As a baby, a latent walker, preferring to scoot around the floor on her bum with Mum lamenting, "Not holes in another pair of trousers!!"


Always a tom-boy, spurning dolls for gun holsters filled with her toy cap guns. She'd swagger around the house complete with wellies,guns and the occasional hat had no time for little girl play which I think she thought of with contempt.


Gill would always be interested in all of Dad's projects and watch keenly, adding advice from the sidelines.


When Gill was about 3 or 4 she used to envy Sal who had the beige coloured wire framed National Health glasses. This envy and the "need to have a pair" resulted in Mum and Dad taking the lenses out of one of Sal's old pairs, so that Gill could wear them. Funny thing was that when Gill needed to scratch her eye, she forgot she had them on and put her finger through the frame!!

I think the WRENS made her. Dad always wanted one of his girls joining the services. I had harboured thoughts of WRENS and Airforce, choosing unrealistic career paths but didn't follow through going into teaching instead. But in 1981 Gill enlisted making Dad and all of us so proud.

Gill and I never considered ourselves as "normal" preferring to have as many hoots as possible and to make the most out of life, which we have both done I think.

George her only child came into this world in 1994 and what a fabulous man he is. With his mothers stubbornness, intelligence and the great moto of life “just to get on with it”  George is inspiring like his mum to many. George made Gill incredibly proud when he graduated from university and since then flew the nest and is actually managing to do his own washing. George has gained 2 new sisters, a brother and a step dad along this journey who will forever love him, involve him and most certainly get on his nerves from time to time. :P

When Gill married Barry in 2012 what a beautiful day that was, simple but perfect! Barry will always carry Gill close to him, her advice will always be in his mind, she was and still is boss after all. Their love will never end. This isn’t goodbye but until we meet again. 

I'm so pleased that Gill,managed to do things on her bucket list last year and I know that this made her feel really happy. Thank you to everyone who made that happen, thank you to all her great friends for keeping her spirit up when times where hard and thank you for ensuring her memory will live on. 

Gill Chapman will never be forgotten. We ALL love you.