Lynne Horsecroft Tribute

i miss you more and more each day, memories become harder to have and i love you so much. I have needed you wanted you and missed you so much mum, my life is not the same without you.
Thank you for being my mum and for loving me the way you did. Without your love i wouldnt be who i am
xx

Lynne was born on the 25th April 1952 in Chiswick to her parents Leonard and Jean Cayzer. She was the oldest of 6 children, having 4 sisters - Janet, Barbara, Sharon and Elizabeth, and one brother - Derek.

The family moved around alot before settling in New Malden in Surrey where Lynne attended Comb County Secondary school and met her friends Jane, Dulcie, Joy and Linda.

She was a bit of a rebel as a teenager and used to get into trouble at school so the teachers decided to make Lynne a prefect to learn responsibility which she did, and she settled down and decided education would be a good thing and proceeded to achieve O levels and A levels in just two years.

During her school years Lynne worked at Woolworths on a Saturday and in 1970 she got a job at Great Ormand Street hospital in the ECG department.

In September 1972 Lynne married Phillip and had Clare in 1975. She gave up work at this time but wasnt happy being a stay at home mum, and helped health visitors weigh the babies in the clinic, she became a childminder and also got a job as a cleaner at a convent, but had to give this up when Clare decided to take a bath with one of the nuns!!

After this Lynne got a part time job at Marks and Spencer's as a deputy Supervisor and in 1977 she completed an Open University course 'the pre school child' and was also a Samaritans councellor.

In 1979 Lynne became a Lay Licenced Minister for the Church of England and her ministry began.

In 1983 after Lynne's divorce, she and Clare moved to Lower Early in Reading and Lynne became an active member of St Nicholas Church.

Lynne took a job at the Battle Hospital as a Senior Cardiac Technician under Dr.Bell and stayed in this role until she retired due to ill health in 2001.

In 1986 Lynne and Clare moved to Northumberland Avenue into Hospital accommodation and changed to St Agnes Church as they lived just next door. Again she was very involved in the ministry and church life, helping to start up all different groups and meetings for Christians and non Christians in Whitley.

It was in 1988 that Lynne met Lorna at St Agnes and they became good friends. In 1990 Lynne applied to Achom to become a Deacon. They affirmed her ministry but thought academically she would not cope. Lynne did not take this lying down so she did a St Johns extension course to prove them wrong!!

In 1991 Lorna became homeless and was living at the vicarage, the hospital kept raising Lynne's rent so someone suggested they put their money together and buy a house.

In October they moved to Hexham road and in 1996 they moved to Millbank Crescent.

In 1992 Lynne was diagnosed with Cushions Disease a few weeks before a holiday to Israel the holy lands. Two days before departure, Lynne's first grandson Nicholas was born, and in January 1993 she had her first operation in Oxford. The operation went well and she was told that if it was to come back, it would be within the next three years.

In 1995 Lynne's second grandson Jordan was born and in 1996 just at the end of the three years the tumour had returned.

Lynne went on to have 5 more operations, two gammer knife radio surgeries but still she carried on.
She retired from the Battle Hospital in 2001 but got jobs tutoring drink driving courses and stop smoking courses.

But in 2005 she had to give that up because she began to lose her sight. Lynne was a passionate person and if she thought something was unjust she would fight for her beliefs.

After the first operation Lynne nearly died but instead of giving up or suing the hospital, she started a support group called Cushie to help others and together with the doctors, drew up a protocol for new patients. Thats the kind of person she was.

If Lynne thought that something wasnt what God wanted she would say so and would get herself into lots of trouble!

After her illness progressed in September 2006, and she couldnt walk far or see much, she still went to friendship group and attended some church services. She insisted on having her nails painted bright red and when people asked her about them she would say 'i am being rebellious'
She attended Erics funeral and also a healing service where she decided to have a discussion in the middle of the sermon.

The next day she was taken to hospital and while there she wrote words to her two boys and family in the forms of letters and poems (they can be found on here also). She came through and on Friday the 10th November she had a race horse night with all her family and friends.

She had a very good time and enjoyed having everyone around her. Thats how she wanted it.
On Sunday morning she went to be with her God in peace.

She will never be forgotten xx

Written by Clare and Lorna for Lynne's funeral which was 21st November 2006