Anthea was born in Parkstone in Dorset to George and Hilda Hoare on the 13th of May 1937.  She was the youngest of four siblings, her eldest sister Sybil being 16 years her senior.  By all accounts her arrival was somewhat of a surprise and she was named after the Greek capital city Athens following my grandparents’ Mediterranean cruise in the late summer of 1936. Anthea was born into a loving home but sadly her mother passed away when she was just 9.  Our grandfather George later married Otie, who was a wonderful stepmother to Mum and, having had no children of her own, very much treated Anthea as her own daughter.
Mum has always worked, initially working for her father, George, a celebrated confectioner and baker of his time; a chocolate dipper in a bakery in Winchester; before joining Cunard on the RMS Queen Elizabeth, selling woollens from Britain to trans-Atlantic passengers. After a brief period at sea my Mum went to work as a matron at the Oratory Prep School in Parkstone following the death of her father.  However, it was at sea that my Mum met Dad and on their first meeting he told her that one day he was going to marry her, to which Mum, with her usual sense of humour, laughed at him.  It wasn’t until many years later, on Valentine’s Day 1967 they were married in Liverpool and on the last day of their honeymoon Dad set off ahead of Mum to their first overseas posting together in India.

Their second posting was to Saigon in 1969 and Mum was equally determined, despite a war, that they would not be parted, and she went with him, which as you will appreciate whilst not unique was certainly not usual.  Mum was always selfless and deeply thought of others and during her time in Saigon volunteered for the Red Cross at the US 3rd Field Hospital. Saigon left an indelible mark on Mum, as it has on Dad, and in the years that followed Mum helped Vietnamese refugees settle in Australia, through the Australian Immigration Service, and also in the UK, latterly working for Milton Keynes Council teaching English as a foreign languageto not only Vietnamese but other refugees.  Mum taught pretty much everywhere we lived from Ethiopia to Australia to Somalia to Egypt.  Mum was also involved in charity work and in Egypt supported the Christian Association of Upper Egypt.

As a Mum to us, her children, she was very caring and loving.  For me my lasting memories will be: Mum helping me with extra English to overcome my dyslexia.  She gave me the self-confidence to face whatever challenges I was presented with,and I know Georgina and Richard would say the same.  She also thought it a good idea that as a gentleman I learnt how to play golf and sent me for private lessons at Abbey Hill Golf Club!  Mum was very proud of her grandchildren, Alexa, Antonia, Chenelle and James Edward, and their achievements.  James Edward was often her partner in crime in her latter years and I know her relationship with him helped defuse her anxiety, for that we are grateful.  Mum was also a thoughtful and caring mother-in-law to Joanne and James.

Mum was a very funny lady with a wicked sense of humourand I think that has rubbed off on a few of us.  When Dad had to disappear on an office trip we would stand at the front door and wave him off and wishing him a happy holiday!  But I know she really missed him but her humour took the edge off their parting.

What is enduring and an example to us, their children, is my Mum and Dad’s love for one another and always will be.  First and foremost, Mum and Dad were the very best of friends.Anthea lived a very full life despite the scourge of Alzheimer’s Dementia in the latter part of her life.  A life dedicated to her family and to helping others. She will be sorely missed.  I know today is a day of sadness but it is also one of happiness in celebration of a happy and full life and Mum lives on in our collective memory. Thank you to everyone for coming today and sharing our remembrance of our wonderful Anthea.