Our Mum Joan was born in July 1929 and raised in Garston, Liverpool by her parents Ruben and Dorothy Clegg along with her Brother Jim and Sisters Donna and Ellen.

On leaving school Mum worked in a Chemist Shop and then as a machinist in a hosiery factory.

After WW2 Mum and Ellen volunteered during their holidays as part of the Government 'Lend a Hand on the Land' effort to assist farmers with tasks such as harvest time at farms in Broxbourne and Penkridge.

It was at the first of these that Mum met her future husband Ken and began a long distance courtship, including meeting up again the following year on another farm.

Dad was born and lived in Copnor, Portsmouth and an apprentice at the Dockyard.

He moved to Liverpool in 1951 and they were married on 21st December 1951.

Their Daughter Jacqueline was born in 1953 and Son Robert in 1958.

The family emigrated to Durban in South Africa in 1963 and spent nine happy years in the sunshine of the coastal city.

We decided to return and settle in the Portsmouth area in 1972 rather than the 'frozen North' having got used to warmer climes.

Mum worked part time as an assembler for a local small engineering firm before retiring.

We purchased our own home in 1999 having previously always lived in rented accommodation.

Sadly Dad passed away early in 2000, shortly after moving into the new house.

Mum and Dad were happily married for 49 years.

Mum spent 20 happy years in our new home, always commenting on the beautiful garden, hardly believing it was ours.

In recent years Mum's health had declined but she remained at home until the past few months.

We were able to spend a little time with Mum at the Mary Rose Manor Nursing Home on her 91st Birthday

Our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all the staff and volunteers at the Rowans Hospice and Mary Rose Manor for taking good care of our Mum over the past few months.

Jacquie and Bob