It was nearly four years ago when I had a telephone call. I had put a notice in the houses by the railway station asking for help for me to store my bicycle where I could leave it safely on a daily basis. In true fashion Iris responded immediately. It was stored in her Summerhouse where I often found her reading at the end of my day's work at the hospital. She would give me a lovely smile when she saw me.
I later fell off my bike cycling down from Iris' house to the hospital, I broke my wrist and nose. I was in a sorry state. Unable to cycle to work, or get my bike back to Cardiff a week after my accident, Iris came to my rescue. She would wait in her car at the station, watched, smiled and waved as I left the train. The journeys to the hospital became catch ups on the snippets of our lives for several months. I loved that she had unique and unusual tastes in her style and jewellery. As a thank you to her kindness, I indulged her. It was lovely to see her face and get a big hug, when she had a present. She had done so much for me.
She loved to talk about her family, friends and what she had been up to. She was always thinking of others, she was passionate about history, loved lunch out with friends, seeing and keeping up with her grandchildren. Clearly she loved socialising, she had a strong personality and had a zest for life. Her life stolen is a tragedy. I feel awful that I missed her funeral. It was only recently that I heard of her tragic death. Iris touched my life and I feel blessed to have briefly known her. God bless, lovely lady xx