I am so sorry that my early return to St. Wilfrid's should be to mark the passing of one of the most interesting, generous and kind people in the Church family here. Her sudden death was as much of a shock to me as I don't doubt it was to you - some people you simply think will always be there and Ve was - to me at any rate - certainly one of them.

Very soon after I arrived at St. Wilfrid's I made friends with Ve for a variety of reasons. First of all, she was the kind of person it would have been difficult not to be friends with, her disposition and manner being so kind. Secondly, she had an immediate and very tender regard for all three of our children but especially with Emma, the youngest and thirdly she was a great raconteur and wit - it is true - but she was also a kind and wise listener. On a more practical level she was a genius with the needle of which more in a moment and there are many vestments and things in service here today as well as in Portsmouth which would have gone to the skip long ago had it not been for her skill and her eye for the possible. And like the very best of surgeons it was often difficult to see the join; to see the miracle she had performed from very unpromising beginnings.

Ve was born in South London in 1917, one of 11 children, 7 boys and 4 girls and at the age of 11, 1 am not surprised to hear, she won a national needlework competition - the prize the book of Old St Paul's along with her old Singer Sewing machine have been lifelong treasured possessions. Indeed her treadle machine bought by her mother when she was 14 clothed her family for many years. She won a scholarship to the local grammar school when she was 14 but owing to circumstances she started a career in tailoring instead - at 14 years old in the West End. As we know, she progressed well and became highly skilled. For a while she worked for William Hartnell and actually worked on the wedding dress of the Queen - Princess Elizabeth then - in 1947. For her own daughters wedding she produced 8 bridesmaids dresses, the brides dress and her own outfit as well!

At the age of 40 Ve started to study for the Civil Service. Being a worrier the exams caused her a deal of anxiety but she was OK. Ve was one of those who had to worry about something even if it was having nothing to worry about ..... why? She started her new career in the telephone service and then in the Air Ministry before moving to the Chichester Courts where she ended her career. Far from relaxing, she set about helping her daughter with her two grandsons Christian and Dominic. She liked nothing more than to assist at Down View School with reading and writing, something she continued at Bishop Tufnell School with Alexia her granddaughter later in life.

She did voluntary work with CAB and with the Sue Ryder shop in Bognor Regis. She believed in filling her time and really enjoyed her retirement to the full. She enjoyed her weekends watching her family sail at Felpham sailing club. Ve loved to read, often a book a day, and her first morning call was always to collect the Daily Telegraph, - she couldn't sleep if she hadn't finished the crossword! It was so cruel that a few years ago age related macular degeneration robbed her of these pleasures, it was heartbreaking to watch her struggle with a magnifying glass, reading letter by letter. She was so cross!!

Ve joined the congregation at St Wilfrid's in the late eighties and loved the church and the wonderful friends she made, I think the sewing machine came in useful in the church at times, with odd jobs for friends. Ve led a full and active life. She had two full and active careers, she loved her work, she loved her children and her grandchildren and liked nothing more than to see them all achieve success in their education, their work and their lives. She was blessed in her final 2 years with the arrival of Paisley, a great granddaughter and absolutely delighted in the last few weeks of her life to hear that her eldest grandson will become a father in 2006, a second great grandchild.

Ve loved St Wilfrid's Church, she met so many friends and appreciated the kindness of the congregation, especially the children of the church and their successes. But Ve was real! I must share with you Alan's afterthoughts that he sent me yesterday -and for all of you who knew Ve, these will put things into a proper perspective! She loved cricket and used to take Athen, to the Oval as a child to watch the test match. She listened this year to all the Ashes series and loved to hear the Aussies beaten. She thought all Australians were criminals!! She hated chewing gum and the mess it made. She did not like unruly school children pushing their way on to buses, they got the sharp end of Mums tongue or umbrella!!

God bless you Ve may you rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen.

Fr. Roger Calder