Rosslyn Birdsall

"You can not judge a biography by its length, by the number of pages in it. We must judge it by the
richness of its contents-Sometimes those unfinished are among the most beautiful"

Rosslyn; Roz passed away suddenly from Meningitis in 1992 age 15.
Left behind was Mum (Sophie) Dad (Bob) and sisters Heather and Hazel.

A truely bright and fun loving daughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend.

We wish we could write a beautiful story, one that would do her justice.
We remember her laugh and smile and every now and then something reminds us of a memory we thought
we had forgotton...like hearing a song on the radio, like "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" by Zoe; or
anything by Roxette...we played a Roxette song- "Perfect Day" for her service.

Favourite Memories
(from Hazel Rosslyns sister)-Rozellas "Are you ready to fly" because it reminds me of New Years Eve
just before you left us..I returned home from the pub..a little worse for wear..and you and Joanne
(best mate) were in your bedroom and we were listening to this song we and dancing around-there was
another dance song too-"Get ready for this" 2unlimited.. Jo wasnt dancing...I think she thought we
were mad..ha ha.

Sunshine on a rainy day.
You had this"stacker Hi Fi" (so old now..lol) and you had this song on-the player was in a built in
cupboard in the front bedroom you shared with Heather-you would sing to this into a hairbrush..makes
me smile just thinking about that.
You loved your music-the house was so very quite after you had gone-we never got used to that.

Billy and Karens Wedding-You and Heather were bridesmaids-I think Penny was as well? There was this
mad vicar-one of the hynms was "Oh Jesus I have promised" but this Vicar was going for it Elvis stye
with this old person on the organ playing like Little Richard..we were all it fits of laughter..he
he he Oh I do miss ya sis...... xxx

Our tea parties..he he the three of us would pool our pocket money and get lots of goodies on a
Saturday morning.. lets not talk about the buns floating in cola down the loo ha ha ha (heather do
you remember that one..lol!!)

Your Service...
Cant remember that much really..The flowers started to arrive at the house early-the smell of them
in the living room-I will never forget that. I can't go into a florists without thinking of you now.


At the service, the verger kept calling you "Ross" when she was talking about you instead of Roz..it
drove Joanne mad..she was muttering under her breath..ha ha. One of my friends (Nadine) said years
later she remembered everyone singing..Come-By Arh and that is was really beautiful and sad all at
the same time.

Mum didnt get the flowers she wanted for you..she wanted a football in Leeds colours..but they made
you something different. I know she made it herself later and placed it on your tree. The funeral
people forgot Heathers flowers too, they were still in the car when you had been brought into the
church, they brought them in later. All our aunts on dads side got your name spelt out in
flowers..it was lovely..even if it was spelt wrong..ha ha. In fact the flowers that day were a bit
of a disaster all round..I bet you were laughing your head off! Maybe we should have nicked them out
of someones garden like you used to for mum...ha ha ha

None of us wanted to leave you there...but you had already gone.

After it was over at the wake. Heather and Joanne and I sat on the stairs in our old house with two
of your friends from school, I know Joanne will have their names..we laughed and laughed with
stories about you, it was lovely and heartbreaking all at the same time. I never forgot those boys
for coming back to the house. I wonder if they still think of you sis.

The Reading
A ship sails and I stand watching till she fades on the horizon and someone at my side says She is
gone
Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all. She is just as large now as when I last saw her.
Her diminished size and total loss from my sight is in me, not in her.
And just at the moment when someone at my side says she is gone there are others who are watching
her coming over their horizon and other voices take up a glad shout There she comes ..and that is
dying.

Never Forgotton
Mum, Dad, Babara, Heather,Joanne and lots of the family have all seen the site...they all love it. I
hope you do too. We will never forget.... your "simply the best"

Rosslyns name is on a plate on the "Walk of Art" footpath at the entrance to the Yorkshire Sculpture
Park.
Her name is also on a plaque outside a medical lab in Bristol University-the lab reasearchs
illnesses like meningistis to try and find a cure/vaccine for all tyes of the disease. Our Dad
continues to raise money every year for this... (you said you didnt like him with his beard-he
shaved it off and hasnt grown it since sis..lol)

Rosslyn's memorial tree was replaced because it stopped flowering, it did have red flowers. The
garden office replaced the tree for us-they picked the new one, it had yellow roses-Roz's fave
colour and the variety was called "Golden Wedding" This was a few weeks before Heathers wedding to
Paul... See? Your still letting us know your around..ha ha ha

Joanne's daughter Ellie has Rosslyn's name as a middle name and Joshua, Rosslyn's nephew has "Ross"
as his middle name in honor of his aunt.

Mum had an oil painting done of you..she still has it on her wall...

This is something mum has its a verse on a china plate that Aunt Alice gave her......

"Isn't life a funny thing
yet it's hard to beat
with every rose there is a thorn
but ain't the roses sweet"

Seventeen years have gone by in a whisper..... we will always carry you in our hearts-loved always,
always.

Rosslyns family just wanted to share a little of who she was was with you..thanks for reading. Any
friends or family that want to add memories or photos please e-mail me and I will add them.

Please light a candle for her. She is still missed so very much.