General Chat

with robs blessing susie and donna xxx

Memories of Gaynor Each of us will have our own special memories of Gaynor – a tall girl with a wide smile and a big personality to go with it. When the doorbell rang she would be there, glass of wine in one hand, cigarette in the other and that big welcoming toothy grin and before you knew it you would be there with a big glass in your own hand as well. She was a creature of habit, always up very early preparing for the day ahead and on her computer. Then into smart clothes and off in her professional way to be at work ahead of time. At the other end of the day, come ten o’clock, her eyes would droop and within seconds she would be asleep often before she made it to bed. She wouldn’t mind if a dinner party went on whilst she slept on the floor and she would still be there after the last guest had gone home. As Rob put it, she was a lark rather than an owl - quite the opposite to him! From early days she worked in the retail trade first in footwear and then clothing. She was variously a trainer, retail sales manager, people manager and coach. It was during her Clarks days in Somerset that one of her colleagues, Mike, arranged a blind date with his brother, Rob. They clicked immediately, so much so the restaurant manager had to beg them to leave at 12.30 so the staff could go home. In her inimical way it was not long before she engineered a move to the Chiswick office near where Rob lived and of course moved in with him. Soon she got a new job with Austin Reed as Area Manager for London and the South East. She obviously loved her occupation as the following quotations from E-mails from ex-colleagues testify: She was a character with a big heart, presence and generous qualities. Fun to be with. So much energy. Amazing enthusiasm for life. Sometimes she ruffled feathers by saying what others felt but didn’t have the courage to say. She was Inspirational, highly motivated, driven, effervescent, funny, professional, tireless, - strong in spirit, heart and intelligence - very kind, caring, truly friendly; always available to help and encourage Gaynor’s glass was always more than half full at parties and in every day life – an example to us all. Open, honest, funny and refreshingly brutal when she needed to be. She had strong principles and standards. Take for example the dramatic way she left Austin Reed: In the middle of an area managers’ meeting, she jumped up, looked the sales director straight in the eyes and said “That’s it I’ve had enough, I quit and am leaving for good, so don’t try and come after me” In November 1998 Gaynor and Rob moved to their first new house together in Stoke Poges where, within two weeks, they had an attempted burglary whilst away in Somerset When they returned to boarded up windows, her classic remark was: “Well, at least we got to meet quite a few of the neighbours”. A chance question from one of those neighbours at dinner one evening, revealed that Rob had asked her to marry him 18 months ago but still had done nothing about it. Sufficient to say, within a few weeks on 1 July 2000 they were duly wed at Stoke Park Golf Club. Gaynor and Rob had a regular annual calendar: February They went to Goa 9 years running and made many friends there May Gaynor went to Kos with daughter Jackie and grand-daughter Ellie, on whom she doted (while Rob was off on his annual visit to France for golf and wine) July Was off to Silverstone for 4 days to the Grand Prix in a campervan - she was a Schumacher and Ferrari fanatic August They joined friends in Belfast for a weekend in the caravan on the coast She loved her wheels – after many years of enforced company Cavaliers and Mondeos, when she joined Matalan she revelled in buying her own new 2.5 litre MG – shades of Silverstone. She hated Rob’s various Fiats and Alfas and didn’t hesitate to say so. She organised Rob’s 50th in Wells so her friend Chris would bring his Harley Davidson motorbike and she could ride it. That was typical! After first promotion at Matalan and then unexpected redundancy and with her Mother’s failing health, her prospects of obtaining a new job began to fade and she turned more and more to her computer. She spent more time on “Gaming” with a preference for Games of Strategy. But she also became an ardent participant in MSN Messenger. Also in a quest to research her family tree, she signed up with the Genes Reunited web-site and as her illness became apparent she shared her knowledge and experiences with her new-found friends on the Message Boards. Once her terminal illness was confirmed, she was determined to enjoy and make the most of the remaining months of her life and became an inspiration for her internet friends and family. And she certainly did have fun. She would say: “I’m not a worrier - I only worry about what I can control - I think I am lucky!” One E-mail she sent to an ex-work colleague in February, after she had confirmation of the final phase, sums up her approach to life; it reads: Watcha Darling!!!!!!!! Hey – I’m doing OK – just because I’m going to die doesn’t mean that I’m not having fun and enjoying what I have left – I’m having a ball at the mo. Sounds banal and almost surreal – but really am having a super-duper time – I have even been into Central London in a stretch limo – now how cool is that ????? I am very busy trying to raise money for Cancer Research UK – together with an awesome lady called Diana and Nicknamed Pink. She is walking the Great Wall of China in May – for Cancer Research and me!!!! I am her inspiration. Ooo’eck!!! So far we have raised just over £7000 – and with a lot of help from many web-based genealogist friends from all around the world – we WILL get to our target figure of £10,000 before she sets off. So cough up! – only joking, Love Gaynor (You might like to know that the fund reached £10,000 ironically just last week and already new funds are going towards the Sahara walk in memory of Gaynor next March - when others are joining Diana) Well she made it to her 51st Birthday and we had a super party at home with family and friends around. Since then she spent more and more time power-napping in her electric recliner-chair always in the company of friends. And when she needed support through the nights and days, the wonderful carers were there from Thames Valley Hospice, Marie Curie and Iain Rennie - and surrogate “Mum” Marcia from across the road. The team from Three Ways surgery and Macmillan nurses were always available to ensure she rarely suffered. The family will always be eternally grateful to all these people for their devotion. Just one typical episode was an afternoon when she was asleep in the chair. The television was on and family and neighbours were chatting. Suddenly Gaynor piped up with an eight - letter word for the Countdown conundrum on Channel Four. She always prided herself in thrashing Rob at Countdown and was just as determined right to the end. One lingering regret she had was that she never learned what happened at the end of the Harry Potter books - even though a friend tried to get J K Rowling to let her into the secret. Gaynor was a breath of fresh air in the lives of her family, friends and colleagues. We shall always remember her sense of fun and colourful language. We shall miss her greatly but remember her with love and affection. And so it was last Thursday, as if to say “That’s it, I’ve had enough, I quit and am leaving for good”, lying on the floor, holding Rob’s and Marcia’

thanks Susie and Strump, she was very proud of you both and I know how hard this must be for you both right now!! Love ya Pink xx

THANX GIRLS XXX I HAVE MY COPY XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX WONDERFUL LADY WONDERFUL READ XXXX

Susie and Donna Many thanks. nell

Thanks Susie and Donna Lovely words for an astounding woman love becx

Susie (and by extention Rob and the family), Thank you for putting this up, for those that couldn't make it... Paul x

Thank you Susie, what a wonderful read. Luv Jo. X.

Thank you, how beautifully written. Wouldn't we all like to be remembered like that. A wonderful person. She lives on in all our hearts, even those of us who never met her in he flesh. Ann Glos

Thankyou Susie and Strump for this..... and of course Rob for giving your blessing to put this on the boards. Dawn...... XXXXXXXXXX

thank you all for putting this on I never new the lady personally now after reading this story I now know why she was thought of so highly thank you once again Howard xx

Through those words I can see the true Gaynor emerging, not the sick, unwell Gaynor, but the strong, vibrant woman that she was. May her memory fill everyone with the joy that she was Elaine x

Thank you. It means a lot to read this. Joy

How wonderful to know about Gaynors life, there is a tear in my eye and not for the first time since hearing about Gaynor and her family and friends To Rob and all I send my love and best wishes for a peaceful future Janet

That is just beautiful, says it all. Sitting here with a tear in my eye Dianexx

Donna,and Susie - thanks- it must have torn you apart to type that in word for word for us all to share, in understanding who Gaynor was and what she stood for in the 'real world'. Gaynor was a 'real life friend' to you, God bless Gaynor - and You Two Jess

Oh Jess, we didnt word this, but it is beautiful isnt it. Gaynor was a true friend and we miss her so much. love Donna xx

Thank you. That was lovely. Jacky xx

Absolutely beautiful. Thank you to Rob for allowing us to read it. Thank you to Susie and Strump putting on the boards. God bless.

Thanks girls, that was some piece of respect. What a woman. Deanna