We are here today to celebrate Mary's life. We have heard from Irene, her sister in law and listened to a rendition of her favourite poem, I am now here to try and condense memories of 67 years into 7 minutes.

The large number of people here today, is a tribute to Mary and also Norman. They range from those who have known her all her life and were entrusted on pain of death to take care of her on her first day at school, though school friends, Friends and colleagues she met during her career, many members of Rockingham Forest Wheelers Cycling Club and a host of other friends and family from this country and overseas. Mary would have been very touched to know that there is a parallel service of remembrance at St Georges in Vernet les Bains.

We all have our separate memories. I speak for myself. I remember a little sparrow (like Edith piaff,) who always had a smile and was always willing to lend a hand if she could. Her courage during her last illness was immense and an example to us all. She was very self effacing. How wrong was she? All of you here today, the 150 cards, and many e-mails, (which would have been more if Norman had told everyone his email address had changed) bear tribute to the high regard in which she was held.

Her garden was one of Mary's great loves, she inherited green fingers from her father, but trusted no one else in her garden, I remember one year she flew home from France for two days in order to harvest her main crop of potatoes, neither Laurie or I were considered competent enough to do it.

Many of you will not know that Mary had an immaculate driving record. No accidents, scrapes or convictions in 50yrs of driving. Apart from travel and cycling of which you will hear later Mary's other great love for the past 14yrs was Becky the Labrador who sadly passed away less than two days after Mary.

Norman and I have extracted some extracts from some of the many letters and emails he received.

First from her niece who remembers Mary's laughter at some silly thing or other usually things that Norman had done, like go on a camping holiday without the tent.

From Frank O'Conner in Canada: "Mary was such a lovely person, always so kind and generous in her dealings with other people, and always with a gentle smile. A great gardener with the greenest thumb, she could and did make everything grow and her table never lacked for home grown vegetables and fruit. The cycling fraternity has lost a stalwart friend and the Rockingham Forest Wheelers will not be the same without her presents at the club. Ever present behind the canteen counter she must have served every cyclist for more than a hundred miles around, and all this for close on fifty years. That is dedication of the highest order. These cyclists will share in your sense of loss too. I have such fond memories of Mary and yourself when you came sailing with me in the Bahamas, the sun and sand and fun. My fondest memory is being on the beach at Allan's Cay teaching Mary to snorkel and thereby enjoying the underwater world."

Some thoughts from Norman: "Since 1960 Mary has been a friend and since 1968 a companion and loving wife, always doing everything together. We have felt privileged to have had another life in France for the past 22yrs and I know that Mary will be missed in many parts of France.

Holidays were especially precious to us always adventurous before we were married cycling around the coast of Brittany, cycling in Norway one year and then driving the length of Norway to the north cape, returning through Finland and Sweden, with a slight delay when the engine blew up, 10 glorious sailing holidays in the Bahamas, in a Moody 42, always finding a church on Sunday, more than 50 skiing holidays in Europe and North America, never without incident, Youth Hostelling around England, many walking holidays around the Cornish and Welsh coastal paths, and many holidays in the Lakes-always with a Labrador. We had many adventures during a drive behind the 'Iron Curtain' especially in Hungary and Romania. Also through the Atlas Mountains and finally getting stuck in the sand in the Sahara. Many enjoyable twining trips to Velbert and Chaellerault since 1972. There was always a bed in our house for whoever turned up.

Mary never lost her faith. She managed to keep me under control, often with the aid of the 'Beadsworth look' as no one else could. So in conclusion I will have a very difficult job without her but promised her that I'd be OK and will always love her."