He always called her mummy br after they adopted the boys - br back in 1950 during the polio scare. br I still remember the whispered white faces br and stories of iron lungs br br She used to polish their shoes - br every night before she went to bed br and lay them out neatly at the foot of their beds. br br Her kitchen was a flurry of flour. br She measured the dough with a ruler br (So much easier to get them even) br Christmas cakes too, br wrapped in brown paper, br heavy with cherries and brandy. br br Trained at the Alfred with mum br (She was a much better nurse than me) br mum said, though she didn’t mean it. br br Worked with Benny Rank too, br in the plastics unit during the war. br Held many a young soldier’s hand br while Benny cut and sewed. br br Hated talking about it afterwards. br br When Rod died br she sort of shrank somehow br and her buck teeth stuck out even more. br br Later her memory began to go br and the nursing home, br where she had reminded others br for so many years, br became her only reality. br br The last time we saw her, br they were feeding her with a spoon. br We didn’t go again. br br Peter rang earlier this year br to tell us she had died. br She was ninety six years old.