We are not sure if Paddy was joking or not (one could never be sure!) but she said to her daughter Ro more than once – and on a separate occasion to daughter-in-law Nicola – that she would like her final journey to be in a carriage drawn by “black horses with plumes”. We were able to arrange this for her funeral on May 27th, and the horses set off from Hamilton’s Tea Room, where Steve, Sandra and some of the regulars raised a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows to Paddy.

Mum enjoying her hot chocolate with marshmallows at Hamilton’s in 2021

Paddy and Roger went to Hamilton’s two or three times a week (Paddy didn’t enjoy cooking), and Ro joined them when visiting Nipe End. Steve and Sandra were absolutely amazing during lockdown, delivering Sandra’s beautifully cooked meals and desserts to more than 20 people in nearby villages three times a week.

Ro and Eleanor raising a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows to Mum / Grandma

Some of us then walked behind Mum and her black horses with plumes to St Andrew’s.

Arriving at St Andrew’s Church, Aysgarth

It was a beautiful sunny day, and the horses lightened the mood before and after the funeral service. Apparently, the company that provided them mainly provide horses and vehicles for film and TV productions, which might be what inspired Mum. I hope she was looking down with her son Alan and brother Bernard and enjoying it all.

Here is the recording of the funeral service recorded by Richard Sanderson.