So many happy memories of Shirley over the past 60 yrs from dancing together at their wedding to Shirley playing the piano for me on the recorder, then later on with Jo Ann, visiting and hiking in Dartmoor, along beaches and cliff tops. Always with laughter stories and happy chattering along the way. Lovingly caring for her Mother who’d moved close by, and our Mum too later on. Then with Maths, a born teacher she could have taught the sparrows in the. trees how to count, it came naturally..or from hard work for graduation. I’m thinking every member of the extended family benefitted: from the ground work resulting in a PhD, to assistance for running a business , to my casual mention of statisticsl eading to- ‘Halleluja now I can understand what it’s all about’ . Jo Ann and I have the happiest thoughts from sharing our lives with Shirley and these will be warmly in our minds when we are saying good bye to Shirley, our sister in law, for the last time - from far off New Zealand but feeling very close.

Tribute to Shirley We first met Shirley and Tim in 2005, in Brest, on the occasion of a library project between the twinned cities of Plymouth and Brest, in Brittany. Then in 2009, Shirley and Tim became our host family in Plymouth as we became theirs in Brest and this went on until 2018, when they decided to go and live in Wales, closer to their daughter Karen. Each year, in May, we were made very welcome at their home of Plympton, near Plymouth. Each year, in September, it was a great pleasure to have them to stay with us in Brest. Shirley was very keen on French. We really enjoyed talking with both of them, sharing ideas, joking, walking, visiting museums and other places of interest, either in Devon or in Brittany… In 2013, both cities celebrated the 50th anniversary of their twinning. In September, Shirley, who was the secretary of the Plymouth Clog Maids, came to Brest with the group and Tim came with the Morris Men. Both groups performed in different venues of the city on that festive occasion, and were very successful. Many thanks for so many happy memories ! Merci beaucoup pour ces magnifiques souvenirs ! Ta gentillesse et ton ouverture nous ont beaucoup touchés. Rest in peace, dear Shirley. Repose en paix. Au revoir, très chère amie ! Annick et Jean-Yves Mer, correspondants de Shirley et Tim à Brest.

Plymouth Maids have so many happy memories of dancing with Shirley and we often think of her. ‘Once a Maid, always a Maid’ Shirley - with love from all your dancing friends. Xx

Thinking of you sorry I can’t be with you on your send off on your next journey

Thank you for setting up this memorial to Shirley. We hope that you find it a positive experience developing the site and that it becomes a place of comfort and inspiration for you to visit whenever you want or need to.

I am I and you are you, whatever we were to each other that we still are. Speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? Life means all that it ever meant, it is the same as it ever was.