FROM JOANNE
Sundays growing up -Mum cooking the dinner and shouting, 'all hands on deck!' which meant you had to go and help. Not being allowed out to play on Sundays, you had to read or play quietly indoors. Mum would spend the afternoon baking cakes and biscuits, galaxy pie, and something for tea - rice pudding or sago, stewed fruit and custard or, if we were really lucky, jam cap pudding!

Beach days - traipsing off to the train station, each carrying our own bag. Once off the train, we'd be eager to get on the beach but Mum would want to look in the shops first. Finally setting up camp on the sands with Mum at the centre, covered up from the sun and dishing out food and drinks, towels and T shirts, sympathy and tellings off as required. The younger ones all had bright orange sunhats so Mum could keep track of us.

It was hard to move away from home, but so many phone calls - all answered with a cheerful 'hello Joanne!' always ringing me at midnight on New Years Eve or leaving a message on my answerphone - 'Happy New Year! We love you very much!' Going back home to visit, and always greeted with huge hugs and such love and affection. Family was everything to Mum