Julie was born in Havant in Hampshire in June 1927, the youngest of three children and the only daughter of Robert Stagg, ex-Royal Flying Corps and a talented engineer, and Winifred (Betty). Julies mother was a Matson, one of a large local family, philanthropically-inclined and originally from Harrogate in Yorkshire. During the War and after her father retired, Betty was the mainstay of the family fish and game business. Betty was a force of nature. 

Julie often talked of a happy, largely care-free and want-free childhood, part of a close family and much pampered by her father, uncles and grandfather. Havant was a small town in 1930, eight miles from Portsmouth and still largely rural. Her memories were of collecting watercress from the mill pond, picking blackberries with her playmates, riotous family Xmas dinners for 20 or more - and a series of beloved childhood pets. Particularly vivid in her memory, some 80 years later, were her numerous animal rescue exploits, sometimes hair- raising, and the reactions of her indulgent father. 

Animals and animal welfare became lifelong passions. The Nightingale Dogs at Red Court never had a bigger fan. And Julie was defiantly and obdurately vegetarian all her adult life. War broke out in her third year at Purbrook High School, the family built an Anderson shelter in the back garden and carried on. As they got old enough, Julies two brothers enlisted: Roy to the Royal Air Force to train as a pilot and Bobby to the Navy. Her father and uncles enlisted in the Army. The Portsmouth blitz began in 1940, the city got an absolute pasting and the Shelter got a fair amount of use. Havant was frequently strafed and Julie used to love to tell the story of how she was once chased by a Doodlebug, suddenly ominously silent, and peddled so hard she came off her bike in a ditch. In 1942 her younger brother, Bobby, was killed in action serving as a Sub-Lieutenant in motor torpedo boats in the Channel. Julie never got over his death and had his photograph beside her when she died. 

Julie left school at 17 in 1944 and worked for the Admiralty in a research unit developing anti-mine technology. Her boss, whom she hugely admired, was the scientist, Francis Crick, who went on to identify DNA. She hated saying so - Julie was militantly antiwar - but she had the time of her young life: doing her bit, helping with important work, couriering reports to a blacked out London, air raids, dancing with American officers at the Waldorf. War ended just as she was packing to go to Ceylon with her Unit for the War in the Pacific. Then a whirlwind romance with Edward, a dashing Lieutenant Commander from a nearby Royal Naval Air station, and she walked into married life, aged 18, through an arch of officers swords. 

The postwar Navy was party-central. People had lived through tough times and wanted to dance. Julie was attractive and sociable and young. She loved to dress up and go to parties. She and Edward lived a life of Mess dos, tennis matches (Julie was a good player), cricket at Arundel, the seaside at Littlehampton and boozy dinners with old shipmates on board the enormous warships visiting Portsmouth Harbour. Party frocks, gold braid and Pink Gin. She had her first son, Julian, in 1947 and Nicholas (Nick) in 1950. But she kept on going to parties and carried on dancing; Julie performed at the Albert Hall with the Womens League of Health and Beauty in 1953. And her love of pretty clothes and looking her best stayed with her to the end. 

In the mid 50s Edward left the Navy, took a role in the Reserve and a management job in Exeter and the family moved to East Devon. Julie cared for her children and worked part time, with Edward, as a company bookkeeper. The relationship slowly broke down and Julie eventually moved to London and worked in the rag trade in various admin roles. She loved the fashion business, the pretty girls and the pretty clothes. In the mid sixties she and Edward divorced and both remarried. 

Julies new husband, John Ford, was a golf fanatic and took a lease from a club-mate on a flat above a golf shop, near his Club, Addington Palace, and close to a number of other golf courses. And so Julie moved to join John in Wickham Road in Shirley. She became a demon golfer too, with a decent handicap. Holidays on Portugese and Spanish golf courses, playing golf in the snow, Champagne cocktails with friends in the Clubhouse. Julie loved her aged parents and her aunts and she and John took them on many hilarious holidays and lively trips together to the Mediterranean. It brightened their later days. She just adored her Aunt Vi and Aunt Rose. 

In their time Julies parents generation became ill and died, her uncles, dad, mother, remaining brother and then her aunts. Then Johns health declined. Julie decided to retired from her job in accounts and nursed him tenderly until his death. 

Julie threw herself into voluntary work and made many new friends. She ran the WRVS shop and volunteer trolly service at Mayday hospital for 10 years, still struggling to load stock into her car and from car to shop into her seventies. Julie was an enthusiastic member of the Patchwork Girls, an education class (Julie was skilled at embroidery) that evolved into a regular meeting of very good loyal friends who enjoyed a natter. With the bonus of special-occasion teas at the Ritz and Hilton. And lots of cake. The Patchwork Girls stayed in touch with Julie until she died. 

Throughout her time at Wickham Road, Julie enjoyed the particular close friendship of former neighbours, Rita and Bob. Rita and she went out regularly on happy jaunts together. Julie had a treasured list of scores and scores of fun days out together in their years as friends. Her trip with Rita on Concorde and the Orient Express was a particular highlight. Both maintain to this day that if they wobbled a bit at Heathrow, it was due to over-excitement not the numerous Champagne cocktails! Rita visited Julie at home when she became ill and then at Red Court. She came to see Julie every fortnight. These visits gave Julie enormous pleasure and support. She loved Rita very much. Rita was there for Julie at the very end. 

Julies health and sight deteriorated and 10 years ago she was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease. She found it progressively more difficult to live on her own at Wickham Road despite increasing amounts of home care - and she had several lovely carers during these years - and the regular and increasing support of her daughter in law, Joy, and sons Nick and Julian. After many many trials and tribulations and frequent spells in hospital, Julie moved into Red Court Nursing Home in July 2011. 

Red Court offered Julie safety, excellent care, good vegetarian food and a new lease on life: concerts (Julie loved classical music with a passion), activities (she really enjoyed Karens quizzes), outings and many new friends. She used to go with Joy or Julian to the lunchtime concerts at the Fairfield Halls. Julie was loyal to her friends and committed to her family. She was simply delighted to get letters, phone calls and visits at the Home. She particularly valued those visits and calls from her niece, Carol and nephew Barry (now living in Perth) and much loved cousins, Keith and Stephanie, Pat and Malcolm and Julia and Tony. And she lit up when Joy, Julian, Nick and Karen (Nicks partner) came to see her. Julie and Joy had a very loving relationship for over forty years and her Joy was always there to support Julie through the difficult times and cheer her up with poems, stories and music. 

Despite her increasing disability, Julies first two years with her new friends in the Nursing Home were generally happy ones. She received nothing but fondness, kindness and consideration from the staff. And she was really fond of them. The last 18 months were very difficult for Julie. Parkinsons Disease is very cruel. The staff worked really hard to keep her comfortable. But throughout her illness - as her life - she remained a gentle and considerate person, with an engaging sense of humour and genuinely interested in other people and their lives. Daughter, sister, niece, cousin, aunt, classmate, lover, wife, mother, mother in law, workmate, playmate, charity worker and friend. Julie loved and was much loved. We will miss her!