We are remembering my Grandad. An amazing trombone player in his day as well as a terrifically talented joiner. My Grandad was like a built in best friend. So funny, his smile and laugh just lit up the entire room. And I would always feel safe and secure whenever he was near, he just had a calming presence. He always reassured you that you would be fine and give you a big squeeze and you would instantly feel better. My grandad was so determined, this showed when he had a stroke when I was younger and he had to learn how to read, write and speak again and he did. He passed away two years ago now from falling on a rainy day and after all he had achieved recovering from those traumas, it left such a hole in our lives for him to be suddenly taken when he was so healthy. Our lives are definitely different without him as he was such a light and a joy. Everyone who met him says the same, he was just a force of nature. The best husband, father and grandad in the world.
We are also remembering my Granny (Grandad’s wife) unfortunately she passed when I was a baby so I didn’t get much time with her, which really upsets me but when I hear all the wonderful and also funny stories about her I truly feel like I know her so well. She was so kind, so creative, also a force of nature. She was very determined, she ran a restaurant whilst taking care of her family and just had so many feathers to her cap! She had an eye for detail. I wish I could have spent years on end with her, going around antique shops which she so dearly loved. She was a treasured wife, mother and Granny.
We are also remembering my Auntie Bridget. When my granny passed away Auntie Bridget sort of took on the role of Granny duties. And to this day , I can say she truly shaped who I am. She was so kind, so delicate, always fair. Auntie Bridget loved church and keeping her rosary beads close to her (which is something I like to do now because of her), everything in her home was perfect and beautiful. Some of the best memories of my childhood are school holidays at my Auntie Bridget’s. And walking through her front door and getting a whiff of her homemade chicken soup that she was cooking. Everyone who knew her, held a special place in their hearts for Auntie Bridget and that’s a fact. We miss her everyday.
And finally we are remembering my Granny Flynn (Auntie Bridget’s sister and my Mums Granny) she too passed when I was baby so I don’t have any memories with her and I so wish I did because of the stories I hear she was such a kind and wonderful person to know. I have one picture of her holding me when I was just born, I’m asleep in her lap and she is looking down at me just like an angel and she is so very gently holding my tiny hand with the tips of her fingers, the picture is so beautiful and special because although I never knew her that picture shows how much she loved me and how many memories we would have made together , the memories would have been wonderful. My mum describes her as so elegant and very much “a lady” and she was a huge part of my mum’s growing up, almost everyday they would see her, she was like a “second mum”. It just shows how treasured she was.
Always going to football with my Dad on Boxing day
Pete – missing you on what will be my 1st Christmas without you. Last Xmas the lovely ladies from St Barnabas came and made you comfortable and brought cheer on a dark day. Love and miss you ????
To my beloved brother and best friend in the world..taken suddenly and 1st Christmas without you..life just feels a little less lonely and empty without you..wasn't expecting to lose you at 53 years old..always in my thoughts daily never forget our time together..miss you Marv ❤️ love always Carl ❤️
Remembering a much loves son. Smiling in heaven.
Merry Christmas mum I miss you so so much more than ever forever love,
your little miss sunshine ❤️ ❤️
In memory of my beautiful sister Donna Markham, who sadly passed away last year. Lovingly looked after by the staff at St Barnabas.
My precious Mum, Dad and Christopher.
You are always closely by my side. I miss you not just at Christmas time but every single day. Forever in my heart .
Love
Christine
So dearly loved and deeply missed. First Christmas in 43 years without you. Love you always xxxx
David and Peter, This Christmas will not be the same without you both to share it with us. We will never forget the Christmastimes we had together. Never thought we would lose you both to illness in such a short time. Look after one another..Merry Christmas Love You , from, Mum,Dad,Sue,Tom and Mike.
Know that you are always in our thoughts and hearts x
Lost mum Feb 2020 at St. Barnabas hospice. Heartbroken and miss you so much. Love you Mummy xxx
Andy passed away Feb 2015. Always in my heart, sadly missed xx
Chris passed away Dec 2016. Always in Micks heart, sadly missed xx
Ashley Son, Brother and Uncle how we wish we could have one more day with you to say all the things we didn’t get to say, there isn’t a day goes by when we don’t think of you, love always until we meet again
Love Mum Nathan Naomi Robert Jack Blake and James xxxxx
Miss you so much Dad, today and always x and even more so at Christmas.. thinking of all the great Christmases we had together. You are always in our thoughts, but always feel you here.. Love you always Kelly, Stuart, Freya and Noah xx
Always love you grandad
Dad loved Christmas. He was like a big kid, excited to get the Christmas lights up each year. I love the idea of a light in his memory on this big Christmas Tree – it is so him. I miss you Dad xxx
We all miss you Papa
Mum and Dad always made Christmas special when I was growing up and love and miss them every day but especially at this special time of year
Merry Christmas up there mate X
Sending Christmas kisses and a big Christmas hug of love to our dad, it will be our first Christmas without you Dad we miss you so much at this special time,
Cheers Dad we will never forget you, love you from your loving family xx
In loving memory of a beautiful wife and mum on our first Christmas with you.
We love and miss you always.
Mike, Tory and Kristian xx
This light is dedicated to my beloved husband Martin Lumb who passed in February this year. The hospice looked after my husband in his last few days and supported Martin and I through the palliative care stages . They are the most wonderful people and we couldn’t have done it without their support.
Martin passed with dignity and peace and that meant the world to his whole family.
Miss you every day my darling and will be thinking of you this Christmas as we spend time together as a family without you, you will be in all our hearts and thoughts. Will love you forever my darling .
Susie Lumb .
We all miss you so much and our love for you is as strong as ever.
Our first Christmas without Mum and it will feel very empty. Mum was always the life and soul of any gathering at Christmas and throughout the year and will be hugely missed. We will especially miss her delicious Christmas pudding! I’ll be raising a glass to Mum and hope she’ll be doing the same along with all her friends & family. Love always xxx
This will be the first Christmas without Rob, having been together for 52 years. He was lucky enough to spend his last 4 days in your hospice which I will be forever thankful. Keep up the good work St Barnabas, your amazing.
Always Missed
Forever in My Heart xxxxxx
Love Kylie xxxxx
To a beloved husband and father, Merry Christmas Peter, love you.
In memory of mum, Shirley Farquhar, the heart of our family, who loved Christmas with her family. A loving wife, mum and nanny and soon to be great nanny. Hard to believe our 10th Christmas without you, although you are always with us. We miss you and love you always. Eternal thanks always to the Hospice at Home team who enabled mum to be at home.