Marie Palmer LLAM FRSA (1944 - 2011)
Marie passed away peacefully the night of February 3rd 2011, withher husband, John, by her side. She battled hard for over three and a halfyears with metastatic breast cancer, having tumours in thelungs, and then a tumour in the brain. It seems fittingthen, that the first post I write here on heroes and inspirations is about her(my mum).Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s mum was always there for whateverwe needed. She would always allow us our own freedom (or so it seemed). It’sonly in later life that you realise that that freedom came as an extra bit of slackon the parental reins. But it gave us chance to grow, explore and develop intoyoung adults.
There was never any “you must be a…” speeches, but therewas also never any “you must not be…”. In fact the closest any ofus came to that, was the fact that mum never wanted any of us to go intotheatre or acting. Ironically, and I never told her, animators are oftenreferred to as shy actors. But she probably knew.
Mum always worked and she worked hard. Even in her teens she ranstables for her father. The majority of her adult life she worked either as awife and mother or a teacher. Her subject, speech and drama, was something shehad fallen in love with as a girl (as I did with animation as a boy), and wenton to make a long and successful career from it, working in two private girlsschools, a drama school, and for many years successfully running her ownbusiness.
I was fortunate enough to, not only be taught by her, but to watchher teach. In my mid teens, due to High School “teacher trainingdays”, mum would often take me with her to the Drama School in Birminghamwhere I’d find myself surrounded by and semi immersed into the training of a dramastudent. This allowed me the opportunity to observe and understand the basicsof theatrical performance, and eventually incorporate it into my animation work.
Mum was a big influencein and on my life, and helped me become who I am today. Even in later life whenshe’d decided to retire from teaching due to her health (a decision that tookmuch courage), mum was always there to listen to plans and ideas with greatencouragement.
Everyone that met or knew mum could see what a wonderful and strongwoman she was. That strength was even there in her last days. Less than twelvehours before she passed away, she became a Great Grandma for the first time,one final tick on her checklist of achievements.
She touched the lives of hundreds of people during her life, fromfamily and friends to all of her students. She was loved and respected and willbe greatly missed.
Rest in Peace mum, you’ve earned it.
