FOCUS helped support Tere and other cancer patients in the Cheltenham & Gloucester area, so we ask that in her memory you dontate to help this charitable service, which helps so many people.

Every donation you choose to give helps your local hospitals do more to care for you, everyone you love and their passionate NHS staff. It helps to fund projects that make a positive change for as many as possible. From state-of-the-art equipment, transforming the hospital environment, supporting their incredible staff incredible staff to specialist care; your support helps to make an impact every day.

Thank you! Your support can make a real difference.

---------------------------------------- Tere's Story ---------------------------------------------------

Tere was the eldest of nine surviving children. She was born in Tetuan, Spanish Morocco, where her father was stationed as part of the Spanish Army. Perhaps due to her early years in the warmth of Morocco, she never minded the heat but always lamented the cold. Her childhood was marked by frequent relocations across Spain — Guadalajara, Cadiz, Malaga, Lanzarote, Pontevedra, and a second stint in Cadiz before settling in Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. This constant movement was an early preparation for the many journeys she would embark on after marrying a British Naval Officer in 1962.

She met Nicholas in June, and by mid-August they were engaged, despite her having pretended to be going on a family holiday to Arguineguin, during which time he did not visit, and she was free to entertain other suitors free from his presence. Their wedding took place on 21st December, followed by a honeymoon visiting family across Spain. The season’s bitter cold caught Nicholas off guard, and having packed only summer clothes, he fell ill with pneumonia, almost finding a permanent resting place in the British Cemetery outside Cadiz.

Their married life was defined by numerous relocations. In January 1963, Tere arrived in Edinburgh, only to move to Portsmouth and Chatham shortly after. The cycle continued — Scotland (where Nico was born), Cadiz with her parents, Chatham again, the Isle of Wight (where Ian was born), then Portsmouth, Spain once more, and Cadiz (where Francis was born). More moves followed: Cascais in Portugal, Malta (where Anthony was born), Bath, Scotland again, Holland for a NATO posting (where Andrew was born in Germany), Slough, Cheltenham, Cascais once more, and RAF Gloucester, before finally settling for a longer period in Cheltenham. By their silver wedding anniversary, the couple had lived in 29 different houses, however, each house had also been a home. Along the way, she travelled extensively, visiting nearly every corner of Europe, often with the children in tow, all dressed alike, as well as South Africa, America, Egypt, and Hong Kong (her favourite).

Despite her adventurous and nomadic life, Tere found time to pursue many roles. With a flare of entrepreneurship, she sold Tupperware and Amway, worked as a dinner lady at the NATO International School in Holland, taught Spanish at a private girls' school, held a café job in Cheltenham, ran many coffee and charity mornings, and devoted over 20 years to running and later presiding over the Spanish Parents’ Association. She was an active member of U3A’s flower and sewing groups and hosted a Spanish knitting circle at home, raising money for charity.

Tere was the embodiment of resilience, warmth, and unwavering devotion to her husband. Her life was a journey across continents, guided by love, adventure, and an unshakable commitment to family. Through every role she took on—whether teaching, organising, or simply welcoming others into her home—she left an enduring impact on those around her.

One of her greatest passions, however, was cooking. When she arrived in Scotland, she had no knowledge of how to cook, having lived a privileged life in the Spanish military, where she had been waited on. Determined to master the art, she promptly enrolled in a Cordon Bleu cooking course and, over the years, blended Spanish, English, and continental influences into dishes that delighted family and guests alike. Her kitchen was her sanctuary, a place where she created meals with love, whether for Nicholas, the children, or any visitors who happened to drop by. Tere insisted on a properly laid table, complete with correct protocol, which inevitably led to an abundance of washing up for her sons!

A passionate photographer, Tere was always ready with her camera, eager to capture the moments that shaped her family’s journey. She lovingly created photo albums that chronicled their lives, leaving behind a beautifully preserved history for each of her children. These albums immortalise the privileged life she and Nicholas provided them, each snapshot a testament to the love, adventures, and shared memories that defined their family. She was not just a documenter of events—she was their archivist, ensuring that the achievements of her loved ones were celebrated and that even life’s setbacks were met with wisdom and encouragement.

Through her warmth and celebration of love and life, Tere became the heart of an ever-open home—a true *virtual hotel*. Friends, students, and family alike found the *Tere Hotel* a welcoming and safe place, where no reservation was required and the only payment was to accompany her on guided tours. She delighted in showing London and other beloved locations to her guests, recounting stories with passion and walking the feet off everyone who had the pleasure of joining her.

Tere was not only a devoted mother to her own children but also became a second mother to her daughters-in-law, offering them love, guidance, and unwavering support. She extended this nurturing presence beyond immediate family, embracing the Hawleys (Cathy, Isabel and Chris), children of her beloved cousin Margarita from Kenya, as if they were her own. She celebrated their achievements, comforted them through hardships, and provided them with the same warm, maternal care that defined her approach to her family. There were numerous “adopted” sons and daughters across the years, too many to list, whom she left an indelible mark on. The house was often full of relatives and friends who all came to England to practice their conversational Spanish… some visiting for weeks, others for years

Tere was an Abuelita in the truest sense of the word, carrying forward a legacy of warmth, guidance, and unconditional love. Much like her mother before her, she provided a safe haven—always ready with a comforting embrace, a hot meal, and the wisdom earned through a life richly lived.

Her home was never just a house; it was a sanctuary where her children, grandchildren, and countless others found solace and companionship. Whether offering encouragement during difficult times, celebrating life's triumphs, or simply ensuring no one ever left hungry, she instinctively knew what each person needed. To her grandchildren, she was the matriarch who stitched traditions into their upbringing, passing down customs, values, and family stories that would endure for generations.

But her nurturing spirit extended beyond her immediate family. Over the years, she unofficially "adopted" many more—friends, distant relatives, and those who simply found themselves drawn into her warmth. She was an advocate for others in need – for example leading significant fund raising to help Alicia Immaculada, a girl from Wales left quadriplegic after being run down, she supported Cobalt in Cheltenham over many years and also hosted many Macmillan coffee mornings and sewing bees.

As the matriarch of the Dolans and the Padillo Clans, she understood the importance of family; not just a connection through blood but as a bond forged through care and shared experiences. In her presence, everyone felt valued, protected, and deeply loved.

Her legacy of compassion and kindness continues in the lives she touched, like ripples spreading outward, ensuring that her role as Sister, Mother, Wife and Abuelita will never be forgotten.

Though Tere is no longer with us in body, and her journey may have ended, her spirit lives on and her spirit will continue to guide, comfort, and inspire all who had the privilege of knowing her.