Remembering Anneliese today and always. With much love. Clare, Charles, Marcus & Alex xxxx

Thinking of Anneliese today …. Six months on from her passing. Was looking at her lovely poetry books …her beautiful poems will be with us and others for ever.💕😊

Although Anneliese and I never met, she did contact me a few weeks before her passing and we exchanged emails. Her commitment to St Nicks and her pride in being a Patron for us was clear to see - I was honoured that she even took the time to drop myself and Stuart, our Chair, a note, when she was facing her diagnosis head on and with such fortitude. I was fortunate to attend her funeral service and it was truly evident that she had marked the lives of many, including those at St Nicks with whom she worked. I assured her that I would do my utmost to continue to grow and evolve St Nicks in a manner consistent with her engagement and her strong love of nature and our reserve. Thank you Anneliese for all you have give to St Nicks, from myself and the entire Board and Team.

Apparently I first met Anneliese when I was about two years old. I can't say I remember that first meeting but ever since she left an indelible impression on me. There were many things that linked us, and having her in my life, knowing how sincerely felt her empathy and understanding were as I struggled with my own ME provided real reassurance and hope. I will always marvel at her ability to be a one woman network creator. I sat at the dinner table with Anneliese and Mike and a myriad of guests on so many lovely occasions. Sometimes with students, sometimes academics, sometimes friends. She would do everything she could to create connections between people and build community wherever she saw the opportunity. It was a gift and a calling. Everyone needs a cheerleader like Anneliese in their life. She was a gem of a human being. I will miss her presence, her warmth, her wit, her humour and her ability to ask incredible questions both of the serious and silly variety. Most of all though, I will just miss her. For me, Anneliese will always be synonymous with York, and as I continue to visit I'm sure it will always feel an emptier place in her absence.

To AED Ladybirds, grasshoppers, Fancy moths and slugs. Bumble bees, Tansy beetles, Butterflies and bugs. With you they took centre stage You made them all seem fun You helped us see all creation, Under the summer sun. So thanks for finding all the words To make us stop and look, At all the small things that there are, By fence and hedge and brook. Bob Gwynne

Just to share the words Anneliese wrote in the song Passing Through as performed today by the Barberellas: Will you make ripples? Will you make waves? Will you move mountains? Or cower in caves? What have you come for? What do you bring? Have you worked out yet what makes your soul sing? Coz we’re all just, All passing through, All working out what we came here to do. Yes we’re all just, All passing through, All working out what we came here to do. What’s in your belly? What’s in your heart? Where will you end up? When will you start? What will you leave us? What is your gift? Will you bring folk together Or widen the rift? Coz we’re all just, All passing through All working out what we came here to do. Yes we’re all just, All passing through, All working out what we came here to do. Sure, you’ll meander, The path’s never straight, But the view from the top Will be well worth the wait, En route there’ll be boulders, En route there’s be stones, Just follow the compass, Lodged in your bones. Yes we’re all just, All passing through All working out what we came here to do. Yes we’re all just, All passing through, The bard had it sussed, Bard had it sussed, the bard had it sussed, to thine own self be bard had it bard had it bard had it bard had it bard had it sussed to thine own to thine own to thine own to thine own to thine own to thine own to thine own to thine own to thine own self be true!

I was very lucky to work with Anneliese on her first live Buzzing performance, which was at York Unitarian Chapel, when it became the entire ‘Alternative Service’ on a fifth Sunday in the month. I had the honour of delivering the Latin name for each animal, and moving the photos on, while she delivered the poems with her amazing theatrical skills. It was always such fun. Later, when I became a Trustee of St Nicks, I was hugely impressed by her prodigious support as our Patron in so many different ways, and over so many years. She will be very sadly missed. The poem we remember her by most is this one called ‘Two Rivers run through it’, her history of York. The Foss and the Ouse, they meet in York And if these rivers could but talk What tales they’d have to tell us all Tales to frighten, to enthral Tales of trade, of boats with sails Laden with barrels, bolts, and bales Tales of drought, and tales of flood Leaving trails of silt and mud Tales of Church and tales of State From Roman times right up to date Tales of pilgrims*, merchants, Lords Of Vikings turning up from Fjords Tales of arms, of friend and foe Tales of history’s ebb and flow The source of all York’s affluence Its influence and eminence Its dominance, munificence Beneficence and continuance Is here, at the rivers’ confluence Without the Foss and Ouse there’d be No Eboracum, no Jorvik, no history ... *pilgrims was originally peasants, but she changed it to pilgrims when we told her about an Archaeological dig in Blue Bridge Lane, right by the confluence, where the body of an early medieval woman was found, clutching a scallop shell badge, a sure sign she had been a pilgrim on ‘The Camino’ which led to Santiago di Compostela. When Anneliese heard we had been inspired to make our own way to Santiago, she gave us her favourite quotation in Spanish from Antonio Machado, see photograph. In translation it means “The way is not the path; it’s how you make your own journey through life.” She certainly lived that to the full! Thank you, Anneliese, for giving so much to so many by the inspiring way you lived your life

It must have been fate that Anneliese and I were seated next to each other on our first day in 1T at Queen Anne’s (QAGS). We became friends immediately and despite being put into different 3rd form classes (I think the teachers found our “exuberance” quite challenging!), we have remained the best of friends for the last 48 years. In an early science lesson, we decided to give each other secret (chemical) agent names. Anneliese was SO4 and I was HCl and we have used these names ever since. She was always a shining star at school, both academically and in extra curricular activities. She was so extraordinarily talented, but always modest and kind to others, so it was no surprise when she was appointed Head Girl. However, she would have been the first to admit that sport was not a favourite. We still laughed about her always turning up to hockey late as, for each “wasted” minute , the teacher made her run a lap of the hockey pitch, never realising that this was a deliberate evasion strategy! Despite heading off on different paths, we always kept in touch and I remember well the dreadful worry when she was reported missing in Mexico and the excitement of discovering she was alive and well. When she became ill on her return and subsequently diagnosed with ME, we would see each other when I visited my parents in York and it was heartbreaking to see her physical frailty, although her inquisitive brain was still busy, looking at the wildlife in her parents’ garden and perhaps creating some early rhymes… It was such a joy when she met Mike and the greatest honour when she asked me to be her bridesmaid. It was the most perfect sunny day. She always took a huge interest in my two boys and they adored her back, especially when she decided to be their Fairly Goodmother! I will miss her smile, her enthusiasm, her hoot of a laugh, her memory (so much better than mine), her wit and our ridiculous and often bizarre conversations, that were probably quite baffling to others! I am so sad that due to COVID we were unable to fulfil her dream for us to drive together, Thelma and Louise style, in our old convertible. It was the last thing we laughed about in the Hospice. Until we meet again. Love HCl xx

An inspiration, and a model of what 'living' really means: this is what Anneliese represents to me. Alongside with her courage, her boundless enthusiasm and love for the little creatures and the bigger issues, her integrity and her generous heart. Just like her special Ma, Anneliese knew who she was and what she stood for: and for that, she stood, with conviction and gentleness. Even without the blood relation, she was family to me, a wise sibling to turn to for advice, to share a new passion with. Her loving and optimistic presence accompanying the milestones in my life, as well as those of my two girls. She leaves such an empty space in our lives, it is hard to imagine it ever being filled again. And as we must go on, her livelihood and her courage to live life choosing to follow her innermost desires and aspirations will remain an anchor for me, in stormy seas as well as in plain sailing. Thank you for enriching my life.

Remembering Mike and Anneliese (28 Chestnut Avenue). with love from Joyce

Anneliese, your Mum Thelma was my cousin by marriage so I feel part of the family. So sad to lose two such lovely people. My deepest sympathy Mike.

Talking about Anneliese, her name comes from Anneliese Rothenberger, who was a German opera singer we liked very much. Anneliese enjoyed growing up with her younger brother, Dominique. On Saturday mornings Anneliese and Dominique went to music club, with Anneliese learning the Clarinet and Dominique, the trombone. Talking about Anneliese’s early life, we taught her French from a very young age. One day in her bath she turned to her Mother (with whom she spoke French) and said ‘tu sais Maman, ‘maison’ c’est ‘house’! and we wondered where she had learnt the English. Looking back Anneliese’s life was very full and she did so much for so many people in so many places and ways and experienced so much. She taught in a French school, she worked in a German shop and was au pair to a Spanish family and so much more. At her girls’ grammar school, Queen Anne’s, she was head girl and then went on to graduate from Cambridge with a BA in modern languages. But, life was not always easy;- Anneliese only just escaped with her life after being caught in the Mexico earthquake because the day before the earthquake took place, by good fortune she left the students’ hotel which collapsed. Anneliese also suffered a lot of ill health. Anneliese was an accomplished teacher, writer, author, and performer. All her extended family and friends appreciated her and will miss her terribly.

I worked with Anneliese on a number of Edu projects in York. She even let me demolish a few compost bins in her honour whilst performing Compost the Musical. We did a fab project too, Poetry on a Plate, for the Food and Drink Festival where young people were encouraged to write a poem whilst munching out. My favourite though was 'Poetree', all about trees, with a number of schools in York. I loved seeing how Anneliese could weave and wind words together from sometimes random contributions from the children! Anneliese has been my sounding ear for a number of other projects relating to writing in and about far and away places. She was so patient with me and so wise in her advice and suggestions. I will miss her musicality, humour, peace, rhyme and agility/energy...all rolled into one. What a lady.

I never previously heard Anneliese talk, and read her specially commissiond poem on Woman's Hour on 31st Dec 2010 - and would like to share it with others who may have missed it too: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b00wrbrl

I think of Anneliese as the personification of ‘all things bright and beautiful’. Her sparkling smile was bright and her outlook on life was beautiful. She spread her celebration of ‘all creatures great and small’ through her two books, Buzzing and Flying High, and her performances throughout schools and festivals were legendary. I met her first 35 years ago in 1987, when we both worked as editors in York. It was just before she began to grapple with the management of her fatiguing illness, and a long time before having to cope with treatment for cancer. How ‘wise and wonderful’ she was throughout such hard times. Regular outings for lunch with Jenny and Anneliese were such a pleasure. During lockdown the three of us Zoomed once a month, keeping in touch with each other’s projects and enthusiasms. Losing her so early seems so unfair. I will miss her enormously.

Anneliese, you were pretty much my oldest friend, and I miss you every day. You shone such a joyous, optimistic light out into the world, even though your life was so unfairly confined by illness. You didn't complain, or dwell on it, but still loved it, and shared all the blessings and joys that you found in your head or in your garden with those you loved, and with those who didn't know you. I can't hear a chiffchaff without thinking of you, I can't see a bug, or a bee on a flower, without thinking of you - and for that, I am grateful and glad. I'm lucky to have known you for so long , and somewhere you're with me and all of us still. xxx

Anneliese was such a beautiful person, inside and out. I so enjoyed reading her poems and loved listening to her performing them. Her enthusiasm for combining her love of poetry with her love of nature and insects was just amazing. She really encouraged me to keep writing my poems during the pandemic and so I did that, inspired by her positive words. She was such a bright light in this world we live in and although she will no longer shine in person I am sure that her wonderful words will continue to brighten up many more lives in the future.

We hope that you find this tribute to Anneliese a place of comfort, support and inspiration for you to visit whenever you want or need to.