I first met Emma over 5 years ago when our daughters became good friends at the start of the Juniors. I then found out that Donna, who I had been great friends with since NCT days, also knew Emma from the Infants. We quickly became friends who would chat daily at pick-up and drop-off at school and juggle lifts to ballet classes together.

Emma became a really valued and caring friend to me after Paul died in 2017 - it meant a lot to me that both her and Matt attended his funeral, although I never thought I would be attending Emma’s so soon after (albeit virtually).

I really enjoyed and valued Emma’s company - whether that be out for coffee and cake, a trip to the local garden centres or the beach, or more recently for local walks and zoom chats. We had many laughs and heart-to-heart chats but also chatted about the smaller, but still important, things in life - such as cake (including Whitby lemon buns) and tea (we shared a love of Yorkshire Gold). I’m really sad we won’t be able to do all those things together anymore - but the Northern Lasses will continue to do so with a smile when we think of Emma.

I am very grateful of the photo we took at our socially-distanced fizz evening in August as it was the only one of the three of us together. I will always remember how she was impressed with my makeshift blue tarpaulin patio cover as we didn’t want the rain to stop us from meeting up.

My thoughts and love are with Emma and all her family. Take care, Jo xxxx