After 7 years we moved to Gosport as Dad became the pastor at Solent Evangelical Church. Two years later Mum did a full year’s Health Visitor training course at Southampton University coinciding with Andrew’s first year there. From 1982 Mum worked for a few years part time as a Health Visitor and also used her health training in running weight loss and aerobics sessions at our church (Brockhurst Baptist). In 1986 they moved a mobile home into Mum’s parent’s garden to be closer to help her mother and sister since her father had died. She also helped look after Andrew’s children. Around this time she took a job as a nurse at Northcott House nursing home and joined Stoke Road Baptist Church. Her sister, Fran’s, children stayed for some weeks when Fran was ill. In 1999 Mum retired from her nursing home job to look after Ruth’s children 2-3 days a week.* Sarah, Mary-Jane's eldest daughter, also came to stay Monday to Friday during term time for two years, while she attended a Christian school near Winchester.

For 7 years prior to her retirement, Mum went to Horton Heath Baptist Church, where Dad was pastor, as well as Stoke Road. After retiring she had more time for church ministries. She was part of the music group; helped with the parent and toddler group and ran the Alpha programme with Dad. Later she was pastoral care co-ordinator and for a few years, on the church leadership team. With Dad,* she enjoyed breaks at The Christian Resources Exhibition every year and often at Spring Harvest, Keswick or New Wine, and other short coach breaks. By this stage Mum’s Mum was needing a lot more care as she had dementia. Mum looked after her at home (with help from Dad, Fran and social services carers) until she died in 2008.  I found a note in Stella’s Autograph book, written in 1946, when Mum was aged 8 or 9. It read * “Always be good to your mother, remember you have but one. Give her the best of everything until her day is done.” She surely lived up to this ideal herself in her care of her own Mother.