And another

[brightncheerful]

Checking my emails late this afternoon, one from the daughter of a good friend saying her mother had died last week and hoping I'll go to the funeral.

Nothing about how etc. The only report I have found on-line:

https://www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/2024/11/15/tributes-paid-after-death-of-councillor/
and
https://www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/2024/11/22/funeral-arrangements-for-councillor/[/url]

I called someone on the council. When Helena hadn't turned up at a meeting, most unlike her, people worried, etc. her son broke into her house and found her in an armchair.

I'd known Helena for about 37 years around the time her youngest son was a baby. Knew them all as children and teenagers, her oldest son joined the Navy, Her daughter married an adventure cyclist turned their tour into a business.https://www.pannier.cc/journal/pikes-on-bikes-in-conversation-with-neil-harriet-pike/

Helena's late husband, ex-Navy, was one of my best friends. I remember when I first met Helena, telling her husband that I fancied his wife; he said "so do I". Every year, for years, Mrs Bnc and I would go to bonfire night at their home, an ex-pub with a long garden in a hamlet in Oxfordshire. As her husband tild me, it was all they could afford at the time. Every Christmas, a round robin mostly about her children and their achievements. I remember arranging to meet her husband in the Members lounge at the Institute of Directors in Pall Mall, London (I am a member) - On arrival, announced as Commander Fickling, he thought I'd appreciate that. After her husband left the Navy, he got a job as external bursar at Reading University. Later got cancer, told me he'd spread his energy too thinly, also that of all his friends I was the only one that didn't speak to him in hush tones. 15 minutes into the new millenium he died in Helena's arms. Having arranged a PFI, Reading Universirty named one of their halls of residence Fickling Court.

Really sad.

I expect the church will be packed.

[Clitheroekid]

Interesting to see that her son has followed in his father's footsteps, and is now also a Commander in the Navy.