I met Shirley in the mid-70's when she was my sister, Lorna's, schoolfriend; later she married my brother Bill.
Shirley was always brilliant with my two daughters, Sarah and Jo, and was especially kind when I experienced renal failure in the late 1980's. Sarah and Jo saw her, with Bill, as key figures in their childhoods.
We shared some fun times together; particularly holidays. Tenerife (Shirley's choice of clothing (ra-ra skirt) for a Mount Teide trip meant that she stayed in the car with the heater full on whilst the rest of us went to the peak in a cable car); Lanzarote with Derek, Julie and baby Jonathan where eight of us squeezed into the smallest hatchback known to man, quite illegal I'm sure! Norfolk, to Uncle Frank's chalet - I still have brilliant images which a very gifted Shirley took on that trip.
I recall Christmas lunches when my father gathered everyone to share food and festivities - one time an old gentleman (Clarence) was complaining about his food going cold - Shirley promptly threatened him with the gravy boat!
We got to know Shirley's parents and her sister, Betti-Ann. The girls recall a trip to Brittany with Bill, Shirley, Betti-Ann, Julie and JB where everything went wrong - giant hogweed in the garden, sewers blocked, cot with bars too far apart, etc. despite the negatives humour won the day.
On a visit to Elke in Bonn we laughed and shopped for a whole week.
I remember Shirley starting her OU degree, she actually understood quantum mechanics! Taking up mental health nursing was a great choice, she had lots of skills and was putting them to good use. I'm certain she would have been an empathic listener and used her own experiences to enhance her work.
What an interesting life Shirley led; she experienced it to the full and touched so many other lives. We are fortunate to have played our small part and to have such wonderful memories.
'Run up that Hill' Shirley!
Our sincere condolences go to
family and friends.
Clare, Sarah and Jo xx
Clare Taylor:
20/05/2021