She was born in 1910 and it is amazing the changes that she had seen in her life. Born just after Lloyd George's "People's Budget" of 1909, she saw great social change and great social upheaval. She was also the last of my relatives who was born before the First World War.
So she lived through the First World War, the Vote for Women, The General Strike, The Great Depression, The rise of fascism, The Second World War, The introduction of the NHS, the Suez crisis, the swinging sixties, my arriving on the scene, the 1970's, Thatcher's mayhem and then the 97 Labour Victory. She saw the height of Empire, the collapse of British Imperial power and the growth of Europe.
The 20th Century was known as the people's Century and she was a representative of the "people", of those ordinary citizens that strived through difficult times to build a better world for those of us born later to enjoy.
Her life saw the UK move to a fairer and fairer society. When she was born women didn't have the vote, was one of the first generation of women to receive the vote and died the week before we all have the chance to vote to keep society fair or move backwards to the Tory floppy haired and photo shoped election promises.
I don't know who Sal voted for or even if she ever voted, but I will miss her and she is now a lost link with my family's past. I do now that the world she lived in has become fairer and fairer and I want it to become fairer for all not for the floppy few or damaged by false campaigners.
So on Thursday, do the right thing, whether you live in Reading, Park Ward or somewhere else, vote for a future fair for all, vote Labour.
