Jeni, my big sister.

She tied my laces and buttoned my coat,

She lent me her red record player and taught me to float.

She took me to school and we sat on the bus,

She held my hand crossing the road and I didn’t make a fuss!

On speech days at school, she won all the drama prizes,

They came in all different shapes and sizes.

‘I want to be an actor when I get older …’

‘Ther’re not much money in that’, our father told her.

Regardless, she relentlessly followed her dreams,

Playing all sorts of parts from fairies to queens.

She loved life to the full so was seldom on time.

Maybe she was enjoying a chinese and a large glass of wine.

Jeni’s favourite havens were in Scotland and Spain too,

With the steep, winding driveway and that spectacular view;

She loved the peace and quiet and the beautiful blue pool,

The gentle breeze through the trees to keep them all cool.

A devoted wife, auntie, sister and friend,

The best and most precious gift that God could send.

Please keep her cosy and safe, in the palm of your hand

And shine her light upon us all, across the land.

My very dear and wonderful sister.

We love you so much.