Born to a French pianist bride who had survived war torn and occupied Flanders and a Scottish Sergeant who became a bank manager; Renee and her sister Suzette grew up in Wallasey then Darwen. Renee trained as both a diagnostic and a therapy radiographer starting in 1940. Amongst other posts she was superintendent at Whiston Hospital, Lancashire and a therapy practitioner at The Christie Hospital Manchester. It was there that she met and married my father, John, who was a Hospital Physicist in those early years of cancer radiotherapy.

My birth in 1957 brought a premature end to her significant career, as was the custom in those days. That was a significant loss that would not happen now. Never the less, Mum devoted herself to supporting John and me, to the great advantage of both. Renee played her full part in the Christie family, volunteering in outpatients and providing hospitality to visiting clinicians and scientists. Later on, she enjoyed accompanying my father as he taught and lectured at developing cancer centres around the world. She supported the new St Anne's hospice in Manchester and later, after joining us in Sheffield, volunteered at St Luke's.

The early loss of John thirty years ago was a life changing event. New and old friends, family and in particular the Rotary, Inner Wheel and Probus clubs in Sheffield and Didsbury provided much companionship and support.

Four grandsons and, in recent years, a great grandson and great granddaughter provided much joy. We also greatly appreciated Mum's help with them in the early years.

After 97 good years, the 98th was proving challenging. Mum passed away peacefully on 8th December 2019 after a mercifully short illness.

We could not be more grateful for the care and compassion of the staff of Sheffield Home Instead, Windsor House and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.

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