(Peter)

Our whole lives changed on December 29th when Jillie passed away. No words can say how much we miss her. Having shared 56 happy years together, my life will never be the same. No doubt some of that sense of loss is shared by our many friends and relatives here today.

At least I have many happy memories to look back on. Not only was Jillie a wonderful wife, she was also a wonderful mother to Jacqueline and Sara-Jane as well as a wonderful grandma to James, George and Hugh.

Throughout our years together, Jillie was always by my side and she supported me in everything I did. I relied on her so much for everything. Not only did she love our family but she loved the many pets we had over the years, especially our German Shepherds and Akitas. She was also a keen supporter of wild life charities. 

Another creature that won her affections was the humble hedgehog; she just loved them as they were so cute. Talking of hedgehogs puts me in mind of a little story that I’m sure she would have liked me to share with you.

Many years ago, perhaps forty years or more, we watched an animated cartoon film on the TV called ‘The Pinchcliffe Grand Prix’. It was about a rather eccentric engineer cum inventor who built his own racing car. His assistant mechanic was a serious if somewhat pessimistic hedgehog called ‘Lambert’.

When they were out on the circuit Lambert was always by his side in the cockpit and he was the clever one who solved any problems that might have cropped up. Likewise, if we had any problems at home, it was usually Jillie who came up with the answers. ‘Why don’t you do so-and-so?’ she’d say and I’d reply ‘Oh, I never thought of that.’ She’d say ‘I bet you’re glad you’ve got your own hedgehog to sort things out for you!’

As a result she was affectionately nicknamed ‘Hedgehog’, not that she looked anything like a hedgehog – she was so beautiful. We also built up quite a collection of hedgehog garden ornaments which, I might point out, was added to in recent times by our friends Martin and Donna. Now, when I look at those hedgehogs they are another reminder of the many happy times I shared with Jillie.

While nothing can bring Jillie back in person I feel she is still with me in spirit and I have so many precious memories of our years together. All I can say is: ‘Jillie, I love you and my love for you will last forever’.