Linda Thomas
27 Nov 1960 - 31 Aug 2013
Linda Thomas
27 Nov 1960 - 31 Aug 2013
THOMAS, Linda.
Passed away peacefully on August 31, 2013, aged 52 years. Loved so much by her many friends.
A celebration of Linda’s life was held in the Dunstall Memorial Chapel, Edwardes Street, Napier on Thursday September 5. Tributes may be left at our website www.dunstalls.co.nz or posted to PO Box 1055, Napier 4140.
Linda you were a person of honesty,integrity,and a women of your word a quilty that is so hard to find now. (I found the gift you left for me) Debbie and buzz
,
Debbie ( 12 Oct 2013 )
‘Hey Sarge - This really wasn’t the plan, was it duk’
‘We nicknamed Linda ‘Sarge’ very early on in those early days of knowing her and it stuck. She had a presence about her that made you stand to attention as she wouldn’t want to repeat herself – been there, done that – do as you are told first time or else !!!
Wasn’t she just the most bossy, awkward, cantankerous, stubborn and annoying person you had ever met? And wasn’t she just the most honest, trustworthy, generous and kind one as well? In spite of all this and because of all this - We loved Linda just the way she was. I could write a book about Linda Thomas and still not do her justice. She was one in a million, totally unique and worth a thousand times her weight in gold and more. She is irreplaceable and unforgettable and it is so tragic that we are having to say Goodbye to such a dear, dear friend today.
Linda Mair Thomas was born in Maesteg, a tiny village in South Wales in 1960, a 2nd daughter for her father and mother, Glyndwr and Nancy. Linda and her sister, Jillian were raised on the smallholding and Linda enjoyed riding her pony, and all the usual rural pastimes involved with looking after the animals, especially the sheep and dogs.
After leaving school, and her teenage years of Young Farmer’s Club activities, Linda went to Usk College of Agriculture to study for her National Diploma in Agriculture. She then decided to specialise and study sheep and left South Wales for the rural wilds of Northumberland and a sheep college in Ponteland. She was an excellent learner, gained all her qualifications, loved what she was doing and became involved with the farming community by working anywhere there were sheep.
And this is how we came to meet her.
At our first meeting I thought she was the most disagreeable and rude person I had ever met. She thought I was stuck up and snooty. She made Nick laugh. The kids were terrified of her.
But that soon changed. She always did make Nick laugh and we became more than best friends. We shared things like no other at that time. I would have done anything for her and vice-versa. I could ring her up in the middle of the night if there was an emergency, get a right mouthful, mind you, for waking her up as she liked her sleep, but she would be in her truck and be with me as soon as she could. I did all her paperwork, much the same as Trudi has done in New Zealand, her banking, shopping, as well as the partying and playing. And we had some real good times. My head is bursting with memories as I try to write this.
She drove all the way to Dover once, a 10 hr round trip, to fetch Nick who had come over from Belgium on the ferry, just so that he could be home for some party.
As the years went by, Linda became one of our family. She was involved in every aspect of our family life and it would never occur to us, not ever, that she shouldn’t be there. She would walk in, make herself a drink, get something to eat, stay over and treat the house like her own, whenever she wanted and for as long as she wanted.
I remember one particular meal when she insisted on preparing the vegetables. I always cut my carrots long ways if having them as a separate vegetable, or round ways for stews etc. The correct way I may add !!! Anyway, she was doing the veg and to my horror cut the carrots round ways when we were having a roast. I told her straight away they should have been cut long ways and her reply, in that voice (I’m sure you have all heard it) was ‘who is doing the veg? You will have what you are given’ - amongst a few chosen swear words. Even today I think of Linda when cutting carrots.
Not many people really knew our Linda. Many knew she worked hard and damned well, they saw the work clothes and she really did look scruffy sometimes, and they heard her cussing and swearing and shouting. They never saw the inside of the little house she rented called ‘The Bothy’ at Fauld Hall. They never saw the flowery curtains, the lilac walls, the sweet peas in the vases or the great care she took of all her possessions. She liked to cook (I still use one of her liver and bacon casserole recipes today) and she liked everything ship shape and proper. She took ages to eat a meal which was agonising for the kids as they had to sit and wait for her to finish every last bit before they could have their pudding or leave the table to go out and play. Etiquette was everything at the dinner table.
Chris and Hayley thought the world of Linda. They respected her and soon learnt that Linda’s way was the best, or at least, the way they had to do it when Linda was around!!
Linda had her first taste of New Zealand and fell in love with the country when she started sheep scanning over there. I remember the fuss over getting her equipment ready and the trips to and from Heathrow. She had a proper fight one time with the checking in girl as her luggage was overweight. Linda turned round and pointed to the biggest man she could and said that the difference in weight between her and this man more than covered her overloaded bag. She would always stand up for herself and I would stand there with my mouth open!!
She used to come back from New Zealand with her stories and photos, dash off to see her father in South Wales and then kick in the scanning, all over the UK. She took some keeping up with in those days – I’d think I was ringing her in Wales and she would be in Scotland. She travelled hundreds of miles.
After scanning, she would start lambing. She worked at the stately home farm at Chatsworth, night lambing and later up in Northumberland, near Hexham where she used to live in a cottage miles from anywhere, had a generator for her power, a pump for the water, a generous supply of whisky, cigarettes and food, and was as happy as Larry. The fact that she was very difficult to get hold of was of no matter. She always wanted to live on her own island and this was the closest she could get to it.
After lambing she came shearing with us. It could have been because there had been nobody much to talk to, except her beloved dogs and sheep during all those past months, but she became so vocal during the months of June and July. She would argue black was white and she could swear to make a grown man cringe but she would very swiftly get the job rolling and you could rely on her 100%.
I remember the day she left us back in April 2000. I had just had an operation. One, that without Linda insisting on paying for me to see the consultant privately, would never have happened until the Autumn and one that would have seen me very very poorly for months. That day, well that whole week really, was emotional. She had filled her container ready for its voyage to New Zealand and was staying with us. We had boxes to take to charity shops, things to buy and bags to pack. It was a week of hell actually. She was so particular about everything and it had to be done just right. Then that last day arrived. I couldn’t travel so early after my operation so Nick was driving her. We stood outside our house to say our goodbyes. We were crying and hugging and this little Welsh dragon with the biggest heart, the best friend anyone could ever wish for was leaving.
And then you lot got her!!
So, Goodbye my dearest friend, our special friend. Another journey for you and No – not part of the plan at all !!
Love you forever xxxx
Nick & Ange Cope ( 06 Sep 2013 )
so sad to see you go, I will never forget that strong welsh voice, when you were right, that was it, no arguments. me and dad had a good trip back with you on Monday & I hope you did too. thanks for everything linda.
Brock Cumming ( 06 Sep 2013 )
So sad that you are gone Linda. Large as life and twice as feisty! So sorry I never made it to see you, it was always on the cards. Time has just slipped away. You will be sadly missed by everybody. We had some good times and lots of laughs. Remember when you broke your nose LOL? Kerry and Tony will remember you with fondness and smiles, especially when they think of all those pool parties up at Fauld Hall. A true friend without a doubt. Sleep tight xxx Kay xxx
Kay Thompson ( 06 Sep 2013 )
Hayley Cope: Linda was a strong, proud, feisty women, she could mix with both the lads and the girls and everyone loved her. growing up i can always remember going around to the farm where she use to live and have loads of fun running around and helping where i could, but the best memory was the cheese pie and having to eat it or there was nothing else for tea. i'm sure Chris can remember that.
When i traveled to New Zealand i was happy to know that Linda was there waiting for me. She helped me to get everything ready, took me to the farm and made sure i was ok. She was there if i needed her and i knew any problems linda was not far away to assist. She was brilliant and i will never forget the help, advice and knowing a familiar face in a strange country
She loved her dogs like i have never known anyone love their dogs and they were all well behaved ( suppose you have to be with Linda) I wouldn't wanna mess with an angry Linda, she gave as good as she got and stood her ground and never let anyone stand in her way. She loved her Sheep farming and she knew a hell of a lot of information about sheep, farming, her dogs and she enjoyed doing every part even living in some remote areas of England, she made every place her home and did it in away no one else really could.
She will be farming the sheep up there now. i just hope she is at peace. She was a true family friend and remembered birthdays and christmas and will always be one. she will be sadly missed. I know i will see her again, just not yet!
REST IN PEACE SARGE - we love you xx
Trudi ( 05 Sep 2013 )
Christopher Cope: “ I always remember Linda as the first person I knew that had got a mobile phone when, back in the early nineties, these were the remarkable size of four British house bricks stacked together and just as heavy. This very expensive ‘portable’ device took up the whole center console area of her 4x4 and was guarded by her dog that sat the very small rear seats as I had taken up the co-pilots chair on another shepherding mission. This was a Time when satellite navigation meant looking up at the stars, and directions, in the large part, were still given as ‘turn left’ or ‘turn right’ at some pub or other noticeable landmark – a Time when a man, or even a woman of Linda’s calibre, could still easily get lost and quickly find themselves in peril.
But, with Linda, and on that first trip of the new shearing season, I remember feeling the brand new sensation of ‘freedom’ that the heavy black box gave us - we felt safer because it was there … the fact that no-one was ever at home when we tried to call was another matter. We, armed with the brick-phone; a couple of hurdles; a piece of brightly coloured orange string; and along with the dog’s help could have won wars that day … instead, we were content to bomb around the Northern wilds of England, looking for some sheep to stick it to, with a Tchaikovsky symphonic poem playing over the radio. One of many good times indeed. Farewell friend. ”
Trudi ( 05 Sep 2013 )
Over here, in England, people are remembering you
Caroline ( 05 Sep 2013 )
Very sad to hear of Linda's untimely death. She had lived at Stockley Park and been in charge of the sheep for two years before emigrating.
Richard Hall ( 05 Sep 2013 )
I have known Linda for over 8 years now, worked on her lovely little cottage nestled in Waikere, keeping the rain out, pulling out walls, etc,
She always looked after me, nothing was any bother to her, she would give the shirt off her back if you needed one, totally selfless, we had many a wine on her leather couch sorting out the world's problems,
Such a lovely woman
You will be missed by so many Linda..........
Pnilip