Christian Ann Craigen Watson (13 Jan 1923 - 13 Jan 2017)

In loving memory of Christian Ann Craigen Watson who sadly passed away on 13th January 2017.

Christian was a loving mother to her three children Bryce, Douglas and Malcolm and two grandchildren Ellie and Alex.

She was very capable but underestimated her own abilities. In her teens when war broke out, she served in the Land Army in Scotland, ploughing and driving tractors. After the war she married and had her 3 children Bryce, Douglas and Malcolm in Scotland. The family then moved to Hallam’s Lane, Arnold, where she lived for 50 years.

Christian worked as carer in a maternity home and a home for the elderly, then in the restaurant of the East Midland Electricity Board. She found it difficult to drop the habits of a waitress and spent mealtimes at home hovering around the table to ensure everyone had their meals.

After retirement she loved her holidays with her husband Bill, especially to Crete & Malta. She Loved Scottish country dancing but it made her too sad to carry on after Bill passed away 18 years ago.

Until her 80s she walked everywhere at a high pace, before the cruel loss of mobility from osteoporosis. Despite her declining health she was fiercely independent and stubbornly coped, with Doug’s help, with her arthritis and blindness in her own home. She asked Malcolm to look after her financial affairs, but listened to Radio 4’s ‘Money Box’ and would know more about tax and savings than any of us. While in Hallam’s Lane she would sit outside to enjoy any sunshine all year round, until just a few years ago.

She identified with the character ‘Mrs Do-as-you-would-be-done-by’ from the novel ‘The Waterbabies’, was generous and saw the best in others. One example was when an old style traveller – a ‘Gentleman of the road’ - called on her house and she sat him down outside and made him tea and a sandwich. Despite all our predictions he didn’t return or send round all the cadgers in Nottingham.

Christian was proudly Scottish as well as British. She had loved visiting the Highlands and the Western Isles, and followed Scottish sports stars like David Wilkie and Andy Murray. Hogmanay would be celebrated with a glass of Crabbie’s ginger wine and the likes of Kenneth McKellar singing on the television.

Thanks to the friends and neighbours who kept her company, and the staff at Ernehale Lodge for helping her in her recent difficult times. Most of all Doug has the gratitude of all the family. He was always there to listen to her, would always come back again even when she was in a bad mood, and was able to entertain her with information about her much loved family in Wiltshire and London.

Goodbye mum - proud mother & grandmother who always told her children and grandchildren that they were the best.