Kathleen Bousfield (11 Jul 1926 - 15 Oct 2025)

In loving memory of Kathleen Bousfield who sadly passed away on 15th October 2025

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Nearly 65 years ago, this very special Lady and my late Dad chose me to be their Son. However, last night (15/10/2025), I and my immediate Taunton family Kate Bousfield Jamie Cameron Moore Bousfield Tom Oliver Bousfield had to say very sad, beautiful "goodbye" to her when she gained her angel wings. Alison also sent her love via the regular phone calls. I'm so sorry you didn't reach your 100th. Goodnight Mum (Kathleen Bousfield), now you're with Dad. love you ❤️❤️❤️❤️xxxxxxx

1. Kathleen was the third born child of Mrs Stewart Forsyth McGregor and Mr Hector Alexander McGregor, on 11th July 1926 at home; an old farmhouse in Braeside of Cults, near Pitlessie, Fife, Scotland.
2. The family home was a tied cottage owned by the nearby Crawford Priory Estate where Hector worked as the Gamekeeper.
3. She was the youngest of three with an older brother also called Hector (known as "Sandy") aged 6 1/2 and sister Sheila aged 5. They all enjoyed their "country" life.
4. They all continued to live at the farmhouse, with all three children attending the local school at Pitlessie, until the tragic and untimely death of her dad Hector in a road & rail accident in August 1934.
5. This tragedy forced them all to move out of the tied cottage and in with her maternal Grandmother in Ceres, Fife, before eventually moving into a rented house in Cupar.
6. Kathleen enjoyed school, and at 15 she got her first part-time evening job working at Bell Baxter High School as an assistant.
7. However, her 1st real job after leaving school was a five year secretarial apprenticeship with Fife County Council, which later led to a job with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London at the age of 20.
8. Subsequent over-recruitment for FCO jobs in Germany & Austria meant that this job would not continue beyond a single year contract.
9. A job at the Treasurer's Department back in Fife was next for Kathleen, as an Accounting Machinist
10. During her time at the TD, she first met the "love of her life" Norman Bousfield (Civilian Radio Operator) at a dance in Cupar. He worked for GCHQ and was based just outside Cupar.
11. After their engagement, they married on 17th September 1950 at the Royal Hotel, Cupar. Kathleen's sister Sheila was her bridesmaid and Norman's brother Peter was the best man.
12. A ruling about married women no longer being given salary increases, meant Katleen changed jobs again and started working for the Department of Health & Social Security.
13. On 18th August 1956 at St.Andrews, Kathleen gave birth to their daughter - Alison Stewart Bousfield, followed by their son Nigel who was born on 23rd November 1960 in Dundee.
14. Norman's job posting to Singapore followed in early 1961.
15. After the three year posting finished, the whole family moved back to live in Cheltenham in 1964.
16. This was followed by another posting, this time to Hong Kong in May 1966.
17. 4 years later in May 1970, the entire family returned to the UK again and settled in Taunton.
18. Kathleen's mother was now in poor health and living with Sheila and her husband John Otter in Market Deeping, Lincolnshire.
19. Her Mother (Stewart) later died aged 83 in February 1971, followed sadly by Sheila in 1975.
20. Alison married Roger Victor Burgess in July 1977 in South London.
21. Kathleen and Norman had a happy and fulfilling marriage and were loving parents to Alison & Nigel.
22. Then Norman sadly passed away on 10th May 1983, following a brave battle with leukemia.
23. Twelve weeks later, on 27th August 1983, Nigel married Caroline Ruth Moore (known as "Kate") in St.Georges Church, Wilton.
24. Kathleen was overjoyed when Kate gave birth to a boy, James Cameron Moore Bousfield "Jamie" on 22nd September 1985 - her first grandchild, then a second boy, Thomas Oliver Bousfield on 11th February 1988.
25. Subsequently, Kathleen revelled in being a grandmother and was affectionately known as "Willow Granny" by both boys - after Norman's guide dog "Willow".
26. She revelled in looking after both boys, taking them on days out to lots of different & interesting places - and when they were old enough was even rumoured to have literally taken them both down the very high 'death slide' at Crealy Farm Park near Exeter....whilst merely in her 70's and even after a hip replacement!
27. Years later, in 2014 it was mixed emotions for Kathleen: she lost her much loved brother Sandy on 17th August aged 94, and then became a very proud great grandmother to Jamie's son Ethan James Daw Bousfield (08/05/14), and Thomas' son Harley Thomas Green Bousfield (11/12/14).
28. She was so very fond of her granddaughters-in-law Claire Shephard Bousfield (Jamie's wife and Ethan's Stepmother) plus Tom's partner Natasha Green .
29. Over the years Kathleen really enjoyed her extended family, home life and tending her garden - regularly attending Taunton Flower Show, she was also involved with the local Townswomen's Guild and even volunteering in the League of Friends shop at MPH for quite a few years.
30. Not only did she love her family, she had many long standing friends and neighbours - many of whom she outlived at the age of 99 and was both an extraordinary and ordinary woman.
31. In short, she was hoping to make her 100th - just to get her card from King Charles. However, this was not to be but she had lived an enriched and enriching life; stoical and resilient...but always wanting to know "What's around the next corner?". She will be greatly missed by many .. as will her lovely smile.