Evelyn Lucy Cropley (21 Nov 1926 - 25 Oct 2021)

To me she was the quintessential Grandma – kind, warm, loving, smiley, snuggly but also so much fun and really funny too. I remember one visit where me, mum and Grandma were all crying with laughter over something silly, probably a ridiculous story from one of her puzzle magazines, or her showing me the Charleston in her fluffy slippers (she was really good!).
Visits to Grandma’s were always full of so much fun and wonder; from the sheer volume of Christmas decorations (I still have not seen any one put as many up as she managed to fit in her living room) to the tiny mug she would give me a little bit of home-brew beer in (which I’m pretty certain she told all the grandchildren was their special cup). With Grandma even going down the High Street in Sherwood or to Kwik-Save was a delightful adventure – holding on to her lovely soft hand, chatting about everything and nothing. There never seemed to be any end to the amount of love she would pour into you. That being said she wasn’t to be trifled with, I remember Mum telling me that she had her bag snatched and instead of being terrified she chased after the man and hit his car with her stick as he drove off! Something tells me she would have calmed down with a cup of “tea” (just show the bag the water).
My abiding memory though is just how much she loved all of us. It radiated out of her and filled every corner and every inch of you. We were all very lucky to have her.