We wanted to share just a few memories with you - but - we’ve collated so many over the last week - we might be here a little while and we might also learn something new about Nan.

Nan grew up in West Derby - surrounded by farmland, which she was free to explore … it was a great place to grow up - the houses had been newly built with all mod cons and the children even had their own playground.

Nan spoke fondly of growing up there, and of all the love and treats that her Mum and Dad gave her … There were many trips to Wales, New Brighton, Hoylake and West Kirby, where they had many Aunties, Uncles and Cousins.

Already having 2 younger brothers & a sister, when Nan was 14 they had another welcome addition in the family, a baby sister, and Nan picked her name. Irene was chosen by Nan because she knew it meant peace, and it was the end of the war. Nan left school shortly after and helped her Mum care for Baby Irene.

After Nan married Derek they moved to London and then onto the Isle of Wight where she again lived on farmland with woods at the back and very close to the sea. Every summer Irene came down to visit - and they all had much fun and happiness together.

After Susan, Janice and Martin had left the family home, Nan started going on holidays with my mum - Linda, in the UK and Overseas. They both had fantastic memories of their trips to Italy and Nan would have loved to have gone back there.

At home, the sounds of Dean Martin could often be heard. Nan was a huge fan, even joining his fan club, and fulfilled a lifelong dream when she saw him sing live in London in 1983 - keeping the ticket with her prized possessions.

She was a proud Nan - first to Ian - then myself and Christopher and we all remember her devotion and love for us. Nan would always boast of our achievements to anyone who would listen - even Ian’s 10m swimming certificate which he finally got earlier this year.

Nan’s generosity and selflessness stood out.

She loved nothing more than making sure anyone who came to her door was fed and watered - whether they needed it or not!

Nan would never be able to settle until she had given you something to go with a cup of tea. Martin got the best of it with mountains of bacon, sausage and black pudding every Sunday when he popped round.

Christopher mostly visited Nan at tea-time after school or work and can confirm Nan's love for making sure you were well fed. She loved providing dinners - dinners which despite being huge, Nan would constantly be offering more, a roll, more chips, a pudding for afters, or even another meal on top, as if the first wasn’t enough!

Chris says it always makes him laugh to think that when she would finally stop trying to feed him, her next words were, without fail ... 'now don't eat what you can't manage, I won't mind!' .... The plates were always gratefully cleared and Christopher would go home and not need to eat for 2 or 3 days.

I remember as a little girl the times I spent at Nan's. I used to sleep there most weekends and although I had my own room I always wanted to sleep in Nan's single bed - she never moaned and just made room for me.

It was this happiness I had with Nan that meant when my mum gave away my gerbils, and I was very upset, I decided to leave home - I even started packing a suitcase! … When Mum asked where I was going I just said 'to live with Nan' because she would make everything better.

Nan was so good at making everything better. One holiday trip en route at a Motorway Service Station I was scalded by someone’s pot of tea. I burst into tears and was in a right state. Quick as a flash my Nan took charge, scooped me up in her arms and carried me straight through to the café’s kitchen to hold my leg under the tap.

Nan would never have imagined that she would get her 15 minutes of fame.

A few years back she began hearing music and songs in her mind, like a radio that was always switched on. It was eventually diagnosed as Musical Ear Syndrome. Ian produced a fantastic film about it, submitting it to a competition where it gained widespread interest. Before she knew it she was sharing her story:

On
Radio MerseysideOn TV
with BBC NorthwestAnd in
the National Press with The Daily Mail and Chat magazine

In her later years, Nan spent a lot of time with my Mum. If they weren't taking a stroll around the shops in St Helens, having a cup of tea in a little café or eating fish and chips, the pair of them would be playing Bingo.

We all heard stories afterwards about it - what she nearly won, or what number she was waiting on that just would not come out. Anytime she did win, she would insist on giving most of her winnings away - or - knowing that we would try and refuse, would instead buy us all presents, knowing we couldn't turn them down.

Nan was always so generous - she would see herself without rather than someone else going short.

Nan had kept mementos from all her family. Almost every card she had ever received,
crafts made at school, and a whole host of other treasured items were kept in her special blue ottoman.

Nan was a person of many surprises, and in keeping with how she puts others first, we recently found out parts of her life we didn’t know anything about. Susan and Linda recently discovered some letters she had received.

Nan had spent time writing letters of condolence to various people in their times of need. She even received a reply from the Bishop of Armagh, thanking Nan for her letter of sympathy and condolences in relation to the tragic bombings.

Another surprise to us all - only discovered in the last few days - was that Nan wrote lots of poems and kept them safe over the years. It was a side to her we never knew, and were not supposed to know until she had passed. Only Nan knows why she didn’t share them with us before, maybe it was to comfort us and help us remember her. We are biased, but to us they show a special hidden talent she had.

One of Nan’s poems was about a little cottage with roses around the door, something she had always wanted. A few years ago thanks to Auntie Irene, Uncle Jimmy and their family, Nan had the next best thing and was able to move into a lovely little bungalow in West Derby.

It was a difficult decision for her to leave Simonswood Lane where she had lived for most of her life, but with a little encouragement, she took the leap, and made the move to a bungalow surrounded by flowers and greenery where she spent many happy times.

Her last few months were spent at Cressington Court, a care home managed by Auntie Irene, so she would have the care she needed, and be surrounded by the family she loved. In particular, Auntie Irene, Uncle Jimmy, Neil and Derek - were never far away, and she loved having them nearby as they had always meant so much to her. Although she was their Auntie, Irene's children and grandchildren treated her like a Nan.

The staff at the care home treated Nan so well, and they have our eternal thanks for looking after her, especially towards the end, showing compassion, ensuring Nan was comfortable and looking after visitors as well.

As her health became worse, Nan decided it was best for her to move on and be at peace, and she had many of her family around her towards the end as she slept, sitting around joking, recalling old memories.

It was typical of Nan though, that it was not until those present in her final hours had eaten - just after tea-time - that she slipped away. We tearfully joked about it, but it would not surprise us if she chose then to leave, knowing that once again, those around her were fed, watered and looked after ... that after all is how we will remember her as the beautiful, selfless person she was.

Inspired by Nan I thought I would finish by writing a poem for her – it’s probably not as good as hers but I hope she’d like it:

Nan we really miss you so,
It’s not fair that you had to go,
Thank you for all the fun we had,
For the memories we have we’re so glad,
You were the best Nan we could ever ask for,
That’s why we love you from our core,
We hope you’re now at peace,
From your Alex and your Lis.

Nan we are all going to miss you so much, but your cheerful and loving spirit will be with us forever.