1938 Arsenal were league champions, Italy won the World Cup and a guy called Don Budge won the Australian, French and US Opens & Wimbledon. Orson Wells broadcast War of the Worlds on the radio causing mass panic, but there was no real outstanding news. Oh, Times magazine voted Adolf Hitler, Man of the Year. Not a particularly auspicious or memorable year but it marked the beginning of a wonderful, happy life. In Jarrow, on the 21 June 1938, Mary Patricia was born to Ann (known as Nancy) and Robert (known as Bobby) Melvin. Sister to Terry, Pat (as she was known), had a simple yet loving and happy childhood. Pat & Terry were raised closely with cousins Bede & Gerard, sons of Nancy’s sister Winnie and her husband Joe. Mum often recalled many stories where she was often left battered and bruised by the older boys’ rough and tumble games. Mum grew up in Jarrow surrounded by a wider family network. Between 1956 and 1959, Mum trained as a State Registered Nurse at the Royal Infirmary. In 1959 she moved to Leeds to St James Hospital to train as a midwife. She returned to Newcastle to complete this training. During this time she met many people who became life long friends; Margaret, Mary, Peg, Rayna & Sylvia to name a few. Mum then moved to Ryehope General Hospital to work in the Theatres there. It was here that her sparkling blue eyes attracted the attention of the handsome and charming, Veernarayan Kesari. The two married on 29 July 1963. I was born in 1964, the same year that Dad’s work moved them from Sunderland to Nottinghamshire. Within 6 months of being in Nottinghamshire, Mum & Dad purchased Wren House which they made their family home for the next 47 years. Mum’s support and vivacious nature, help establish Dad as Selston’s single handed GP. In those days GPs were on call 24/7, so they experienced frequent disturbed nights as Dad was called out to medical emergencies. 14 May 1966, Ravi Peter was born. 3 January 1968, Jacinta was born, 13 May 1970, Sujana was born and Mum’s Mum, Nancy, moved to live with us at Wren House, following Bobby’s death. Mum showered each one of us with lots of love and attention even though she took up full time employment at the Women’s Hospital, Peel Street, Nottingham. My memories of our childhood centre on Mum chauffeuring us here, there and everywhere. Up north to Newcastle to visit relatives, holidays in Whitby or Whitley Bay or short trips to Wollaton Park for picnics. Road safety laws were not stringent back then and Mum would squeeze, the 4 of us, the 3 next door neighbours (Sharon, Shaun and Deborah Cook), Aunty Peggy and Clive in her Datsun Cherry and off we would go. I have memories that throughout my childhood of Wren House always being full of family and friends. I remember many happy times with Our Uncle Terry, his wife Adele and their son, Simon; with Uncle Bede, Auntie Maureen, and their daughters Catherine, Veronica, Geraldine & Sarah; and with Uncle Gerard, Auntie Maica, & their children Benedict, Christopher & Natalie. On a daily basis we would spend times with the Anslows and Youngs. We would spend weekends with the Nargolwalas. As we grew older we had holidays to Ireland and Norfolk with the Hopkins and we went to France with Aunty Lily and Uncle Ken, and the Whites (Auntie Linda, Uncle Karl, Sandyha and Suneil. Dad had taken on a partner by now, so the whole family was able to enjoy quality time together. Mum was a great socialiser and even when friends emigrated elsewhere, Mum kept in touch and maintained many lifelong friends such as the Pujaris, Limas, Hennesys and Charis. Their love of Mum and Dad was so great that they would travel across the world to share special family celebrations. Jacinta, Sujana and I took up dancing. We then spent many hours with the Thorpes and Leivers. With our Mums, Marlene, Beryl and Pat spending many hours sewing sequins of our elaborate costumes. Mum was so devoted to this laborious task that she would often be sewing between theatre cases at Peel Street. This was when Mum & Dad’s lively parties started. Mum loved to entertain, around Christmas/New Year, Mum & Dad would throw a party and all their friends would come and enjoy Mum’s cooking, Dad’s G&Ts and our fabulous dance shows. At some of these Auntie Lily and Uncle Ken Cunningham would attempt to teach us folk dancing. This possibly stimulated Mum & Dad to take up dance lessons with Karl and Linda White. Unfortunately despite years of lessons, neither couple became a match for Fred Astaire & Ginger Rodgers or those on Strictly. Mum always made Christmas such a fun and enjoyable time. We always had a houseful for Christmas usually a combination of the Cunninghams, Whites or Raos. Mum always had so much energy. She worked full time, maintained a hectic family home, chauffeured us four children, to school, parties, dance lessons and even to dancing competitions all over the country. Despite all this, Mum found time to cook her delicious curries so that should any unexpected visitor turn up, she was able to feed them. Then she would love to go out for the evening with Dad and their friends. Mum retired from the Queens Medical Centre in 1990 to establish Wren Hall Nursing Home with its reputation as an excellent care home. More importantly Mum created a true family feel throughout Wren Hall. Mum treated all residents and staff as part of her extended family. Mum had so many laughs at Wren Hall and she made so many friends; Chris Bates, Pat Hall, Suzanne Tazzyman, Sharon Powell, Val Lloyd to name but a few. Mum had so much love to give, not only for her own husband, children and grandchildren; but for others who she treasured as her own. Norma Doyle & Melina Elkington were two surrogate daughters. Norma’s daughter, Victoria, a surrogate granddaughter. Mum took Rose & Jincy under her wing, when they moved from India to work at Wren Hall and she took so much interest in Rose’s twin boys, Anwyn and Alvin. Linda White was either surrogate sister/daughter depending on the perception of various shop assistants. Mum shared many happy years with Linda raising their children, holidaying, shopping, oh and watching their weight. We have so many relatives on Dad’s side of the family, yet it was Mum who knew who was who and how we all were related. Mum enjoyed travelling, partying and family occasions. She embraced every opportunity to put all three together, thus she enjoyed trips to Australia, India and America to participate in weddings and other celebrations. Mum loved to be with Uncle Luxman and Auntie Ratna, a couple also devoted to keeping families close and together. Mum enjoyed playing cards and although in Indian tradition, groups of women and men were often kept separate, Mum ignored this and was often found to be the only female playing cards with the men. On occasions she would be joined by Joan Reddy and Aunty Kusturi. I don’t know what Mum’s favourite colour was, nor her favourite flower or song. I do know her shoe size was 4, her favourite tennis player Nadal and her favourite sports car a Mercedes Sports. More importantly though I know Mum loved life to its full. She was always laughing, smiling and having fun. Mum was strong, determined and resourceful. Even when devastated and heart broken by her youngest daughter’s death, Mum kept us together and maintained her love of life despite thinking of Sujana every single day. Mum was never afraid to speak her mind and she was always willing to help those in need. In recent weeks I have heard many people use the same words to describe Mum’s qualities; Amazing, Loving, Giving, Unpretentious, Funny. Lively, Strong, Bold, Inspirational, Motivational. Mum was all of these and so much more. Sixteen years ago, Mum was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She didn’t cry, panic or worry. She chose to have a mastectomy and then chemotherapy. And she got on with living. Five years ago the cancer had spread to Mum’s bone, so she had more treatment and continued to get on with living. Two years ago the cancer had returned with a vengeance and we learned on the 6th December 2011 from Dr Chan, Mum’s Oncologists, that it was a miracle that Mum lived for a further 2 fruitful years. It was during these last two year that: Mum saw Laura blossom into a poet, Katie maturing and succeeding at school and Ravi & Siobhan happy and successful. Mum saw Jacinta and I marry the men of our dreams, Chris Leach and Bill Peet. She saw Natalie treasure Zac, the horse Mum & Dad had bought her, Dominic come through difficult times and Ben perform in his first leading role as ‘the Wedding Singer’. Still Mum was determined to get on with living. More recently Mum had started more chemotherapy as the cancer had spread to her liver. Then 30th November 2011, the bombshell; Dr Chan told Mum he was stopping the Chemo and that Mum was to receive palliative care. This was the first time I had seen Mum cry due to her cancer, albeit fleetingly. Ravi, Jacinta, Bill and I saw Dr Chan on the 6th December and were told Mum had days, may be weeks, to live. Stunned and shaken, we returned home and eventually Mum asked what her prognosis was. Not satisfied with the reply “Not good” she asked “How long?” On receiving the answer, Mum just shrugged her shoulders as if to say ‘so be it’. Mum seemed at peace with her fate and she was happy to have all who she loved around her. Over the next three days Mum’s condition declined, with her family surrounding her. I must thank Jo Thraves, the Macmillan Nurse and Dr Greg Finn the Consultant in Palliative Care for the excellent support that they gave Mum and our family. With their support Mum was able to die as she had lived, with dignity and poise. I am sure that you all will have colourful memories of Mum which I know you will cherish. We will miss you so much Mum but we will never forget you. You and Dad have been the most loving and wholesome couple I know. Ravi, Jacinta, Sujana and I were so lucky to have such an awesome Mum in you and Dominic. Benjamin. Natalie, Katie and Laura had the most amazing Gran. Rest in Peace Mum – We love you! x Anita