Let’s spend a few moments now, looking back on Geena’s life, a life which began in Shefford, Bedfordshire on 2nd November 1940. She was the eldest of three girls for parents Phyllis and Daniel, or Phyl and Danny as they were known. Danny was in the RAF and so they moved around the world: first to Singapore and later to the Isle of Man and Germany where Geena was in boarding school with her middle sister, Valerie. Geena and Val were very close, best friends, but also quite different in character as children. I understand that as head girl, Geena spent a lot of time keeping Val out of trouble! The family settled in Lincolnshire, and it was while at RAF Waddington that Geena met Pat. She was the Secretary to the Education Officer, John Cartwright with whom Pat had been stationed in Aden and when a very tanned Pat went to visit him Geena, having heard about him, said “You must be Corporal Tuffin!” This made quite an impression on Pat, as did Geena, and having got to know her eventually through the Drama Club, he then got posted to Kenya. But they didn’t forget each other. In time, Pat wrote to Geena’s father Danny, asking for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Permission was given and Geena flew out to Nairobi in 1968 where they were married in August. It was, as Pat appreciates, quite a wrench for Geena to upsticks and move away from her home and her family. But, again, it says a lot about Geena’s feelings for Pat that she did it, but she never complained about being homesick. Even though she probably was. They returned to the UK in 1970, to Lincolnshire, and in 1974 Neil was born, while Pat was on his Officer's training course. There followed a posting to Wiltshire, where Steven was born in 1976. A move to Cambridgeshire came in 1979 and it was there that they put down their roots for good. Pat continued to serve, travelling weekly until he managed to get posted to RAF Brampton, a few miles away from the family home. Geena was very active in the local area, joining the WI and helping to run the local Village Hall. She enjoyed knitting and craft work, becoming a dab hand at "iris-folding" and "decoupage" for greetings cards. Her weekly get-together with her friends (known to Pat as her "cronies") enabled them to chat, eat biscuits and, perhaps, even do some craftwork! When Pat and the boys started playing cricket for Upwood, she involved herself in producing fantastic teas for the matches and it was there she was known as "Mrs T" by one and all. Neil and Steven remember their team mates looking forward to Geena coming to watch the matches – that’s because she always brought sweets with her. But Geena’s sons were simply grateful that she came to watch them, and they want to thank her for that. They also want to thank her for taking them camping, for making the best roast potatoes (but the worst rice pudding) and for so many things she did for them. And when Neil got married, Geena showed her creative flair and sewing talents, making seven waistcoats, which were red with gold elephants on (as modelled by Pat today) The arrival of her first grandchild, Katie Grace, in 2005 coincided with Pat retiring from full-time work and, unfortunately, her diagnosis with Parkinson's disease. Although the effects were minimal at first, over time they became more and more restricting, but Geena bore the difficulties with her usual good humour. In fact, Geena had a terrific sense of humour throughout her life, and she was very funny, sometimes when she didn’t always intend to be. She had a knack of saying the wrong words, like “Answer that window”, “Don’t make the granddad bark” and her special instructions to Steven before a night out were always – “Don’t get stocious”. Perhaps she thought he’d have one too many Bacardi Breezers, or ‘Bacardi Beezers'. as she called them. And making words up were also a regular feature on the shopping list – for example ‘stinky press-ups’ were her way of saying clickable air-freshner, or ‘trolls’ for toilet rolls. But she always took those comedy moments with tremendous grace, like the time she found herself slipping into the sea during a walk along the shore at Lyme Regis. When Pat, who turned to see Geena up to her ankles in water, asked her why she didn’t shout out. Geena simply said “Well it came as no surprise to me…” Four more grandchildren; Rosie, Oliver, George and Florence arrived over the next few years much to their grandparent’s total delight and Geena received much joy and comfort from them. The effects of the disease became much worse as time went on and, in late 2012, after a series of tests, it was confirmed that it wasn't Parkinson's that had been causing her condition, but another neurological ailment that was both degenerative and incurable. The effects worsened and in February 2013 Geena was admitted to The Red House nursing home, where Pat visited her daily and, whenever possible, propelled her about in her wheelchair to friends, the local pub for family lunches, visits to the local park with the family and even to the local cricket ground where she used spend so much of her weekends. Her many friends visited often and the arrival of her grandchildren always made her face light up with joy. During 2013 the disease's effects worsened to such an extent that she was fed by tube overnight as she couldn't swallow and her speech failed completely. Following a chest infection she was admitted to Hinchinbrooke Hospital on 5th May 2014 and, despite, the best efforts of the doctors and nurses, she passed away peacefully in her sleep on 30th May. Geena will be remembered as someone who was tremendously thoughtful, and generous with her time. She found the time to talk to people, and to listen to them as well – she was genuinely interested in other people and saw the best in everyone. Unless, of course, you were an American golfer or Australian cricketer – she didn’t have too many good words to say about Greg Matthews for some reason. But they do seem to be the exception to the rule. She was also a very sharp cookie, with a clever mind and a good memory. You’d definitely want her on your team in a pub quiz. Geena was also very good at worrying. She’d often say “What if such and such happens…” or “what will so-and-so think”. But we all know the answer to that, don’t we? Because, Geena, so-and-so would think… you’re lovely!