Mum (Eileen Iris Hawkins)...Born 7th June 1931 in the East End of London. She was 1 of 3 Sisters & 1 Brother.

At the age of 9 the Luftwaffe started bombing the East End, eventually She was Evacuated out of London to.. Little Oakley in Essex, ironically, not far from the BOMB Factory!... That was a Good idea...not. She was later evacuated to Mid Wales to a place called Pembridge in Herefordshire, where She was living with a local family. She remained there until the end of the war..She and her Sisters did stay in contact with the family they even went to Pembridge a few years ago to visit them.

After the War She worked mainly in shops around the local area of Stratford & Leyton In London.

Eventually meeting and Marrying Bert (Albert Hawkins) in 1949. They went on to start a family...David, Ted, Susan & Ray, we all remained living at 191 Leyton Road, Stratford until 1963 where after having a couple of Holidays in 1961/2 in Clacton Mum & Dad moved us out to.. CLACTON...(with hindsight a Very Good Move).

Mum loved her Bingo.. sometimes winning, but mostly losing.....However, one Day She had a BIG Win...a two week Holiday!.. A week Bermuda, then on to Florida and a second week Sailing home on the QE2..(so if you look under your seats you’ll find your Bingo cards) lol.

Not bad for someone who didn’t want to travel, She went to the USA twice, Bermuda and a Mediterranean Cruise on The Northern Star….plus many other UK Holidays.

In 1985 with Berts health failing Mum & Dad moved to Reedham to live near her Sister Joan.

However, Bert died in March 1986. after which Mum lived for a few years at The Old Rectory in Reedham with her Sister, Joan.

About 1988 She moved again this time to Acle to live with Sue & Dave.. and who would have thought what a Great Job Dave & Sue would do in looking after Her all these 30 years.

Even now the last couple of weeks have been mostly on Dave & Sue’s shoulders….But they are Strong and She ain’t heavy ...She’s our Mother xxx

Mum was never a leader but She had 4 children, 16 Grandchildren and a Minimum of 25 Great Grandchildren... we like to think She lead us the right way….so in closing..

We Don’t Say Goodbye…..we love you Mum xxx