It is a pleasure to respond to Gary's request for a tribute to Carolyn. My Father was a well-read, highly educated and with much wisdom. One of his views was that mature, unrelated males and females could not be friends. Well, Dad, for once you were wrong, as Carolyn and I were great friends, sharing many laughs and tears over thirty years.

She was fantastic to both Elaine and I when we lost our 26 year old son to Bowel Cancer. She also gave us tremendous advice with our health's and life style. We still don't cook using salt, thanks to Carolyn. However, occasionally I would get a few well chosen Aussie words thrown at me. On one occasion after limping, caused by badly twisting an ankle, playing cricket the previous day, I was met by, "What Have you done now?" After explaining I was told "You are a stupid …………"

On my first visit to the Festa Towers I didn't actually meet Carolyn. Gary and I had a (one of many) boys' night-out and after too many sherbets was invited to stay the night. Obviously, we had not had enough booze, so a few Brandy chasers to the sound of Dean Martin loudly serenading us with many a songs, including "Little Wine Drinking Me" to at least three in the morning. Not being a good sleeper I was up at five looking round for something to do, when I noticed a load of ironing. Two hours later I hit the road, before the rest of the household had surfaced. Later that day Gary, nursing a hang-over, which I rarely suffer from, much to Gary's annoyance, calls. "Carolyn aren't too impressed with us, not only did we keep her and the girls awake with loads on noisy chatter, along with Deano, but I was told your FRIEND did my ironing and what is more he did it better than me !!!!" As I was 120 miles away from the Towers I just laughed, which made Gary more angry.

During our friendship there was a spell when I stayed a few days, per week for about a month. This was to help with some interior decorating and only once or twice to baby-sit the two girls, whilst Gary and Carolyn had an evening out. This was more demanding then slapping paper on walls. To say Carly and Julia were challenging would be to put it kindly. If I did not conform, Carly would tell her father, next morning, to sack me. Gary thought this was hilarious, whilst Carolyn was not impressed. We worked hard painting and decorating and were quite pleased with our endeavours until the Master of the house returned from the office, via the pub, and would say something like "Is that all you have done today and/or its a shame you were unable to get the wallpaper perfectly straight?" Then it was a toss-up for whom was going to throttle him. The result of the toss was not important as Carolyn was going to do it anyway. Carolyn and I forged a great bond, during these times and it will never be broken.

As a four we had many good times, including a most memorable long weekend in Rome, to celebrate my Birthday

I expect there are many who feel, like Elaine and I, that Carolyn was special. She was sensitive to people's feeling, she was extremely brave. We still wonder how for most of the fifteen years she fought Cancer positively, without a moan. She certainly did not deserve to end in such pain and at a comparatively young age. She gave much to many and still had much to give.

My Thoughts and Elaine's are for Gary and the Girls and for all those who loved as we did. Our friendship will never die.

With all the love possible to our Friend

Tony & Elaine Wheeler xxx