I love this photo of you mum - smiling back at me on my wedding day, it always makes me smile as you seem to have your fingers crossed, was that I wonder for me not to come back home! You would be the first to admit that I was a handful in my teens or was it that I would be happily married l like you were to dad. Well mum it worked, I am still happily married 39 years later. During these years I have had 3 beautiful children and moved 11 times as an RAF wife.
Life has not all been plain sailing with many challenges to overcome but throughout my life you have been with me every step of the way, giving freely with your unconditional love and support. You helped me so often with my children during their hospital visits and with their visits to Nannies house and they now have such lovely memories of you. When we moved away, including postings to Australia and Germany, your visits with dad were always looked forward to and now provide masses of happy memories for us to treasure.
During all the visits we would spend many hours talking over endless cups of tea, catching up on all the family news - I will miss those times.
You were my rock, Iris to Alan and nanny to Edward, Lydia and David. We all loved you so much and your passing has left a big hole in our hearts. However, we have all found great comfort in knowing and seeing how well you were cared for at Beckside during your final months and the special 93rd birthday celebration you had there with Mary, Vicky and me.
May you rest in peace mum, now reunited with dad in heaven. You may be gone from our lives but you will always remain in our hearts.
I love you mum, always and forever,
Helen
Helen Dolding
20/10/2025
