Kerry was a kind, gentle, and caring person, loved by everyone who knew her. She ran her own hairdressing business in Hockley, where she was highly respected. But beyond her profession, Kerry was a bundle of energy—passionate about football, mad about cats, and the life and soul of any party. 

Kerry and Ray shared 19 years together, building a life full of memories before settling down in their ‘forever home’ in Eastwood. 

In 2020 the couple returned from a holiday to their favourite place, Tenerife, just as the UK was entering lockdown. During this time Kerry started to feel unwell and after a blood test at her doctors she was told she had to go to hospital for further tests. Ray said, “Due to Covid restrictions I couldn’t be with her; all we had was video calls.” After a week in hospital, Kerry returned home and that’s when she said she had been diagnosed with cancer,  “The bottom fell out of my world that day,” Ray says. 

Kerry was told surgery wasn’t an option, but chemotherapy and medication could help. As Kerry’s condition worsened, she needed a blood transfusion. Her palliative care nurse, Sherry, arranged for her to receive it at Fair Havens instead of the hospital, so Ray could be by her side. Despite the circumstances, Ray explains, “I could visit Kerry every day with the Covid testing and PPE they had available at Fair Havens, whereas in hospital I couldn’t go with her at all.” 

“Fair Havens wasn’t just there for Kerry—they looked out for me too. From the moment we arrived, they offered me a cup of tea and asked if I’d eaten. I told them they were there for Kerry, but they said, ‘No, we’re here for both of you.’ 

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Published in 2025