They became inseparable from that time, and married when Nan was 18, Grandad was 20. With three young boys, life must have been pretty full on for her, although she will have had some practice with her younger brothers! Nan found the time to help out at a cub pack, 6th Epping Forest South, with another dear friend, Christine Dyer, worked together as a great team providing fun and frolics at cub camps. One camp, during a hot summer, was interrupted by a huge thunderstorm and torrential rain, leaving Nan sheltering in a tent with some boys… until the water level started to rise up through the bottom of the tent and Nan called to evacuate! Her talent for story telling came to the fore during the cub years. Her sense of performance was very strong, leading to her requiring props for her party piece at one of Christine’s parties! Few who have heard Nan perform ‘We’re going on a lion hunt’ will forget the animation in her face and the exuberance of the performance! She further developed her inner drama queen through the Old Time Music Hall. Through such timeless classics as My baby ’as gorn dahn the plug ’ole and I took my harp to a party, Nan would frequently steal the show! In her later years, she developed a keen love of all things garden. Although a late starter, she was as passionate about it as she was about
everything and prided herself on being able to name all of the 15+ varieties of clematis that could be found in her little patch. Of course, the lasting memory will be of her going snail hunting in the evening, with a light on her head, special gloves and shoes and a bucket. Nan was a people person. All types of people, old, young and everything in between. She could be whatever they needed her to be – supportive, loyal, feisty, argumentative, loving, understanding or a fine cook. She is someone that will be remembered fondly and with a silver lining of humour by everyone who had the chance to know and love her. 31