Susan 'Sue' Walkden (16 Feb 1943 - 23 Oct 2022)

In loving memory of Susan 'Sue' Walkden who sadly passed away on 23rd October 2022

Susan Walkden – Our Mum, Granny Poole, Sister. Aunt. Respected Consultant radiologist. Artist. Committed follower of Jesus and much loved part of the church family here.

Mum was born in Alvechurch in Worcestershire. She grew up with her parents and sister Jenny in a hunting lodge with a corrugated iron roof, and as we have often been reminded, an outside toilet and no running water.

When Mum was 8 the family moved to a larger thatched house in Flore, Northamptonshire, where Mum and Jenny’s love of nature flourished. They rode ponies, nurtured kittens and pretended to be hyaenas (– both called Pad – which continued throughout their lives)–. Both girls attended Northampton High School and Mum was accepted to Cambridge to read modern languages. Jenny and her husband John have been a constant in Mum’s life and have always been there in the background for Mum, Andy and I, providing quiet stability and support, especially during times when Mum endured physical and emotional pain and suffering.

At the age of 17 Mum’s lifelong back troubles started and she had her first of many major surgeries and spent a period of time in hospital in London. This time inspired her to want to become a doctor and after taking her First MB at St. Thomas’ Cambridge university accepted her to study medicine. I’m sure she’d have been a brilliant linguist too ….

Andy spoke and encorporated the following points:
Mum was pivotal in establishing CT and MR for the Wessex region. She was given the task of buying the scanners and travelled to the USA and Geermany to research. She was Clinical director at Poole. Responsible for traning a generation of ragiologists and radiographers.

Mum also established the cancer treatment trust in Poole and set up the Breast Screening unit.

She was a stickler for doing things right – quite a formidable lady!! But very knowledgeable and respected for that knowledge – and she was always very happy to share her knowledge with others.

Mum always said she was going to focus on her art when she retired–and not content to just potter she gained a Bachelor Degree in Fine art at the age of 75. The cheer that Mum received from her young peers on her graduation day was unforgettable.
Her final degree piece spoke volumes about her life to that point. It was an instalment which resembled an old fashioned x ray viewer, with a series of plain films. However in place of bones there were images of the wonderful window here at St. Luke’s which had been created with a pin hole camera. A perfect mix of science, radiology, art and Faith. The installation was called “The Light Shines in the Darkness” John 1:5.

Mum was a great observer and a documenter. She had little note books on so many things - as a medic on CT and MR anatomy, as a new Mum herself she made detailed notes on the reaction of Bogle the Cat to the new baby Bod (that’s me). When she was in hospital after one of her many surgeries she wrote a short novel on the Life of Henry VIII. Latterly Mum always had a sketch book with her, and she captured ordinary little moments– wonderful scenes of Poole harbour, the beach, visits to our house and holidays together, and a lovely sketch of the garden at Plymouth cathedral on the day of Andy’s ordination. The notes reflect her thought processes – comments on the clouds, global warming, cycle lanes and disabled parking, bacon sandwiches …a list without limits. And of course the notebooks and notes around the house reflecting her Faith have been a wonderful encouragement at this time.

Mum enjoyed travel adventures from an early age: for example hitch hiking in Spain to visit her school exchange friend Sonsoles in the early 60s – insisting that she had not lied about this to her mother as she sent her a post card which read “Can’t say we got here without a hitch”. Amongst many other travels another highlight was heading to China on the trans Siberian railway en route to a work placement in HK. She was unperturbed (although a bit non plussed) by being assigned a shared sleeper compartment with a Russian man as it was assumed that a Dr Walkden could only be male! And I was reminded today by Nick, my cousin, how on one of her trips to the Galapagos Islands she stitched up Nick’s badly cut foot, with her Fathers best whisky to sterilise the wound!!

Over the last 25 years overseas travel became more difficult. However Mum got enormous pleasure from our family holidays and get togethers. She loved spending time with the family and her many loyal friends and especially hearing all about our girls, pottering on the beach and making little shell collections and sketching. She never missed a Birthday or anniversary – and we always knew her cards and packages as they were adorned with shiny stickers of ponies, rainbows, or other delights. She loved to plan ahead and arrange the next meet ups – Christmas and February half term for her 80th Birthday were already planned and we will miss her enormously at these times.

Andy – on Mum and Faith
Andy, and Chris Strain in his address, spoke of Mum’s commitment to her Faith and her involvement with the church. She had initially felt called to go to church after a series of disputes over the church hall next to her house. Mum had previously described to us having areal “Damascene moment” Over the years she became a great support and a good friend to the Chris and to many others in the church family. She was a lay preacher (2018), led a home group, was very involved with the Wau mission group and led their prayer team, she was part of the pastoral team – she never missed a meeting.

There is more detail in a separate email from Chris Strain which is similar to the words in his address.

She also loved the stained glass at St Luke’s – particularly the main window which is based on the Te Deum (read by Tim in the service) – which Mum also loved.

Andy talked about how several things stood out in Mum’s life no matter what she was doing – one of those things was light – it was part of her medical career, it was very important in her art and it played a key role in her Faith.
He closed with the verse from John 1:5. The Light that shines in the darkness”