The dictionary defines an aunt as the “sister of one’s father or mother”. This is not how I would describe my aunty, Carol, she was so much more!

Aunty Carol has supported me throughout my life in everything I do. Next to mum and dad, she has been my loudest cheerleader. Encouraging, advising, and exuding positive energy and an enthusiasm for life, which is infectious.

I was often bored when I was a child and mum and dad struggled to keep me occupied during the school holidays. Aunty Carol came to the rescue and I spent many happy days of my school holidays helping her make Coronet cards. For those who cannot remember Coronet cards. 

At school, I excelled in music and was involved in school plays, part of the orchestra and choir. We frequently put on productions, Greece, Joseph, and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat which relied on funding from audience participation. Who should be the second set of cheerleaders behind mum and dad, but aunty Carol and uncle Russell?  

I will have left school 40 years on the 2nd of June this year and aunty Carol again came to my rescue and helped me secure my first job. I left school in the early 80s, a period of major unrest, high unemployment, and a new conservative government whose dictum was to ‘get on your bike’. I think that means I needed to find gainful employment. Mum and dad had threatened me with college if I could not secure a job and I applied for 100s, with no success. But aunty Carol mentioned that there was a vacancy in her workplace and organised my first interview. The rest is history.  

In 1990 I set off for Australia, allegedly for a couple of years, I was there for 5 years in the end, sorry mum, and dad. I had a farewell gathering with a few friends, mum and dad and it would not have been complete without aunty Carol and uncle Russell joining to send me on my way.

We never lost touch over those years and corresponded by letter regularly. Tales of life back home were a source of comfort. Ben the dog featured regularly along with stories of Amanda, David, and uncle Russell and aunty Carols new experience of furthering her education and, I remember I felt so proud of her.

I am today a very driven person and constantly strive to better myself. I know mum and dad are proud, but I also know that aunty Carol was the second loudest cheer leader, and she always knew the right words to encourage and inspire you.

She was a person who never sat still. From retiring she picked up the piano, learned to paint and draw, joined the WI, and was loved and respected by past colleagues and friends and family.  She was my inspiration and my family always attribute my drive to aunty Carol.

I will forever cherish the times we shared together at family birthdays and anniversaries and the Christmases together at mum and dads where we all had a sing song around my piano. It was terrible singing by the way.

What makes aunty Carol so special is that I do not think for one moment, I was the ‘one’, the favourite niece. Aunty Carol has room in her heart for all her nieces and nephews and I know that each one of us today could recount so many wonderful stories and experiences we shared during our life, I know she loved us all despite any flaws or shortcomings.

The last year has bought much sadness, but despite her own suffering, she found time to pick up the phone and show she cared.

I cannot imagine growing up without aunty Carol. We loved to natter endlessly and put the world to rights. She was warm, kind and interested in you. When I think about all the wonderful moments we have shared, I am filled with gratitude.

My aunty Carol has her own room in my heart and the best aunt I could ever have!

I love you auntie Carol.

Diane 😊 xxx