Rachel Anne Gibson (Forsdike)

"Death lies on her like an untimely frost, Upon the sweetest flower of all the field."

Today we have come to celebrate the all too short of life of Rachel Anne Gibson nee Forsdike – Foz to her friends.

Rachel was the blessing Dennis and Jackie had longed for and was everything they dreamed of when she came into their world on 5^th May 1975. A beautiful, bonny baby girl.

Rachel was always the perfect child. I was fortunate in my closeness to my sister Jacqueline – Rachel’s mum - to share in many happy times during much of her pre-school life. Family days out and picnics at Fritton Lake, Christmas gatherings at their home in Bramford and then later at Wigmore Close, Ipswich. Always wanting to provide the best opportunities for Rachel, Jackie and Dennis actively, and persuasively in an interview with the Headteacher, sought out securing her place at St Matthews’s C E Primary School – a local primary school which at that time was one of most sought-after placements in Ipswich. No mean feat for a family bought up as strict Roman Catholics – but where there was a will there was a way. 

Jackie, Dennis and Rachel enjoyed so many holidays together with family and friends, sharing the joy, fun and laughter through many milestones as Rachel grew up.

As you would expect Rachel excelled at school and at 11 moved to the Jesus and Mary Convent School.  A healthy fear of nuns shared by us all on this side of the family.

Rachel was an immediate academic success (pretty sure that’s what she told me). However, I have to share a well-worn family story. Sport has played, and continues to play, an important part in the lives of many family members.

Rachel’s dad Dennis was a well-respected centre half in local football, and an excellent swimmer and diver - whilst its rugby for her uncles and cousins.  My wife Heather’s love of hockey meant she was thrilled when Rachel showed an interest in hockey and she looked forward to watching Rachel turn out for the school. However, Hockey and Rachel were two things that did not sit together. Playing with your socks rolled may have looked cool - but was not good for the shins! Also standing out on the wing, chatting to her friends ensured play could continue around her without any direct involvement. Of course, she had all the best kit – including a top-quality Karachi King stick  - the envy of the rest of her team mates -  that was maintained in ‘as new condition’ because it never actually struck a ball. This stick storey comes out every time, along with the one about us owning an original, bright orange Skoda (so embarrassing) which when coming to watch Rachel, we were told very clearly to park around the corner.

Needless to say Rachel continued to fly high in her studies and moved to Sixth Form at Ipswich High School for Girls. Another story I have to share with you all at this point is that one of her teachers had the audacity to tell Rachel she was “not university material”.  You can imagine how some years later at an Old Girls Reunion gathering, Rachel was delighted to re-introduce herself to that same teacher as Doctor Rachel Forsdike…. And proceeded to tell her about gaining her degree at Kings College London, PhD at Downing College Cambridge and of course working for the pioneering Lord Robert Winston. We so would have loved to have been there!

I always enjoyed a happy relationship with Rachel … we put the world to rights many a time after a family dinner over a glass of port and slice of Roquefort cheese.

Rachel was a happy fun-loving beautiful person.  Her smile and laughter would brighten any get together. She had at the most brilliant mind and enjoyed a highly successful career. We are all so proud of all she was and all she achieved in her life – no-one more so than her loving mum Jacqueline.

Her marriage to Cliff was crowned by the birth of their much-loved son Sam.

Today whilst remembering the terrible, sad loss for Cliff, Sam and Jacqueline, we are here to celebrate Rachel as the beautiful, very special person she was to us all and be thankful for the joy, happiness and wonderful memories of having her in our lives.

This truly is an untimely frost upon the sweetest flower of all the field.