Kathleen Muriel Richardson (30 Jul 1930 - 6 Sep 2018)

In loving memory of Kathleen Muriel Richardson who sadly passed away on 6th September 2018 aged 88.

Mum was born at the end of July 1930, to Annie (Nannie) and Henry (Pop), at Bingham, just outside Nottingham. She spent her early years in the nearby village of Langar where she was enthralled by the activities of the nearby American airbase, and the servicemen whose washing her mother took in. She remained there through the war years until the age of 16, whereupon she undertook the grand adventure of travelling far afield to Glossop to commence nurse training, which she later continued somewhat nearer at Harlow Wood. While home from training she met Torrie, her future husband, who drove the local village bus for Barton's of Melton Mowbray, which she caught for her nights out in Nottingham. He successfully pursued her and they married on New Years Eve 1949, when she was 19.

Their married life commenced in a converted bus (there is a recurring theme there) parked behind Dad's family home at Nether Broughton. This led to a move to a house in the grounds of Belvoir Castle as Dad had a job driving lorries for Belvoir Grass Dryers and the start of a family life with son Glenn being born there and continued until Dad returned home to inform her that they were moving as he had fallen out with his employer, something that continued until he chose to become self employed, as he decided he could not work for anyone else. There was then a period of stability in Shepshed, where the first family business, a repair and car sales garage, meant Mum and Dad started working together for the first time, and, as I had come along by then, we all lived in a caravan at the back of the business. This later lead to the purchase of a 1/2 acre building plot (for £50.00!) behind the garage and the construction of Mums dream house (at a cost of £1500.00). Dad agreed to not sell the home and business if they finished the build, something Mum took on board and spent her evenings helping to get it complete - right up to the time Dad informed her that he had sold it all (she was painting it at the time, so technically it wasn't finished) and so we all moved on again. He also sold, without consulting her, her beloved Nash Metropolitan (the car she learnt to drive in, and one I can remember sitting in the back of during her lessons) at about the same time. In retaliation for this, Mum later advertised and sold his speedboat, only informing him when he noticed it was missing when he came home from work.

This started a period of our lives where they bought and sold many properties, which we lived in during the building/decorating period and then moved when they were sold, sometimes with just our suitcases of clothes as Dad had also sold all the furniture as well! However, they both thrived on this unusual lifestyle, living and working together to convert various run down properties while bringing up a family. During this time Dad also bought and sold cars as well as pretty much anything else that he saw profit in, a lifestyle that continued on until they finally decided that Residential/Nursing Homes was an area to explore, culminating in the purchase and conversion of first the old school in Scopwick and finally Nocton Hall which allowed Mum to don her matrons badge and return full circle to caring for people.

Finally, in the early 1990's they decided to retire to France and have their day in the sun. This continued for some 10 years until Dads ill health caused their return to the UK where they lived together until Dad died some 14 years ago. Mum then continued on alone, enjoying reading, completing crossword puzzles and avidly watching tennis on the sports channels (as well as continuing to drive - on her French driving licence as this was issued for life!) and be completely self sufficient, taking herself off for her weekly treat at the local hairdressers and shopping at the local co-op, until she had a tumble outside her door at the beginning of May which resulted in hospitalisation with a broken hip.

Mum then astounded medical science by surviving a heart attack, hip operation and various infections to finally start rehabilitation and a return to health. This was cruelly cut short by a stroke on the morning of her 88th birthday, something she could not recover from, which ultimately led to her passing on the morning of the 6th September.