For Suzie

She could be termed a lady with a lamp

There are not many women of her stamp

Illuminating every room she entered

Our admiration on her presence centred

She takes her leave, but leaves her lamp behind

Still glowing with a steady light that shined

When she was with us, as it gave before

She's left the room but did not close the door

John Davis

with the O'Rahilly clan

Suzy in Brussels, April 2010 with the rest of the O'Rahilly clan.......(Emer (our mum), me, Steve, Mona (our aunt) and lovely Suzy)


What a fine time we had..., Steve was receiving an award for his research from Princess Mathilde of the Belgians, so the family went on the Eurostar to Brussels.
The champagne reception, the ceremony, the perfect Belgian restaurant for lunch (chosen by Steve of course)... all made for a wonderful day. Our mother even managed to suggest to the Princess that the Royal couple might like to visit Ireland. I think that, technically, that was a breach of protocol but Mathilde seemed very keen.

Suzy was in flying form, full of the joys of Spring (despite the dust cloud from the Icelandic volcano having nearly scuppered our travel plans from Ireland and England).
The sun was out, the beers were cool and very Belgian, even the Eurostar managed to put on food that was digestible. Only a 24 hour snapshot in time, but a treasured memory of the whole clan celebrating and in high spirits. Suzy was so proud, so supportive, so overjoyed. She was radiant then but as we know Suzy will always be radiant.

Your loving sister-in-law,

Helen

in my life since my teenage years

How hard it is to put into words what comes to mind when I think of Suzy. The overwhelming image is her wonderful radiant smile that exudes such a warm, loving and caring welcome into her world, and it brings a smile to my face and heart, and a sense of ease and OK-ness. Suzy has been in my life since my teenage years and feels part of my family. After not seeing her for some time it was so lovely to meet again earlier this year and find our connection continues as if it were yesterday, and the care and interest in each others life experience goes straight to the important things. I leave from that meeting feeling uplifted and joyful, and inspired. Hearing her dedication and commitment to her community and her love and enjoyment of Steve, and her sharing of herself and gifts. Suzy - what an important and rich blessing in my life.

Much love and gratitude for gorgeous Suzy, love from Bryony

Bristol and Oxford

We first met Suzy over 30 years ago, when David appointed her as his secretary when he was a Professor at Bristol University. She rapidly turned out to be not only exceptionally efficient and good at the job, but also one of the kindest and nicest people we knew: always good company, always very kind and caring, and always full of laughter and good humour. Indeed, she was so much appreciated by the Department that when she got itchy feet and wanted to go to India overland, David wangled a 4 month sabbatical for her – previously unheard of in Bristol University secretarial circles! Some years later and after we had moved to Oxford, Suzy came to live with us for several months following a period of travelling abroad for a year or so. She became an instant member of the family and adored by our three children. In particular, they remember with great fondness the very happy times in the following couple of years when she came on family holidays with us to Tuscany and Brittany.

During the time she worked for him at Bristol University, David always felt that her talents and abilities far exceeded those required of a secretary. So we were delighted to learn that sometime after moving to Cambridge, she (with originally just a few O levels!) was lecturing to medical students! But her real talents – her kindness, her sense of caring for others, her intelligence and organising ability – have become manifest in what she has done for the Mills Road Association in Cambridge. There are few other people in Britain who have done so much in such a short time for their local community.

Lesley and David Smith (Edinburgh)

Affection on the beach: Carmel California 2005

Amanda Adler

Bouillabaisse

I hadn't known Suzy and Steve for that long when I invited them to a pre-Xmas supper - the idea was to have a wonderfully luxurious, grown-up, dressed-up treat - oysters, bouillabaisse with aioli and lots of champagne. Well as I'd never made bouillabaisse before I was, rather predictably, very behind, covered in fish bones, still in my embarrasingly grubby cooking clothes and in a total state when Suzy and Steve arrived, bang on time. My heart sank as the bell rang as I thought I would never be able to get it right with guests breathing down my neck, let alone be able to go and get dolled up ...but how wrong I was. I opened the front door, cringing with embarrasment at my appearance and Suzy immediately said how beautiful I looked and when I confessed I was a little behind with my great French experiment, Suzy came and stood with me at the stove, and with her sweet, kind and practical encouragement and incredibly calming effect, we managed to produce a really delicious bouillabaisse and I even managed to get properly dressed and together we had a fantastically jolly evening. It was only one evening, and there have been many more since then, but that night stands out for me because it was when I first saw what a truly fine and rare person she she is - calm, steady, gentle, kind, loving, loyal and so clever. Uniquely wonderful Suzy

Suzy, Richard and I made this Cook Book in 2004. Suzy found all the perfect text. Richard printed. I did the art. Suzy refused to bow to my corner cutting and insisted that we got permission to publish all the extracts. Margaret Howel stocked the book in her shop in Wigmore Street.

Christopher

Suzy is...

Suzy is warm, funny, beautiful; she has a gorgeous smile which sparkles in her eyes; she is full of entertaining stories; she is professional and phenomenally organised. Suzy is conscientious, effective and she gets things done to a high standard. Suzy is easy to talk to; she is a good friend and you always look forward to seeing her. Suzy is caring and encouraging, thoughtful and considerate; she is intelligent, kind, witty, helpful and lovable. Lovely Suzy!

pause to smell the roses

Many people have already praised Suzy's inclusivity, energy and passion. So I'd like to celebrate one of her other merits...

Suzy always finds time to enjoy her environment. She uses all of her senses and rejoices in the world around her, be it the texture of one of Sam Motherwell's collages of Mill Road, or her gleeful anticipation of listening to Steve and his mother sing in an Irish bar on New Years Eve, the taste of some new and delicious food that she can describe on whatamieating.com, or looking up at the stars from Parkers Piece and using her new i-pad app to identify them for us. Once whilst rushing to a dinner together, we took a shortcut through an alleyway next to a garden and I suddenly realised she was no longer next to me. Suzy, thank you for reminding me that however busy we are, we should always pause to smell the roses.

With all my love and respect

Clare Hedges

Suzy and Steve's Waka Waka

We filmed Suzy and Steve for a 'Waka Waka' video in January.

David and Kate

Magical evenings

With Suzy and Steve and Fiona and Ian and many other friends who were brought together through these four wonderful people, we have had 20 years of fabulous magical evenings, eating and drinking far too much and laughing till the tears run down our cheeks. Mackenzie Road, Tenison Avenue, Maids Causeway, Dublin, Cortona, Rome – just some of the places where we have so many brilliant memories. Things we love about Suzy: her voice like velvet or double cream or melted chocolate, her radiant smile, her fabulous cooking, her original style – in clothes, jewellery, paintings, houses - her genuine interest in everyone and everything, her passion for whatamieating.com, Mill Road, the Winter Fair and the whole community. And, of course, her total adoration of Steve. Bravo Suzy!

Wendy and Geoffrey Andrews

Suzie has made possible our dreams for our neighbourhood by facilitating people sharing their ideas and accepting all contributions and talents. She has brought together the wishes of the diverse traditions and cultures that congregate on Mill Road to work harmoniously together for the great enrichment of our whole community. What a gift. Thank you Suzie.

Felicity Higginson

Love the smile that lights up the day

Shared with Suzy

Mischievous; kind;

And charming besides

That’s Suzy

Cheering-up cheering-on

Being with, moving on;

To living life better;

A real go-getter;

No-one wants to leave

Dinner with Steve

Shared with Suzy

Love the glimpses of steel in the sveldt velvet glove

That is Suzy`s;

So clear in your vision

Your appetite for living

When obstacles abound

You hold your ground;

You don’t go away;

You have the say

That is Suzy`s

Love a walk down Mill Road, summer winter or spring

You`ll find Suzy;

From what am I eating?

To affectionate meeting

There`s Suzy

The mood is alfresco;

No town clones, no Tesco

Foie Gras?

Fish and Chips?

The best shopping trips;

Free to stroll

Free to speak

Many tongues

Its unique

That’s Suzy

With love and admiration, Ann Louise

When we moved from the Buckinghamshire village where we’d lived for twenty seven years and bought a house in Willis Road, off Mill Road I knew no one in the area and was uncertain about this new urban environment. Then I saw a poster for a Winter Fair the following month and went along. Entranced by what felt a bit like a village fete I asked a steward or someone ‘Who runs this? How does it work?’ and was told ‘Oh you want Suzy….over there’ So there under the paws of a dancing Chinese Dragon I met Suzy in her red hat for the first time and she really has changed my life.

All we did that day, as I remember was exchange emails but within a matter of months I’d been taken under her wing, introduced to all sorts of people I would never have met on my own, and given, as it were, a way ‘in’ to the whole road and the community. And of course, as we all know, that means getting involved in things without ever quite knowing how you’d ended up saying yes but it’s such fun and all so interesting that lets just follow breathless wherever she leads..

And then what she does is show you that you can do things you didn’t know you could do, be things you didn’t know you could be, so we all end up feeling good about ourselves. And that’s what she does for the Fair too; all those crowds on the Bridge are feeling good about themselves….what a gift.'

Caro Wilson

Before meeting Suzy, I had never imagined so much virtue could fit in just one person.
When we arrived in Cambridge, I assured everyone that we were not going to stay for more than a year. Six months later, I felt so much at home that we knew we were going to stay a *little bit* longer. Two and an half years later, we decided to buy a house, in Cambridge...
I don't easily give up my ideas, but Suzy's generosity and kindness impact and glow far further on than anyone can imagine.

Adeline Douard

Suzy: Problem solver

Suzy is known for her generosity and kindness, as well as for her problem-solving skills. Just one of many examples....Five years ago, I confided to Suzy that I had a serious problem. I was about to downsize, moving from a large house with a substantial garden, to a smaller house with only a patio. The only snag was a lovable, seven-year-old yellow Labrador called Buffy. Buffy had belonged to my ex-husband, who refused to take her with him when he jumped ship. For three years, I had cared for her (though I'm a people-lover rather than a dog-lover ) and walked with her to and from Grantchester, wielding the towel and the floating toy as she flung herself into the river again and again. Now I was done. I hadn't wanted a dog. I hadn't time for a dog. Most of all, I hadn't space for a dog. There were two other families who were fond of Buffy, and had hosted her on occasion, but neither were in a position to give her a permanent home. What could I do?

Suzy solved the problem. She rang her old friends Jyl and Theo, whose beloved Lab had recently died, and gave Buffy a glowing recommendation. She picked Buffy and me up, along with a bootful of doggie accessories, and drove us all the way to Gloucestershire. I flinched when I saw Jyl and Theo's immaculate bungalow with its pale carpet throughout, but Jyl and Theo were staunch, as Suzy knew they would be. They let Buffy explore. Then, when the dog settled down (on the pale carpet!) in front of the fire, they knelt either side of her and whispered in her ears. Buffy was ecstatic.

On this trip, I had the pleasure of seeing the idyllic village where Suzy grew up. We stayed in the stately home that formed the centre of the village, and delighted in its grounds, as Suzy had for much of her life. It became clear that, though she'd left there as a child, Suzy was still known fondly by many local people.That didn't surprise me.

Since then, Suzy has continued to pass on news, and the occasional photo, of Buffy, who gets (like me) older and plumper. According to Suzy, Buffy was a joy and a treasured companion to Jyl and Theo, and even more to Jyl, after Theo passed away. Suzy went to a great deal of effort to help me, and in so doing she made at least three people and a lovely yellow Labrador very happy. Typical of Suzy, isn't it, to make things better by bringing people together?

Michelle Spring

Suzy's hats. I remember walking away from a chance encounter with you as you hobbled along Mill Road ... I'd been so preoccupied with your nifty hat that I'd forgotten to ask about your wretched hip...
Its not everyone who can carry off the whole hat-wearing business - but you are an example to us all. Who taught you that? I remember being told by someone at my expensive school that "women who love hats don't get jealous". It was something to do with their enjoyment of other people looking good in hats too. And here you are with the hats and the so-so-generous nature, showing us how to make the world a better place!

Suzy your cooking is wonderful. the prawn curry was so delicious we had 3 bowls full before we could stop!
BUT the wow favourite was the roast garlic with lemon....all oohhhh and ahhhhs as the smooth garlic popped out on the toast was very audible' but "everyone" has to have it!
I dont think we'd realised how much we'd consummed until later that night picking Anna up in the van - she reeled backwards
with " where have you BEEN and what HAVE you been eating"?!
Such lovely diner parties. beautifully laid tables, lovely flowers, rampant hedgehogs running round and round the garden.
With the odd nudge to Steve to get him to pour some more of that very nice wine instead of waving about in the air .... as he was holding forth again.

elaine and christopher