Although we can barely believe Sal is no longer with us, it started us thinking back over the years that we've known her.

For a start, what an impact she made on the Glaxo Drama group, not only because she was an excellent actress but she was a female engineer! Quite a rare occurrence back in the early 1980s - and she'd met Prince Charles!

I first saw Sally in one of the Alan Aykbourn plays and we can't see Penelope Keith on the telly, without instantly thinking of Sally. She had her off to a 't'.... and Pete remembers her brilliant portrayal in Dusa, Fish, Stas and Vi.

Pete and I often tell the children about Sally's (very sporty) cars and how she gave us a lift to a party one evening in her Talbot Lotus. We tootled along the A40 to the Swakeley's roundabout – and then she put her foot down. We accelerated at an extraordinary rate (Sally's comment was “She can go”), Meat Loaf sang Bat Out of Hell at full volume and we knew that this was a super moment!.

The joy of Sally in our group of 'Glaxo girls' was that her interests were so varied. We remember the plane and go kart, especially. It seemed very cool to have a friend who as not only a female engineer but who also flew a plane and owned one!

She met her breast cancer diagnosis head on and was just so positive and on the ball with knowing what was going on with her body and the treatment – the engineer in her, no doubt, wanting to know all the “techie” things about the disease and the treatment. And how pleased she was when we all went to the Lake District and she managed to do a long walk with us.

Through all of this the solid thread has been Paul, whose staunch loyalty and love has shone through the whole history of Sal's illness and treatment – a true example of compassion and love.

Through all the illness they maintained, as a couple, their interests in computers, acting, cars, cricket, snooker, holidays, friends – the list goes on. What an example!

We have some super photos of her and Sarah celebrating their 60th birthdays last year at Fiona's. She'd driven up from Cornwall and just looked so good.


And now she is gone. Our daughter Jo saw Sally as pioneering and a role model for Jo and her generation – that is the impact she had. We send our love to you, Paul, and mourn a remarkable lady we're proud to call our friend - gone but never to be forgotten.