A poem from the Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Betty Hill

Holy Trinity Church, Huddersfield, Wednesday 30th January 2019

Ida Betty Hill

13th July 1939 – 6th January 2019

At the funeral service for my mother-in-law Betty Hill, my daughters, Ruth Taylor-Yorke and Anna Laverick read a poem they had written about their relationship with their grandmother. People said they would like to see the poem: Here it is.

Anna’s words are in blue, Ruth’s in red.

-o0o-

For those who know our Grandma, you know she loves her tea.
So here’s a poem about it that we feel fits well.

If you are cold, tea will warm you.
If you are too heated, it will cool you.
If you are depressed, it will cheer you.
If you are exhausted it will calm you.
And when I drink it, I will miss you.

We thought we’d also share some memories we have of Grandma.

With a cup of tea in one hand and a smile upon her face
Her love and kindness emitted that nobody can replace.
Always looking after others and putting up a front.
My blood sugars only 26, I’m fine!
Let’s carry on and have another cup.

All of us crammed into a one bedroom flat
But did not matter because we were all not that fat.
Playing Uno, Jenga and chess, when the weather was not joyous.
Going to see the Hornblower and walking round Studley Royal.

The clocks always chiming and a new one at each visit
Little did we know they were not collected, just presents.
We always seemed to find a new tea room on each visit.
The owners seemed to know our grandparents personally.
Showing that their love and kindness showed no bounds.
With tea rooms came more drinks, hot chocolate just for me,
I know the shock that it’s not really tea!

They wouldn’t fail to see us at explorers camp and take us for a meal.
Sometimes getting a shower to really sweeten the deal.
Grandparents living near gave us a little unfair advantage.
Other campmates would comment about us smelling fantastic.

Grandma always working whilst grandad took us out,
To Gulliver’s, a museum and our favourite the deer park.
Jumping in the mud and river and going climbing Brimham rocks.
Then along the bouncy road, back to the flat and them bloomin’ clocks!
Helping grandma in the kitchen was just part of the fun.
We’d sneak down to say goodnight and maybe get a bun.

On grandmas 80th birthday I made a lovely yummy cake.
But even I didn’t expect what really was at stake.
Brooke decided to give mummy a special brown surprise.
Luckily grandmas tops were near enough my size.

So we like to just remember
That those we love don’t go away.
They walk beside us every day.
Unseen, unheard, but always near.
Still loved, still missed and very dear.

So let’s all remember her today, and have a cup of tea!

We love you, Grandma, forever and always.