memories are lost in the fog of time, I do remember when I was teenager growing up in Fareham that she was very popular with my friends, as she was regarded by them as “a bit of all right” – a s sentiment that I am sure Uncle Eddie agrees with!
After I left England almost 40 years ago, of necessity our meetings were infrequent, although we spoke on the phone at Christmas and when my Mum, her sister, was visiting us wherever we were in the world. Over the past few years, we used to meet up once or twice a year, when I returned to see my Mum. On one occasion, I was reminded, that despite her many virtues md capabilities, driving skills was not one of them when she demolished my Mum’s neighbour’s front wall, and was in some danger of turning their living room into a drive-in.   That issue notwithstanding, I was always reminded of how family was the most important part of her life – she always spoke with pride of Mike and Maria, their family, and their achievements and always wanted to know how Gail, Lucy and Molly were faring. She was caring, always ready to help, determined and tireless, stubbornly refusing to let the inevitable constrictions that ageing brings to us all stop her from doing what she saw as being the right thing to do.
 
She will leave a hole in the lives of all who knew her. While the grief that we all feel now will never fully dissipate, we can hope that it will be balanced by the memories of the love she gave, and the influence she had on so many lives.
 
With love to Uncle Eddie, Mike, Maria and their families, and to my Uncle Ron who has lost a sister. From Steve, Gail, Lucy and Molly in Melbourne.  Farewell Auntie Margaret.
 
“Though lovers be lost love shall not” Dylan Thomas