Clare Cole, 1949-2001
When I die, give what is left of me to children
If you need to cry, cry for your sisters and brothers walking beside you
Put your arms around anyone and give them what you need to give me
I want to leave you with something better than words or sounds
Look for me in the people I have known and loved
And if you cannot live without me, then let me live on in your eyes,
your mind and your acts of kindness
Love does not die, people do
So when all that is left of me is love….
Give me away….
Many of you may be aware by now that Clare Cole, one of the founding members of the AERG, passed away on the 9th March this year; just two months after being diagnosed with very advanced cancers.
Clare was devoted to home education, teaching her own two daughters at home through to their early teens. Clare gave unlimited time and encouragement to others interested in home education and I am sure that her enthusiasm for, and belief in home schooling, gave many people the confidence they needed to take this step.
I remember coming home with Clare from the second or third AERG meeting and typing up our first set of minutes! We were so excited by the formation of this group and Clare was thrilled to be making connections with other people who shared her ideas, beliefs and values about how best to ‘grow’ children at home. Clare collaborated with Marion Pears and Rex Ennis in this early period to produce the publication, “Finding Alternatives to School”.