Sue Banner’s Flower Ceremony 28th April 2019
On the 8th February 2019, our beautiful friend and fellow paddler Sue lost her long and courageous battle with Breast Cancer. She was incredibly strong and positive right throughout her 3-year secondary diagnosis and was an inspiration to us all here at Pool of Life, teaching us many lessons in living life to the full; especially where holidays were concerned!
On Sunday the 28th April 2019, as is tradition amongst Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat support Groups, we held a Flower Ceremony in memory of our friend. This was attended by her lovely husband Steve, her gorgeous daughters Sarah, Louise, and Katie, and her adored grandson James, all supported by around 30-40 close family and friends.
Pool of Life held a short paddling session before the ceremony in our two Dragon Boats ‘Hope’ and ‘Faith’, the latter of which was named by Sue in a traditional naming ceremony in August 2018. A lot of Sue’s friends and relatives joined us on the water and enjoyed the paddle a sport Sue absolutely loved.
Once the boats came in, the paddlers, as is tradition, stayed on the water and were joined by two boats from our Black & Gold friends Amathus, a Dragon Boat team based at the Water sports Centre with Pool of Life and has given us a lot of support since we were established 15 years ago.
Once the boats were lined up all of Sue’s friends and family lead by Steve holding James in his arms joined us on the waterside where we listened to a beautiful eulogy of Sue’s 9 years with Pool of Life composed and read by Linda Smith. The Flower poem was then read by our chairperson Ann Ball after which a minutes silence was held. To sound the end of the minute our drummer, Pam, hit the drum once and we all threw our single pink and red roses into the water shouting Sue’s name. After which we gave her a round of applause.
We then proceeded upstairs where Steve presented Pool of Life with a cheque for £2,410 in donations from both Sue and her family, friends, work colleagues and other Dragon Boat teams. We finished the day with coffee, cakes and lots of wonderful memories of our lovely friend.
It was a very cloudy chilly morning and was to be fair a little miserable on the weather front, but for the entire duration of the ceremony, where we stood with fond sadness, the sun came out and shone down on us. It shone like Sue’s smile.
We miss you Mrs Banner, but be assured we will never forget you.
Lots of Love always xxxxx
/ Write up by Caroline Henderson /
