Missing at CHRISTMAS

For so many families in the UK, there will be someone missing at the table this year – and the worst part is not knowing why

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'WE JUST WANT TO SAY GOODBYE'

Decades on, Stephanie Barwell, 38, still struggles to celebrate Christmas without her beloved nan. Each and every Christmas, no matter how hectic or how busy, I always take a moment to remember my nan, who for so many years was the core to our family Christmas. I can see her now, dancing around the living room, singing along to Irish crooner Daniel O'Donnell with me, then 10, and my sister, Laura, 15, all dressed up in her favourite Christmas jumper and matching Christmas tree earrings, red tinsel glittering in her blonde hair. My nan, Anne Simpson, then 53, was enjoying every moment that Christmas back in 1997, with all her family crammed into her small semidetached house. There were a lot of us, and we were close - me, my sister Laura, as well as my mum Josie, then 33, and her four sisters Jackie, Julie, Jennifer and Janette. Birthdays, Christmas, Easter, we didn't need much excuse for a party and Nan was like our queen - we all adored her. She always seemed happiest at Christmas though, with her big white hair and glamorous dress sense, always smiling, having a good time.