Ruth and David’s tribute to Audrey, their mum
 
Audrey was born on the May 17th 1927, in a flat above the shops in Twyford Avenue, Shirley, to parents Wilfred and Margaret Varley. At two years of age, they moved to a house in Radway Road, Shirley.
Audrey always said that her parents watched St James Road Methodist Church being built and they waited until it was open before they had Audrey Christened. She always claimed she was the first to be Christened here. As a child she attended Sunday School and Junior Church and then the war broke out and Audrey was evacuated to Bournemouth, along with others from the Grammar School where she attended. She used to say she spent a lot of time playing on Bournemouth beach with other evacuees.
Audrey had a younger brother called John who unfortunately died of Diphtheria at the age of 7, in 1939. She returned from Bournemouth to be with her mother at this sad time. Her father was away in the Army. Then her mother died of TB three years later. Audrey was 14 when this happened. Ruth remembered her saying that she was grateful for her Granny and aunt and uncle and cousins who supported her at this time.
Her first job was working for Fox and Sons as a junior clerk being promoted to accounts clerk and then she became a wages clerk in the NAAFI club, a club for Service Personnel. It was at a dinner dance at this time that Audrey was introduced to John Cobb, who eventually became her husband. We say eventually, because John caught TB and was treated in a British Legion hospital in another part of the country. Audrey had to wait until he was pronounced fit before she could see him again.
Audrey and John were married at this Church in 1951. Ruth was born in 1954 and David 3 years later. They moved into a brand-new house in Gurney Road in 1954 when Ruth was a baby and so family life continued. As a family they enjoyed many camping and caravanning holidays and when the family grew up and left home, as a couple they enjoyed holidays abroad.
They continued to attend SJR and were very involved in Church life.
Audrey was a founder member of the Young Wives Club here, which later modified its name to Wives club as some were getting too old to be called young anymore and later became Women’s Wednesday Group to encompass all women. The group continues to this day as Ladies Club.
 In the early days the Young Wives organised Garden Parties yearly, which were a major event, including stalls with a variety of things for sale, entertainment, games, cream teas and of course the Rose Queen procession. Audrey would love to get involved in helping in any way she could. She enjoyed being on the committee and taking the register for many years until because of failing sight this was no longer possible.
For many years Audrey organised the creche on Sunday mornings, compiling the rota of people and many times helping to look after the little ones herself, so parents could stay in the service.
Audrey was a quiet, kind, gentle person who never sought the limelight but was always happy to help in the background. She had a strong Christian faith and was totally committed to serving her Lord and Church in any way she could. She was always ready to lend a hand when any groups in the Church needed help with catering, be it teas and coffees or lunches and cream teas.
Audrey was a great maker of lists. She would hate to forget anything, although up to the last few years she had a very good memory. She always wrote daily in her diary, and we still have her diaries dating back to the 1950s. In her younger days when her sight was not a problem, she loved knitting and would never be without some knitting on the go. She kept her children and then her grandchildren, particularly when they were younger, in jumpers and cardigans, hats and scarves.
Audrey was a great marmalade maker in days gone by and kept many of the Church members and others in marmalade. She would give the profits made to the Church. She was also the person to come to for greetings cards and wrapping paper. She subscribed to Webb Ivory and had a stall at all Church events where she would sell the stationary and all the profits made would go to the Church.
For many years she belonged to a group called Townswomen’s Guild and attended their meetings regularly, enjoying listening to the speakers and going on outings that they organised.
Audrey was blessed with five grandchildren and five great grandchildren who she adored spending time with.
As Audrey got older, she developed macular degeneration, and she began to lose her sight and eventually became registered blind. She didn’t complain and faithfully continued helping in any way she could.
She became a carer for John her husband for several years until his death in 2012. John would want for nothing as she catered for all his needs.
After his death and as the years went on, her eyesight worsened, and mobility became more of an issue. Audrey had many friends here at SJR who would offer to take her to Church services and meetings, as well as Supper Club, Chatty Crafters and Tea Pot, so she was still able to take part in Church family life. She was very thankful for kind friends from this Church who gave her so much care with such love.
In the last couple of years, she has been very well looked after at Laurel Care Home. Despite battling with sepsis twice, several infections and a failing memory, Audrey battled on, but in the last few weeks it became clear she was becoming too frail to carry on. She gave up her earthly life on the morning of Wednesday 20th March, just two months before her 97th birthday.
We can now rejoice that she is reunited with John, in Heaven and with her Lord and Saviour.