Pearlie was my Aunt – my mother’s sister. She was also my Godmother. But in many ways, Pearlie was like a second mother to me. Let me explain. I was born in Cambridge but at the age of about 2½ I moved to Cardiff where my father originated. But for the next 16 years I used to spend every Christmas, Easter and Summer school holiday in Cambridge – and often other times, too, when my mother was ill, to the extent I used to spend whole terms at Newnham Croft School, near my Grandmother’s house in Derby Street, Newnham. I spent so much time with my Grandmother I used to call her ‘Mum’ (a term then adopted by nearly everyone else in the family!). But it was Pearlie who really took on the role of a ‘mother’ to me. It was she who used to take me (and often my sisters Hazel and Sheila) to buy us new clothes and shoes when we arrived in Cambridge. She took me on the only real holiday I had as a child – I must have been about 5 or 6 - to a caravan park at Great Yarmouth, bought me ice cream, built sand castles and generally gave me an unforgettable time. Although I didn’t quite understand my role at the time (in 1952) – I was only 7 – I used to act as a Chaperone to Pearlie and Uncle Aleks when they were courting. Pearlie used to take me out for a walk in the evenings along by the river and at some point she would meet Uncle Aleks and then I would be asked to walk on ahead for a bit so they could be together. In retrospect it was very touching and very sweet. When I was older she used to let me borrow her bicycle during the holidays so I could get around Cambridge. But then she got a bit more adventurous and bought herself a scooter – a Vespa, I think - which she loved tootling around on. She would often turn up unexpectedly because she had just fancied going out for a ride. After I left home and went to work in London I used to hitch-hike to Cambridge several times a month just to see her. She always made me feel welcome and was invariably pleased to see me. And then she gave us another surprise! She passed her driving test and bought herself a Mini car of which she was very proud. She once made the trip from Cambridge to Hastings, where I was living at the time, which I think was her longest trip at the time. In later life, after I had moved to Newcastle, I only saw her once or twice a year, but I spoke to her several times a week on the phone. That is, until one day almost 10 years ago, when she phoned me and said, “Richard, I know you are going to be cross with me.” I was a bit perplexed until she went on to explain that she had just bought a computer! I think she must have been about 76 or 77 at the time! I was full of admiration and it was another example of how she never ceased to surprise. After that we kept in touch by email as well as phone calls. However, the phone calls were more along the lines of, “Richard, I can’t find the button to send an email. Where is it?” And then I would have to spend 15 or 20 minutes talking her through what she needed to do. But she used the computer to good effect – getting in touch with relatives in Poland, doing her Tesco’s shopping on-line occasionally (with Karen's help), sending electronic birthday and Christmas cards as well as playing card games which she loved and listening to her music. It was a truly remarkable achievement so late in life. I never ceased to be amazed at her stamina and patience in caring for my Uncle Aleks all these years despite her own health problems. In providing that support she was ably supported by Karen Kot and by Debbie George. She was devoted to Aleks and determined that she would keep her vow to him that she would always look after him at home – which she did to the end. For me, she will always be remembered as a kind, loving, caring, generous, unselfish and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and Aunt. I will always treasure my memories of her.