My late wife Mair and I first met Shirley when she joined the Chelmsford and District Welsh Society many years ago. Mair was the society secretary for 24 years and she worked closely with Shirley on a wide range of activities and fund-raising projects. Shirley was always full of new ideas and she appreciated the willing support of society members. Being involved with Shirley and Don had a great influence on our lives. Planned restful weekends- became a Friday night drive to Dolgellau; climbing all 2,900 feet of Cadair Idris (Idris’s Chair); enjoying visits to a wide range of Welsh restaurants; fund raising dinner parties at Radley Green Farm; swimming in their pool: organising Halloween ‘spectaculars’ and other events; meeting so many Roxwell and district residents at local concerts; attending concerts at the Royal Albert Hall - seated in a ‘box’ with a great view; wonderful cultural evenings in the ‘village hall’; assisting with so many events at Radley Green Farm. We only saw part of Shirley’s wide range of support of charity work at both local and national level. When we moved to Cambridgeshire our first ‘visitors’ were Shirley and Don. The plant they brought still has pride of place in our garden. The warmth of hospitality at Radley Green Farm was always of the highest order and much appreciated by everyone. Shirley enjoyed a ‘good laugh’ and at times she was most mischievous. She was responsible for floral decorations at the annual St. David’s Day Dinner. Daffodils, cultivated at Radley Green, brightened up the dining room tables. However, on more than one occasion the daffodils were replaced by leeks! There is a popular Welsh song – ‘We’ll keep a welcome in the hill-sides’. There was always a wonderful warm welcome at Radley Green Farm. My wife Mair died in August 2023 after a long illness. Shirley, together with a large contingent of Chelmsford Welsh Society members, attended her funeral. In September, I received a large box of daffodil bulbs with strict instructions to plant them in memory of Mair. The daffodil flowered in Spring and were magnificent – they cheered me up. Next year, when they bloom again, I shall think of my much loved Mair - and the thoughtfulness of Shirley! Shirley’s inspiration, her enthusiasm, her humour, her friendliness, her generosity and her kind deeds will never be forgotten by anyone who had the good fortune to know her. No words of mine can express the depth of gratitude that the Chelmsford and District Welsh Society owed to Shirley – and this is true of so many other local societies, charities and organisations. ‘Mewn pob daioni y mae gwobr’. There’s reward in every goodness. Diolch yn fawr iawn Shirley. Brian Thomas

Thank you for setting up this memorial to Shirley. We hope that you find it a positive experience developing the site and that it becomes a place of comfort and inspiration for you to visit whenever you want or need to.

I am I and you are you, whatever we were to each other that we still are. Speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? Life means all that it ever meant, it is the same as it ever was.