The Blog Suggestion

From : Rosemary Ufot Laurence To: Julie, Tania, Peter, Karen, Joan, adams, Gill, Stuart
Date : 27-Jan (2 days ago) 10:08

Hi All

I'm going to start a blog for Clare to capture all the photos and any stories about her. She used to have a blog so if anyone has the address please let me know and I'll link it.




I shall also link the race for life link.

Anyone want to include anything on it let me know or send me a link to things she was interested in. I'm guessing this will be a life long project but one I shall be very interested in maintaining.

I went to Westminster Cathedral on Thursday after work and as it happened it was a lovely service. They were celebrating the conversion of St Paul and were dressed in white complete with a full choir.

The last time I saw her was at a carol service just before Christmas, in which someone from her work was involved in. There was a nativity and the best of Christmas Carols followed by mulled wine and chat after and we had such a lovely magical evening and promised to try and make it a date every year for as long as we were working alongside each other in Victoria.

Following that I made my way to Bracknell where Stuart met me from Wokingham. During and after a splendid feast prepared by Stuart and drinks supplied by Anne we set about playing music and reminiscing til 3 in the morning and especially playing the first Craig David album which reminded us all of an occasion on a lovely summer day, out of the junk with Anne and Stuart, Clare and some of their friends, chilling, smiling and chatting and feeling generally content with life as this album blasted the airwaves, offending no-one. Clare loved that, and the album thereafter as it always reminded us of this day.

From time to time, happy memories crop up, Clare laughing until she simply couldn't speak with her eyes twinkling. She was always up for a good time and the odd glass of wine or coffee.

We've been blessed to have met Clare and to have had her in our lives. She could always assist with an issue by being the objective person and she was always so good at helping others, sometimes at the expense of herself. Many a time she could boost me with one of her favourite phrases....."I think you're simply amazing!" How open and honest she was and never afraid to hide behind decorum and politeness. When I was looking for my flat, I didn't have a clue about the steps to take. She insisted I spent the w/e with her where she pulled out her incredible filing system and went through everything that need to be done or considered and filled me the confidence to know that with friends like Clare, I too could succeed!

I loved her sense of family as well as her sense of friends, and feel that whilst I only met Anne and Sid on a couple of occasions that I also knew them quite well, through the stories she used to recount.

She loved to travel and went to so many places. Her visit to Nepal was to follow a time of extreme life change which she took on the chin, embraced and moved on. How brave was she?

She loved meeting people and ensuring that everyone had a good time. Indeed the first time I met her she was entertaing a group of some 10 or so women at her home in Lower Cheung Sha and her lasagne (vegetable) was amazing!

She inducted me to the likes of Linkin' Park, with her friend Julie and although they were both excited to be going, it was I who enjoyed the concert more, as after a heavy day of rugby business, they both struggled to stay a wake even to the sound of heavy rock! How many times did Clare go to concerts with the intention of appreciating one of her musically talented heroes, to perhaps miss the first few songs, to spend time with friends enjoying the here and now!

When I returned to London in 2003, she moved round the corner from where I lived at the time in Peckham. On the cuff we decided to have a Christmas celebration at my house, all joining in to cook Christmas dinner, eating and drinking loads, singing at the top of our lungs without a care in the world. Forget festive season and seasonal greetings! We had grown up with Christmas and we wanted to celebrate it and we did! Whilst I fell asleep on the sofa, Clare kept going until 3 in the morning! I didn't see her again until after Christmas although we spoke to each other before. Photos here Christmas Photos What a Blast!


These are just some of the things that are going through my head. That I am thinking about and that I am glad I have experienced with her. Like the time she took me to the Intrepid Fox (hardcore rock pub in Soho which has since shut down) where everyone was dressed in black save the woman who turned up in the pastel colours and felt a little like a fish out of water. Didn't matter to our Clare. Appearances....puh! It was all about the people! There are tons of things and as I think about them I hope to note them down for posterity.

Thanks Tania, Peter for your memories of Clare. She is a peace now and we all have that to be thankful for.

Adios amigos

Rosee