Alice used her camera to record and explore her interests. From people places, animals, nature etc. She also recorded her craft and artwork. Some of Alice’s photography are presented in galleries you can access via the Arts and Crafts menu on the top bar or choosing a category below:
Looking through Alice’s pictures was emotional. Here you can see how she wished to capture the fleeting beauty of the butterflies. I think she did it well and I have made a large print of it. I wish I could of told her how proud of her I was more often and perhaps printed her images for her more.
(Click on the image to see it full screen)
On the 22nd July 2022 Tash came to our house and had her hair cut to raise money for some of Alice’s charities: Acorn House and Addenbrookes. Over £2,000 was raised and the hair sent to make wigs. Thank you so much Tash.
Eleven days earlier one of Alice’s last actions was to make the first cut from Tash’s hair. Alice had Tash’s hair in her hand when she was taken away from us to the funeral director with instructions that it was to be kept there.
Since Alice passed people have been sharing memories, raising money for the various cancer charities and many other things that help keep the memory of Alice alive. My Sister Sue and her Husband Paul have dedicated yearly competition cups to the winners of the Moat House Angling Academy Junior and Youth prizes. A big thank you to Paul and Susan Lucas for creating the Alice Johnson Cup!
I have been taking Alice to my home town of St.Helens since she was a little girl. I dont drive so the train is the best way to go though it does take about 7 hours to cross the country.
When she was very young she enjoyed looking out of the train windows at the cows and horses between doing her colouring. Later she had headphones firmly grasped to her ears whilst she played a game or read from her iPad.
We did use to stay at my mothers house, Alice on the single bed and myself on a matress on the floor. When mum started getting a little old we stayed at my sister Jacqueline’s house instead.
Jacky is a very good host, with 2 spare bedrooms things were a bit more comfortable but she went further and bought us two dressing gowns for use when we are here.
Three weeks on from Alice’s funeral I find myself back in St.Helens. Alice’s dressing gown is still behind the door of the bedroom she used. I miss Alice so much.
Friday 5th August 2022. Starting at Montague Road, Sheringham approx 1:30pm.
The day started with rain. It had been hot and dry for weeks but that morning there was rain. By the time Alice was brought to the house it was sunny, dry and warm again.
Our daughter was inside a beautyful casket made of natural seagrass. On top was a floral tribute of localy grown flowers. Our neighbours had already left to be in place for the service so there was no one but me to see how Blyths of Sheringham approached the house. Walking slowly in front of the car carrying Alices casket was Hayley, her hair dyed red and wearing a top hat, Alice would have loved her. The second car was to take myself, Jennie and my two sisters Jaqueline and Susan to Cromer Cremetorium. The rest is a bit of a blur. It was a good service in front of getting on for 100 people not all of which found room to sit.
The celebrant Izzy Rider had already proved we were in good hands when we had met her a few times before the day. She did an excelent job in setting the pace and tone., her words were well chosen. Later most people joined us at the Dales Country House Hotel including a sizeable number of Alice’s Tesco collegues. We are so very greatful to Izzy, the staff at the Cremetorium, Hayley and her team and the the staff at the Dales who all made the day a little more bearable.
It was a good send off for Alice but it would have been much better if she were alive and talking to everyone who wanted to celibrate her life. She would have loved it. We miss you so much Alice.
You can download a PDF of the order of service here: Order of Service
This six minute long video shows three portraits from early, mid and late in Alices life over laid with video from her favourite game Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Music is by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra. It was played as people came into the room for the service.
Hair once golden, now brown as earth,
Gives breath to the wild,
So precious you are worth,
So peaceable and mild.
Our friendship blossomed at Tesco, no less,
This link from me to you forever will stand,
An indent on me you have impressed,
Like the lines on the palm of my hand.
I’ll miss the way we used to talk,
About games and stranger things,
Your words a portal to your thoughts,
We were always so in sync.
So let this not be the last of us,
I’ll see you again,
We will have much to discuss,
Dear Alice, my friend.
You can download a PDF of the poem here: Emily-Allkins-a-poem-for-Alice.pdf
Thank you all for being here.
In her last days Alice said to us that she did not want to be forgotten which was a bit silly really as it would be impossible to do so. Alice is of course special to Jennie and I but what is extraordinary is the fact that she became special to so many other people. If you look at the messages we have received there are certain words that crop up often to describe Alice: stoic and inspirational are repeated phrases.
With the cards she was dealt in life she had every reason to be bitter but instead she was sweet, that is what I think people recognise.
Everyone here helped Alice through her life and I believe in return she helped us all too.
In September 2001 the world changed for us when Alice became very poorly and was taken into the Norfolk and Norwich where she was diagnosed with a brain tumour, We did not know if she would survive.
We are eternally grateful to the whole of the NHS and particularly the doctors and nurses who cared for Alice starting at Great Ormond street and the neurosurgeon Dr Andar who operated for 12 hours and who saved Alices life.
We knew however this was just the start, Chemo was to follow. Our world was shaken. We were in shock. We looked into the pit of despair but decided not to descend into it. Early on we made a conscious choice not to become self-pitying, we stepped away from fear. We made Alice the focus of our efforts. As Jennie later said to the question “Why us” her answer was “why not us”. We knew from spending time in hospital with Alice that our situation was not unique, and we soon became aware of how fortunate we actually were.
Living in a children’s cancer ward opens your eyes. Alice progressed well through a rollercoaster of ups and downs but there were children there that were not so fortunate, meeting children one month and finding they had become paralysed, or died the next was shocking. We felt that we were truly fortunate, and we were.
This video was played after my eulogy for Alice. Its roughtly in order with Alices first day at the begining and her last at the end. I did not know what music to choose until Peter Maw mentioned it was a favourite of Alices when it was used as part of a tv charity campaign.
Alice, Mum and dad asked if I could share a bit of our humour SO
Your tactical approach to playing Frustration Was for want of a better word ‘frustrating’ You didn’t care so much about the winning as much as the pleasure you got from terrorising mum and I
The backwards rule you made up, definitely made for a more exciting game. You ruled the board, landing on us one at time, sending us home, always with a great big grin on your face
And how many times were you told “it’s Kirsty’s turn” as you popped the dice before I got a chance to. And oh my goodness did you tell mum off if she got distracted. And how you made me swear! I’ll miss the look of delight on your face and roar of laughter when Tiger-Lily made me jump.…. that damn cat!
The look of disgust when I ate your Ferrero Rocher.
The eye rolling when mum and I sang, Why? when we clearly have such talent And your often questionable advice when I had a problem.
Alice there are many more stories to share, and share we will.
Laughing when we can and crying if we need too.
Keeping your memory alive forever.
You can download a PDF of this here: Kirsty Alice Long
As a young child Alice loved painting, drawing and making. When she was in hospital for treatments as a child she continued to do this in the ward playroom or the ward bed, there was no stopping her!
She experimented with many techniques and as she grew her work became finer. I hope to bring all Alice’s creations to the site. Alice gave many of her works away to family, friends and others. If you have an example of Alice’s work please consider sending us a picture of it so that we can show it here: stephen@sheringham.org.
Pencil drawing on card. When asked Alice called it “Landscape”
Super 8 Kodachrome 40 film in Petes Sankyo camera.
We often had the kids to look after and we made sure we had as much fun as they did by going for little outings.