Julie Taylor

I have known Gill since about 1985. She came to visit John Jeffay in Leeds Hillel. I took to her immediately. She was warm, friendly and chatty. The following year she came to Leeds and we met now and again but really only became good friends in London. We had the Manchester connection though I always insisted that Gill was from the ‘nicer’ bit though held on to my few years of living South in West Didsbury! Gill and Andy became lovely friends who we enjoyed spending time with. We always talked about holidays and had always hoped to go away together at some point but sadly that never happened. We did however recommend our favourite place in France, Castelwood where we went many times when our children were young. Gill and the family actually went there and loved it but unfortunately we didn’t coincide with our visits. We did, however, manage a lovely lunch one summer in Keswick with our families.

 

I loved meeting up with Gill. She was an amazing listener, incredibly positive and enthusiastic despite the trauma and sadness that she had to deal with. Always dignified and always interested in you. Gill always had a compliment and this was noticeable as she was my only friend who would always find something complimentary to say and make you feel good about yourself!  We walked and talked a lot but not enough. She was a member of the ‘curry girls’ what’s app group who met every few months for a catch up. Sadly, Gill missed the last meet up as she was anxious about getting Covid before her trip to Florence. We missed her that night and now even more so. Our group will never be the same again.. My particularly special memory of Gill is the 14th January 2000. I arrived at the Royal Free hospital to have my baby and we bumped into Andy at the Reception. He was so excited to tell us that Mia had been born that morning. 10 hours later at 11.50pm Molly was born. Just in time to be Mia’s birthday twin. I will never forget having breakfast with Gill and our new babies the next morning. It really was really so special.

 

We are filled with so much sadness and could not quite believe this news as we looked out on a magnificent vista in Santorini. I still can’t really believe it. Gill was one of my friends who was really ‘up there’. 

 

A truly lovely person who I will miss so much.