Comments on: Shirley Meacock: 1924 – 2009

By: Cherry Plant

Cherry Plant — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:56:01 +0000

My husband and I also knew Shirley through playing bridge. We first met her in 1992 when we all joined an evening class to learn to play bridge. Shirley came along with her daughter to the class but Pam didn’t seem as interested as her mother? Following the classes, most of the us wanted to carry on playing bridge and through the teacher, Rosemary Randerson, we joined Kenilworth Bridge Club where we met up with Shirley each Monday evening to play this wonderful game of bridge. We always liked to hear of her recent travels which she made very interesting and she had our utmost admiration. Shirley was a lovely, warm lady and we are very saddened to hear of her death and shall certainly miss her from the Bridge Club.

By: Judy Winterbine

Judy Winterbine — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 07:56:11 +0000

What an amazing lady! What a wonderful life she has had. She was already 80 and worrying about insurance when I shared a room with her in Croatia. She has had a wonderful life, lived to the full, and what a wonderful ambassador for Explore Worldwide.

By: Colin Walters

Colin Walters — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 18:46:32 +0000

I’ve seen another side of Shirley to that of the traveller. We were bridge partners for 12 or more years at Kenilworth Bridge Club, .having started the partnership when we were both Associate Members, playing on a Monday (Associate only) evening. I moved on to Full Membership but she liked the relaxed atmosphere of Monday’s too much to make the change. However we continued to play on Thursday evenings. She would drive from Daventry to Kenilworth. I can’t recall a time when she called off due to the weather.
She was somewhat nervous as a bridge player – totally different to the obvious confidence showed by her many travels – mainly I think due to her fear of letting down her partner. She could never seem to realise how good a player she was.
In all the years together I can’t remember her ever getting angry or showing any frustration when I made mistakes. I put that down to the fact that she saw it purely as a game to enjoy. And in that there was a clear connection to the Shirley that enjoyed her travels.
When she rang and told me some weeks ago that she “felt off” and was thinking of giving up the bridge, I should have realised that it was something serious. She urged me to find a new partner but I said I’d leave it a while in case she changed her mind.
She never did.

By: Jean Yee

Jean Yee — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:22:15 +0000

I have had the privilege of traveling with Shirley on at least 5 Explore trips and we were planning for Tequila Express this February. My heart is broken that Shirley has passed on as someone so special can never be replaced. She was the perfect role-model for growing older and she had a endless supply of energy. Even in our last trip together in 2008 to Morocco, Shirley led the group and stayed at the heels of the tour leader as we treked up the side of the Toros. Shirley had quite the spirit of adventure – how many people in their 80’s much less younger will take on an Explore itinerary with such relish? I really feel Shirley’s loss and am thankful that I have five wonderful trips to re-live and keep her spirit alive!