An adventurous woman planned her own funeral to include unusual entertainment at her wake: morris dancing and a jazz band.
Lesley Over, who worked at BG Group, Reading in administration before she retired, died on April 22. She had been ill for some time.
Her wake was held at The Butler pub in Chatham Street, Reading, where her husband Richard said: “We had watched morris dancing in Reading in the past. She liked the colour and liveliness of it.
“She was a lively person herself. We also enjoyed jazz at places including The Falcon Hotel in Bude.
“Lesley lived life to the full and was so adventurous. She was once watching a nature programme with filming under water and she enjoyed seeing the turtles. She said she’d like to swim with them herself.
“Straightaway we were both booked onto a scuba diving course. She was 55 at the time.”
It was at Sipadan Island, Borneo, that the couple fulfilled Lesley’s idea to swim with turtles.
Richard said Lesley would have loved the events held at the pub for her wake.
The couple’s sons Alan and Tim Over were there, along with Tim’s wife Louise and many other people. Lesley’s funeral was at Reading Crematorium. Brought up in Reading, she moved with Richard to Somerset about three years ago.
Fulfilling Lesley’s wishes on Thursday, May 19, were the dancers and musicians of Hurst Morris People and Hajamala Jazz, based in Reading.
A Hurst Morris spokesperson said the side had been delighted to dance for Lesley’s family and friends.
Hurst Morris are dancing at the Fox and Hounds at Sheffield Bottom, Theale on Thursday, June 9, at 8pm with Old Speckled Hen dancers. The Hurst team are offering the chance for musicians and dancers to have a go at morris at Hurst Village Hall, Hurst on September 22 and 29 at 8pm. They welcome people to take part. For more details or to sign up, log on to: www.hump.org.uk or search Facebook for hurstmorris
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