Born 5-1-1917 Died 29-3-08

At Eastertide the Gospel message of Jesus is one of Confidence and Hope. In his Resurrection, Christ's victory over death and the grave is revealed and Christians are assured that death is not the end There is life eternal for those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus.

Maud was a deeply committed Christian: she loved her Lord and was a regular communicant member of this Church.

Maud's journey of faith began in 1919 when, in late July of that year HMS Yarmouth called at Tristan. Maud was one of fifteen children Baptized by the Revd. Archer Turner, the ship's Chaplain, who came onto the Island and stayed just one night. He Baptized Maud on the 1st of August 1919.

Over the past ten months it has been my special privilege to Minister to Maud taking her Holy Communion, sitting and listening and praying with her. She loved the services of the Church and she was one of the first to attend the 10.00 o'clock Eucharist on Wednesdays when this was re-introduced just before Christmas. Life for Maud was centred around her cottage, her family, her Church and like other's of her Generation, the knitting of socks. She possessed a warm personality and a very kindly disposition. I remember on first meeting Maud how she went almost immediately into a back room of the cottage and returned with the gift of a very fine pair of long white Tristan socks with red and blue tops which she gave me with that beautiful and endearing smile which was so distinctly Maud's.

There cannot be many on the Island who have met with pop stars and appeared on television in England, as did Maud. In 1987 she appeared on the Cilla Black show  Surprise Surprise'' when she was re-united with her son Adam and his wife Gwen. For Maud it remained a highlight of happier times in the past. Sadly, the last few months have been difficult. Maud grew increasingly frail following her illness in December and increasingly dependent upon Pat and her family. To whom our prayers go out in loving support on this special day. We must all take comfort in the words of our blessed saviour who at the deathbed of a young girl declared, 'she is not dead but sleepeth' and taking her by the hand raised her to new life.

Message read in Church by Father Christopher