Ms Gillian Jefford

c/o 31 Oliver Drive

Calcot

Reading RG31 4XN

Jane Levoy

Dutton Gregory LLP
Trussell House
23 St Peter Street
Winchester
Hampshire, SO23 8BT

13th May 2013

Dear Jane Levoy

Re: Mrs Eunice Joan Dallimore

Please let me introduce myself. My name is Ms Gillian Jefford. I am the daughterof the late Mrs Eunice Joan Dallimore, who passed away on 22nd April 2013 at the Hollies Residential Nursing Home in Reading.

I am writing directly to you to inform you of the following.I trust you will bear with me as I try to explain.

Following many discussions with my Mother, whilst she was still in Southampton, and after she’d moved in with me in Reading, and whilst she was in Hospital before she had her stroke, my Mothertold me she wanted me to use the money from the sale of her mobile home, to purchase a larger house, so that she could move in with me and so that I could look after her.

Within this letter, I have copied extracts of my journal which was written during my mother’s upheaval in her life before she passed away. Please excuse the ‘formality’; it helps me with my grief of losing my ‘mum’.

  • Mum moved in with me in Purley whenmy sister Pauline died and her husband Brian threw her out in 2007;Mum grieved for a long time;
  • Both Paula and Helen persuaded her to move to Southampton where they promised to look after her;
  • In 2010, Mum gave me £6,500 for the cost of moving so that I too, could move from Purley, to a 2-bed house in Tilehurst;
  • Over the years mum lived in Southampton, she would telephone me and cry - said she hadn’t ‘heard or seen Helen or Paula for months’;
  • Mum decided that, because ‘they did not look after me anymore’ she wanted to sell up and comeback to Reading;
  • Mum wanted to use the sale of her mobile home to put towards purchasing a larger house for me and Mum to move into together;
  • However, Allan suggested she moved into his ‘other house’ in Calcot. They agreed this would work as we were all ‘only around the corner’;
  • I arranged her move, and homed her whilst she waited;
  • Upon arrival, she telephoned Allan to let him know she was ready to move in and he told her he had changed his mind;
  • Mum was inconsolable. She ‘never wants to speak to him again’;
  • Mum decided that shewould go ahead with our original plan, use her money from the sale to put towards a 3 bedroom house for us both;
  • Mum gave me all access to her bank accounts and pension;
  • Mum asked me to make her3 appointments; one to her Solicitor to change her Will, one to her Bankabout her money, and one to her doctors;
  • Mum’s blood pressure rose with all the anxiety and upset;
  • On June 24th 2011, Mum had a fall in my bathroom;
  • The ambulance took mum to hospital; it didn’t appear she had actually had a stroke; tests proved a positive outcome;
  • She was put intoa rehabilitation ward, to regain her confidence;
  • We again talked about the money and the house;
  • Mum agreed to record our conversations so that I could prove that she told me to use the money to put towards another house;
  • Whilst on the Ward, Mum telephoned Paula. Afterwards Paula asked me if mum was ‘faking it’ because she said her Nan sounded ‘fine’;
  • Paula told Helen what had happened, Helen told Allan- even though Mum told Paula she did ‘not want Allan to know’;
  • Mum wanted to come home and asked me to hurry up and sell mine and buy a house for us both;
  • I telephoned the Vicar who purchased her mobile home and explained, then drove to Southampton. Here-wrote the cheque in my name;
  • In July 2011, I banked £58,100.00 into my account;
  • My Estate Agent found a buyer and I found ‘the perfect house’;
  • After several moves from Hospital to another Hospital for further Rehabilitation and to build up confidence, Mum suffered a ‘total’ stroke;
  • Via West Berkshire Local Authority, I became Mum’s Benefit Appointee;
  • My mobile phone froze and the Orange Shop on Oxford Road could not save any of the data contained in it.
  • In May 2012, I drew on the money to buy the house with the intention to bring mum ‘home’ from the Hollies;
  • In April 2013, Mum passed away.

I had asked the Hollies on various occasions throughout the time she was there if I could care for her at home. We discussed the need for 24 hour care and that the Carers could only give a total 8 hours within 24 hours. It was too risky and, against my feelings, I agreed to keep Mum at the Hollies.

Throughout theyears at the Hollies, Paula and Helen did not visit. I would text them to say ‘Nan is asking to see you’ but they never replied. Allan visited and Mum was pleased they had rekindled their relationship.

By 2013 Mum’s condition worsened. In April, the Hollies called me to her bedside. I got up, left the house and camped in her room. It took 6 nights and 5 days for mum to die. I was holding her hand telling her that it would be okay, there was no rush; she was safe I told her. She took her last breath.

After dealing with Mum’s death certificate/administration and liaising with the family to ask them if they wished to play a part in the funeral, I made the funeral arrangements.

On May 10th Mum was cremated. When the Hearst came, I asked the driver to ‘let mum see the house’ so that ‘she could see’ my home that she would have moved into, where I wouldhave looked after her once more.

On May 11th, Paula emailed to ask me to give her the money for the mobile home.

My emotions are fragile and when I received an email from Paula the day after the funeral (she explained it was because she was going on holiday), I was struck by the coldness and worried about liaising with her.

My question to you is: what happens now? I have no written proof of my Mother telling me to use the money to buy a 3 bed house so that she could move in with me.

I have hopefully,explained and written to you in a polite, coherent manner.

Please write, email or telephone me on 07450 002400.

I hope to hear from you shortly.

With the kindest of regards

Gill Jefford

Relevant dates:

18/06/2011 Mum comes to stay with me whilst waiting for Allan’s house

21/06/2011 Allan tells Mum she can’t move in to his house

22/06/2011 Mum blood pressure rises, visits doctor, given pills

24/06/2011 Mum has fall in bathroom, taken to hospital

07/07/2011 I cancelled Mum’s Attendance Allowance, Special Payment and Council and Housing Benefitpayments.

15/09/2011 Became Appointed Nominee

16/12/2011 Local Service Visit from DWP

01/12/2011 Deputyship for mum BF56 and COP3

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