Daffers gave me a home from home when I started my nurse training aged 18 in 1977. I moved to Bristol and was incredibly homesick. As Steve’s new girlfriend she welcomed me into the family, feeding me on a regular basis and curing me of being a faddy eater! I wouldn’t dare leave what I was given. She was rather intimidating, so organised, efficient, working full time, a wonder woman.

She really was ahead of her time. Most mums in those days didn’t drive, let alone have a career. She embraced the modern world and rapidly adopted any new technology, even having one of the first home computers in the late ‘70s. She recognised the capability in those around her and was ever eager to coax, encourage and support them to achieve their potential. She was an excellent seamstress and made practically all of her own clothes, as well as my beautiful wedding dress. 

She was knowledgeable and intelligent and always loved the challenge of a crossword, a game of Scrabble or Bridge. She was practical, dependable, straight speaking, no-nonsense and not one to share her emotions. She was an excellent time keeper who was rather frustrated by many of us who are not!

She was an amazing role model to me and wonderful mother-in-law who I had the greatest respect and love for. She was truly the head of the family - a generous, loving mother and incredible hands on Grandma to Lucy and Joe.