It has been both a privilege and a joy to have had Colleen in my life for the past fifty-plus years, both as an extended family member and a friend.

As a child, visits to or from the Browns were always eagerly anticipated and Colleen would bring energy, fun and laughter to every situation. Her presence also exuded the very merest hint of peril - mess with me at your cost!  I was clearly a bit of a slow learner in this regard and trips to the beach often involved a spell of being lifted up and plonked onto the highest groyne from where it was impossible to move - did she invent the ‘naughty step’?

Colleen always lived life to the full - and had the tales to tell as a result. She also had a fabulous memory for detail and delighted in recounting the many scrapes that she had got into, especially during her long nursing career.  It was no surprise that, in later life, she discovered the Red Hatters and threw herself into their high jinks with customary energy and enthusiasm.

Teresa and I also have many happy memories from her visits to us in Northumberland, especially on the wobbly bridges at Alnwick Gardens and the double-take when we appeared in fat-suits as 2 larger-than-life chefs.  Her advice and encouragement in the gardening department was always welcome and much appreciated.

The last few years brought a new set of painful and difficult challenges - first the loss of her beloved Eric and then the cancer diagnosis and treatment. Somehow she managed to retain a level of stoicism and resilience that was simply inspirational.  It seems impossible to believe that, only a few weeks ago, she was laughing and joking with us all and enjoying a huge milky coffee in the hospital cafe. 

Colleen will be greatly missed but she will live on in the very many happy memories of all those whose lives she touched and, especially, in the 3 generations of her family, of whom she was immensely proud.