About 35 years ago I used to have piano lessons with Mary. I remember her picking me up in her little white car and I think even back then I was aware that she didn’t really like driving, and it was always a relief for her to get back home. I wasn’t very good at the piano but she was incredibly patient with me. I never really got the hang of playing with two hands but there was just one piece that she taught me which I mastered and I have never forgotten, so I’m going to play that in a minute. I just want to say how lucky I feel to have had an Aunt like Mary in my life for so many years. She was so easy to talk to, I always loved to see her. There are so many things I admired about her. She had a long and happy marriage and managed to stay strong after losing her beloved Norman. She and Norman used to have some great parties and were always brilliant hosts. They were so good at including everyone and putting people at ease and I remember playing some really funny party games. There was one I remember which involved putting your nose through a hole in a sheet and everyone else had to guess whose nose it was. Mary always kept in touch with a wide circle of friends, and family was very important to her. She invested a lot of time in other people and was always interested in others and what they had to say. She was always so active and independent, it was easy to forget her age. She always had things she wanted to achieve, and I was so pleased to be able to help her put her booklet together last year. Writing the booklet in her 90s was a remarkable achievement. She was so well read and well informed and I’m so pleased she got to finish the booklet. She invited me, Brian and Patricia for lunch last October to say thank you for our help with the booklet, and cooked us a lovely 3 course meal. She was a brilliant cook and that day I had her famous cheese quiche and Victoria sponge. I could go on, but I’m going to end by saying, children always loved Mary and Norman because they were so good with them, and I’m so glad Archie got to know his Great Aunt and Uncle. Written by Sarah Goodwin for the celebration of Mary’s life on 28th May 2022