SJA members will be saddened to hear of the death of Eileen Giller, wife of Norman, a stalwart member of the Association. She died on August 15, after a six year battle against kindney failure.
August 21 update: Note change to arrangements for wake in Comments below.
Eileen, who was 70, was a great lady and a great support to Norman throughout his illustrious career which covered many aspects, among them as a staff man at the Daily Herald and Daily Express, 14 years as a This Is Your Life scriptwriter and author of more than 65 books.
Norman, who had been her carer for the past six years, said: “She was a cracker. Wasn’t I the lucky one?” Even during her illness, she insisted that Norman carried on working from their home in Dorset and he made a very rare trip away from home to attend to our journalism awards in 2005.
Norman plans to “erect” a wall of remembrance website in her memory, and anyone making a donation will have their name on a brick in the wall. Messages are welcomed.
Norman adds: “The objective is to raise as much money as possible to help the untiring work of Dr Jo Taylor and her Dorset kidney specialising team, who slaved with such care and devotion to ease Eilleen through the burden of the last six years.”
Eilleen will be cremated at Bournemouth Crematorium on Friday, August 25, at 1pm.
Norman says: “This will not be a funeral in the accepted sense but an unashamed celebration of Eilleen’s 70 years. She willed that there should be no black worn and that people should remember her with a smile rather than tears. The humanist ceremony will be personalised but with space left for anybody wishing to say a private prayer.”
Noman is happy to be contacted on 01202 874091, or at: normangiller@btinternet.com.
Directions for the funeral: From the M27, stay on the A31 to Ringwood, then take the left-hand fork towards Bournemouth on the A338. Ignore the first exit (signposted to Christchurch) and at the second exit take the right-hand lane of the slip road to the Cooper Dean roundabout. Turn right at the roundabout, ie go under the road you have just left, on to Castle Lane West. Straight up Castle Lane West(past the Castlepoint Shopping Centre on your right) for about 1.5 miles, crossing straight over any roundabouts and traffic lights, until you reach a roundabout that has the Broadway Inn on your right-hand side.
Turn left taking the first exit into Charminster Road and then take the sixth turning on your left into Strouden Avenue. The Crematorium is 200 yards on your left. Parking is available in the main crematorium drives.