June 26th 1970. Who would have thought that the 4lb bundle who had just been born would have had such an impact on everyone’s life. Within months this little girl had her Daddy and her brother wrapped around her little fingers; which lasted for all of her life. This young lady was called Louise, but at 4 years old she wanted to be called Lou. Mummy objected, so dressed in her nurses outfit, she packed her nurses bag and decided that she would leave home. Up the hill she went and down the hill she came. Then there was a knock on the door, she was cold and hungry, but would think about leaving home tomorrow! Parent evenings were very eventful. I went to see how my Louise was getting on at school. Wonderful results, ticks and stars in all of her books; then came the bombshell, “Mrs Coombes, when Louise realises she is not the teacher, but only the pupil, we will get along a lot better.” Teenage years, oh dear! The hair, the ear rings, “Louise, please tone it down.” Said I. When, in a funny mood with Mum all I got was, “Mother, we now live in the modern world.” This modern world was when we, as a family with friends and a daughter, went to Majorca for a holiday. Mum and Dad had been going for a few years and had friends out there. Lou,14, turned to her friend Jane,15, and said, “Hey, come on, I know where we will get a vodka & lemonade.” So off they went. Later that evening, our friend Paco, was laughing away telling us. We all said in horror, “ You didn’t give them a drink?” “No, no, I gave them both a plate of chips,” says he. Not long after this holiday, our little girl, who was now 15, asked Dad if she could have some friends to sleep over. We went out to see our friends who had a local drinking house. At 10 o’ clock there was a phone call; there was a rave at 39 Coleridge Road! Our friends drove us home. People (all 6 of them) flew out of our kitchen windows, plant pots flying. I told Martin to lock their bikes in the garage. It took weeks for all of the girls and boys to come and collect their bikes, but most important, I think I got one over on Louise. They had to apologise before I returned their bikes to them. To me, they were good days. Kids were not bad, just out to enjoy themselves. No one can turn the clock back, but Louise was the person we all remember when she was young and she never altered. She touched many a persons life. Funny, unique, a wonderful daughter, a fabulous friend, a most incredible mother and a credit to this world. If only it could have gone on. I, her Mum, will miss her more than words can ever say. Life was not always roses, but she was the best Lilly ever. Mum.