MY FIRST VISIT TO JUNE AS AN 'AGE UK' BEFRIENDER WAS IN 2016.

DURING MY VISITS SHE WOULD RECITE VARIOUS POEMS BUT HER FAVORITE ONE WAS 'ABOU BEN ADHEM' WHICH SHE COULD RECITE FROM BEGINNING TO END FLAWLESSLY. I WOULD THEN TELL HER SOME OF MY POEMS I WHICH LEARNT AT PRIMARY SCHOOL IN THE 1960'S. HER FAVORITE ONE OF MINE WAS 'THE COBBLER' & WHEN SHE HEARD THAT ONE SHE WOULD ALWAYS SMILE.

UNE ALSO SHOWED A GREAT INTEREST IN HENRY 8TH & HIS SIX WIVES & IMPRESSED ME WITH HER TERRIFIC KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THEM.

I REMEMBER THAT SHE HAD A STATUE OF NEFERTITI WHICH SHE WAS EXTREMELY PROUD OF & ALWAYS SPOKE ABOUT HER ON MY VISITS.

ONE DAY WHEN I WAS THERE SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD JUST RECEIVED A LETTER ADRESSED TO JUNE WOOD, DECEASED. SHE WASN'T IMPRESSED AT THIS SO WHILE I WAS THERE SHE PHONED THE WRITER OF THE LETTER TO POINT OUT RATHER FIRMLY THAT SHE WAS VERY MUCH ALIVE. I OFTEN THINK ABOUT THIS & HAVE A QUIET CHUCKLE TO MYSELF.

I USED TO TAKE JUNE TO AMERSHAM HOSPITAL FOR HER EYE CHECK-UPS. ONCE THERE WE WOULD REGULARLY DEBATE THE CORRECT WAY TO THE CLINIC. ON ONE OCCASION WITH JUNE LEADING THE WAY WE ARRIVED AT THE FRONT OF THE HOSPITAL HAVING ENTERED  AS USUAL FROM THE CAR PARK AT THE BACK. TRYING TO RETRACE OUR STEPS WE CAME ACROSS THE CAFE AT WHICH POINT JUNE SAID "OH GOOD, LUNCH". I REPLIED THAT I HAD ALREADY EATEN TO WHICH SHE RESPONDED THAT SHE HADN'T & IT WAS WITH SOME DIFFICULTY THAT I MANAGED TO DEFLECT HER IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ACTUAL EYE CLINIC.

I WILL ALWAYS TREASURE THESE MEMORIES & REMEMBER JUNE WITH GREAT FONDNESS.

SUE WELLER