Cathryn was my wife.  She died on Friday 21 April at 10 pm.  She was 50 years old.

Cathryn had a cancer called sarcoma which spread from her womb and was diagnosed three weeks before she died.  It is rare in this type, but incredibly aggressive.  Cathryn had had an ultrasound scan three months earlier and nothing was detected.

I have been privileged to be Cathryn's partner for 12 years.  When we met we were both a little bit lost, but soon her gentle kindness, her joyful and fun filled character lifted me back to delightful happiness.

Loyal and supportive she encouraged me to make the best of every opportunity and to live life.  We had magical holidays in Le Touquet, the Charante and Portugal.  Then just over a year later I had the chance of an excellent job in Moscow.

She backed me 100% despite her own concerns and soon became an enthusiastic and loved member of the expat community.  In three years we made lifelong friends, travelled widely and even learnt to speak a little Russian.  All through Cathryn supported me and other colleagues through generous acts of kindness.

On our return to the UK Cathryn rejoined the NHS and completed a number of important projects in physical and mental health - even meeting Theresa May!  

After trying fertility treatment and IVF, Cathryn was unable to conceive.  She battled the awful depression and lack of fulfilment by giving herself to others.  She loved our nieces and nephews and their children very much.

Cathryn loved the outdoors, nature and animals.  When our dog, Connor, was old enough she began taking him to agility classes.  Although Connor is not the typical breed for agility, Cathryn stuck at it and made many close friends along the way.  Just last year all that hard work really paid off and every weekend Cathryn would come home with handfuls of rosettes and trophies from Connor's successes.

In 2015 we made our home in the beautiful Eden Valley near Penrith in Cumbria.  It was a hard move for Cathryn to leave our friends in Sussex, but as ever she supported me.  In Cumbria Cathryn soon made some new friends with our neighbours, Agility, the village institutes and Art clubs.  Cathryn always had a wonderful eye for colour and created some marvellous watercolours. Typically her best work was for others - for special cards, with a soft gentleness, but with the vivid colours of nature and always with loving lines in the message.

Cathryn is so loved.  She has changed our world and many people's lives for the better.  She will be with us for the rest of our lives and I know that you will all remember her so fondly.  She was a very very special person and I know she would want us to do all we can to stop suffering in the world from the terrible effects of cancer.

Thank you.

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