Rosie Hipkin, born Rosie Nunn, was the daughter of an insurance clerk and a nurse. She arrived into the world on the 29 January 1939, 25 minutes after her identical and ‘mirror’ twin sister Miggy. The twins were premature at 25 weeks which was remarkable for the time, in fact a Doctor suggested one should be left to die. Fortunately one determined nurse decided that this should not happen. Rosie remembered hugs between her parents and a woman they met in the street one time when they were young girls …this was the nurse that gave them life. Rosie was a war baby and her first memory was of bombs falling on Ipswich and during the first five years of her life she only saw her Father once as he was away at the front. Unfortunately, their mother was not in good health and the twin’s early childhood was quite unsettled. By the time they were eight they had moved between five different schools as they lived with a succession of friends and relatives. Happily, as twins they had each other for company and for comfort. Rosie’s fondest childhood memories were of playing with her sister. Life really started for Rosie when she went to Northgate Grammar School where she was a shining example of intellect as well as grit and determination on the sports field. However, as well as this, there was a mischievous side to Rosie that took delight in swapping identities with her twin to confuse teachers and even potential boyfriends. This was a happy time in Rosie’s life and she was very pleased to be involved in the organisation of a recent reunion of Northgate girls and to reminisce about their school days. During her childhood Rosie also participated in a German exchange, writing to a pen-pal, Hanni. From this stemmed a lasting friendship and a lifelong interest in all things German. Over the years Rosie hosted many students from the Epping-Eppingen society and she was always striving to improve her understanding of German. At the age of 16 Rosie left school and studied for her A’ levels part time whilst working as a Tax Officer. She then sat the Civil Service exam achieving a high score that, together with her ability to solve cryptic crosswords, would lead her to a role at GCHQ. Her sharp mind and keen intellect saw her positioned in the field of ciphers, undertaking work so top secret that it still remains classified to this very day. Later on in her career Rosie would have further roles in the public sector including Medical Secretary, Secretary to the Mayor of Redbridge and Committee Officer at Lea Valley Park where her excellent organisational skills, sound judgment and can-do attitude were very well regarded. Rosie suspected that she got some of these interviews just because people were interested in GCHQ … but, of course, when they asked she wasn’t able to tell them anything at all. Rosie always had an excellent grasp of the English language and was somewhat of a stickler for grammar and punctuation. She made one request about this eulogy which was to ensure that it was factually and grammatically correct – no pressure there then! It is ironic that the very person who would be most able to proofread and critique this eulogy is in fact its subject. It was during her GCHQ years that Rosie became passionate about skiing, taking many trips to Austria to enjoy this pastime and practice her German. It was on one such trip aboard the ‘Snow Sports Express’ that Rosie met her future husband Roger who she married on a snowy February day so that they could honeymoon on the slopes. Unluckily for them some of their luggage was stolen en route to their resort so Rosie and Roger spent the first few days of their honeymoon wearing the same set of clothes they travelled in. Finally, when they did manage to obtain some new outfits they were greeted at dinner by a round of applause from the rest of the chalet. Their ability to make the best of any situation and meet ups and downs of life served them well throughout their marriage but never more so since Roger’s Parkinsons diagnosis – as Roger attests “Rosie could not have done more for him”. Rosie and Roger settled in Epping in Hemnal Street opposite the sports centre and began to build a strong network of friends in the community many of whom are here today. Family soon followed with the arrival of their son Russell then their daughter Polly. She was a loving and supportive mother encouraging her children in their interests and also sharing her own passions with them. In fact by passing on her interest in Germany and badminton to her children, Rosie indirectly helped Russell to meet his wife Nathalie (who is half German) and Polly to meet her future husband Jessen (who is a keen badminton player). In 1976 the family moved from Hemnal Street to Bell Common and started to transform a dilapidated house and wilderness into a comfortable family home and beautiful garden. Little did she know that this would not be the only ‘Grand Design’ she would embark on……..but we’ll hear more about that later…. Whilst on the subject of design we must also remember the wonderful birthday cakes that Rosie created for Polly and Russell and in later years for her elder grandchildren Dominic and Janine. These included a Morph cake, a pineapple, a Hello Kitty cake, a pirate ship, a Baba Papa cake, a Stegosaurus and a Golliwog (obviously the last one wasn’t a recent cake). As with everything, Rosie put a huge amount of energy into these masterpieces. Not wanting her children to experience the rather stuffy holidays in Southwold guesthouses she remembered, the Hipkins enjoyed relaxed family holidays in the Gower and France, camping or caravaning and enjoying the fresh air and outdoors. Later on her sister Miggy’s family would join in these holidays and there are many treasured memories of these times. Sadly, tragedy was to touch Rosie’s life when at the age of 57 her beloved twin sister Miggy was killed suddenly in a car crash. After this time Rosie provided invaluable support, care and advice to Miggy’s husband, Peter, and children Heidi and Marc. The two families remain close and continue to enjoy holidays and Christmases together. At these Christmas get-togethers it was a standing joke that there were never less than eight vegetables and six puddings for Christmas dinner. This was typical of Rosie to ensure that everyone’s favourites were there be it Jamaican torte, ginger ice cream, lemon ‘slab’, summer pudding, Christmas pud or traditional English trifle. In fact, thanks to her well-stocked fridges and freezers and her love of entertaining, I am sure there are many of us here today who have enjoyed Rosie’s wonderful cooking and her compulsion to over cater. But then Rosie was never one to ‘underdo’ things – who else would take on the design and project management of a new house in their back garden at the age of 70! Happily, this very week Roger has moved into ‘the shed’, as it is affectionately known, where we hope he will live in relative comfort just as Rosie wished and planned so carefully.

Dear Mummy Nothing can put into words how much I love you. You’ve always been there for me, always strong, always supporting, always understanding and always smiling – at least that’s what I can remember. All my life you put your energy into making a loving and happy home and a close family. That you certainly achieved. What lovely years we had. You can be so proud of everything you achieved. Of course I was expecting you to live into your 90’s, accompanying me into my 60’s. I feel robbed that you will not be there and I know you were sad that you will not see your grandchildren grow up. For myself, I gain comfort from the thought that you will always be there in my mind and I can always imagine what you would say or do. I can’t imagine what it feels like for you to have lost all the years and experiences you were looking forward to, but maybe you can dream back to the wonderful ones you did have. You are a wonderful mother. I cannot think of a single thing I’d change about you or what you did. I love you so much. You are part of me and just a single thought of you will always make me feel happy, loved and confident. I’m thinking of you! Love Russell

I remember the twins with great affection from Northgate School. Ours was a very bright and friendly form and Rosie was the brightest girl in it. Sylvia Milne (Pott)