Dear Pat,
You were arguably my oldest friend, inasmuch as I knew you longer than the rest of them.
You were one of the best of them.
We first met at St Andrew’s School, Totteridge, as I remember.
It was 1957 and you were already there, when I joined in the September.
I hold a picture of you in my mind as the 8 year old child that you were,
Blonde hair, blue eyes, very softly spoken. The rest is mostly a blur.
I got the impression that you were somewhat reserved and a little shy,
That is, until I spotted a Machiavellian twinkle in your eye.
The mischievous twinkle flickered constantly throughout our youth,
It usually heralded fun and laughter, but to tell the truth,
It could also erupt in flames at anything you perceived as unfair,
You never flinched from speaking out, you really seemed to care.
We attended the same secondary school, Queen Elizabeth’s, or QEGGS as it was known.
And that disarming twinkle flourished, as you came into your own.
That, and your commitment to helping others, propelled you into the community
Where you served the Guides and Scouting movements, whenever you had the opportunity.
On leaving school, promises to meet up were included in our annual Christmas greeting.
But it was over fifty years before we finally made that meeting.
What had we done? Where had we been? How did we lose touch?
Well, husbands, jobs, and three sons each, explained it pretty much …
When we met this last time, you were cheerful and serene
The joy you radiated, proved how happy you had been.
I can close my eyes now, and don’t even have to try,
To see that blue-eyed, blonde girl, with a twinkle in her eye.
Love from Maggie
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