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Fiona Slee RIP


Mike Todd

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Just heard from John Slee's FB page that his wife, partner, best friend Fi (Fiona) has died. His brief note gives no details but I know that he will be devastated.

 

Both John and Fi have been great canal enthusiasts and supporters, especially since they decided to move onto their boat full time, although they were already well experienced by that time. Fi built up an encyclopedic knowledge of the canals and was an avid blogger and Tweeter (I only really followed the blog and Christine her Tweets).

 

They had to be determined and inventive to allow Fi to remain on board and yet still, for many, many years, access the skilled medical specialists that did so much to keep her going until now. The information they have published on their website about how to access regular medication and GP services whilst on the move has, I am sure, been of enormous value to others who find themselves in similar needs.

 

John has invetsed an enormous amount of his energy and commitment to enabling Fi to keep on exploring the canals as a dedicated continuous cruiser. Not for them was there ever any suggestion that they would test out the loopholes in that status and their blog of their journeying is a testament to what can be done.

 

I am sure that all of us will share in John's (and their son Craig's) grief and I really do hope that we shall see John out and about ere too long. After all, he, of necessity, became a most proficient single-hander, more especially in the recent years.

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John, known to this forum as 'Big John' (a good description - he makes me look short) and Fi have been good friends and were regular visitors to Cropredy. Last time we heard from them, their boat 'Epithany' was for sale and they were planning a move to the land. Those of us who have known them will know of their struggles with Fi's health.

 

Fi was a wonderful person and will be missed by everyone who knew her.

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I have heard their names before (the surname Slee sticks in the mind) though I can't think in what context.

 

John Slee is "Big John" on this forum. He shows as last active in November, though I can't recall him posting for a while.

 

It has been obvious from his posts elsewhere that his wife Fi was getting much weaker. Our sincere condolences to John and his family.

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Fiona and John were valued friends. Fiona's blog details most of her ongoing health issues and 2016 had been a particularly trying year.

 

http://nbepiphany.co.uk/our-story/blog

 

Thoughout John has kept us up to date with Fi's condition and he never lost hope, however late last night he messaged that the doctors thought the end was near and this morning the sad, sad news. Both times we had to sit quietly with a cuppa and reflect on a lost friend.

 

They offered support to my wife when I was fighting my health battles and when I was mobile again nb Epiphany was my first visit. They even moved the boat so I could reach them easily.

 

I was fortunate to spend 2 days with them in August last year.

 

Goodbye friend.

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I have just read part of their "blog" (thanks for the link, Grebe) and I think I now realise where I know their names from - weren't their adventures published as a series in one of the boatimags for a while?

 

I found the poem which John quoted in his December writings extremely moving.

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I have just read part of their "blog" (thanks for the link, Grebe) and I think I now realise where I know their names from - weren't their adventures published as a series in one of the boatimags for a while?

 

I found the poem which John quoted in his December writings extremely moving.

Yes, they did write for one of the mags at one point
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I have just read part of their "blog" (thanks for the link, Grebe) and I think I now realise where I know their names from - weren't their adventures published as a series in one of the boatimags for a while?

 

I found the poem which John quoted in his December writings extremely moving.

 

Yes she wrote for Canal Boat magazine.

 

She gave up writing when she could no longer work the boat and see and experience 'real' boating. She told me she could have cheated in 2016, by using details from old blogs, because they were covering all their favourite waterways as they made their way to the Lancaster for September 2016. However she thought that was cheating so she gave up.

 

She also wrote 'North Yorkshire Waterways' for Richlow guides.

 

John is a retired C of E vicar, he had a Cornish parish with RAF St Mawgan in it. They both had a fierce faith but never pushed it to you.

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I met John several times when he had Epiphany on the K&A, and liked him. I seem to remember he was a former CoE clergyman, hence the name of his boat. I do not recall meeting Fiona, but my sympathies go to John and his family.

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This was such sad news on Sunday morning. John and Fi were soulmates in everything and radiated that love to everyone they met.

 

Fi will be much missed by John and Craig and by the rest of us. Whether we knew her in person, or through the blog of NB Epiphany's travels, we have all lost someone dear.

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I met John several times when he had Epiphany on the K&A, and liked him. I seem to remember he was a former CoE clergyman, hence the name of his boat. I do not recall meeting Fiona, but my sympathies go to John and his family.

As I recall it, their previous boat was called Twelfth Night - largely because there were twelve share owners. When they opted to have their own boat, and later to move onto it permanently, what more obvious (for a CofE ordained priest - which he still is) than to move from Twelfth Night to Epiphany!

 

I guess that, in thes ame vein, Fi has now moved onto her next boat which might well be called Easter . . .

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