Born in 1942, Ann was largely brought up by her grandmother. After leaving school, she joined the Royal Air Force (RAF). Following dream guidance, she requested leave in Singapore, and it was there that she met Brian (born 1936), also in the RAF, who was there for only a few days. Ann stepped out of the pool in Raffles only to find that her new swim wear was transparent. Brian graciously offered her a towel, and everything started there, in that moment. Ann was stationed in Lyneham, as was Brian, but due to the rank structure, they would not normally have met. Shortly after meeting in Singapore, Ann was posted to Gibraltar, and Brian remained at Lyneham.
Separation over great distances would be a challenge for most relationships, but Brian drove to Gibraltar to be with Ann and ended up driving non-stop for 48 hours to be ‘back on parade’ in Lyneham. A journey that, even today, would be considered challenging.
Now imagine doing that in a 933cc 39 bhp Ford Anglia without the motorways that we now take for granted! ‘Epic’ doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Less than a year later, they were married. They were quickly blessed with two sons, Desmond and Malcolm and now have three grandchildren, Frances, Henry and Arthur.
In 1966, Ann and Brian moved from Melksham in Wiltshire, buying a bungalow, ‘Manor Lodge’, in the beautiful village of Minster Lovell in Oxfordshire. It was a run-down lodge with a large garden plot. They worked over many years, extending the house and creating a very large, productive organic garden. The home became a healing centre, and they generously shared all the produce they grew and welcomed many visitors.
Ann & Brian loved to travel all over the world whenever they had the opportunity. Ann went trekking in Nepal for three months. Whilst in Asia, she made several friends in India.
Brian’s career in RAF Air Transport developed rapidly, and he moved to ‘Queen’s Flight’ where he flew with the Royal Family, Prime Ministers and Senior Government Ministers all around the world from RAF Brize Norton, just a few miles from Manor Lodge.
Later, Brian did a ‘fixed wing to rotary’ conversion, enabling him to fly on helicopters, and Ann and Brian were posted to Gutersloh in North Germany as part of the ‘British Army On The Rhine’ post World War 2 UK commitment to the defence of Europe. They completed two ‘tours’ in Gutersloh and, whilst there, travelled all over Europe with the children in a VW camper van.
When they returned from Germany, Ann qualified as a nurse and worked for the NHS in the UK. Ann’s gift of healing was outstanding. She combined therapeutic touch with aromatherapy, prayers for healing, sacred music and listening to life stories. Ann’s presence altered the atmosphere to one of positivity, recovery and hopefulness. She would just turn up without being sent for, feeling she was needed!
Ann worked on the Infectious & Tropical Diseases ward, John Warin, at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford at the time of the AIDS crisis, combining complementary therapies with sound medical and nursing care; her therapeutic touch was a great comfort to many.
Ann’s positive awareness of the afterlife and its beauty helped many people who were faced with ‘crossing over’, and was a central part of her own passing.
Brian took advantage of the RAF’s Early Retirement scheme in the 1980’s, and Ann retired shortly afterwards.
On retirement, Ann felt guided to return to India, and so they travelled extensively there. The extreme poverty, particularly in the countryside and amongst the Dalit caste, challenged her enormously. Following the earthquake in Nepal, many families moved into India, particularly to Kalimpong, to find work. They were ‘below the poverty line’ (BPL), and the children suffered along with the adults.
Kalimpong is where Ann felt called to set up ‘Room to Learn’ (bottom right of map)
Having seen this young girl dive under a tarpaulin in Kalimpong, Ann just couldn’t walk on by.
Young children, aged 3-5, living in makeshift shelters and poorly nourished, were taken to a Nursery Room in Kalimpong with a playground outside. They were given a good meal, as well as learning some numbers and letters, playing together and having fun.
Ann asked close friends, Jean & John Flemming, to help set up the charity and their son, Desmond, assisted with the formation and structuring of the charity and treasury. They quickly expanded the board of Trustees, whilst Ann and Brian focused on developing the Nursery facilities and fundraising. India has its own pace, and doing so was a challenge to everyone involved!
Ann and Brian asked John to become Chairman and later Desmond to take over as CEO of the charity, and under their and the board of trustee’s guidance the charity has expanded its reach year on year, rapidly expanding both the number of schools and children by moving to a model where RTL works directly with education professionals, their facilities and local government to deliver its education objectives.
Ann died peacefully at home with her husband Brian on 22nd December 2023. Her parting words to Desmond were “You cannot keep love, you have to give it away.” Inspirational to the very end.
Ann was, and always will be, a very much loved and inspiring friend to many. She had an amazing life and was guided in all that she did.
Brian continues to be very actively involved in the running of the charity, working closely with Desmond. The tradition of an annual RTL Garden Party at Manor Lodge, thanking supporters, has been further developed by Brian since Ann’s passing.