Mum 1926-2017

Today is the first anniversary of my mother’s death – she led a long life, with many joys and sadnesses. She died at home as she wished and, thinking about her and what was important to her, it struck me that her home was the thing that most represented her – home as a place of refuge where she could shut the door on the world – home sometimes as a prison of loneliness – but also home as her creative project. She collected many beautiful objects and pictures; every room was meticulously thought out and decorated. Everything had its place and she did have an excellent eye for colour and design. When she died I realised that dismantling her house would be very poignant for me. So we asked a friend of ours, Jan O’Highway, to come and take photographs of the house, which she did while we were out at Mum’s funeral. It feels like a wonderful tribute to her to record what she loved so much. I am so glad we did, as all the contents were soon distributed, sold and disposed of, and especially as the house was then sold and within 24 hours of new ownership the whole place was gutted by the new owners. So Mum, Fay Mary Smith, we remember you through this, the home you loved. Simon Smith