Some 40 years ago, a friend described Judith - or Hitch - as she was known - as ‘the pretty, leggy one in the mini skirt’. Up until a short time ago - but perhaps minus the mini skirt – these same words would still have been applicable. Judith Margaret Hitchings was unique – a one off – who touched many lives in many different ways. As her brothers described her, she was an ageing hippy with a free spirit and was the glue that held together brothers, cousins and extended family across the world. Jude was also the bond that brings us here this afternoon. She was a dyed-in-the-wool country girl. Her parents, Frank and Irene, met in Gloucestershire and on their marriage, moved to Cottisford where, with younger brothers Andrew and Jonathon, Jude grew up on College Farm. Like many of you, she was a pony-mad youngster. Together with her mates, she and her strawberry roan pony, Sandy, were a familiar sight hurtling across the fields surrounding College Farm. She was an active member of the Bicester pony club, frequently representing them in the Prince Philip Cup. At the tender age of 9, she participated in the higgledy piggildy troupe that constituted the musical ride at the Hunt show in Tusmore Park. Idyllic summers were spent traipsing around the local pony shows, with Frank at the wheel of the aged land rover and Andrew and John jammed in the back. She adored her handsome, easy-going dad - and his early death was a tragedy which Jude found difficult to comprehend and impossible to accept. After leaving St Johns prep school, she went to the Girls High School here in Brackley. She made many more friends with similar interests, and although she was officially a much derided day bug, she was soon adopted by a group of resident inmates and became an honorary boarder. Under their influence, it wasn’t long before her thoughts turned away from horses and towards the enigma that is boys. There followed 5 years of fun, friendship and unrepeatable escapades - creating a still unbroken bond of surrogate sisterhood. Together, they hitch hiked all over the country for illegal outings to clubs, pop concerts, festivals and more. However, Irene did her best to keep her errant daughter on the straight and narrow. Wherever possible, she’d roll up at parties at the appointed hour, in the trusty white Cortina, to collect her pretty daughter. Needless to say, Jude was never ready to go home and there was many a midnight wrangle twixt Mum and daughter. History doesn’t relate the exact incident which first inspired Irene to utter the immortal phrase: Judith Hitchings – you’ve cooked your goose this time – but it is one that has now become Brackley High School folklore. Educationally, although very bright in all subjects, she had a special gift for languages and excelled in French and Spanish. She left the High School and went to Bicester to join the sixth form and her formal education was completed by more studies at Aylesbury College.