MARK: What can I say about Mum? Mum had a great sense of humour. She was a tireless driver, ferrying me and my friends for trainspotting at all times of day and night. She was an amazing chef, pest officer, things finder, nurse, and problem solver. She was, all in all, a great Mum and was always there for us.

PAUL: My earliest memories of Mum are from the 1960’s. I remember going to the shops in Prestwood with Mum. I remember Hair! Make-up! Gloves! (It was the 1960’s) Style! Like the iconic First Lady Jackie Kennedy, or the movie star, Dame Joan Collins, Mum always put her best foot forward – only, unlike Joan, Mum always did it with her own, fabulous hair. I never once saw Mum do a “daggy day” in sweats or trackpants. There was never a day when Mark and I weren’t enormously proud to be seen with Mum.

MARK: I remember Mum… coming to all my sports days and every time telling me to “Stop wagging your head when you run!!” I think I have improved! I remember Mum and Gran… arguing in the kitchen. And I remember Mum and Gramp… also arguing in the kitchen – over politics or something! The Jordans were a passionate family – and funny!

PAUL: Mum and Dad met each other at Bradenham Youth Club, Dad the bright, dashing sporting hero, and Mum, well I always felt that Mum had a touch of Elizabeth Taylor to her. When romance sparked at a random meeting at the cinema – a 1954 showing of “Whistle Down the Wind” – I think both Dad and Mum made a great catch.

There was at that time a hint of “Town Mouse meets Country Mouse” in their story. Yet the life they made together was as International Mice. If you sit in Mum and Dad’s living room and look around, you will see furniture, photographs, ornaments and art …that speak of an incredible global journey made together – an international kaleidoscope of places, people, and experiences. And it was into that international world that Mum and Dad brought Mark and me.

MARK: When we moved from the UK to Canada we were not prepared for the vast variations in temperature in Montreal. When I locked the keys in the car on a cold, winter’s day – I mean around minus 20 degrees, – and we were standing outside… without any coats… or scarves… or gloves… for over an hour… until the rescue truck arrived… that’s when we realized what an adjustment this really was. But we did adjust. And Mum made a fabulous home for us in Montreal. My friends loved my Mum’s hospitality, her warm welcome and her food.

PAUL: Mum really went up in my estimation when I turned 10. My 8th birthday was special. A trip to Paris! My 9th birthday was special too because just a few days later we took off for America at a time when nobody from England went to America on holiday!! Now it was my 10th birthday. Double figures. So this had to be really special. Only this time Dad was away, travelling with work, and Mum had to pull this one out of the bag on her own. Could she do it?? My ten-year-old mind was uncertain.

“Don’t worry,” said Mum. “You watch. Invite your friends. I’ll make some food. I’ll organise and run some games. And I’ll stage some challenges.” Come the day, I couldn’t believe it. Mum pulled it off. Tha party was awesome. My friends loved it and they told me “Paul, your mum is cool!” And I could see that they were right!

MARK: Mum was a caring and gentle person but could be quite clear and firm when she needed to be! She would always make sure that we were properly dressed for every occasion. She taught us good manners and a knack for connecting with people.

PAUL: Mum could speak easily to anyone, from the person on the street to ambassadors and heads of state. Mark and I learned that from her. Mum’s Welsh genes gave her great eloquence. Mum was a words person, a Grammar guru, a Crosswords meister and a Poet. The other day a viewer of one of my channels said to me “Paul, I can see where you get your speaking skills from.” He said this because he had just watched online a video of Dad fronting the press at an International Security event. And that’s true but I got it from Mum too. For me to get the words right… it is always Mum’s voice that guides me.

Her thoughtful gifts of books and of her own curiosity nurtured the same inquisitiveness in me. And I know that I could not do… the work I do without the foundation that Mum gave us.

MARK: Mum would have made a great detective. She was an enthusiastic birdwatcher and a keen observer of people. And she had great judgement. In times of stress and sadness Mum was a great carer and comforter.

PAUL: Mum was a wonderful wife to my Dad, and a great Mum for me and Mark, and more than that she was a GREAT FRIEND to many – a friend, a big sister, a confidante. Never disloyal. Never one to forget a friend. Mum’s friendships were decades long, her longest friendship approaching 86 years with my Auntie Mary. Mary lives in Australia but is very much with us today in spirit and she has sent us these words:

Thank you, Aunty Mary!

Mum loved her Church, thank you Reverend Dick Luther, and thank you Reverend Patches Chabala, her flower arranging, her birdwatching, amateur dramatics, and the Women’s Institute.

Mum’s curiosity and sharp mind meant that she was often the “rebel” in a small group. Good for Mum! She spoke up when others wouldn’t, for fear of embarrassment, and was willing to say, “Wait a minute! That doesn’t make sense.” Dick, thank you for always appreciating and respecting Mum for all that she brought to the circle. And I think Mark and I have learned from that rebel spirit too.

As a writer, Mum’s most famous poem was, I think, COME DOWN A BUCKS – a tongue-in-cheek celebration of the people and culture of her own home county, with a style that, I think could have given the great PAM AYRES a run for her money. I’ll give you the start and the finish:

And so it goes on…

It concludes…

MARK: This is why when we scatter Mum’s ashes it will be in Bucks on West Wycombe Hill.

MARK: To us Mum was a star. Paul and I feel lucky that she was our Mum and not somebody else’s.

PAUL: Icon of the Silver Screen, Bette Davies famously said, “Old Age isn’t for sissies.” This is something that Mum quoted to us just the other day. Coincidentally, the last book I ever gave Mum begins with those exact words. It was by another Betty, the amazing, the late Betty White. She says this:

Mum certainly showed us that. The last ten years for Mum were challenging, health wise… and the last few months very challenging. And yet… with humour and grace and fortitude, Mum lived through it.

Just recently my musical hero TINA TURNER died at the age of 83 burdened with a similar cocktail of illnesses and physical challenges to Mum’s. And about that, Tina said this: “MY ILLNESSES ALL CAME AT THE RIGHT TIME, WHEN I WAS RETIRED, WHEN I DIDN’T HAVE TO BE ANYWHERE OR DO ANYTHING.”

And the same was true for Mum. And if there was a Silver Lining to these challenging years and months it was the incredible care given by my Dad, supported by my brother Mark. This silver lining meant that Mum was in no doubt concerning how greatly she was loved. And with the wonderful support of friends and carers it meant that at the end Mum was at home and surrounded by love all the way through.

There was one thing that bothered Mum. More than once she said to one or other of us, “I just don’t know what it’s all about, what I’m here for, what my purpose is.” Mum, you answered that question just a couple of weeks ago when you said to Dad, “WE HAVE HELPED EACH OTHER.” If you can say that then you have done it. If you have given and received love, which you have, then you have done what you came for.