Wednesday, July 12, 2023
My condolences to Dennis, Mary, and Jennifer. I have many fond memories of Anne.
Anne and I became friends around eleven years of age at a Girls' Grammar School in North Wales, where she was the brainiest pupil in the school. The prefects, possibly out of jealousy, would often catch her doing things the rest of us could get away with. However, she didn’t mind one of the punishments, memorizing poetry!
Our teachers were also in awe of Anne. I remember the Geography teacher announcing test scores and saying that Hibbert had missed ¼ of a point, but she didn't have the heart to make a deduction and gave her 100%!
Our lives took different directions; Anne to Canada and me to the United States. We stayed in touch via letter, although we met several times during simultaneous visits to the U.K., including one school reunion. On one trip, I met Dennis, but sadly never the girls. I always enjoyed her well-written and funny letters; she had a way of describing activities that made you feel right there—one of my favorite letters during her time in university told of a hilarious punting expedition.
Anne visited us once in Texas, and we spent a day floating in inner tubes down a nearby river. We laughed the whole time!
Rest in peace, my friend.
Gail (Buckley) Cooper
