This site is dedicated to the memory of Claire Brown.
Claire was the light of my life for 37 and a half years. I have chosen a Bliss Precious Star Fund in her memory to reflect on her bravery in the face of the woefully poor NHS provision when we were trying for a family.
We met at a Valentines Disco Dance in 1973, were soon engaged and saved for the deposit as house prices nearly doubled by 1976 when we married and "moved in" to our new home.
In 1981 Claire, who had been diagnosed a life long diabetic in 1977, gave birth to Sarah after a long midsummer weekend labour. Due to big baby syndrome and chord wrapped round her neck, Sarah only survived for 8 hours. Claire bravely set aside her grief and we tried again and Julie duly arrived in 1983.
This time meticulous planning for a Caesarean on a Monday was upset by Julie needing to be delivered in Chelmsford on the preceding Friday.
Another emergency that morning meant twins now took up the last two incubators in the Chelmsford Special Baby-care unit and Julie had to be supported manually by a relay of nurses until, and while, being ferried by ambulance to Mill Road Maternity in Cambridge (Addenbrooks opened the next year).
I will always wonder if Julie's cerebral palsy was due to distress at or before birth or due to the lack of an incubator immediately after her birth.
Claire devoted her life to bringing Julie up and was rewarded with the love and affection of a bright, gifted and very intelligent daughter with many qualifications including a degree in Contemporary Europe.
In 2009 Julie married Ian and therefore Claire and I became "empty nesters" working toward our retirement.
Suddenly and without warning Claire became ill and very tired and she died peacefully not quite 8 weeks short of her 55th birthday.
Many friends and family will miss her for she inherited from her mother that rare gift of being a very discreet good listener and was always ready to help anyone she could.
She had a strong and tenacious spirit and tended to commit to her passions. In books and CDs she would collect entire series. She was keen on music with collections of classical, opera, popular and Irish music. We saw Lesley Garrett in Dorset, Hampshire, Essex, London and Dublin.
Over the last 13 years of her life we visited Eire probably 20 times visiting every county plus Belfast and Eniskillen, we simply loved the people for their warmth and the country for its breathtaking beauty and variety.
Just 4 months before Claire died we walked 3 or 4 sections of the Kerry Way together and she had found her element. I will always treasure the memories.
All my love. Neil