One of Mums happiest days, wearing her new hat at Eleanor & Brians wedding.

Mum was born on November 17th 1917 to Rachel and William Eylott, their third child, only daughter with two older brothers who were 9 and 11 years older than her. She was named Doris Kathleen Ellen Blanche  and born and raised in Caversham Reading where her father was a chimney sweep whoi some prestigious clients one of them being Mapledurham House. Both her parents and siblings were brought up in the faith of Salvation Army, with both of her brothers playing in the band and her father was Bandmaster.

Her father had a great sense of humour and was often known to dress up and act the clown to entertain his family but also had a firm hold on life that he instiled in his children.her mother was a gentle and hardworking soul.

Mum had a good upbringing in a family that was comfortably off and she was brought up to be a well mannered young lady, her father used to arrange and pay for  'charabanc' trips (which we would call coach trips nowadays) for the less fortunate to go to the seaside. Her father used to play the piano accordian and also the piano among other instruments and sing-songs were regurlarly held in the family home. this is where mum got her love of singing and music from. She could play music by ear, self taught and even when in her later years her poor deformed arthritic fingers were bent double she still managed to pick out a tune or two on her keyboard.

Life dealt her many a hard knock in her adult life but she never bad mouthed or grumbled about anyone, she always kept her faith and the best view of people, but always under estimated her own beautiful unspoilt nature.  Her family were her life, her friends were their for life, and her grandchildren were special to her, each and everyone importants in her eyes. Even when she was hurt or disappointed by their behaviour she never comdemned, she never stopped loving. She took the lonely and heart sore under her wing, she always managed to scrape an extra meal for the unexpected visitor. she was truly amazing.xxxx

Mum always raised us to believe that community was important part of our lives.
She cherished the elderly and the inferm, and would be found wherever a need was to be met  helping without complaining, selfless and commited to those in need as she felt jesus would do if he where there. she took her role in our street alone very seriously and would be found early morning till late at night cleaning or visiting or running an errand for some elderly person in need.

she took compassion on the lonley and bereaved, and would honour promises made to departed friends by keeping an eye and helping hand on the loved ones they left behind, even if it proved thankless and sad with a bitter end.


she loved her village she loved her country and she loved her family. she would be let down, she would be walked on, she would be taken for granted, but still she held open her arms and door like the prodigal son's father joyfull that she was able to do so.

she accepted change in her family but held firm to her value base and would always be there with a comforting shoulder to cry on, and a purse that would always be empty where she (like the widow in the bible ) would always be prepared to give her last pennies to those of us in need.


we now know that some days she went hungry so we didnt have to,

we now knoiw that she was in pain and grief when she was smiling and rolling her sleeves up putting a brave face on to get the job done in caring for her family.


we now kniow that for a small in stature woman with daint small feet,
she was a giant among us all, and we could never fill her shoes that strode many a mile to rescue a member of her beloved family from distress.


god bless you mum we hold you dear and try our best to keep your values and share them with all xxxxx