We hope you’ll join us in celebrating our wonderful mother, Elaine Watson, in Stogumber in a couple of months. In the meantime, we’re raising money for St Margaret’s Hospice Care.
Elaine spent a lot of time at the Sunflower Centre Day Hospice, which provides specialist care to help people enjoy a higher quality of life.
When describing the centre, she said, “The metaphor of the sunflower is excellent – radiant flowers, standing tall and proud, showing resilience in difficult situations and providing gaspingly-awesome individualised solutions”.
The team at the hospice were truly empowering. They organised the ramp and electric wheelchair that allowed her to sit in the sun in her front garden and attend concerts with friends. They helped her to feel comfortable as her mobility needs changed. They ran activities that were just so her – flower arranging, reiki, and acupuncture – and she lit up when the staff visited her in hospital.
She explained that while she’d been raising money for the hospice for years, she hadn’t realised that 80% of its services are funded by donations. And donations to St Margaret’s, whether direct or through its charity shops, all go directly to the charity and the people it supports.
So, until we can give her the send off she deserves, consider donating to St Margaret’s Hospice Care, and take a moment to remember this remarkable woman and her indomitable spirit.
We’ll miss you forever.
Callum, Catriona and Hilary
Just some of the words about Elaine that come to mind. Positivity; kindness; warmth; intellectual rigour; love of humanity (well most of it) and of our whole incredible natural world; creativity; zero tolerance of pomposity; a do-er when things need doing; and running throughout a great sense of fun and a wicked sense of humour. The happy memories of our friendship will last our lifetimes. Wherever you are, we trust ye are awa peckin'! Jamie and Miriam
With much affection from all your friends in the West Somerset LETS Group.
Thank you Elaine for your delicious sense of humour and your ability to see things in a wider perspective.
With love from Flee
Elaine's wisdom and love touched more lives than she could know. Her knowledge and care helped me and my family in many ways over the years. A wonderful woman.
I will never forget Elaine's laughter, sunny personality, and her intelligence.
Rest in Peace, Elaine. With lots of love, Jenny xxxxx
Elaine has been a much-loved part of our lives for fifty years - since university days. She came on several summer holidays with us to the island of Colonsay, and on the first occasion her whole family came as well. There was much laughter and joy. Elaine’s positivity, creativity and warmth were
irresistible, and seemed to imbue every aspect of her being. We miss her hugely. Alasdair, Rosy, Matthew and Rachel
To Number 47. We were so terribly sad to hear of Elaine’s passing. We were lucky to have lived so closely to Elaine for many years in Caerphilly; a real character of the terrace, and a friend to us all. Her impact on us was profound. There are many wonderful memories we share, most of which involve laughter, energy and warmth.
Sending you all love and strength.
Stuart, Mary, Laura and John x
I was very sad to hear of Elaine’s passing. Stogumber Gardens Open is a longstanding, weekend long fund raiser for St Mary’s Church fabric and other charities, galvanising a 100 volunteers. When the long term organiser retired Elaine stepped forward to lead the event and keep it going. I have many memories with her on the organising committee.
Some people come through the door and light up the room. Dearest friend Elaine you were such a friend you lit up my life I am forever grateful love always.
Some people come through the door and light up the room. Dearest friend Elaine you were such a person, you lit up my life I am forever grateful, love always Jan
Love from everyone at The School of Health. We will miss you Elaine. You were the best.
Back in 2015 we set up a group in the village which became known as The "SL&*S", or Stogumber Ladies Activity Group (if you want to be polite)! Elaine was our second ever speaker and gave us a talk on using homeopathy in the home. She was intelligent, funny, sparkly and extremely kind and I liked her instantly. We have kept in touch over the years and I enjoyed our little chats and the snippets of wisdom she shared. It didn't feel that long ago that I stood at the end of her street and gave her a hug, knowing how poorly she was. She was so positive and gracious at the time, but I was cross on her behalf! I know how much she will be missed by her family and friends.
Elaine you had such a vibrant energy and you were always such good company. Time went by so quickly when I was with you- your wit, humour, intelligence and incessant curiosity was always infectious. You were such a lovely and supportive friend and colleague . Even understanding the gravity of your illness your joie de vivre never seemed to wane. Always interested in others and your work and you had an eye for excellence. You appreciated the arts, the natural world and the mundane; often saw the ridiculousness in certain situations and wow you loved to laugh.
The last time I was with Elaine I felt that spiritually she was in a good place and I trust she is now pain free and at peace . I will miss her so much.
I was shocked and saddened to hear of the death of our aunt. My family’s thoughts are with our cousins and their families at this difficult time.
I first met Elaine through classical music, when she was already making waves with Music on the Quantocks! So she helped me relaunch Stogumber Festival and became a close friend, always writing beautifully as well as correcting me at every step. She (and Callum) became regular visitors and also we had a chair that was know as Elaine's Throne. Then I went with her to Caerphilly where I met Hilary. Determined not to give in to her legs and lack of movement, we went to a final concert at Wellhayes. I shall miss her at all the other local concerts.
In very fond memory of Elaine and happy times many years ago.
Love form all of our family to all of yours
This is such sad news, and a great loss for us and for the village. Elaine had such a positive energy combined with a friendly forthrightness, she encouraged and enabled many good things to happen in Stogumber, and was splendid company.
This is such sad news, and a great loss for us and for the village. Elaine had such a positive energy combined with a friendly forthrightness, she encouraged and enabled many good things to happen in Stogumber, and was splendid company.
I met Elaine over 30yrs ago when I was a student of homeopathy at Bath University, she was lecturing in Physiology and Anatomy. From the first day we got on really well and what started as a student/ teacher relationship quickly became a deep friendship. We spent many hours talking about homeopathy and allied subjects, really anything and everything.
Elaine had a wonderful dry sense of humour and a quiet non-judgmental wisdom that made her a special friend.
When her life became difficult she moved to our village and immediately became part of the community. Both Tom and I will miss having her as part of our lives.
Elaine was an amazing, caring,compassionate lady who helped my family through so many very turbulant times and she holds a special place in mine and my girls hearts
Dearest Elaine, what shall we do without you? Your wisdom, your roaring laughter, your passionate love for the arts, for books , concerts and animals- and your quiet but strong pride in your kids. I wonder if you knew how loved you were? Thank you for years of deep friendship and homeopathy. Your passing is a heartaching loss to us all.
Dearest Elaine , I am missing you every day as we used to be able to see each other across the Close. We had so many laughs together, sometimes hysterical , our humour never took long to take off. You had such a unique personality, and a breadth of knowledge that was fascinating. Thank you for your visits and our times together. I have your beautiful botanical drawing as a perfect keepsake. My condolences to you and your, her loving children . She was so proud of and it shone as she spoke of you. What a Mum.xx
Picture of Elaine taken by Mani Norland in 2015 for her teacher page at the School of Health and School of Homeopathy.
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