Always enjoyed being with you both so very sad you're no longer with us Lena. Theresa

Lena and I met when I joined her to study Russian at Birmingham University in 1964. Madeline’s thoughts on Neruda’s poem led me to recall a passage from the novel Dr Zhivago by Pasternak ( we both read it at uni). Zhivago comforts a fearful patient “Your consciousness is you in others; you have always been in others and you will remain in others" and” there is no death in this sense”. Lena may have died, but lives on not just in our remembrance, but in the kind and caring way she lived , which in her quiet way created love and joy surrounding her and spread it , for everyone who knew her. Another friend mentioned Lena “dancing with gay abandon”, that is the Lena I will remember, living life to the full and living it well. From Bet

This is a poem mum loved. I found a typed copy in her poetry book and I always felt this really represents what mum thought about life and how we should all make the most of our time. You start dying slowly If you do not travel, If you do not read, If you do not appreciate yourself. You start dying slowly when you kill your self esteem When you do not let others help you You start dying slowly if you become a slave to your habits Walking every day on the same paths - if you do not change your routine If you do not change your colours or you do not speak to those you don’t know. You start dying slowly if you avoid to feel passion and it’s turbulent emotions, those that make your eyes glisten and your heart beat fast. You start dying slowly if you do not change your life when you are not satisfied with your job or with your surroundings. If you do not go after your dream If you do not allow yourself At least once in your lifetime To run away from sensible advice. Pablo Neruda