MEMORIES AS THE EVIDENCE

I was due to demonstrate at the Hampton Hill Spiritual Church on the 12th June 2025. It was an early evening, & roads were extremely busy with heavy traffic. It took me twice as long to get to my destination. By the time I reached the church, I felt so exhausted that I started questioning if I could demonstrate & not disappoint people.

While working at the demonstrations, I usually feel drawn towards to whom communication is given for. For one of the portraits of a lady, I was drawn to a couple sitting at the very back of the small church. Following the portrait & the verbal information, the gentleman first responded saying ‘may be’, then seemed to have changed his mind. No-one else volunteered which made me question if my energies were far too low! At the end of the evening, the portrait was taken by him. So I was delighted receiving the email & the images I include below. I should have known that they never disappoint us!

“I write further to your visit to Hampton Hill S.N.U on Thursday the 12^th June 2025 when you drew a portrait of what could have been my late grandmother.  At the time we were not 100% sure that it was for me (although I thought it was, even though a few bits of evidence were not quite right).  Firstly you said that she died before I was born, although I was about 4 and a half when this happened. 

One bit of evidence that was not correct, but now fits perfectly into place, is when you said that she was not ill, but just got tired and gradually died (or words to that effect).  Although I now know that she died of cancer, the memory gradually came back to me that, as young children, we were told exactly this (that she was just getting tired) when she was on her death bed (these are some of the main memories I have of her, laying in bed, but still doing things to make us all laugh 😊). 

The boys throwing stones evidence was probably relating to when she used to look after myself and my cousin and we used to fight each other practically from when we were left, until the parents got home.  I can remember worrying what she was going to say, but she always lied for us and told the parents that we had been good. 

The picture emphasises her eyebrows and this is a common topic / joke when we have large family get togethers as there appears to be at least one person in each brood (it is a very large family) who has black hair and big bushy ‘Fowler’ eyebrows, whether male or female. 

I think you will also spot the accuracy of her jaw bone when you compare your portrait with the photograph. 

Overall, I would say that nearly all the things I mention about my Nan when talking about her were touched upon in one way or another– so thank you!”