In Memory of Ceri

by David Davies

Nearly eleven years ago, David Davies lost his beloved partner, Ceri, to cancer. In her final days, she was cared for at Forest Holme Hospice, which is now somewhere that holds a special place in David’s heart for the compassion shown to her and to him. David continues to support the charity with regular donations, helping to ensure that others receive the same care and comfort that meant so much to them both.

David and Ceri’s story began more than three decades earlier, when their paths crossed through local concerts she helped to organise. Their friendship grew into a deep and lasting love, and they went on to share over 30 years together.

Both hardworking and determined, David and Ceri built a life that reflected their shared values of resilience and commitment. After living together in Bournemouth, they took on an ambitious challenge: buying a derelict farmhouse in Lytchett. The property had been left in disrepair, but together they rolled up their sleeves, lived in a caravan for more than three years, and painstakingly restored it. 

The farmhouse eventually became their family home and later a welcoming B&B, which Ceri ran with her trademark warmth. Guests often returned not just for the comfortable stay, but for Ceri’s kindness and her gift of making everyone feel like part of the family.

Ceri’s creativity extended beyond the B&B. She had a natural flair for design, furnishing their converted barns with a homely style that turned them into popular holiday cottages. David recalls that while he took care of the heavy work outside, it was Ceri’s eye for detail that truly brought the interiors to life. Together, they created a little world of their own on the farm filled with purpose, love, and laughter.

Animals were also at the heart of their life. When David once surprised Ceri with a dachshund puppy, Rugby, it was the beginning of a passion for dogs that became a constant source of joy. Over the years, their home was filled with the happy chaos of dachshunds, each adored by Ceri, and even today David’s dogs carry forward her memory. One is poignantly named Lady Ceri Jane, in her honour.

Ceri was diagnosed with breast cancer and faced her illness with extraordinary strength. Even through years of treatment, she continued running the B&B and holiday lets, determined to live life as fully as possible. In her final days, she was admitted to Forest Holme, where David was able to be by her side. Though her time there was short, the care and compassion shown made an indelible mark.

Ceri was just 57 when she died. For David, the grief of losing her remains, but so too does the pride in the life they built together, from the derelict farmhouse they transformed, to the warm home they filled with love, guests, and dogs. Forest Holme was there when it mattered most, and although David has moved on from the home they built together, he holds Ceri’s spirit with him and honours the love and years they shared in everything he does.