The Kennedy's had a history of 'lazy eyes' which was passed to all three children-Michael Gillian & Andrea, & to Michael's son Jonathan.

Marie had a step mother, who never treated her particularly well.

Served in the WRAF during WW2.

Obituary of MRS MARION MARGARET CASWELL
Died 29 dec 2000 12.40pm of natural causes.

Much loved wife of Jim, mother of Michael and Andrea and formerly Gillian (1950 — 1980 R.I.P.) Passed away at R.U.H. on Friday 29th December 2000 after long illness. Thanks to all those involved in her care. Memorial Service to be held at St James Church, Avebury at 3pm on Saturday 13th January. No flowers please. Donations to Alzheimers Association (01666 824 258) All welcome to attend


From my dear friend and coleague Tess, who was also a colleague of Mums whilst she was at Chippenham College.

I would like to read this on behalf of Graham Baskerville and those at Chippenham College.

-----Original Message-----
From: Tess Atkin <[email protected]>
To: Andi <[email protected]>
Date: 10 January 2001 18:22
Subject: Your Mum



I have been asking around at College and have heard a few tales about your Mum. First of all everybody called her Mrs Caswell. She was never called by her christian name and even those who knew her very well didn't know her first name. It was a well known fact that she was always collecting money for numerous charities, was full of news and listened to peoples problems.

I rang Graham to ask if he would write down a few words to be read on behalf of the College, and the piece he sent me is below.

Luv Tess xxx

Mrs Caswell worked at the Chippenham College for many years (16) running the reprographic section seeing the technology change from the old fashioned Banda Machines through to modern Copiers.
She was a real character known to every member of staff. Her room was a hive of activity before College started each morning as staff were looking for the material they had submitted the day before.
She made and sold marmalade, jam and chutney for charity as well as soft toys. New lecturers soon found out that the way to get their copying to the top of Mrs Caswell's pile was to buy one of her products. Unfortunately this goodwill only lasted until she had something else for sale.

Intensely proud of her family, if one asked how she was today, one would first have to listen to a full description of the state of her health, and then look at and admire the photographs of the family which were updated regularly and displayed on the walls of the print room.

Kind hearted, Mrs Caswell was also interested in everyone else's family and consequently became a mine of information. The reprographic section was a sort of village shop where everyone gathered and where the service and camaraderie was good.

It is some time now since she retired but those at the College who remember her, do so with considerable affection.

Graham Baskerville

The following was read out at the memorial service in Avebury by her son Mike.

Good afternoon everybody!

This is my wife Carol - my shoulder to lean on.

I'd like to thank you all for making the trip to Avebury today.

This church is a VERY special place to me, surrounded by the CELTIC pagan history within the ancient Circle of Stones.

I get great solace from the fact that my mother enjoyed coming here, and that this will be her final resting place.
She will be alongside generations of Caswells who were blacksmiths and bakers in this village, and who worshipped their god in this church.

She often sat in these pews and just enjoyed the peace and harmony here.
Perhaps it was because she was the descendant of one of the CELTIC Kings of Ireland!
She was - a KENNEDY!

I borrow this narrative from a book called 'The Irish Kennedys!"

Descended from the Kings of Thomond, the O'Kennedys held their ancestral lands for hundreds of years while a succession of English conquerors tried to take it from them. Although they eventually succeeded in taking the lands, the English did not do so without fierce resistance from the family they dubbed -"The Rebellious O'Kennedys".

Mum was a redhead, as were all the O'Kennedys!

If any of you have ever had anything to do with redheads, (only my eyebrows are still that color now) then you'll have some idea of the fire and passion that comes along with such a person.
My dad and us kids soon learnt to duck the flying objects in the kitchen when she was roused.


I have some words from Mum's grandkids around the world.

My Son Lance, in Canada

The two things I remember about Nan are:

1 - Nan's hugs - they were completely all encompassing, warm and sincere. They were the best hugs I've ever gotten. She used to wrap herself around me and squeeze very tightly, but not too tight, just enough to show that she loved us very much.

2 - Nan's mushy peas - they were the highlight of any Sunday dinner at Nan's house. The big, marrowfat ones. We never had them anywhere else. They had a chewy consistency and were very salty, like chewy pea soup, with nice lumps in them. Mix that with some mint jelly, and for a dessert a little individual Yorkshire pudding with golden syrup, and it was the perfect meal.


From my son Jonathan in Canada

I feel as if there is a lot I could have talked about with my grandmother.
Of all the things she means to me, honest, caring and nurturing seem to best describe her.

I always think about coming to her house and finding her sat in the corner knitting something. She would rise up, come towards us and smother us with hugs and kisses. She would pull us in close and call us her "lovelies", and then squeeze us to pieces. To me, she was exactly what a grandmother should be.

FROM PENHAURA HAUMA (my deceased sister Gillian's husband) and their son Katsy

TUVALU South Pacific

I was very sorry to hear from Katsy last night about your mum's passing.
Katsy went to work at the National Bank of Tuvalu last night, so was able to receive your email.
He was so upset about the news that he found it very difficult to talk to me over the phone.
I called him home and I tried to comfort him.

Your mother was a very special person to me, Mike.
In fact, she was more like a second mother than a mother-in-law to me.

Even when Gillian was alive, she communicated to us as if we were both her own children; and never for a moment did she make me feel uncomfortable.
When Gillian was taken away from us, she dutifully and unselfishly kept us informed of the news of home and kept on reassuring me that Katsy always had a home in England to come to, should I found it too difficult to look after him.
Katsy was too young to understand the meaning of his grandmother's care and will probably never appreciate it the way I did and still do.
As I recall her letters while typing this message now, I cannot help the tears slowly filling up my eyes and running down my nose on to the keyboard of my computer.

As her only son, you may ask what is the most memorable thing I have of my mother.

There are many things, but the one that shaped my life more than anything was the day she stuffed a five pound note (a weeks pay) into my hand as I left to live in Bournemouth, and told me to get out of Calne and seek my fortune!
I was only 16 yrs old. I am eternally grateful for her approval and encouragement to go out into the world and better myself!


Over the past few years, my father, to his own detriment, spent his every waking hour looking after Mum as she deteriorated.
It was a pretty tough job, which he did virtually alone, without complaint, lovingly and willingly.

I feel that I must mention the social services and health departments who cared for my mother over the past few years.

Their efforts were under financed, too slow, too late, and incompetent.

The bureaucracy is in need of repair.

I wonder if my mother's Kennedy ancestors would have tolerated it without rebellion!

Only a few days ago, I heard that science has found the beginnings of a cure for Alzheimer's.
They feel that within 10 years there will be some sort of injection, which will stop the deterioration of the brain cells. Not soon enough for my mother, but maybe soon enough for hers - and your - grandchildren.

We are so close - please - help rid the planet of this terrible disease,

AND I PROMISE YOU, my Mum will give YOU A HUGE HUG when she meets up with you again!