Our story begins in the dizzy days of the late 60s at Sussex University, to be precise, in Brighton’s Eureka Guest House which housed 20-30 first year female students. Some were very experienced in ‘life’ (Marilyn) and some were definitely not (me). Who would have realised that 50 years later so many of us would still be such good friends, now meeting up on an annual basis to reminisce and ponder.
Marilyn and I did different courses, she in the arts and me in science. Our lives were really quite different in many ways but 7 of us from Eureka made a decision to rent a house together the following year which would prove to impact on the rest of our lives. That house, as referred to by Ian and Angi, was called The Cottage. The power houses of The Cottage were Lynne (Marilyn) and Lelly. Visitors very quickly learned which were their chairs in the front room. Mick, being one of those early visitors, remembers well the interplay and protocol.
Two years later, when our University days sadly came to an end, Marilyn, Pam and I moved to the big city, London, renting a flat above a cobblers shop and sharing it with our fellow residents-mice (only seen on a couple of occasions but never forgotten). Mick moved to the Lake District, returning frequently at weekends until London pulled him back for good.
By now, Marilyn and I had spent 4 continuous years living together, a fact that she recalled many years later, reflecting that she and I had lived together for longer than anyone else in her life except her family. A silver charm of a cottage was Marilyn and Stephen’s gift to me on my 60th birthday.
Over the next few years we remained close friends, including going to each others’ weddings. Whilst first Mick and I and then Marilyn and Stephen embarked on raising families, 5 girls between us, intermittent family get-togethers kept us all in touch.
Fast forward a little, life in recent years has been a whirlwind of shared interests and activities: holidays to Copenhagen and, only last year, a wonderful trip to Asturias in Spain; never to be forgotten Canal trips in the UK and France with Marilyn, Stephen, Ian and Angi; cultural visits as a foursome (Whatsapp group ‘The Kulture Vultures’) to Dulwich Picture Gallery and the Tate galleries among others. And, of course, the now unmissable annual Cottage get-together.
Marilyn and I also enjoyed frequent outings as a twosome. I will find it almost impossible in the future to visit the Fashion and Textile Museum (a favourite of ours), The Victoria and Albert Museum plus lots of tiny museums that Marilyn would discover and she and I would visit together followed by a light lunch, glass of wine and perhaps a delicious pastel de nata to finish up.
Finally, our little house in Deal is full of memories of Marilyn. She loved it, either visiting with us or with her family. She knew Deal and its restaurants and neighbouring areas as well as we do ourselves. Such relaxed times with the closest of friends, sharing the Sunday newspapers after a cooked breakfast followed by a walk in town or along the pier.
How we will miss you Marilyn. Times will never be the same again but we will always carry such vivid memories that will make us smile, laugh and, on occasions, cry.
With love Allyson and Mick xx