Julie Roberta Wood (1 Sep 1949 - 28 Mar 2018)

Donation on behalf of Judy

In memory of Julie; a lovely, warm and generous friend.

I met Julie when we lived on the Wirral, near Liverpool. She came to do the make up at the Bentley Operatic Society where I used to be a member. We got on well straight away and although we went to live in different places, we always kept in touch. She used to come to the New Brighton Rugby Club and my husband at the time remembered her in a red polo necked sweater! We used to call her « The lovely Julie! ». She had the most beautiful smile. She smiled with her whole self and was always cheerful and funny, even when she became ill. I used to tell her she looked like Sophia Loren.

We shared our children and all their exploits etc and now they are all grown up and my two sons have children of their own. She supported me through divorce from my first husband and the death of my second husband. I now am happily married to Gary who Julie reckoned was « Okay! »

My sympathy and love go out to Graham, Lizzie and Michael and all her many friends. She will be missed by us all.

In memory of your beautiful wife Julie. I could not hold my tears when I read your comment and saw photos on this site. My thoughts are with you and your family.

Graham, Lizzy and Michael
Thinking of you all at this sad time.
Jenny and Andy xxx

May you rest in peace Julie following a long hard battle which you fought with all your strength. So sorry you never got to meet Isla-Grace. All our love to Graham, Lizzie and Michael at this very difficult time. From Sophie, John and Isla-Grace xx

Our thoughts and love are with you and your family at this sad time.
Kim and Mary Anne

Thanking you for the amazing job that you do x

Although Julie was my mum's cousin, I have grown up knowing her as Auntie Julie. My first big memory of Julie was being bridesmaid for her when she married Graham. I was only five and it was a very exciting time. I remember her telling me how beautiful I looked and making me feel special even though it was her special day.
Having my birthday the day after Julie's meant she would always send my something special for my birthday but it was a running joke that it would always arrive late :)
Since having a child of my own, it has been lovely to go and visit Julie and take Ryan with me to entertain us all. She was so proud of the photos I used to send her of him and whenever we would visit he was so proud to see them displayed on her dresser.
We will all miss her so much but feel blessed to have had her in our life x x

My first memories of Julie (Wilcox) were from September 1960 when we arrived at The Girls' Grammar School in Boston (Lincs) called Boston High School. We arrived smartly dressed in our brand new navy blue uniforms, navy berets, brown leather satchels and brown laced outdoor shoes which we changed into brown leather bar fitting indoor shoes. After being led to the Hall our names were called out and we were ushered to the correct classrooms. Both Julie and I were led to the classroom of 1T with our form mistress Miss Taylor. I was seated near the door but Julie was near the window. From my seat I noticed her wide smile and infectious laughter. For some reason she revealed to the class that her middle name was 'Roberta' which I thought was really pretty but I was more impressed to learn that we had been born on the same day. This made our friendship very special. School life was very strict in those days and we walked down the corridors in a crocodile line in silence with the form captain at the front and vice form captain at the back. Julie lived in the town and cycled to school with her friend Sharman Hall in contrast to me who was bussed in from Bicker 10 miles away.

As we moved into the 6th form we used to go to the Glyderdrome where pop groups visited and dancing took place. Many a time we would make a tactical move to the ladies cloakroom! While calling for Julie I would chat to her young fashionable Mum who loved hearing about our lives. Like Julie she was most friendly and a good conversationalist. Her Dad was much quieter.

As our days at Boston High School came to a close we went our separate ways - Julie went to a College of Education in Liverpool and I went to a similar one in Canterbury. I don't know if Julie chose her College but mine was chosen by our Deputy Head, Miss Carter and so my life was very much influenced by that decision. We both resided close to our Colleges after our training was complete.

Sadly with both Julie's parents dying young and with a change of name we lost touch. Luckily my mother retrieved her whereabouts while chatting with a lady at the bowling club and we got in touch. It was strange that we were well into our 30s before we married and had children. We both continued to teach while bringing up a family and finally gave up teaching because of the pressure. Also we both had a strong faith.

We exchanged many emails, texts and had conversations on the phone in which Julie was always joyful, optimistic and humorous. Such good company. We only met in person once despite many suggestions for meeting up in London and that was at my daughter's wedding in 2012. I so regret that.

Julie had such a challenging end to her life which she bravely dealt with. Her family must be so proud of the dignified manner in which she conducted herself in that period.

We miss your infectious laughter dear Julie. God bless your family.

all my love - Pauline Thomas (formerly Gedney) xxxxx

Our thoughts are with you, we are lost for words. Take care

l miss our Sunday morning phone chats, our daughter had the honour of being a bridesmaid when Julie and Graham married, l know she had lots of friends who were there for her when she needed lifts to and from hospital appointments, she was truly blessed,

Julie and I met at Wallasey Operatic Society in the early 80's and soon became firm friends. She introduced me to Nick during rehearsals for 'Oliver' in 1982 and we married the following year. We attended Julie and Graham's wedding in Southampton on a gloriously sunny day in August 1985; little did Julie know that her train was covered in flying ants as she went into church! While still living on Wirral, we often got together for evenings out and when our children arrived, Julie and I would regularly meet up for lunch and a good chin wag - needless to say, these were very long visits! Since their move to Essex we have continued to keep in touch - the last time we saw Julie was on our trip to Colchester a couple of years ago, when we had a great meal at their house and looked through the many photos of Julie taken during her performances with the various theatre companies and choirs. Sadly, an arranged holiday together in Stourport had to be cancelled due to Julie's poor health and subsequent spell in hospital. We last spoke in the New Year, when she still maintained her upbeat, positive persona, but was understandably apprehensive about an imminent visit to her Consultant. We were surprised when Graham phoned us to say that her condition had worsened, that she was in hospital and waiting to go into a hospice, and shocked at her sudden, speedy deterioration and passing. I will miss my dear friend (we both will) and our long telephone conversations sprinkled with laughter. God Bless you, Julie.

In memory of a wonderful lady, I shall miss our long chats on the phone about everything and anything

A donation in memory of Julie Wood

A donation in memory of Julie Wood

A donation in memory of Julie Wood

The Company would like to make a donation in memory of Julie Wood.