Devizes, 9th January, 2012
My very dear Friend,
It is hard to recal that just a couple of months
In other ways, too, Jonty wil make himself
ago you and I sat and contemplated how our
present; your son, Tom, laughs in the same hearty
futures would look as we wrinkled and aged. Over way that his father laughed, his head back and the coffee and biscuits you appeared confident in
eyes closed in total submission to the moment of
the knowledge that Jonty would always be there
mirth. I can see Jonty come alive in Tom in those
beside you. Life can throw some bitter shafts at us moments. Gemma, too, when she is concentrating, when we least expect them. No-one would have
has an endearing way of letting her tongue
supposed that under his athletic and cheerful
protrude, a very little, over her bottom lip whilst
exterior there lurked a rogue cell that would expand furrowing her brow in deep consideration of the to sap his energy and his courage. Al your friends subject in hand. When the memory of Jonty's pass-admired the bravery you displayed in caring so
ing has faded and the horrors of losing him subsid-
gently for him in his sudden il ness, never
ed, your recol ection of the Jonty you so love, wil
complaining nor taking time off. You were com-
re-emerge in those little mannerisms that make
pletely selfless in tending to his every need and yet your children Jonty's true heirs. You are grieving stil listening to the woes of our circle, their com-now, but in time I know you will learn to read Jonty
plaints and moans over trivia. How
fluently in your children's faces.
trite and unimportant those troubles
must seem to them now. I mention
I was only privileged to have known
this because I am sure that this same
your husband for a very short time
resilience is what will see you
but he was a treasured friend to so
through the future without Jonty and
many in our community and one
help you to continue to be the terrific
whom I shal miss sorely.
person that you are.
I'l have the coffee and the biscuits
Jonty was a wonderful man, so
ready when you feel like a hug or a
wise, so gentle and so talented. He
chat.
was tolerant of other people's short-
comings. He must have ached to
Always available for you, my dearest
step in and do the jobs, he would have been so
friend, in sympathy and with my love,
capable of doing, or taking over when he saw
someone, a friend, or the children perhaps making