Darjeeling tea

Dear Shyla,
I met your husband Stephen, when we commenced employment at the Centre earlier this year. I found Stephen to be a very open and friendly man and this part of his nature was reinforced when I told him of a trip to India I had planned for in March 2010.

He told me some lovely stories of his home country and a delightful little joke which I still recount. He also mentioned the much regarded Darjeeling estates. As a result, when in Kolkata, I bought him a small packet of Darjeeling tea and very excitedly presented it to him when I returned to the Centre whereupon he proceeded to make tea for all who were interested and provide us with a lesson on the way good tea should be prepared. He also told us the variations of tea preparation including your special recipe for ‘Masala Chai.’

Just today I noted the packet of tea on the desk of Bernie (who represented the centre at Stephen’s funeral along with Anne and was told by Bernie that the tea was discovered after Stephen’s other belongings had been sent on to you.

I enjoyed Stephen’s company immensely. He had a delightful sense of humour, was warm and gregarious and a genuinely likeable person and I was looking forward to meeting all his family.

It is with great sorrow that I now forward to you, the packet of Darjeeling tea, in the hope that it and the story around it will give you some comfort.

With very warmest and best wishes
Joanne Proter