Sue was one of two children born to Albert & Ivy Tipton, she was mother to Janine 27,and Andrew 23. Sue’s first job was with Boots in the computer dept where she worked for 11 years. We first met in 1969 at a badminton club in Nottingham. In those days we were both very keen badminton players and played league badminton representing Boots. In wasn’t until sometime later that I realised that we both worked in the same office block on different floors! Sue made many friends at Boots especially her good friend Carol, and Tim who was to become our best man and his wife to be Maureen. We were married at St Leonard’s church in Wollaton, the happiest day of our lives, on a beautiful summer’s day in July 1973. Sue left Boots to raise a family in 1980. Janine was born on a rainy day in October 1980, but she was and still is a ray of sunshine in our family. She was a beautiful baby adored by us both, despite the fact that she did not sleep through the night for 3 years, but since dad worked at a factory making children’s dresses she was always the smartest kid around. When Andrew was born 4 years later our life seemed complete. Seeing Janine and Andrew getting on so well as kids was a joy to behold, they were never any trouble and family holidays were greatly looked forward to and always enjoyed by all. We took lots of video footage of our kids growing up and only last week we watched and laughed at how well they got on together and what fun it was to see them so young and innocent in play. Sue was a devoted mother to our children and her real passion was always to create a happy family life. She loved birthdays, family holidays & especially Christmas as they were always greatly enjoyed family occasions. Resuming work in 1989, Sue became a dinner lady at the local infants school. Working alongside her great friend Chris Ward they both became legends in their own lunchtime. Sue often helped out at school and later became a parent governor. In 1993 Sue joined the Derbyshire Building Society. Her good friend Carol has kept in touch ever since and she has been a big help to Sue and the family. Other friends from the building society include Laura who always referred to Sue as “mum 2”, Wanda, and Deb and her husband Dave, along with Josh and Amelia who Sue adored. In August 2001 Sue started work at Newthorpe Medical Centre. To Sue this was the perfect job. She loved meeting different people and was always ready to help someone in need. Sue would always put the feelings of others in front of her own needs. She was a very caring gentle & caring person at all times. To have a job that you really enjoy in life happens to very few of us, but Sue adored working there and it was always a huge tonic to her to return to work after each of her treatments. Sue loved the job and all the staff there and was never happier than being in the surgery. She made so many good friends there that I am sure she would want me to thank everyone at the surgery for their tremendous support and kindness during our difficult times. I always knew that she was in good hands at work, and when she was unable to work any longer everyone rallied round to visit and help and that really meant so much to both of us. Sue was diagnosed with lung cancer in May 2003 and given only 6 months to live.. After the tremendous initial shock Sue soon came to terms with her condition and typically volunteered for numerous cancer research projects in the hope that she could help fellow sufferers. At the hospital Sue struck up a friendship with anyone who received treatment at the same time as her, especially David Wilcox and his wife Ross. Sadly David passed away in April 2004 from lung cancer. At the time they were a great source of mutual support for each other and constantly chatted away about family life during chemotherapy treatment. It was always Sue’s greatest wish to visit Hong Kong. After her first treatment was complete we made a very emotional but greatly enjoyable visit to Hong Kong and mainland China. I have visited Hong Kong through work many times since and always remember our time there with a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat. Sue was a great listener and communicator who loved to chat with friends, so much so that the telephone line was often blocked for hours as she chatted away, especially marathon calls to her sister Margaret. When Sue finally had to give up work,Sue Flemming in particular gave us the most wonderful support imaginable, calling on us almost every day and most often in her own time after a full day at work, she became the tower of strength around us that we needed so badly. Her daily visits were a great comfort to both of us, nothing was ever too much trouble for Sue, and her immense help in Sue’s final months will never be forgotten. Sincere thanks also to Dr Sarah Bamford who showed a great degree of compassion and care in very difficult circumstances for herself, she too battled so hard to control Sue’s ever worsening condition . Sue and I received so much help from all the family when we were struggling to cope especially during the most difficult times this year. My brother Ian who made Sue gallons of broccoli & tomato soup to boost her magnesium levels when she needed it after her earlier treatments, and when it was difficult for her to eat. And more recently for providing us with some very practical help in the form of regular and extremely tasty pre cooked dinners. Ian knows I am a poor cook and even guided me with written instructions on how to reheat his carefully prepared meals! My sister Denise for providing a mountain of Lego for Sue to build, which she found very therapeutic when she was feeling low, and with the help Denise and Ken gave to us both throughout this year when Sue became weaker. Sue’s sister Margaret for her relentless research into alternative therapies, for the healing she administered herself and not least for the tremendous source of comfort & understanding when we were most in need. Margaret would sit with Sue while I took some much needed respite and that was very much appreciated. I firmly believe that Sue’s life was extended by the alternate treatment given to Sue by her sister. Finally our thanks to all the staff at Nottingham City Hospital who offered the best treatment available to Sue with great compassion, to the district nurses in Sue’s final months, they were a joy to behold each day with their friendly banter, and to the carers who assisted each night and morning. We could not have hand picked such marvellous and compassionate people. Sue always said that her family was the greatest joy in her life. Family always came first with Sue, she was a fantastic mother who always thought the world of Janine & Andrew and always did the best she could for them. Sue was so very proud when Janine graduated and with Andrew’s success with his music she knew well that we had raised a talented team to be so grateful for, And now that both Janine & Andrew have new careers which match their creative talents so well, we can be content in the knowledge that they will both be happy at work. The saddest part for me is that Sue would have made a fantastic grandmother. But I am sure that she will be looking down on Janine & Andrew when they have future happy events to celebrate in the years to come, she was always so proud of their achievements in life. She welcomed Janine’s partner George to the family as if he were our own and that was entirely typical of Sue, she was overjoyed when they became engaged in December 2006. Sue was so pleased to see Janine & George and Andrew & Becca in happy relationships. But the happiest achievement for Sue was to see Janine marry George last October at sea after yet another battle against her illness. We joined the cruise ship only days after Sue had had radiotherapy on her brain tumour, it was a truly amazing feat that Sue made the trip at all. The wedding was a brilliantly happy day for us all and I thank the Lord that we were all able to be there. It would have been a cruel twist of fate if Sue had missed the target she worked so hard for. With Andrew as best man and Becca as chief bridesmaid it was a truly memorable family day and a most wonderful way for us to see Janine & George make their wedding vows. We were so very proud to be there and to join Janine & Andrew in their celebration which meant more to us than words can describe, it was also a huge tonic for Sue which kept her focused on the struggle ahead of her. But above all Sue was a devoted wife to me, she was someone wonderful to love, someone who filled my heart with happiness, we were always the best of friends. I am so grateful for the five years we had together following her diagnosis, we did our best to cram in as much as we could together as a family even when times became so tough. Sue was always so incredibly cheerful during the whole time, I still find it hard to believe that she reacted so fantastically well whilst knowing that her time left was so short. Anyone who asked Sue how she was coping would always be told “I’m fine”. It is testament to us all that she could remain so positive & happy throughout her ordeal. I realise now that our 34 years of marriage was such a great gift. I have so many fantastic memories, not least 26 photo albums, hours of video footage and thousands of digital images which I will treasure of our life together. Sue was the love of my life and she will always have a very special place in my heart. The weight of Sue’s illness has been tremendously difficult for us at times, and I pray that Sue now finds peace from the anguish that accompanied her for so long. I am sure everyone would agree with me that Sue coped with her awful disease in such a brave and courageous way without ever complaining. I really am so full of admiration for the tremendous fighting spirit she showed throughout, and after not daring to believe that she would be present at Janine and George’s wedding in October it is truly amazing that she battled on so bravely until the last day of April. Sue showed unbelievable strength and courage in fighting on so long for the sake of her family Sue celebrated her own life by sharing her love with her family and friends in a kind, gentle and loving way and her wish was that this occasion today should be treated as a real togetherness and celebration of her life with all her loved ones and friends present. I believe that Sue’s life purpose was to be a good wife and mother, and to that end we can safely say that her mission was so very well accomplished.