Despite living in Canada for over 40 years, my cousin Gill was my remaining solid link to England and family gatherings during our childhood. The Pestell clan tended to be a rowdy bunch when gathered and, any time I visited Norwich, we always had a chuckle over a glass of wine, remembering Christmas festivities and summer visits. One such story that always came up was the year we came up from Southend in a pop top camper van - the Dormobile. My mother, Gill's aunt Rose, was cooking sausages for lunch, probably at Lowestoft, and we were all piled into the van eating when the table collapsed, sending sausages flying and everyone, fork in hand climbing, over each other as we claimed each sausage as our own! I guess you had to be there, but it could still reduce us to tears remembering the event.

I was one of Gill's bridesmaids as I was studying at UEA at the time and even babysat Katie ( who wouldn't stop crying) on one occasion. In the intervening years, we remained in touch and she always welcomed me and my family with open arms any time I visited UK. Nothing was more important to Gill than family. I regret that I never managed to get her to make a trip out to Canada. She always said "perhaps one day" but, sadly, that day won't come. I'll miss her presence in my life, her laugh and the fact that an important link in the family chain is gone. Love you Gill, Amber