Rose had breast cancer for twelve years and went through the full range of treatments available for this problem.  She died peacefully in her own home with family and friends beside her. She was not the type to indulge in any self-pity and during those years, whenever treatment permitted, she just got on with living life to the full as she had always done.   We have lived here in Warsash on the Hamble River at the same address throughout our married life of fifty four years. Rose played a very active part in the local community – school teacher, church choir and warden, sailing club where she became Commodore - and was very well known here.  At her memorial service in Warsash village church, well over three hundred family and friends crammed in with standing room only at the back.   A collection was made in her name for a special major appeal at the Portsmouth hospital, which she had so often had to attend for treatment. The collection raised over £1000.   Recently my daughter and I attended a function at this hospital where a small plaque with Rose’s name on it as a major donor was placed, with others, on a memorial wall in the main entrance of the hospital.   I think Downe can be proud of her. 

I do not know a great deal about Rose at Downe but I do know she was head girl in 1957. There is a picture of her in the Downe centenary book page 36, as Captain of the shooting team in 1957. I was at Pangbourne at the same time as she was at Downe and spent all my working life at sea in the merchant service. Rose was an extremely busy, competent and capable woman entirely able to deal with everything including her two children when I was away. An ideal sailor’s wife! Her only contemporary from Downe with whom we are still in touch, is Patricia (Kerr) Wakeford who was bridesmaid at our wedding and is Godmother to our daughter.   

Written by: 

Barrington Daubeny