I am very sad to have to tell you that Linda, known affectionally to so many of you as Vee, passed way yesterday after a long illness courageously fought every step of the way.

Vee had fought so bravely and so long .. and although there were times she had despaired of getting well and going home, she seemed to be a little better, and was wanting to make
contact with her many friends in the Meat community ..  and she had so many .. I was just looking at the current card an hour ago and reading the messages and thinking just how many people had signed it ..

My heart goes out to Tom and Annie .. who now have to pick up the pieces of
their shattered lives which will now hold the memory but no longer the hand
of Vee ..  I hope she has just slipped into Henry Scott Holland's "other
room" .. one where she is free of pain and no longer needs to fight for
every breath  .. and from where she can watch over her husband, daughter and
son, and know how much she will be missed. That she truly is just around the
corner .. somewhere where all is well.

She was brave, she was a fighter, she never gave up fighting. Yes, she
deserves to be with us still .. and in many of our hearts she always will
be.

Have a safe and restful journey Vee. We will keep you in our hearts with
fond affection. You may have slipped into that other room, but you will be
with us still. We'll remember the happy times, the excitement of new tour
dates and films we shared, the goodbye message on lists "Have great Meaty
dreams!!", the jokes we shared, the fun we had. Today it's hard not to feel
desolated and very sad .. but tomorrow we'll remember you with laughter and
happy memories.

Her husband has asked that no flowers be sent. Her long illness as many of you know, has proved cripplingly expensive in terms of medication, and stretched them beypnd their milits. If you were thinking of sending flowers, a donation would be very much appeciated. If you would like to contribute towards a donation, please check back here. This has come as a great shock, despite her long illness. But we will set something up, including perhaps a book of condolence for her family.

Death is nothing at all,
I have only slipped away into the next room.
I am I, and you are you; whatever we were to each other,  that, we still
are.
Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy way which you
always used,
Put no difference in your tone, wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we shared together.
Let my name ever be the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of a shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval,
Somewhere very near, just around the corner.
All is well.

Henry Scott Holland
1847 -1918

Caryl .. trying to follow Canon Holland's advice .. although this morning it is very hard.