It is a fitting tribute to Vera, my dear mother-in-law who passed away peacefully on Saturday, that the BBC should broadcast a drama starting today called Land Girls.
Vera hailed from Tottenham and was one of a group commissioned to Ely as a stunning 18-year-old to do her bit for the war as a land army girl. Just as romance will feature prominently in the drama, it was in this Fenland cathedral city that she met and fell in love with her husband of 59 years, Roy, at a local dance.
My followers on twitter will have noted my updates about Vera’s deteriorating condition in recent weeks, her admissions to Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Arthur Rank Hospice, before finally returning home. I spent every day in the last two to three weeks helping to nurse Vera and support Roy, and some nights too when a Marie Curie nurse was not available. We cannot praise them enough, as well as the superb district nurses. Inexplicably, the same cannot be said for Macmillan Cancer Support, who knew of Vera’s condition, but offered no help.
At the end, while the Vera we knew and loved was physically unrecognisable as she lost so much weight, then her ability to move, or speak or even drink fluids, she always retained her beaming smile. It was the one thing we asked her to do for us every day, and she never disappointed us, until on the final day when she no longer had the strength….
A very beautiful lady, a lovely tribute to her too!!
I am sad to read that Mcmillian didn’t help in anyway, I support them regularly, so thats not good.
Take care Anne
What a beautiful photo! Condolences to you and your husband, Ellee.
Sorry to hear of your loss Ellee.
Saturday was the fourth anniversary of my own mothers death so we now share a date in common .
That generation could all show us a thing or two about being strong and determined .
Thank you Anne, WW and disaffected. Your kind thoughts are much appreciated.
Vera would have enjoyed seeing the Land Girls drama and would no doubt have commented that their life was much tougher! Yes, disaffected, they don’t make them like that any more….
I’m so sorry to read of the loss, of your dear Mum-in-Law, Ellie.
As you said, ‘she had stunning looks’.
My sincere condolences to you, your Husband, and all the family, at this sad time.
May she Rest in Peace.
Di.x
Aww ! Isn’t it sad.
My dear Aunt Peggy died at similar age recently. I was choked when I arrived at the church and saw the order of service with her photo on the front – taken in 1940. I could tell what uncle Bill was thinking. “Where did it all go ?”
Life’s too short, eh ?
Best
Kevin
xx
This is a really lovely tribute to her 🙂
Very pretty young lady. Sorry for your loss. Its always tragic in many ways. Simon
Our condolences to you and your family Ellee a lovely photo.
I am so sorry, Ellee. You have written a beautiful tribute to Vera and that is a lovely photo of her. You did all you could and I am sorry to learn that you did not receive Macmillan support when you needed it. Take care of yourself at this sad time. Love from Sicily, Pat and Simi xx
Sorry to hear your loss sis…
may God take her to the heaven
So very sorry for your loss. It must have been such a comfort to her to be surrounded by a loving and attentive family. My sincere condolences.
sorry to hear your sad news, but what a great girl your mother in law was. Hope you will have time to write down her ‘story’sometime.
So sorry to hear about Vera, Ellee. A fine photo that shown her role and how she served.
This is my first visit to your site and I want to tell you how sorry I am for your lose. I am a mother in law to two beautiful girls and I hope they will fell as you do when I go.
[…] A tribute to Vera, the land army girl […]
[…] A tribute to Vera, the land army girl […]
Belated thanks to the Wisbech Standard which linked to this post and re-published it in full in their Fen Diary column:
http://www.wisbech-standard.co.uk/content/wisbech/default/default.aspx
The connection was that I was MP Malcolm Moss’s press officer in the run up to the 2005 General Election which covers the Wisbech area. It is also my home town and where many of my family still live.
The Ely Standard also reported Vera’s obituary.
[…] However, we will not be alone as pa-in-law will be joining us. It will be his first holiday without Vera, the land army girl he married, but sadly died last […]
[…] invited my pa-in-law along to join us who lost his Vera 15 months ago as I thought it would be nostalgic for him, and discovered it was the first time he […]