From Paul Jakeman - Old chorister

Dear Chris,

It was with great sadness that we heard the news of your mother's death via the CCOCA network. We visited her last year, soon after we moved out of London, and although she was obviously getting frailer, she was still very much her old self, appreciative of all the contacts and support she had from friends and family.

Niki and I saw her infrequently, though we always tried to visit when we were on leave from our missionary service. I remember once visiting her in hospital after the problems with her knee replacement, and her typical mixture of stoicism and frustration at the limitations it imposed on her. She was a great supporter of our work abroad, and we appreciated her interest and her prayers.

Of course she will always be part of my childhood at the Choir School - firm when needed, but caring and kind when we needed looking after as youngsters away from home.

It was from that time, of course, that our mothers developed their own friendship - dating mainly from the invitation to my mother (as she was otherwise on her own) to join the choir festivities at Christmas. She always appreciated the kindness of the invitation, and she and Peta developed a firm friendship thereafter. I know mother visited the Isle of Wight on a number of occasions.

We do send our condolences to you and to Tim at this time of loss. You will have the comfort of knowing that your mother affected so many people positively over the years, but I am equally sure that she will leave a big gap in your lives, and in the lives of many others. We are sorry that we will not be able to attend her funeral, but are sure that it will be ‘well done’.

With best wishes

Yours sincerely

Paul and Niki Jakeman