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Tribute to Shirley Olsen on her 70th Birthday

Hi Everybody,
Thank you for coming to help Shirley celebrate her 70th birthday.
I would like to highlight some of the important events and achievements in her life that have helped to shape Shirley that we know and love.
Shirley was born on Tuesday 10th June 1941 at 45 Foxley Road, Thornton Heath in London, to George and Doris Goodman. She has an older sister, Sylvia, (wave), an elder brother, Derek, sadly passed away in 1992 and a younger brother Malcolm.
When Doris was to due to deliver, George was told to take Sylvia and Derek out for the day. When they got back Doris had produced a baby girl. Talk of a name. Hilda, (Doris's sister), said, where did you go - Shirley Hills - in Shirley, east of Croydon, and what is the month, so, Shirley June (told by Aunt Florrie)
During her childhood, the family lived in Tottenham. She didn't really like school.
She was attending Robin's Mission Church and in 1956 she found Jesus.
Her personal relationship with Jesus has been paramount in making Shirley what she is today.
When she left school her first job was at Gestetner's factory making duplicating machines. Until 24yrs.
1965/1966 Moorlands Bible College - Christchurch, Dorset.
1966/1967 Missionary School of Medicine. - Great Ormond Street, London.
Shirley attained a 'Certificate in the elements of Medicine and Surgery, Theoretical and practical and has passed required examination.'
1967 The family moved to Exmouth Devon.
1967-1969 worked at Stoke Lyne Hospital for Mentally disabled children as assistant nurse.
Here she was encouraged to do her S.E.N. (State Enrolled Nurse) training. Based at Exmouth Hospital, but trained at Exeter RD&E Hospital. Children's, orthopaedics, theatre, elderly and district nurse.
I started work at Ambrosia in Exeter in 1968 and was living in Exmouth. I became very friendly with a young family who lived just a few doors away from me. That was Mike and Sylvia. We were attending a small church in the local estate school, a daughter church of Exmouth Baptist Church.
In 1969 one Sunday evening we went to the Exmouth Baptist church. Sylvia said to me "See that girl over there, that's my sister". I looked across a crowded room, and saw this most beautiful girl. Sylvia introduced us and on 19 August 1972 we married at Exmouth Baptist Church.
After finishing her S.E.N. Shirley went back to Stoke Lyne until it closed down in 1972.
1972-1973 Silver waitress at Imperial Hotel in Exmouth.
1973 March we moved into Tavistock. Ambrosia had been taken over by Jimmy Goldsmith's Cavenham Foods, which moved everything and everybody into Lifton factory, selling off everything else. Shirley got a job working at a small Soldering iron company.
February 1974 son John was born, and in August 1976 son Thurstan was born.
Opportunity to say to John and Thurstan how proud we are of you and we love you to bits.
1974 - 1988 Shirley started working at Chollacot Nursing home, doing night shift. Initially Saturday night then when both boys were at school up to 3 shifts being in charge of 4 assistants.
We were living in a miner's cottage. The lounge ceiling was covered in fibre boards. Other cottages in the road had exposed beams. I been talking about take the ceiling down and expose the beams. Finally talking had to stop and action happen; so one night Shirley had gone to work, with the help of the boys, I pulled down the ceiling. Over 100years of whitewash, spiders, dust came down and covered the lounge. Shirley's reaction next morning, well, just took it in her stride. This was the start of living in a building site because I built an extension to the house, being able to move the bathroom from behind the kitchen to upstairs in the extension. But Shirley just accepted the dirt and inconvenience because she could see end result.
1982-4 Waitress in Christian Book and Coffee Shop until it closed.
March 1988 we moved into Horbury Bridge Post Office which was a post office, corner shop and sandwich take-a-way - it's now the hairdressers.
Until we sold up in 2002. During this time Shirley was in charge of the kitchen and preparation of the sandwiches.
31/12/1994 Our first granddaughter Danniella was born
1995/1996 Shirley completed a course of Christian counselling.
31/03/1999 Ashley, our first grandson was born.
19/04/1999 Lucy, our second granddaugter was born.
2000/2001 returned to nursing at Snapethope Nursing Home after passing Return to Practice Certificate.
2001 I suffered my Brain haemorrhage and was in hospital for 7 weeks. During this time Shirley suddenly had my jobs, accounts, wages, stock purchasing etc. to do. Which she did with great enthusiam.
2002 We sold the Post Office and moved up into Horbury.
12/12/2002 Nell, our third granddaughter was born.
11/11/2003 Bethany, our fourth granddaughter was born.
20/07/2008 Finn, our second grandson was born.
In 2003 Shirl finally retired from paid work. Which has given her more time for her to devote her life to what she enjoys - our family.
In closing, on behalf of everyone here, thank you for your love, your passion, your compassion and your help to us all, and personally for putting up with me.
May we all be here to celebrate your 80th, 90th and beyond, but for now, raise your drinks and toast Shirley saying thank you and we love you and Happy Birthday
There are 2 other important people that share Shirley's birthday. Prince Phillip being 90 and Michael Ingham. Michael owns Ingham's Do-it-Yourself shop in Horbury. So thank you Michael and Happy Birthday.
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