Our mother was born in Devon into a parson’s family – the oldest of three daughters. She was very proud of being a Devonian and her particular love was Dartmoor where she grew up and, in later years, spent many happy holidays. She went up to Oxford, to St Hugh’s College, in 1936 to read English in which she obtained a First. It was here she first met our father who she married in 1946 after the war. During the war, Catherine was a Wren – one of the first 6 who actually went to sea. She was a cipher officer on the Queen Elizabeth, which was acting as an American troop ship.
Our parents moved to Chipperfield in 1950 to the house where our mother was still living when she died. She had 3 children and we all grew up very happily in Wayside and, when we were older, always enjoyed returning there. Because of our father’s job, they lived in Paris for almost 18 years. Our mother learned to speak French fluently and spent much time exploring museums, art galleries and the fashion houses. On our father’s retirement, they returned to Wayside to the house they had retained. They loved Wayside and, in particular, the garden there. Both of them were never happier than when they were pottering around weeding, dead-heading and staking.
After our father died, Catherine joined the Lunch Club and made new friends. She was very grateful for all the help and care that she received from Chipperfield residents during her last few years. We would like to add our thanks to all those who assisted her.
Susannah (Buzz) Stanton (n
e Valli) and Andrew Valli