My mother, also Rae, helped her cousin Marjorie with Neil, Jean and Rae during the war. I believe there was an Anderson shelter somewhere and Rae would read to Rae! or sang songs to amuse her.
My earliest memories are of times my mother took me to Wembley by train. It must have been during school holidays because Rae was always there to read to me or to play in the garden. We would feed the tortoise or play with Timmy their black cat who was the same age as me. Later there was Judy, the Siamese cat too, which I loved. I would have been 3 or 4 and relished the attention, being an only child. As I grew up Rae and I played many board games together or French cricket in the garden when my father was there. With Neil and Uncle Jack too we had many enthusiastic games, always very competitive. I remember my mother dusting the piano extra well when Rae and the family were coming to tea! Both Neil and Rae would play for us.
I loved listening to Rae playing the piano and later the oboe also. When she started at the Royal Academy she lived with us in New Malden and of course would practice on our piano. I got to know many pieces very well and still think of her when I hear them. She awoke a love of classical music. I was never a good pianist but can still amuse myself trying to play easy versions! She was at New Malden on her 21st birthday and we all went up to London for a meal and to see “The Sound of Music”
When the family moved to Watchet we stayed with them on several occasions and once when I was about 14 or15 I stayed for a week on my own. Rae took me all over the area on bikes! Oh! those hills. We went in churches where she would play the organ, she found Inns where we could use their Bowling alley, and went to Blue Anchor beach to swim. These are very fond memories.
I remember when she brought Charles to meet my parents. She was so nervous but need not have worried because he was lovely and always made us welcome at his bungalow. I was very proud to be one of her bridesmaids. We would tease her about the service where she conducted all the music with her head!  She said that the organist did very well!
Thank you Rae, for playing the organ at my mothers’ funeral. It was very special and everyone knew how much Mum would have liked it.
The name Rae continues with my youngest grandchild who is Lottie Rae! I hope she grows up to be just as kind and generous.