Best pal with a wicked sense of humour

Nicky and i met 25 years ago when our children were at primary school together in Hornchurch. She had three boys, Matt, James and Tom; i had two, and we all became best friends. The boys played together every day and Nicky and i were in and out o of each others’ houses constantly.

She was up for anything and made everything f fun. She loved fancy dress, was always the first o on the dance floor — particularly if it was Abba — was always laughing and she loved being the centre of attention.

My boys thought the world of her. She always had time for everyone else. She would listen to anyone’s problems, but rarely moaned about her own, even though she suffered some terrible blows.

in 1999, her husband ran off with someone from work. Nicky was knocked for six, but she had three young boys to look after — Tom was only nine — and so she dusted herself down and got on with it.

Two years later, her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Nicky was amazing. She managed to bring up her three boys and work full-time as a carer — her patients adored her and always used to buy her presents and take her out to lunch.

in December 2009, Nicky was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her mastectomy operation was on christmas Eve, though that was never going to stop her. She was home in time for christmas dinner with her family!

it was an aggressive cancer and she was scared — the boys were still young, and she’d lie awake in the early hours, worrying about them. She fought through chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and won that battle. We celebrated, we laughed, we went out to shows, for meals, shared birthdays and anniversaries and enjoyed caravan holidays together.

in 2014 there was more bad news — Nicky’s youngest sister, Tina, had died suddenly in Australia.

And then, at christmas 2016, the cancer came back. This time even Nicky couldn’t beat it. At least her precious boys were all grown.

This week, we buried her ashes under a rose bush. A huge crowd of family and friends gathered, all of whom loved her and miss her lovely smile, kind words and wicked sense of humour so very much.

Nicola (Nicky) JeaN Grove, born February 24, 1956, died November 3, 2017, aged 61.