Tribute for Moira McHardy

 

Early Years

Moira was born at home 23^rd October 1940 at 6 Hill Crescent in Cupar.  She was the eldest of two children to David and Agnes Fleming, who owned a Newsagents and tobacconist in the town.  Her brother Colin was born in 1944.

 

Moira attended Castlehill Primary school and Bell Baxter High School. Moira failed her 11 plus examinations which was probably due to the amount of time she spent off school at various hospital appointments. Moira had scoliosis which meant she had to wear back splints in an attempt to straighten out her spine.  Moira found these uncomfortable and cumbersome at the best of times.  Moira's scoliosis was due to Marfan's syndrome which wasn't diagnosed until she was 50yrs old.  (See Moira's own account in an article written for the Marfan Association In-touch Magazine “Heart to Heart”)

 

Early Working Life

Upon leaving school Moira left home for a two year residential course in Infant Care and Mothercraft at the Armistead Convalescent home in Broughty Ferry.  Moira enjoyed her time here.  According to a CV found in Moira's house it appears that Moira's first job was for the 6^th Marquess of Bute at Mount Stuart in Rothesay.  Moira was under-nanny for six months to Lady Sophie, Lady Caroline and Lord John (Johnny Dumfries Formula One racing driver with Ayrton Senna). Moira used to find it amusing that she had to call the baby “lord” John and that one of her duties was to iron the children's socks!

 

Moira's next job was in 1959 looking after BBC political commentator Andrew Marr for a short time.  From there she worked for Mrs Thorburn as a nanny looking after four children at Merlindale house in Broughton.  Moira spent her free time cycling and going to local dances in Broughton with her friends.

 

In 1960 Moira applied for a job in the “Lady” magazine.  Moira became nanny at Stratfield Saye on the Duke of Wellington's Estate for John Colville private secretary to Winston Churchill and Lady Margaret the Lady in waiting to Queen Elizabeth 2^nd. Moira looked after their three children, Harriet, Sandy and Rupert. Moira stayed in The Old Rectory at the time. Moira was supposed to take the children one day to meet Winston Churchill but the children became ill and the appointment was cancelled.

 

In 1962 Moira returned home to Cupar and did a six month secretarial course at Bruces Business College in Dundee.  This led to a job at Cupar Tax Office for a few months.

 

Family and working life

Whilst back in Cupar Moira became engaged to Francis McHardy who she met at a dance in the Royal Hotel.  Moira worked from August 1963 to March 1964 at Edenwood Farm as a childminder.  On 2^nd April 1964 Moira married Frank and settled down in a flat in James Square in Newport-on-Tay. Their eldest child Alister was born in January 1966. Franks job at Shanwell Upper Air Station gave him an opportunity to work abroad in Libya. Moira, Frank and Alister moved to Tobruk for two years staying next to the King's Palace. They returned by car to Newport in 1968 where sadly Moira miscarried her child.  In 1969 the family moved to 37 Cupar Road. Their second child Dianne was born in June of that year. 

 

Moira stayed at home bringing up the family until 1976 where she took on a part time job as a domestic at Netherlea for three years whilst Frank went back to college before working off shore on the oil rigs in the North Sea. Moira's hobbies were badminton, knitting and baking. Moira continued working through the late 1970s and ‘80s as a childminder to local families in Newport.  During the mid ‘80s Frank and Moira's marriage started to break down.  They were divorced in 1989 and Moira moved with Dianne and Alister to 3 Union Street.  Throughout the ‘90s Moira worked as a home help with Fife Council. Moira used to enjoy visiting her “old ladies” as she called them.  A lot of the time the ladies just wanted some company and didn't want Moira to be doing any work. Moira was unable to keep her job as her own health started to impact on her daily life.  Moira retired in her early fifties.

 

Health

During the ‘80s whilst still living at Cupar Road Moira was starting to really struggle with her health. Walking up Cupar road with bags of shopping would really tire Moira out with the exertion.  Moira was given iron tablets for anaemia but no links were made to the fact that Dianne had been diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome in 1976 for poor eyesight. Moira wasn't diagnosed until the late ‘80s as having Marfan's Syndrome - a genetic disorder of connective tissue, affecting predominantly Moira's heart, lungs and spine. (Please see “Heart to Heart” article written by Moira). Marfan's syndrome had a big impact on Moira's health which she bore with real courage. As the years passed she found herself becoming increasingly breathless and her need for assisted ventilation increased.  Moira however was never one to complain about her condition and took each day as it came. Moira was often seen out and about stopping to lean on a wall or a gate to get her breath back.

 

Faith

Moira had been brought up going to Cupar Old Parish Church where she had attended Sunday School as a teenager and she made a profession of faith and joined the church. Similarly, on moving to Newport Moira encouraged Alister and Dianne to do the same and from time to time attended St. Thomas's Church as it was known. During the time of Moira's separation and move to Union Street she became more interested in matters of faith. The new minister at the time, Graham Black ran a video discussion course on the life of Jesus and some new communicant classes. Moira decided to dedicate her life to following Jesus and made her own personal commitment at home in her bedroom dressed in her best clothes for the occasion! Moira declared her faith at a special service at church along with Dianne and her friends. Moira started reading her Bible daily and made time to pray for people and different situations around the world. Moira was interested in Barnabas Aid and wrote to prisoners of conscious.

 

Moira was made an Elder at church and attended a housegroup at Trish Barclay's. Eventually Moira started running her own housegroup on a Monday morning. Moira enjoyed the fellowship of her group of ladies that attended.  Moira however found that she had to at first write down her prayers as she was not confident in being able to pray out loud.  Also Moira would spend much time preparing for the study in trying to fathom out the answers which weren't always evident on reading the question.  As time went by Moira was able to pray out loud quite naturally and grew in confidence in leading the group. Moira started to get involved in the Web Church when Alyson Leslie approached her and asked if she could collate some information on Newport for the website.  Moira was also asked to pray for specific requests sent in via the website.  Some of these prayers were answered in remarkable ways. Moira supported the church in many ways and met up to pray with Jean Campbell on a Sunday morning before the service started. Moira also became a volunteer latterly in the Manna traidcraft shop.

 

Last years and days

Moira lived an exemplary Christian way.  Her faith, family, friends and neighbours were the things that kept her going in life. Moira liked her holidays and managed to travel over to Guetersloh with Dianne to visit Alister in Germany where he was based for three years.  It was here that Ali met Tracey and they wed in 2007. Moira normally spent her holidays either at Alister’s or Dianne's although this became more difficult for Moira in her last year. Moira was happiest if she had achieved her three “Bs” each year, the beach, a BBQ and the berries. Moira was very blessed with her friends in Newport who supported her in many practical ways. Moira was never one to feel sorry for herself and always gave a listening ear to other people's woes and troubles.

 

Failing health led her to become dependent on eighteen hours of oxygen a day from November 2008. This gave her a boost but at the same time was tiring as she had plastic tubing following her everywhere. Moira realised towards the end that she was almost housebound. The cold weather in the winter always posed a challenge to Moira's breathing and stamina whilst out and about. Moira had great faith in the Lord knowing that one day she would receive a new resurrected body. One day she would see Jesus and be free from all her earth bound suffering.  The day came unexpectedly on 17^th January 2009. Moira had been a stalwart right up to the end. Moira will be greatly missed by all who knew her. In spite of her physical weakness she possessed inner strength and a tenacity for life.  Moira was and always will be a true inspiration to us all.