Five months on...

Hello everyone. It's now nearly five months since Mark died. The months have flown by remarkably, but time doesn't make the loss of Mark any the less shocking to us. I still can't believe that he's gone and isn't coming back. There are times that I want to ask him a question, or if he knows the whereabouts of a misplaced item, and I forget that I can't ask him anymore, that he's gone. I think that it will take a long time for it to sink in.
A lot has happened in the time since his death. We've all had to learn to do new things for ourselves. I think Mark would have been proud of some of the things that Matt, Grace and I have achieved together in this time. We have just returned from our first holiday to Cape Verde without him. He would have loved the rolling surf and the beach - he always fancied himself as a 'beach boy'. Never the less, we laughed together and had a good time, and a few tears too.
It's been good to get back to work. I went back at the beginning of December, firstly to forward planning at HQ - thanks to Steve Howard. Thanks also to all of you on the fifth floor for making me so welcome -sorry for being a bit 'flakey' at first!. I returned to the mounted unit in January. It's been good to get back, and see some of you on my travels. You've all been really lovely.
I believe that some of Mark's colleagues in the TAU are doing a 10k run this year in aid of Bolton Hospice. So if you're asked to sponsor them, please give generously. I can't praise the hospice highly enough. I didn't really know what they did until last year. I can tell you, I honestly don't know what we would have done without them. A general ward a Bolton hospital would have been entirely inappropriate for Mark, it would have been dreadful. If you fancy sponsoring the boys, drop Sgt Jon Middleton an e-mail, or contact myself.
I don't know whether or not we will write on the blog again now that the photos of the funeral are on. It just remains to say, thank you for all your support, and take care of yourselves.

Wendy, Matt and Grace.

Photos from Funeral

Apologies it took so long to upload these, lost the password to the site used to upload..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42134162@N08/archives/date-posted/2010/02/21/

,Matt

Thankyou...

Dear All,

It's difficult to know where to begin. Matthew, Grace and I are sat here wondering what to write to you all. Yesterday was a wonderful and fitting tribute to a wonderful man. I sat and read all the cards and letters this morning that we have received from you all, and also the comments made in the book of condolence. Your tributes have made us glow with pride.
I can't tell you how proud our family was yesterday to see the sight of you all there to honour Mark. It was a very sad occasion, which was made bearable by the presence of you all.
Grace and I also visited the church again today to have a look at the flowers that our family and Mark's colleagues sent. I don't know if you all saw the flowers sent by Mark's colleagues, but they spelled out the name, 'BEAU', they were beautiful.
The photograph of Mark that stood on the altar is stood up on my dining room table at the moment, his face beaming at me every time I walk past the door. That is how I will remember Mark, a big, beaming smile, and I hope you will too. This photo also appears on some memorial cards that we had made. Anyone who wasn't able to come to the wake, and would like one, give me a call, I do have some left, and you can remember him beaming too.
GMP very kindly allowed one of the force photographers to attend and record the events of the day. When I have the disc available, Matthew will put them on the blog as he did with the photos from the Howfener, then anyone who couldn't come yesterday, and our friends and and family in Australia can see what a special day it was.
Now the difficult task of beginning life without Mark inevitably will begin. We don't quite know where to begin, but we know we must. And I suppose that at some point this blog must come to an end. It has given us great pleasure to read the stories, and comments and good wishes, and we have known that we weren't alone throughout our journey. I hope that many of you will keep in touch, but most of all, and I know that this doesn't really need to be said, remember Mark, and like him, be nice to people, help one another, and make a difference in all that you do.
love to you all,
Wendy , Matthew and Grace xxx

Funeral arrangements.

Dear all,
It's been a difficult couple of days since Mark died, but on the whole, we feel a sense of relief for him. And we're finding, remarkably, that life must go on. All the plans for Mark's funeral have fallen quickly into place, so here goes...

A memorial service will be held at St Bartholomews Parish Church at Westhoughton at 1100 am on Tuesday 6th October, which is on School St, at the end of Market Street/Church St. Parking is very limited around the church, and I would suggest parking on either Pavilion Sqr (off Cricketers Way), or the council car park which is accessed by driving past the entrance to Pavilion Sqr and onto the car park. There is a footpath leading from the car park and onto Market St, turn left and the church is straight ahead of you.

The service will last for about one hour, then we will head for Howe Bridge Crematorium on Lovers Lane, Howe Bridge (aprox 2.5 miles) for 12.30pm. Do not feel that you all have to come to the crematorium, however you are very welcome if you wish to do so.

Following the services, there will be a wake/reception at The Brookfield Suite, Westhoughton Masonic Hall, Peel St, Westhoughton (its off Church St going back towards the A6). If you do not intend to come to the crematorium, then please just make your way to the Masonic Hall, and we will attend there following the cremation. You are all very welcome.

We have requested family flowers only, however, if you wish to make a donation to Bolton Hospice via the undertakers, Liveseys of Horwich, then that would be most welcome.

Finally, thank you for all your messages of support over the last few months, weeks and days, you've all been wonderful. Please feel free to continue to post your comments on the previous page.

Bye for now,

Wendy, Matt and Grace xxx

11.45hrs Monday 28th September 2009

Hello everybody,

this has to be truly the saddest day of our lives. Our lovely Mark left us today at 11.45 am. The people who meant most to Mark were all present. The only comfort that we can take, is that he is free from pain, and in a more beautiful place now.

Matthew and Gracie, as always, were a tower of strength, and their maturity and 'fantasticness' astound me.

Finally for now, a big thank you, and 'I love you' to Mark's family, my Dad and Anne, and to Andy and Vanessa for getting us through this awful day.

Mark 'Beau' Bridges, we loved you with all our hearts, and always will.

Wendy, Matthew and Grace xxxx

Where to start...?

Hello everyone, as I say, where to begin?

Firstly, well done again to Natalie, and the rest of you who have put a smile on mine and everyone else's faces this week no doubt, 'Butlins meets Colditz', a perfect analogy. I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking this, but I reckon that some of these stories and anecdotes would make a great little book about our 'Lives on Mars'. And Natalie seems to be the one who's handiest with the pen.....it's just a thought.

Now the difficult bit, Mark has grown steadily weaker and weaker as this last week has passed. He is pretty much sleeping most of the time and communicating very little now. It is the intention to increase his medication in order to keep him sedated so that he is not in any more pain. Although the staff at the Hospice dont say, I think it's very difficult to judge, but I sense that Mark is coming to the end of this awful journey. I already feel a massive sense of loss, as Mark has'nt been at home for over two weeks now, and our world at home is empty without him.

It's true what they say, you dont know just what you have until it is gone, and I certainly did'nt. There's a song that always did make me cry a little bit -Cherish- by Kool and the Gang. Listen to the words, and do what it says, 'Cherish the love we have, cherish the life we live'. Do these things, because you never know when fate will snatch it away from you, take nothing for granted.

I'm sorry this is so sad, but it just how I feel right now.

For now, love to you all

Wendy xxx

Tuesday 8th...

Hello everyone,

Sorry it's been a few days since I have updated you all, but it's difficult to know what to say sometimes, especially when your brains' gone 'haddled'!

Just thought I would add one of Grace and Matts 'un-official' photos from the Howfener-you 'Wigan lot' seem to have missed the official ones, and we can't have you feeling left out.

Mark is a little more lucid than he was a few days ago, and isn't ready to shuffle off this mortal coil just yet! He is still very weak, and very tired. Just occasionally I get a glimpse of the Mark I know and love, but the drugs cloud his usual jolly self.

Mark reminded me to say 'well done' to the outgoing A Div Golf Society Captain-Stuart I believe, and 'good luck' to Andy Marron the incoming captain. Mark would have loved nothing better than to be there with you all on Weds, getting very wet no doubt, but unfortunately a higher being had other ideas...

This is a very tiring and strange time for us at the moment, so please forgive me if I don't update this as often, but rest assured, if there is any news to share, then I will. In the meantime, this has all gone a bit serious....if there are any untold stories of myth or mirth that haven't already been told of days on the 'A', or holidays in Ibiza (you know who you are), then continue to write and raise a smile.

Love to you all

Wendy, Mark, Matt and Gracie xxxx