Elizabeth Mary (Lilian/Lily) Martin (26 May 1923 - 31 Jan 2015)

Passed away peacefully on 31st January 2015, after a long illness bravely borne at Cleeve Hill Nursing Home, Cheltenham, aged 91 years.
Devoted Wife of the late Allin (GCHQ) and adoring Mother to their late Daughter, Julie. Much loved Mum to Son and Daughter-in-Law, Peter and Alison, and loving Nanna to Grace, Matthew, Meriel, Benjamin, Edward and Rachel. Also proud and delighted Great-Nanna to Rose. Loving Mother and Mother-in-Law to Allan and Barbara.
Rest in Peace

Lilian was born in Dublin but moved to Scarborough as a small child, with her parents and 6 brothers and sisters. Her youthful occupations included making seaside rock and working in a hotel, before joining the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force during the War, where she worked with barrage balloons and learned to drive.

She married Allin, in Scarborough in 1944. Two sons, Peter and Allan followed, and when the boys were in their early teens, Julie was born, a long-awaited daughter. Julie had Down's Syndrome and Lilian was a truly devoted mother to her until she died, aged 50.

Allin's job with GCHQ took the family to Scarborough, Winchester, Malta (where Julie was born) and Cyprus. They settled in Cheltenham on their return from Malta in the early Sixties and moved to No. 2 Smythe Road in 1964, where Lily lived for 50 years.

She loved travel and, as well as living abroad, visited Greece, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal and California. When Allin's Malta posting finished in 1962, the family drove back to England, via Italy, Switzerland and Germany, no mean feat with a small baby and two teenage boys!

Lily loved fashion and worked part-time selling smart clothing for ladies of "a certain age" until she was well into her Seventies.

During the 1980s she became a proud grandmother to Grace, Meriel and Edward and in 2012, her great-grand-daughter, Rose, arrived, absolutely adored by Lily.

Her Roman Catholic faith has always been very important to her – she was a regular attender at Mass at St Gregory’s Church in Cheltenham for many years until she became too frail. She used to arrive early so she could sit in "her" seat!

She will be greatly missed but we must take comfort from her long and extremely full life. Her family and relatives will always remember her, as will her many friends.