''Auntie'' Helen was a huge part of my life. Her family have been like my cousins. She took care of me and my sister Lisa. I looked up to her and always wanted to be like her. I admired how she balanced so much, a wonderful hostess, organiser and support to my GodFather Uncle Michael. As my Mums closest friend I have so many wonderful memories of holidays together. Of support and family gatherings, sleep overs and advice. So much history and family memories. I am shattered for you Uncle Michael and send all my love to you and Suzie, Alison and Graham. Rest in peace Auntie Helen and say hi to Mum up there. You will light up heaven. Our loss is the angel's gain.

Dear Michael, Both Peter and I were so sorry to hear that Helen had passed away. We had been rather worried about the last few emails from Alison and were therefore relieved to hear that Helen after a stay in hospital was home at last with carers looking after her. However, we became concerned when Trish emailed to say that when she last visited, Helen was very weak and uttering unintelligible words, which was just two days before she died. I have known Helen since she joined PHEOS in 1976. Within a few weeks she was organising events for the Society and was offering the services of her husband to take photos of everyone involved. I found it hard to believe how much energy she had, given that she was looking after three children, with Susie, the youngest being only three years old, a similar age to my daughter Louise. Indeed, Louise has fond memories of working with Helen. I have never met anyone as dynamic as Helen. She worked so hard in everything she did but always had a smile on her face. As well as looking after her own home and family, and keeping the garden at both West End Avenue and then Five Acres well stocked with flowers and vegetables, she kept busy organising social events for PHEOS. This was as well as helping with costumes for the shows where she would spend many an hour sewing garments and altering them to make sure they fit. Then she helped form another group, Panda Players where once again she put all her energy into making it such a success, eventually taking on the responsibility of chairman. She was such a tower of strength in all the many activities she was involved in, and that is how we will remember her. We both feel privileged to have known her and she will be missed by us all. May she rest in peace. Yours in sympathy, Jane and Peter

I don’t know how to say how sorry I am to hear of Helen’s death. I have known Helen since the 1990s when she was involved with myself in setting up the South Chilterns Gardening group with Gardening Which? We have been through many exciting events since then, with Helen organising many of them and her frustrations in trying to sort out the rather unreliable transport along with pick up points!! We went all over the place, including one trip to King Charles’ garden at Highgrove, where we had to have our passports plus security checks and a day at the Gardeners’ World Show at the NEC in Birmingham. As well as garden visits, Helen also used to man a stall we had at the Farmers’ Market in Maidenhead, where we would sell plants. She also offered her house and lovely garden up for us to have our meetings. She will be sadly missed by myself her gardening friends.