Myra TeasdaleWILSONMyra (Mum) was named after Dame Myra Hess, a renowned classical pianist at the time. Her mother Nancy loved playing the piano and Myra’s love of music continued throughout her life. She had an eclectic taste in music, ranging from Rachmaninoff to Jazz and Dave Brubeck Quartet! She loved to dance, in particular tap dancing, and loved watching Gene Kelly films. She had a very happy childhood and spent annual holidays at the seaside with her parents John and Nancy and her little sister Sylvia. She had a great sense of fun and was mischievous at times. When holiday photographs were being taken she was often bossy and told Sylvia to look grumpy while she had a big grin on her face!! Her love of nature was another 'thread' throughout her life. It started at a young age with family walks around the Atherstone countryside; trips to the local ‘Bluebell Wood’ where large bunches of wild flowers were picked and walks down the local Ratcliffe Road, with her family and cousin Mary, to go blackberry picking. As an adult she loved the Lake District, particularly the area around Keswick and Patterdale She loved those walks in the Lake District so much that she used to make and freeze her sandwiches the night before so she would not waste any time when she set off walking the next morning. Unfortunately, when she got to the top and stopped for her lunch it would invariably be soggy sandwiches as a result! This was the extent of her passion for the countryside and the natural world. She had always been a great fan of David Attenborough and watching natural history programmes. Mum had a very artistic flare and after school went to Nuneaton Art College. She did pen and ink drawings, still life drawings and pottery to a high standard. She made a beautiful modern ceramic bird, of which she was very proud and took pride of place in her home. After art college Myra went on to train as a State Registered Nurse at the George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton and later went on to study Midwifery in London and Bristol. After gaining her nursing qualifications she became a sister at St Mary’s hospital Portsmouth. It was whilst working as a Nurse in Portsmouth that Myra met her first husband that in turn led to her two sons, John and Jimmy. Myra always had a huge sense of fun. A good example of this being after Dad had started a job within a newly formed team. The new department Boss decided to invite the whole team along with wives and husbands for a get-to-know you and team bonding social event – so Dad had said to mum before arriving that they needed to make a good impression and be on their best behaviour. After arriving at the venue, the evening rapidly became very lively, lots of food, drink and music. Once the food had cleared and a couple of speeches had been made, the evening became even livelier. Then suddenly and totally unprompted, Myra climbed up on to her chair, then onto the table… and began dancing up and down the table laughing her head off. Everybody was clapping, cheering and laughing away. Apparently, it totally made the evening and helped bond what proved to be a very successful department. As Dad said; ‘‘Myra was priceless that evening’’. Mum was full of curiosity about life, existence and the meaning of it all. She had a strong Christian faith her whole life that supported her. Particularly, when she was faced with tragedy and tough times, such as following the sudden death of her second husband Dave. Mum also had personal demons, anxieties, foibles and eccentricities – like we all do – that’s what makes us human. Yet Mum was tough and determined; when suffering a setback she dusted herself down, gritted her teeth and pushed on. Mum lived a full life; not just in her varied career, but with a rich family life and lots of adventures – with hills and mountains often not far away. Mum climbed many of Britain’s highest peaks; skied in the Alps; explored four continents, from the Tibetan foothills to the Rocky Mountains, with Petra in Jordan and Cape Town’s Table Mountain in between. Sharing many of these adventures with her beloved partner, Colin. Mum was full of life and love; love for family, friends and her two boys – she loved them to pieces. She loved God and Jesus Christ, nature, flora and fauna, her pet cats and the good things in life; music, dance, a lovely view, preferably with a nice cup of tea or coffee; cake or glass of wine – especially after conquering her fear to ski down a steep slope or climb a particularly difficult peak. This love of life, family and adventure made the onset of her Alzheimer’s / Dementia even more tragic, stealing away her retirement ‘Golden Years’ with her partner Colin, family and friends. Even though it seems impossible, Mum would not want us to be sad though, she would want us to remember the many good times we all shared with her throughout her life – and when the situation requires it, to jump up on a table and start dancing….. As a tribute to mum we have set up a donation page for the Alzheimer's Society - I will leave a link to the page in 'messages'. Many thanks and best wishes.
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