I’ve thought long & hard as to who and how to pay tribute to Kate standing before so many of you today. In the end it was an obvious decision as both Will & I came to the same conclusion that despite the emotional challenge it had to be us as husband & son. Grief is the price you pay for love and my only fear is that I may not manage to reach the end of what I have to say and that my emotions overwhelm me. My back up is in place if needed. Kate was so so special to me – what I hadn’t fully appreciated & Kate certainly hadn’t, was how special she was to so many of you & others around the globe. She was a woman who touched so many lives and made a difference. Kate however would rarely see it that way other than say I don’t really do much – I just talk to people – she was good at that. People regularly remarked on how happy I always seemed to be – it was very easy when you were married to Kate & I just want to share a glimpse of my life with Kate. Kate was born in Walthamstow, a twin to Clare & younger sister to Ann Marie. I cannot comment on the first 21 years of her life other than to say according to Joyce, her mum, that she was “spirited” and that her grandmother had told Joyce never to take the spirit out of that child. Thank goodness those words were heeded but I think granny McIlroy didn’t appreciate how prophetic her words would be. I first saw Kate on Saturday 24th November 1984 and I can clearly remember her from that day 30 years ago. She wore a bright red jumper, brown/orange cord trousers, brown ankle length boots & filled the Winchester rugby club with her laughter & sheer presence. For me as a desperate 27 year old bachelor with all my mates already married my only thought was that I at last had met the woman of my dreams and that here was my chance not to remain single forever. My courting techniques were nowhere near as slick as others and our paths didn’t cross for nearly another year but somehow I managed to persuade her to come out for a drink one evening or possibly even the pictures – thank goodness my sports car of the day probably made a greater initial impression than me – as fast cars were clearly another of her passions as I later came to appreciate. Within 10 weeks we were on holiday together in Morocco & 6 weeks later we were engaged. To this day I can’t really recall if I asked Kate to marry me, if she asked me or as folklore will have us all believe Kate told me to ask her. Being a good upstanding lad I thought it best to do the honourable thing and ask her Dad, Ken, for his youngest daughters hand in marriage. He was obviously taken aback answering me with the immortal words “Are you sure?” I’d never been more certain and so it proved to be. We were married just over a year later on 23rd May 1987 and there began the fantastic whirlwind of 27 married years with Kate. From that moment Kate had already started to shape my career knowing I could do better. Only Kate would suggest I invite my new boss to supper within days of him starting his new job and influence him to such an extent that within 6 weeks my job role & salary had changed for the better and we both had made a new friend for life. Kate herself was immensely driven. Not content with having just given birth to Will she immediately embarked on a degree course with the Open University as having missed out on traditional Uni by joining the Marks & Spencer management training scheme she felt a degree was needed to open a few more doors on her career. So it proved to be. On the day we attended her OU graduation ceremony the job offer from Nabarro had landed on the doormat that morning taking her into her beloved London and the world of commuting & the city. I can safely say that her time with Nabarro was by far the happiest period of her life. Kate loved Nabarro and by the letters I’ve received in the last few days it is clear that Nabarro loved Kate. Our lives were transformed with Kate continuing to shape not just careers for myself & Will but also many others including her own with her mantra of “life long learning” and her excitement of attending a short duration course at Harvard Business School. It goes without saying that Will & I loved her to bits. Rather than our thoughts I’ve selected a few phrases & memories from the cards and messages we’ve both received in recent days. There is a very common theme from every facet of her life – the lads from Canford, their parents, the commuters, her work colleagues, the rugby lads and our friends, family & neighbours. Here are just a small selection of quotes: - a hugely generous and caring person - such thoughtful gifts & truly compassionate - an amazing enthusiasm & zest for life - a wonderful friend - her laughter & energy was truly infectious - her brilliant smile - modesty & humour were amongst her special qualities - a real joy to be with – she lit up every room she entered - the ultimate professional & highly regarded - a very special wife & mother and one that sums it up for me : Kate at her best was unique. Kate was always on the go & crammed more into her 50 years than anyone – her can do attitude, looking for the next challenge, planning our next holiday & she didn’t skimp on those – or what gifts to get for Christmas, birthdays or any other event. She opened my world to shops I’d never heard of, restaurants & hotels I thought were only in magazines, places I had only dreamed about and introduced me to so many fantastic people through her cheery “and this is my husband Robbie”. I was so proud. But amongst all this we found a very special calm place in our hectic lives on the Isle of Mull where Kate revelled in her passion of photography particularly the spectacular scenery but more importantly the wildlife. Four weeks prior to Kate’s passing we somehow managed to get back to Tiroran on Mull with David & Lesley, my best man & his wife, who is my favourite other very special woman. Whilst part of Kate’s brain was riddled with disease the other part remained razor sharp and the pleasure & recognition expressed through her eyes & smile on seeing Laurence & Katie at Tiroran is a memory I will treasure forever. There will be one further journey to Mull for Kate & myself as I can think of no better resting place for her and two of her beloved spaniels as we let her soar with the eagles & hen harriers in a landscape that is as beautiful as my beloved Kate.