Today the World is a poorer place. My wife Caroline passed away after finally succumbing to cancer after a two year battle. Caroline personality and demeanour touched everyone that she met. Her kindness, her sense of adventure, her sense of humour and above all her selflessness were all overwhelming attributes that humbled everyone. Beneath the easy going exterior lay a drive and determination to do what was right

Caroline was an absolute fantastic chef working in many different sectors and establishments She had a reputation of being organised and tough in the kitchen. However, all those that worked with her had a huge amount of respect for her and remained friends with her. In recent years she built a reputation for making the best Christmas puddings struggling to keep up with the ever burgeoning demand from friends and family.

Her biggest life success was the manner in which she raised her family. Caroline typically applied her own behaviours and values to our children. Caroline was a very loving and caring mother and nothing was more important to her. As a consequence of Caroline's direction Georgina and Joseph, are people that we are extremely proud. They are absolute credit to her memory. Caroline always supported me in everything I did and was a huge part of my life and together we were a formidable partnership.

We were teenage sweethearts meeting whilst both at college in 1980. Caroline and I married on 19th July 1986 at Knowle Methodist Church and bought our first house in Brislington. I was, and still am, the luckiest man in the world. I had married the girl of my dreams and someone I absolutely adored.

Caroline's love of music an dance was infectious. Caroline was a trained dancer and very proud of her ballroom trophies she won as a child. However, Caroline loved nothing better than attending a gig loving all types of pop and rock music. She was avid follower of new music and would only listen to Radio 1 and was kept up todate by her children. In fact when we attended a very muddy Glastonbury in 2007 it was plain as day that Caroline had landed in heaven especially as the Killers were headlining.

Nothing really fazed Caroline. She dealt with every situation with the same assured determination. Carolne was fostered by Mrs Hilda Ball (Nan) from an early age alongside Anne (Nan's daughter) and Davids family allowing Caroline to grow up with Mark and Karen as brother and sister. Caroline also spent a lot of time with her Aunty Joy and cousin Teri in her early chilhood. Caroline always appreciated that she had a loving family network around her and shaped her into the person as we know today.

There is no one I know who showed such uncomplaining determination, courage and bravery as she did to fight the onslaught of cancer. I am convinced as a consequence of her determination we were blessed with an additional year that we should never have expected. Her battle against cancer started 7 years when she had a major skin graft to remove a melanoma from her back. We all breathed a sigh of relief when she was given the whole clear 5 years later. However, this proved premature with the melanoma returning with avengence at the end of 2010. The melonoma had spread throughout her body including her lungs and liver. New trial drugs were used to shrink the tumours with some notable and unique success. So successful was the treatment the family even managed to travel to Mexico for a holiday in November.

Alas our hopes were dashed with the resurgence of the melanoma after Christmas. She continued to fight the cancer with the support of St Peters Hospice, District Nurses and the Bristol Oncoligy Dept. Caroline never ever gave up despite the overwhelming spread of this dreadful disease. She finally succumbed ton 14th July 2012 at St Peters Hospice.

Thankfully, Caroline is at peace now and is no longer suffering. However she has been cruelly taken from us at such a young age something that will be extremely difficult to come to terms with. Georgina, Joe, myself, her wider family and the countless number of friends will never forget Caroline and will deeply miss her. We all feel deeply privileged and honoured to have known her for 48 short years. Our focus now turns to ensuring our children Georgina and Joseph succeed in their lives and become the sort of people Caroline would be proud.

RIP my "English Rose"

Paul