Whilst the reason for Fliss's death will remain unclear for some time, what we immediately know is we are here today because of a remarkable woman. My adopted little sister; I first knew Fliss as a 13 year old bundle of joy, crazy about Mark from Take That, and full of enthusiasm about the world around her. Already going to every Take That show she could persuade her dad to drive her to, she was beginning a love affair with music which, thankfully, developed in its sophistication and breath. Music, books, film... Fliss lived for the moment, so whilst she loved reading, watching films, & listening to recorded music, her real passion was live music, live sport, live action... It surprised us how she could prioritise spending money on yet another Muse concert over more mundane things, but boy are we glad now that she acted on her desire to live in the moment. She also loved working at Waxy O'Conners, where no doubt there was never a dull moment - always something happening. I imagine that none of her other jobs quite lived up to the excitement and sense of family that she had whilst working at Waxy's. Roland struggled to deal with his little sister working in a bar on broad street and wanted to sit at the bar all night protecting her! He soon calmed down when he found out that the local bouncers had also adopted Fliss as their little sister and were protecting her with a similar sense of gusto, so in reality safer on broad street than any other street in Birmingham! As most of you know, this truly special person was nurtured within an amazing family. This family, all full of love and support for each other, was like nothing I had experienced aged 17! What they got through together, with Fliss's health problems, is hard for people around them, like myself, to sometimes comprehend. I will not dwell on the health problems here but the way they coped with them - with love, connection, compassion and humour, and most of all, somehow staying in touch with whatever mattered most. So when she wasn't breathing - well the focus was breathing! When she was breathing, it was making sure she felt loved and part of a family, a community and the wider world, it was connecting her with her ability to develop and participate. This family with parents who wanted more than anything for their children, for Roly and Fliss, to be themselves, to the very best of their abilities. These were parents who worked tirelessly to enable the best opportunities to be available to their children in the circumstances they found themselves in. By ensuring they were part of a hospital ward family, a radio lollipop family, a school family, they ensured the safety and wellbeing of their children - they helped create an environment, albeit unusual, in which their children could flourish and thrive. And Fliss thrived... she rose to the challenge to face the opportunities available to her and she followed the lead shown by the fabulous people around her by connecting with others with love, compassion and humour. You will all have examples of this of your own, but I will share a bit more about one example which says a lot about Fliss and the way she handled herself. She was very strong willed and determined from a young age, and she did what she thought was right without any need for confirmation from others. I'm going to read out a letter which she wrote, aged 9, and sent it, without any of her family knowing, to Noel Edmunds regarding his Christmas presents programme. (Letter here). The special bond created in this family, shared between Fliss and Roly touched millions of people on TV that Christmas. I know that the quality of the bond that Fliss created in her relationships will have touched many of you also. I know that there is much love felt here for Fliss in remembering and in saying goodbye. For many it is also about saying 'we are here with you' to Phil and Roland in this painful time. That whilst it takes a community to help raise a child, I know this community is also here to help the grieving, remembering and celebration of her life and your family. And to share with you that we are honoured to have known Fliss, and that you should be incredibly proud of all that she was and all that you gave her.