I am sometimes asked “What are Nancy’s interests?” and there is an easy answer to that: The Isle of Wight. Not the only interest, of course, but certainly the major one. She wasn’t born there. After her parent’s marriage they lived in Yorkshire for a year or two and that was where Nancy was born. Early in Nancy’s life they moved to Sandown in the Isle of Wight, thus returning Nancy to the ancestral home of her mother’s side of the family (the Comptons). So, for most of her 26 years before marriage, she was able to enjoy the delights of Island life: beaches, sea, swimming, sailing and country walks. After our marriage she took every opportunity to return to the Island with us so that we could enjoy them too. James’ Tribute will add more to this side of the story.

I recall that in the early days when the boats to the Island were small and could be tossed about in a rough sea Nancy could get a bit queasy during the voyage. Fortunately this could be cured and her sea legs returned by a tot of brandy which, setting aside her Congregational Church upbringing, would be downed before the end of the crossing.

Nancy was a Primary and Nursery School teacher by profession. I am sure she was pretty good at it. I judge this not only by the way she brought up Brian and James but also because occasionally past pupils, by then grown up, would recognise her in the street, or wherever, and come over to say how they had enjoyed being in her class. A rare tribute, I guess.

Nancy’s other interests and attributes were legion. She was artistic and could do pottery, paint and sketch. Even her doodles were artistic. I loved the way she could listen to long telephone calls – the sort where you aren’t expected to say anything – and on the telephone note pad produce a glorious menagerie of cats, rabbits and flowers. I wish I had kept some of them.

On more mundane subjects, she was good and efficient at household activities, careful with the budget when we had to be in our early days, and was taught or learnt cooking, sewing and knitting. Regarding cooking, she was particularly good with party food and cakes. Children’s birthdays and Christmas resulted in some marvellous and tasty efforts.

She enjoyed gardening and chatting with neighbours about plants and techniques and knew the common names of many plants and wild flowers. She was extremely good at keeping up with relatives and friends from school and college as well as those from the Island and including many taken over from her mother when she died. Fortunately, in her efficient way, she kept good records of her Christmas card list and these have
proved invaluable to me in the last few weeks.


Nancy, you will be missed by all.