I wrote this 'story' back in Feb 2020, but at the time, we all decided to hold back having it published to celebrate her 100th, as sadly in this day and age, it might have made Lois a target. Sadly however, it has come back now as a tribute to her, which I want to share. I just changed some parts to the past tense...

Feb. 23 2020 - The village of Wedmore recently saw a very special occasion where friends and family gathered at Lois’s home where she lives completely independently, for her much anticipated 102nd birthday. During the lead-up to the date she was regularly checking her lists and planning the delivery times and catering requirements for the 20+ guests expected. Many conversations were taking place between Barbara, Catherine and David her children to refine the program and to keep abreast of any beds to be made or accommodation to be booked for travelers coming from further afield. 

Lois truly was quite a unique person and having endured the two year lockdown period stoically alone day after day, she told me it was worse than any war, as you didn’t know where the enemy was. Today as her niece I am delighted to share some of her landmark dates in the short synopsis of a truly magnificent person, and one I adore. 

Lois was born in her grand-mothers’ home in Birkenhead and lived in Birkenhead just over from Liverpool for most of her young life. Her grand-mother had 9 children so life was constantly on the go. Lois’ mother Shirley Fisher was the youngest of the nine, and was in turn my grand-mother and again she was a unique example of poise, humour and elegance.

A highlight of Lois’ younger years and one that stuck with her and created a love for the seas, is one that at the age of 7 years old saw her see Cammell Laird’s HMS Rodney, being commissioned into the Royal Navy – the date was 7th December 1927. Poignantly however she also adds that later in life, having followed HMS Rodney’s trajectory, she saw the ship scrapped after the war.

Her home was Newport in Southern England where she lived till about 14. She was at the local school from 10 years of age, at St John the Baptist Church of England school in Newport, and stayed until she was 14.

Lois took her Civil Service exam at 14 and was immediately given an appointment to a post at 14, in Swansea, just over the border where she had to live in the local digs. She recalls that the staff were all very kind as she was so young, and that most of the day was taken up learning about income tax.

When the war began ( 3 yrs later ) She would have been 19 in 1939 and there was no release from her reserved occupation duties in any way. She remembers this very strongly and ever since feels great sorrow for so, so many young men as they suffered so much more than the girls in this terrible time, and at such a young life. She also saw her two younger beautiful sisters, Olga and Cicely join the Wrens at the time, but she could not enroll with them, as she was committed to her duties already. 

From Swansea she then moved to Grimsby to live at her parent’s new home, which she remembers as a lovely time and very comfortable after the digs, with her mother Shirley (we all called her Mimi ) and her father also nicknamed Gubby. Gubby had a very demanding time, we were all told, running the Humber Graving Dock in Immingham, and also the smaller Grimsby Doc. 

A special memory Lois recalls of these times, was being allowed to ring in the Welcome to New Year on the ship’s bell. She says today that at the time it seemed quite an ordinary thing to do, but again today, realizes what a quite unique experience it was. Her parents were very proud to see her in this maritime world.

Later on she tells the story of receiving not one, but three proposals on the same day, two by post. Two arrived by post from overseas admirers, and one arrived at the house in person, which as she says with a smile “ was difficult to refuse ”.

The three contenders were not the lucky ones, and in time Lois met and got engaged to Mike Burn in 1945 and they were married ten days later in Bristol due to the call of war. Mike had to go straight back to sea and Lois aged 24 was left to hope to see her sweetheart one day soon.  To celebrate their engagement they went to the one and only Park Street shop that was left standing, as the whole street had been bombed to the ground. This is where they bought their engagement and wedding rings all at once. They were naturally second hand, she tells me, as these were the only ones available in those hard times. “ The shop was surrounded by ruins either side and everything had been bombed out of existence “. 

Lois and Mike were married in Bristol in a little hut in the church yard, because again the church had been completely bombed to the ground. The hut had been consecrated by the Bishop of course!

During Mike’s duties at sea, Lois continued doing her VAD work - Voluntary Aid Detachment, and she then saw Mike leaving Glasgow on his ship heading away to Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. Sometime later he came off the ship in Ceylon and made his way back by sea traveling around South Africa as he was called back for duty at his base in England.

His work with the Royal Marines took Lois to Chatham and Plymouth where they lived mainly in 'rooms' for accommodation – 'Rooms' she adds, were in a house where they sold you your stay, with breakfast and evening meals. She used to tell me that the stories of the Airbnb set up of today, reminded her of her accommodation at that time!

They lived this way for some time until Mike’s father Eric passed away allowing Lois and Mike to buy their first house near Chatham. They also bought a terribly old car, as she puts it, which was their 1st bargain at £100 – this seemed a ridiculous amount of money at the time as she says it would have been thousands today when just married! 

Saying that, the car brought them many great memories, and Mike and Lois were the toast of the town when they cruised along the streets and people bowed as they glided by – if it didn't break down around the corner! Mike took it to many a motorcar meet around the countryside, filling it with a lot of friends in the back, while Lois was busy with their small ones. 

When the war wound up (Mike left the Marines in 1960), the Marine’s let the young men leave their services, and this is when Lois moved to Essex where Mike got a job learning how to be a Company Secretary in a local business. After this post, he went on to work at Marconi’s in Chelmsford and he stayed there until it was time for him to retire.

In time they found their cute home in a quintessentially British village near Meare where they lived many happy years together, and Lois to not so long ago, was able to live here, running the house and the garden on a daily basis, like clockwork. As she reminded me, doing a quick calculation herself (at 102, and faster than me!), that she had (then) lived here one third of her lifetime and would never leave.

This independent life, her connection with her good friends and constant connection with her family, nieces, nephews and grand-children and great grand-children certainly nourished her daily life. Lois keept abreast with current affairs and life’s circumstances, and spent her life looking after so many people in her life, cooking and caring for them without hesitation. The stories are endless.

I enjoyed many rips to Somerset packing my car with delights to cook together ( and shortbread biscuits) and each time I arrived I was welcomed with open arms, and an immaculately made bed had been prepared ahead of arrival. Meals had been planned and waited neatly in the fridge. We talked and laughed, dozed off, and did odd jobs together while exchanging memories. When I last left to return to London, Lois pressed a small bag in my hand saying ” I didn’t know what to put in the sandwiches, so I boiled an egg and made an egg-mayo sandwich to go with the other sandwich with the best cheese from Cheddar Gorge”.

I looked at her with such admiration for her kindness and consideration. What an example she has been to everyone, sharing her approach to life unconditionally without preaching. Just by example. Lois always had a sharp eye too and never missed a trick and really truly cared for everyone around her, always putting herself last. Let's celebrate her beautiful soul and keep her stories alive.

Her secret of a good life she told me at her 102nd birthday: “To have lived by the sea and never forgotten a drop of Chanel 5 - every day”.