Entrance : Somewhere - played by Rachel Watson (on cello)

Good afternoon. My name is Liza and on behalf of all the family, I would like to welcome you here today, not only where we will have to say our sad goodbyes, but also when we will remember and celebrate the life of Kathleen Bick, your lovely Mum, Grandma.

Kathleen passed away peacefully on 29 October; whilst this is without doubt such a very sad time and today, we mourn her passing, we will also remember and celebrate everything that she was and will remain to each and every one of you.

If you would like to make a donation in Kathleen's memory, they may be given to The Alzheimer's Society to help further the work that they do and, if you are able to, you are all very welcome afterwards at The Cormorant here in Portchester for light refreshments and to share your own memories of Kathleen.

Kathleen was a local girl, starting life in Southampton on 18 April 1930 and growing up with her parents Sam and Dora although her formative years were spent in different parts of the country. It was a privilege to sit with Kathleen's family recently and look at the photographs of her childhood, some when she was representing Chippenham School Orchestra as a cellist and others at Ford House in Derbyshire, standing outside smiling with her parents and Toby the dog. Kathleen loved Derbyshire with lots of happy memories including playing in the Derbyshire Youth Orchestra.

Ford House held a place in Kathleen's heart throughout her life and she often talked of it; she just loved the house and grounds and could recall every minute detail of the house - where the windows were, the furniture and layout of each room.

In the early Fifties, Kathleen married Michael, was living in York and became a Mum for the first time to Barry in 1955. Whilst in the North, she completed her teacher training and taught a range of subjects from Biology to Art and History. Some years later and after her first marriage ended, she inherited some money as her own Mum sadly passed away and was able to buy a bungalow in Southampton. It certainly wasn't the norm in those days to be a single parent but to be a working single parent who owned their own home was almost unheard of. Kathleen was very thankful that her cousin Mary lived next door and that she took care of Barry like he was a brother to her daughter Jan.

It was here whilst they were out dancing one Saturday evening Kathleen was to meet Ray for the first time. As she and Mary travelled back home on the bus, Ray would follow it on his bike to be with Kathleen as she arrived home and his persistence paid off as they married in 1963 and then spent a wonderful honeymoon in Paris.

It would be fair to say that being a housewife didn't exactly enthral Kathleen but she did have a full house as firstly Caroline, then Ivan and finally Andy completed her family. She was always a loving and caring Mum, just a bit on the scatty side at times but was never one to spend too much time cooking in the kitchen if it could be avoided - her talents clearly lay elsewhere. The whole family would laugh at Ria in the sitcom Butterflies when she dished out unrecognizable meals but Kathleens cooking was never that bad. Although she once managed to cook a joint of beef down to the size of a cricket ball that was just as hard. Ray took over the Sunday roasts from then and Barry learnt to enjoy food and cooking from what Ray taught him. But, Ivan would miss his mum’s cooking when he was working in Spain and everyone loved the pies she baked, Jan’s son Dave still mentions the sausage pie. She was good with pastry as she said cold hands, warm heart. If there was anywhere that Kathleen would love to spend time, it was sitting chatting on the 'phone and she could be there for hours, perhaps to Mary, Billie in Scotland, Barry or Sue Hills.

Perhaps a legacy of her time at Ford House and her teaching in Biology, Kathleen loved nature and wild flowers; she seemed to know the name of every type of species that lived and every plant, flower or tree that grew.

Kathleen's children will forever remember family holidays, mostly camping in this country although once over in Belgium, caravaning in Dorset or at Butlin's. Good traditional British family fun was had at the seaside although they will always remember with a smile digging out trenches around the tent to make a moat in the New Forest and the time when the tent pegs were left at home on one of the windiest nights on record and Ray tied the tent to the car and boat. The next morning several tents had been blown away but not theirs.

Always welcoming, Kathleen was at the same time very protective of her family. She could be just a tad on the loud side at times, as a teacher she’d learnt to project her voice and had a real talent for changing the tone of her voice from high to low but was so loud when she was shouting up the stairs that Ray installed an intercom to minimise the noise. It wouldn't be unusual then for her dulcet tones to be heard from the wall asking if you wanted a cup of tea because there was an endless supply of tea in Kathleen's house.

As she was often cold herself, Kathleen liked to keep people warm and that extended to Nikki when she first stayed at the Bick family home when she slept like 'The Princess and the Pea' in the loft room. Ever the caring person, Kathleen was thrilled to become Grandma to Curtis and more recently Marcus and Abi; she was so proud of Curtis, never forgot a birthday and always sent at Christmastime and often sent postcards that were never big enough for everything she wanted to write – her writing would get smaller and smaller and fill the card completely.

In a tribute to Kathleen, Nikki would now like to share a poem/her memories with you:

Tribute by NIKKI Bick

You all have so many lovely memories of times spent with Kathleen; you can now reflect on those memories and, if you have a faith, this is an opportunity to say a quiet prayer as we listen to Rachel playing

Reflection : Bachs prelude from Cello suite no. 1 in g major - played by Rachel Watson

Kathleen was always passionate about cycling and rode throughout most of her life. As their children grew up and went their own way in life, she and Ray were able to enjoy trips together to the Isle of Wight and return to places they had visited when they were first married, often cycling together.

They cycled around parts of France, closer to home and often down to Lee-on-Solent and would take a scenic ride around the New Forest where Kathleen loved to see the ponies. They did love holidays abroad to Spain, especially to visit Ivan and over to Malta as Kathleen adored the warm climate around the Med but lovely times were spent here and no more so than walking around Portchester Castle.

It would be quite fair to say that Kathleen was a little on the accident-prone side at times and especially when she was out. She broke her leg before a holiday to Spain, fell down a ditch when out cycling in the New Forest, injured her ankle when wearing stiletto heels in Bruges, thought she’d broken her ankle on the cliff at Lulworth Cove and twisted her ankle when she fell down a rabbit hole in Derbyshire; if there was a hole or a ditch, Kathleen would find it. Kathleen would never walk anywhere if she could run and even at the care home she talked about going up two steps at a time to her room.

Wherever Kathleen went though, you all knew that you were lucky if she ever left on time, her timekeeping was dreadful, poor Ray was just exasperated and you would often give her an earlier time to leave just to try to get her out of the house at a reasonable time. One occasion the last ferry off the Isle of Wight was held up waiting for Kathleen.

The one time she was early was when Ray took her to see Red Rum in Stevenage town centre and you could guarantee that Kathleen would never miss a Grand National and it was the only race that she'd enjoy a flutter on. She used to say she won on every bet she ever placed and, when she didn't have a television in the early days, she would cycle to the TV rental shop at the end of the road.

You will all have memories of Kathleen and Ray's home in Fareham that will always make you smile; the cello and the horse pictures seemingly everywhere and the "debutante" huge sideboard with countless ornaments on top. Everything that had been given or made for her had sentimental value. You could pull anything out and there'd be something behind it and you'll never forget the "cloak of deception" - piles of magazines and the like, covered by a sheet to "hide" it.

Never one for throwing anything away, even the Christmas wrapping was painstakingly unwrapped, folded and kept for the following year and there were probably more archived copies of the Radio Times at the Bick home in Fareham than anywhere else.

She would love to read the classics but always the Radio Times, her favourite programmes circled to watch live until she and Ray had a video recorder and then the extra programmes that she could record were also circled and then the house was filled with video tapes, both used and unused.

It was so very difficult as Ray became ill and passed away in 2010; even though she remained devoted to her family, Kathleen was unable to make a life for herself and moved to a care home where she enjoyed having people around her again and loved to watch the horses from her bedroom. Although it is so very sad that we are here today, she is now at peace and will, in the fullness of time, be reunited with Ray at the place that he loved, together again forever.

I would like to share a poem with you :

To the living, I am gone
To the sorrowful, I cannot return
To the mournful, I am at peace
But to the faithful, I have never left

So, as you watch the final stages of the Grand National, the runners and riders almost flying towards the finish line, remember me
When you see something pretty and sparkly in the shops, maybe a scarf or a piece of jewellery, remember me
As you appreciate everything that the outdoors has to offer, the wildlife and insects, beautiful flowers and stunning trees, smile and remember me

Remember me in your thoughts and your memories
Remember the wonderful times we shared
For if you think of me, I will always be with you

Committal

Our only heartfelt wish for you now is that you may be reunited with your beloved Ray and that together, you may rest and sleep peacefully.

We can now look back and remember Kathleen and we thank her for her love and devotion to Ray, to Barry, Caroline, Ivan, Andy and all of her family.

The memories that Kathleen created and shared with you will remain with you forever.

As we leave, we will once again listen to beautiful music played by Rachel Watson.

Leaving to : 'Blue Moon ' played by Rachel Watson