TRIBUTES Great-gran ‘gave the best advice’

A LOVING great-grandmother known for her excellent advice has been remembered for her dancing, creativity and sense of humour.

The life of Lynda Newsham from Caerau in Cardiff has been celebrated following her death on December 16 at the age of 74.

Born one of five children, Lynda grew up in Cardiff after her parents met in Pembrokeshire during World War Two.

Raised on the same road as her husband Brian on Heol Carnau, the pair met at a party when Lynda was 14.

The childhood sweethearts originally planned to elope to Scotland before marrying at St Francis Church in Ely at the age of 19. The couple enjoyed their honeymoon in Amsterdam and went on to enjoy 55 years of blissful marriage together.

Originally working on Cardiff Bus checking the tickets, Lynda soon became a mother to four children and went on to become a loving grandmother of 13 and great-grandmother to seven.

Known for taking pride in her home, she made sure the door was always open to friends and family.

A fan of rock ’n’ roll music and Barbara Streisand, Lynda would enjoy jiving with her sister and teaching her children and grandchildren how to dance.

In her spare time she would also use her creativity to crochet, knit and cross-stitch everything from jackets for her family for clothes for the children’s dolls.

During the summer, Lynda was a keen gardener and would make beautiful flower arrangements in her home.

Meanwhile, she also became known for her skills in the kitchen making minestrone soup, fruit cake and Welsh cakes.

Granddaughter Jade Farleigh-Page said: “Nan was very creative and very intelligent – she was great at crosswords.

“She always had a good laugh, she wasn’t a prude about anything.

“You could talk to her about anything and she would give the best, honest, advice.”

She added: “She did cross stitch and knitting for years and would make little jackets for the children or children’s dolls and lampshades.”

Lynda’s funeral service takes place today followed by a burial at Western Cemetery and a celebration of her life at the Glamorgan Wanderers club.