Many thanks for sending my mother, Sheila Bevan, the funeral details for Joan. My mother was sad to hear of Joan dying as she was my mother's oldest friend. She and my mother go back a long way by living next door to each other on their farms, sharing a governess and then going to the same school and last but not least, sharing the same birthday! I believe in the past they sharing a number of birthday parties. When my mother turned 90 this year we, just my mother and I because of COVID, did raise a glass to your mother for her birthday wishes. My mother's memory (dementia and Alzheimers) is not good for recent events and some of the past but still good about living on the farm. Sadly, today I think there is one school friend alive and she lives in PE. It doesn't seem that long ago when a gang of about 6 all came and stayed with me here in Abergavenny for a reunion. I was "allowed" to join them for a coulple of events and it was amusing to see and hear them all talking nine to the dozen, laughing and reminding themselves about various events. It was also lovely to see your mother again and talking sewing - she was so brilliant and so sad her eyes failed her in the end - as I love to sew as well. Joan's last year sounds awful and I'm so sorry you all had a difficult time coping. Old age is no joke...... I was able to return to SA in August 2019 and see the early Spring flowers, which was lovely. That African light, sun and brightness of colours is just so wonderful and took me back to remembering various colourful gardens in Bonza Bay where my grandparents lived and so did your grandparents, Helen and Arthur. I also remember "Grannie Lawford" who was quite a character. She gave us some special runner bean seed that grew to about 18" long. We had these in Malawi for many years....... I wonder what happened to that variety? Our thoughts and prayers will be with you on Friday. Joan and Ma certainly had a very happy and interesting childhood which probably was the backbone of their strong characters, talents and sense of humour. With best wishes Merilyn Anderson (nee Bevan) - Sheila's daughter