Rosemary Bronwen Spencer-Thomas
My sister, Rosemary Bronwyn Spencer-Thomas, 75, passed away peacefully on 10 November 2022.
Her funeral took place at St Augustine’s Church, Cambridge on 29 November.
Bron spent her last seven weeks in Cambridgeshire, cared for by the staff at Arlington Manor Nursing Home in Girton, Cambridge.
Below is my tribute to Bron, read at her funeral.
You can also see the Bron’s order of service.
Tribute to Bron
“Bron will be missed, a lovely, kind person. My prayers are with you.” So said one of her many friends and acquaintances who have written to us since she passed away earlier this month.
“She always had a wonderful smile on her sweet face and such interesting stories to tell. I was especially fond of her,” said another.
“Really sad news for all of us. She will be in our thoughts” wrote one of her neighbours. “She was such a lovely lady.”
And another who said, quite simply and sincerely, “I don’t think I have ever met a kinder person.
These and other condolences which have come our way in the past weeks have been so comforting to us, her immediate family. In a sense, these wonderful tributes were her final gift to us.
Bron was born in 1947, one of the Baby Boomers.
Ours was a farming family. She and I grew up in the village of Braughing, in Hertfordsire, where our father ran an arable farm, growing mainly wheat and ordinary vegetables such as Brussels sprouts and parsnips which we sold to the London markets such as Borough, Spitalfields and the former Covent Garden market.
My sister’s first school was in Much Hadham where the head teacher taught the children a range of subjects, including speech training, hence Bron’s clear and beautiful voice.
She later attended the Herts and Essex High School for Girls in Bishops Stortford where she developed an interest in science.
Having gained good ‘A’ Level results, Bron was accepted at The University of Edinburgh. She studied a range of subjects including economics and meteorology and graduated as a Bachelor of Science.
She went on to train as a teacher at the College of St Mark and St John in Kensington – Mar-John, they called it. And there Bron discovered her talent for teaching maths and began work as a supply teacher.
After several successful years teaching, she decided to do something more exciting with her life and started training as a glider pilot. She soon clocked up the necessary flights and flight hours for gaining her licence, applying the knowledge she had acquired from studying meteorology to negotiate the rising thermals and find the ideal spot to fly and stay airborne – such skills, and what an eco-friendly way to travel!
Bron spent most of the last twenty-five years of her life in Reading at her home on the bank of the river Thames. She very much enjoyed being part of the community of residents at The Warren, Mapledurham. They were friendly, kindly neighbours who often hosted parties in each other’s homes or gardens. Bron had a good sense of humour and could tell a good story.
She told me of the day when an intruder took advantage of one host’s garden party hospitality, and broke into her home. One of the guests noticed a shadowy figure lurking on the first floor of the house and immediately alerted the owner. “My Dear,” she asked. “Do you usually keep a young twenty-year old man… [she paused] in your bedroom?”
Sadly, Bron never married. There was a special man in her life, and they planned to marry, but tragically Bob died before they tied the knot. Yet, she was always a sociable person, and made many friends, and much enjoyed other people’s company.
Bron became a member of Phyllis Court Club at Henley-on-Thames where she did much of her entertaining. On several occasions she treated us to the luxury of a strawberry tea and a riverside view during Henley Royal Regatta week. What a treat!
For the last fifteen months of her illness, she left Reading and moved to Hewgate Court in Henley to be close to her friends at Phyllis Court. Once again, she soon built friendships with her new neighbours, who so generously supported and cared for her during her latter days. She was admitted to the Royal Berkshire Hospital for two spells during that time.
It’s wonderful that we have representatives from both her Reading and Henley friends with us today and we can, on her behalf, thank them in the context of this church service. Indeed, all of you here today have brought comfort and kindness to us, Bron’s family, at this sad time. Bless you all.
As one who knew her own mind, my sister was a tolerant, but determined person, who was not easily dissuaded from her own viewpoint. When she contracted breast cancer, she decided to keep the matter to herself until it became clear that she had a terminal illness. She believed that a particular form of dieting was a better alternative to
the standard medical practice in our hospitals.
Bron had a long and brave battle with cancer, but fortunately we were still able to enjoy several holidays and outings together. Her last time in the air was when Meg treated her to a balloon ride over the city of Oxford where she got a bird’s eye view of Christ’s Church school which I attended when I was a mere boy.
An especially memorable holiday was the week we spent together this summer at the Grand Hotel, Eastbourne, where we celebrated her 75th birthday. By then she was beginning to be in terrible pain, but she soldiered on courageously.
Bron spent her last seven weeks close to us in Cambridge, where she was cared for by the dedicated staff at Arlington Manor Nursing Home. She was able to join in some of the social life there and impressed her fellow residents with her wide-ranging general knowledge.
During her last week with us in Cambridge, Bron went into decline quickly and passed away very peacefully on 10 November having fought her cancer with such courage and determination.
Earlier this morning we committed her body to God’s care during the burial at the Arbury Trust Woodland Ground. We give thanks for her life, and will remember her with love and deep affection.
May she rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen.
The Blessing
Unto God’s gracious mercy and protection, we commit you.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace, both
now and evermore. Amen.
