This cache is set as a tribute to my Gran, who died in June 2011. I
can write the words, but still don't really believe them.
Gran was born Rosaline Downey in London in January 1915 and had
a privileged but strict childhood.
She married Robert Flew in March 1938, the above photo is from that
day. He was a doctor at St Thomas's and from a wealthy family.
Together they cruised much of the world in the pioneering days.
However, this happiness was not to last as Bob died of tuberculosis
in 1942 leaving her with a small child and living in London during
the Blitz.
Always someone to whom people could turn, she weathered many storms
- the death of her beloved father, the imprisonment of both her
brothers in POW camps and the church next-door receiving a direct
hit.
She remarried and moved to Sussex in the 1960s and continued to
be the centre of an extended family. A trained Cordon-Bleu cook,
she was always producing culinary delights and no-one ever went
home empty-handed!
Widowed for a second time in 1989, she rebuilt her life to become a
resolutely independant women and lived alone for the rest of her
life. Although she gave up driving in her 80s and gardening became
an infrequent activity, she still ran her own house and did all her
own cooking, including baking, in an Aga. Only a few weeks before
she died she was still producing shortbread and maids of
honour.
Not many people have a birthday cake baked for them by their
Grandmother on their 45th birthday! She did that for me last year.
However, at the beginning of June this year she suddenly fell very
ill and Mum and I moved in to care for her. Although she rallied
briefly, her wish was never to go into hospital so no tests were
carried out for treatment she would not wish to receive. It
wouldn't have achieved anything anyway.
The last two weeks of her life were, indeed, a magical time. There
were many profound experiences. She was determined to enjoy my
birthday with me and we had a happy tea party where she managed to
eat a little cake and join in with opening my presents. Treasured
memories indeed.