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Its lovely to see everyone here this morning to share with us wonderful memories of Barbara Mary

Born in 1931, mum was 8 at the outset of the Second World War and I think her tales of the terror of the Blitz and how she was evacuated from the city of Birmingham to the countryside instilled pacificism in the family

The effects of the war with scarcity and food rationing were imprinted strongly into her psyche, very different to the consumption culture that is common place today

This frugality was deeply ingrained and there would be no pudding or sweets at the family dinner table unless one had completely demolished the main course, and if it was very good, licking the gravy off the plate was not considered bad etiquette.

As her mobility diminished the old family house downstairs was modified to give her a bedroom and ensuite toilet with a new kitchen, affectionately known as The Granny flat

Mentally she was incredibly sharp with a memory better than most of us, particularly with regards to remembering who had lived in which road and which house in the village

A few years ago, I think it was 90th birthday, she had a garden party with a number of other longtime residents of the village and someone who was writing a history of the area to recount the changes and developments in Knebworth over the last 70 years.

The Granny flat was amazing as it had two large windows that gave a view of the recreation ground at the back of the house and the countryside and fields where she could People watch and keep track of the trains on the Hertford line

There is also a view of the crematorium, where in 2008 her husband, our father, Ron  was cremated (it would have been his 99 birthday today), and as per her wishes her ashes will be spread over the beach of our old family holiday home location in North Norfolk

Her wish was to be remembered by a small gathering of family and close friends at a picnic in her beautiful  garden, which is challenging in the middle of winter but will be arranged in the summer in her memory

Mum always had a thorough systematic method of getting things done using lists written on old envelopes.  Even in the last few weeks of her life, when her handwriting was losing its very beautiful systematic clear calligraphic style she would be writing out lists

In a way there was a beautiful irony in that where she died, after a very short period in hospital,  her second great grandchild - Maya - was born and delivered In the maternity ward at the same hospital. It was lovely to witness and experience the joy and happiness of her seeing Maya

Her first great grandchild is now 4 years old and it was lovely to see her interaction with Jackson . Particularly as the skills that she had, as a special needs teacher, gave her a great talent for encouraging and stimulating curiosity and interest in all children

One of my favourite memories of mum is the selfie photograph that Barbara took when she visited mum at the hospital when she was recovering from the operation and a few days before she sadly passed.

That smile will always be with me – full of joy and happiness

Thank you very much