Of course, she didn’t make it to her hundred years. But this picture, taken on the occasion of her fiftieth birthday, it very much looks as if she would. Vibrant, exciting, and generous, with hundreds of friends and admirers, she was my favourite aunt. My only aunt, in fact, but nonetheless my favourite.

Her fiftieth birthday party took place in a boat lent by her friend Ted Harris and we travelled from Henley on Thames to. …. And this I can’t remember. All her friends and family came.

We had a great time. My father, her ex brother in law, had an enormous cake made for the occasion, which he then had to transport to the boat very precariously.

It was a wonderful evening Very joyous. I even overcame my fear of boats to be there

Then a few years ago, after I inherited her cottage and we were sorting out her attic, we came across the present we gave her – and many if not all the other gifts she received, duly listed and labelled. I’d known she was organised but not that organised! She treasured her family and her friendships immensely. that tall thin woman in red is me, by the way, in 1986!