My mother, Anneke Siebrand was friends with Lyn from the eighties onward from the time they both suffered form M.E. My mum came back to The Netherlands in 1990 and as good friends they were, they kept in touch. About ten years ago my mum (as did Lyn's mum) started to be 'forgetful' which turned into a full blown dementia. My mum died last year at 80 from this horrible disease. In all these years Lyn and I kept in touch, to keep her in the loop of my mum's not so well being. When my mum died last year I of course phoned Lyn up to ask if she could make it to the service in Amsterdam which she couldn't. I called her two months ago to see if she would appreciate it if I could come by and would she be interested in scatter some of my mum's ashes in a place of her choice in the neighbourhood of Colchester where my mum lived for nearly 8 years. She welcomed the idea so we made plans for a date somewhere around the 22nd of July. I was staying with my sister in the North and a couple of days prior to our meeting I phoned her up but discovered that her phone was disconnected. My brother in law called BT to see if we could learn a bit more (faulty line?) but we didn't and also e-mails weren't replied so things started to look a bit worrying. So I left the North with an unsettling feeling which was confirmed about 6 hours later when I knocked Lyn's door. Only when I knocked one of the neighbours doors I learned the very sad news of Lyn's death. Knowing not what to do and knowing nobody in Colchester I left for Holland and once home wrote a letter to Lyn's address, hoping someone of her family or friends would answer me. Barry was kind enough to let me know what happened two months ago. I have met Lyn only twice, once in the UK and once in The Hague where my mother lived but I spoke to her many times on the phone and I found her a very kind person who was interested in my mum's well being and in mine too. A terrifically nice lady and I will miss our telephone conversations. Roel Siebrand, Amsterdam

My name is Sonny and I am one of Lyn’s nephews. I spent a lot of time with her when I house sat at Clacton my grandmothers house. I am pleased to say I had time to get to know her and I am honoured to read this Eulogy Not many people can say they were born in a tin Nissan hut on an airfield but Lyn Williamson was. Lyn was born on April 16 1949 in hut number 22 on site 7 at Boreham airfield. With a central block for shared toilets and a large water tap in the Centre, she came into this world to join her brother Barry. A year later the family moved to Jubilee Avenue in Broomfield where their sister Valerie and then their brother Nick were born. When Lyn was 11 years old the family moved to a beautiful thatched cottage newly renovated by her father in Little Waltham. Lyn and the family spent many gloriously happy years in Tudor Cottage. She had many fabulous memories of love, fun, togetherness and sunny days. One memory of hers was of her younger brother lying on the bonnet of their mum’s Ford Anglia estate while she was drove it around the garden; her little brother trying to cling on with his nails as she cornered at breakneck speed grinning her head off. She attended Broomfield primary school, until 11 and then Broomfield Secondary Modern, leaving there at the age of 15, with not much of an education but a brilliant collection of “Beatles” bubblegum cards. After she left school, Lyn went to a Hairdressing academy in London and qualified as a ladies hairdresser. For six years she worked in various hairdressing salons in London. Some of this time was spent living in a family friend’s flat in Golders Green Monday to Thursday nights. However, she realized this was not the career she wanted. There was more knowledge, more challenges; a career in teaching. She returned to the family home in Little Waltham and attended Chelmsford Technical College to train as a secretarial teacher. As expected she gave 100%, worked hard and gained her qualifications. She then started her new career at Queens College, London. She met a lifelong friend Ruth, and developed her teaching skills and undoubtedly enjoyed city life. Lyn then got a job at Colchester institute teaching secretarial and business studies. It wasn’t entirely easy working there but she made many long lasting and close friends, not just with the other lecturers but with the students .One being Amanda who spent a huge amount of time with Lyn and had they had some great times together. Lyn took voluntary retirement after 18 years. Being a feisty lady she wouldn’t accept the working conditions the college was insisting on. Good on you Lyn!! Miss Williamson was full of surprises and times they were a changing!! From hairdressing to teaching and lecturing! What next? Remedial Massage of course!! Setting up at home she worked hard getting clients, learning a multitude of new skills and going on courses: acquiring more and more knowledge every day. As to be expected with Lyn she made more friends and had various adventures in this country and aboard. Time moved on and Lyn retired a few years ago. On retiring Lyn had more time to participate in walking holidays. Being a member of the Ramblers Association she enjoyed nothing more than a good walk in her favorite, fur lined Barbour jacket which she regularly oiled. She was equally happy walking in the rain as in the sun. In fact LYN LOVED THE RAIN. She also enjoyed doing cross word puzzles. There was always a pile of finished and half-finished puzzles on her conservatory table. Sudoku became a passion too. Reading a good book gave her great pleasure. She read most of the classics and kept up to date with a lot of modern works. Eating out was a joy and regular occurrence .She loved socialising with friends and family. She would often travel up to London to watch plays at The Globe theatre. One of the last times she went to the pictures was to see the screening of Monty Python live. Lyn really enjoyed going away but she loved returning to her beautiful home. Lyn’s first house was a cottage in Pakenham Nr Bury St Edmunds, which she bought from her dad, after he had renovated it for her. It was a fabulous little place in a tiny little village great for walking, she loved it and would have stayed there but it was too far away from work and of course Mum and Dad. She then moved to Panfield lane in Braintree. She stayed there a few years but, as she was now settled into Colchester Institute, she sold the house and bought 27 Albert Street in Colchester where she lived for 30 years until now. This was the hub of all her activities of which there were many. She had a mad little dog called Poppy which would often escape the lead in the park near Lyn’s house. Lyn, red faced, huffing and puffing would search and search for as she called it “The Little Sod”!!!! Her brother Nick saw her in a lay-by once on the road to Wivenhoe about 4 miles from her house. He stopped the car and asked what she was doing to which she replied. I’m releasing all the snails I caught in my garden. “Their homing you see, and I have to release them over 2 miles from the house or the little buggers come back”!!!!! Lyn has some tough times and that included developing M.E. This debilitating condition lasted about 5 to 6 years but she managed to overcome it with some treatment in Nassau Bahamas, a trip she went on with her parents and her nephew Byron. She went on to run the Colchester M.E. group for many years, even after she had recovered. Her friends Jan, Valerie and Helen from the group met regularly and enjoyed occasional lunches together. Lyn was a great support to them all. Again Lyn’s personality came though and she gained more close friends. Lyn’s Mum had vascular dementia and for 9 years and Lyn dedicated herself to care for her. Every weekend from Friday night to Monday morning she spent in Clacton. Although the care of looking after anyone with dementia is physically and emotionally challenging Lyn did it so brilliantly and Mum wanted for nothing. You could often see Mum and Lyn having a giggle. Lyn took it hard when her Mum died. You see they were the closest of friends. When our wonderful uncle Alan became ill, Lyn was there of course to bring some additional sunshine into his life. When Alan passed away Lyn dedicated herself to her Aunt Gill. Gill says : “ Lyn was my rock “ !! So this has been a brief history of Lyn’s very full and interesting life. She was compassionate and caring. She was filled with such love of people that caring for anyone in distress or need was paramount in her life. Quietly without fuss, without reward, without recognition she was there for many of us in this church; happy, smiling, and constant. Lyn could be relied on entirely. A friend to many, a sister, an aunty, a dedicated daughter. So next time you’re enjoying a good book or having a scrumptious meal, remember Lyn. Or, of course when you’re simply walking in the rain with tiny splashes of water touching you gently on the face, look up and say … Bless you. We remember you Lyn Williamson.

Lyn was a kind and soft spoken woman She was the daughter of very good friends of mine and my late husband, I thought of Lyn as a friend. I have fond memories of Lyn who would make sure she was with mum when I would visit, not always easy for her but Lyn was always so patient. Lyn will be missed by all who loved her. Ronnie