Thanks for taking the time to visit this page in memory of Gillian Barbara Nicholson. 

Gillian died peacefully at home on Monday 12^th December 2016 after a long, patiently borne illness (dementia with Lewy bodies). She is much loved and fondly remembered by her husband Tom, her children Mark and Beth, her grandchildren, Oliver, Alex, Daniel, Ben and Harry, her sister Pam, and by all of her friends and family. We felt that donations towards Alzheimer's research would be a fitting memorial, and one that she would have strongly approved of.

Gillian was born in Jesmond, Newcastle in 1929 to Anna and Leslie Speed. She attended the Church School in Jesmond, trained as a physiotherapist and worked at a number of hospitals in the north east, and at later at the Cottage Hospital in Alderley Edge.

She married Tom in 1956, and they had two children, Mark and Beth, who were born in Northumberland. The family moved to Alderley Edge in Cheshire in 1962 and then to Devon in 1994. Tom and Gillian's Thurlestone home became the centre of family life for her grandchildren, with endless games of croquet on the lawn and trips to the beach highlighting the summer months.

Ben (Grandson) says:  'I  have always felt immensely encouraged by her; she always made me feel loved and that she absolutely believed in me. I felt like I could achieve anything when I talked to her, and it has frequently been a source of strength in my life. She has and will always have my heartfelt love and thanks.'  

Oliver (Grandson) says:  'She was always a huge character in my life growing up, the quintessential English grandmother figure. She had an enormous heart and I always enjoyed her sense of humour. She was always someone I took great pleasure in making proud. I will miss her terribly and will always picture her whenever I dare rest my elbows on
the dinner table.'

Mark (Son) says:  'She was the most lovely, kind, elegant and supportive Mum that anyone could hope for. She gave me the best possible start in life and was always there when I needed her: steering me without my being aware, celebrating my successes, and quietly ignoring my failures. Her long illness was agony and her passing brings relief, but I miss her hugely,' 

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