Sandra Johnstone (9 Apr 1948 - 23 Apr 2020)

In loving memory of Sandra Johnstone who was taken from us on 23rd April 2020. Sandra was loved by one and all who knew her and had the privilege of spending time with her, her smile that light a room in an instant.

Sandra was born on 9th April 1948 to Fay and Walter Cowell in Stratford, Sandra was their first born and to be joined four years later by her beloved sister Barbara, mum used to share the stories of when they were little and Barbara being scared of the dark and clinging to her, like a monkey on her back! as much as she said it annoyed her, she loved every minute of being close to her.

Sandra went to a local Catholic school and instead of having the school lunches, she would nip to the local cafe and have lunch there, until she was caught by the milk man and nanny was told! mum used also share stories of when she was unwell and at home and she would sneak into the kitchen and make suit puddings, while nan was at work.

Kath was one of longest friendships from school and still to this day they have remind close. Kath and mum went on their first holiday and met what would be their partners, mum was married to my father Peter. Mum and Peter then left the UK to start their new life as £10 poms in Australia, the stories of parties and working hard, but they returned to be with family.

Sandra became a mother to Jennifer on July 2nd 1973, the story of her going to the hospital in an ambulance and having a fag! but also had a broken toe after dropping an ashtray on her foot! during this time Sandra was married to my father Peter, where we resided in Harlow with out much loved Dalmatian William.

Sandra made life long friends with Chris and Bahram, whom mum met while living in Harlow, Chris invited mum in for tea and cake and they remained firm friends all these years, dinner and holidays with Cyrus and Natasha when we were younger, then holidays in France and Spain. Weekends together over food and wine and the memories will always live on.

Mum met dad in 1977, and they moved to New Zealand to start what would be 40 years of happiness together, they were married on the 7th January 1980 in Tauranga and moved back to the UK in 1981. Mum and dad both enjoyed travelling the world and exploring new places, but their favourite place was Turkey where they returned a number of times. Sandra was Ian world and he would do anything for his beloved wife, even when being nagged! despite this Sandra was and always will be the love of his life.

Mum had a highly regarded career in the legal sector firstly at Bird and Bird where she worked for Penny, where she was determined that Penny was going to be a partner and ensured that she was going to make this happen and also she was an amazing organiser and a very dear friend to all those who worked with her during this time, all of whom mum has remained in contact with all these years later. Mum then moved to Morgan Lewis some 20 years later to become the PA for Trevor, who expressed that to this day he still calls his PA in Israel Sandra, due to her perfect ways and often for her greater knowledge in the law then himself!

Sandra became a nan for the first time on the 22nd June 1996, leaving dad with friends that they had to be there for the birth of Lorna Grace and then to Elle Rose on the 6th March 2001 and finally Daisy Frances on the 16th August 2013.

For all of us who are lucky to know Sandra will all agree that she was very organised and liked things just so, she had a vibrancy for life, travel the arts and literature, the conversations (when you could get a word in) always flew around the table and the home cooked meals always waiting for those who were visiting and staying.