Celebrating a Life Well Lived…

Sadly, I never made it to St Magnus Cathedral on Orkney for the funeral of my “second mum” on Wednesday. The intention was there and we got as far as Edinburgh, in the midst of the coldest weather in 40 years at minus 12 degrees.

The last leg of the journey, the flight to Kirkwall never happened…in fact it hadn’t happened for the previous three days either we found out from fellow travellers trying to get home. I still don’t know if a plane ever left Edinburgh Airport that afternoon…

We were supposed to arrive the night before, but that plane was cancelled, so after a night in the Hilton at the airport (we never even made it to Edinburgh city centre – the roads were at a standstill because of ice and snow), we tried again the following morning. The 09:40 was delayed until 10:30, then 11:30, then back to 10:45 (which would have got us to Kirkwall for 11:45 so we would have still been able to get the five miles to the cathedral). Fingers crossed we hoped against hope it wouldn’t be delayed further, but another change on the departure board stated 13:00 (it was now going to be too late, the funeral started at 12:30). In tears we gave up and left voicemail messages sending hugs and love…

My mum met Sally Heddle on the way to the baby clinic when her daughter Elisabeth and I were both tiny, so our families have known each others for 46 years. Liz and I grew up together, and we spent a lot of time around each other’s houses – I can still smell the chocolate sponge cake “Aunty Sally” made (and that Liz can now replicate perfectly). Sally was a gifted musician and music teacher and taught me to sing at school. She was also diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 40 years ago. Liz came home from school and helped her mum out every day after school (I still admire her for that – not something every teenager would be happy about). We sewed white pencil skirts together (it WAS the 70s) with the help of her mum – and even got the “Pernod and black” out with bleach after the big night out (don’t ask we were 15!)

Sally was made an MBE in 1992 for her charity work – being in a wheelchair never stopped her, from her musical activities, to volunteering to help other disabled people learn to sail – she approached everything with determination and a big smile. Earlier this year she faced complex surgery to remove a tumour in her brain with the same tenacity – she is one of only three patients to ever have undergone the operation (while still awake!) at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

I heard the funeral was beautiful and exactly how Sally had planned it – I don’t believe I know anyone who lived such a full and purposeful life and touched so many, many people. Sally you will be missed…

Photo credit: Adam Tinworth