Life ALISON ELIZABETH THOMSON 28th January 1975 – 3 December 2025 ST PAUL’S ANGLICAN CHURCH, 24TH JANUARY 2026 AT 11.00AM
of James, Angus, Cath, & Judy. Ali was born on 28 January 1975 at the Old Greys Hospital in Pietermaritzburg. Ali brought joy, laughter, & a spark of mischief to her family. Derek & Esma nurtured her love of life & exploration, values that she carried with her throughout her years. Although Judy & James moved overseas, distance did not diminish the bond they shared. Ali stayed connected & shared moments of joy, celebration, & hardship, always remaining the thread that wove the family together. Ali’s academic journey began at Scottsville Primary School, followed by Carter High School, where she participated in all sports but especially excelled in hockey. Ali’s love for canoeing began as a gift from Santa on her seventh Christmas—the canoe she had wished for, named “Sea Breeze”, waiting for her in the early morning mist by the swimming pool. This gift ignited a lifelong passion; she went on to complete the Duzi several times, demonstrating her grit, determination, & love of adventure. Following high school, Ali pursued her passion for agriculture at Cedara College of Agriculture, earning a diploma in agriculture. Cedara College became a place where she made lifelong friends & embraced opportunities to explore her adventurous spirit. This led her to London at age 21, where she celebrated her milestone birthday skiing with Judy in the snow-capped slopes in Andorra. Back in London, Ali celebrated a swan-themed celebration with Cathy in Barnes. Professionally, Ali’s career journey was as dynamic as her personality. Ali tried office work, but she realised that indoor office work was not her calling. She found a holiday student research role in agriculture in Cirencester & Cambridge. Here she connected with cousin Ginny. She met James in London; they returned to Tzaneen, married, & had two beautiful sons, Angus & Murray. Later in her life with Terence, she added another beautiful son, Guy. Her boys were the most important motivation in her life. Beyond her accomplishments & professional life, Ali’s legacy lies in her love, her courage, & her ability to bring people together. She was the sister, mother, & friend who made every gathering brighter, every adventure more meaningful, & every life she touched more full. Her last 15 months were her greatest challenge. For the vibrant, active and determined Ali, this was a tortuous journey where she hung on, driven for her love of her boys, Terrence, Cath, James and Judy. On 3 December 2025, she was released from this suffering. “Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing. And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.” The Prophet, Khalil Gibran
OPENING SENTENCES – Rev Tim WELCOME & NOTICES – Rev Tim OPENING HYMN – All Things Bright & Beautiful PRAYERS – Pam Oberholzer, Angus and Murray PSALM 23 – All EULOGY James Quibbel (via Zoom) Cathy Colman (sister) Ginny Hobday (cousin) Bronya Wittstock (cousin) Michaela Colman (niece) Claire Watt (friend) Sasha Drewett (friend) Terence Unterpertinger GOSPEL – John 14:1-7 MESSAGE – Rev Tim HYMN – Amazing Grace LORD’S PRAYER – All PRAYER’S FOR THE FAMILY – Rev Tim COMMENDATION & BLESSING – Rev Tim CLOSING HYMN – Make me a Channel of your Peace
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. All Things Bright & Beautiful Chorus: All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all. Each little flow'r that opens, each little bird that sings, He made their glowing colours, He made their tiny wings. [Chorus] The purple-headed mountain, the river running by, the sunset and the morning that brightens up the sky. [Chorus]
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch; like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see. The Lord hath promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures. ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed! When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Than when we first begun. Make me a Channel of your Peace Make me a channel of your peace. Where there is hatred let me bring your love. Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord And where there's doubt, true faith in you. Make me a channel of your peace Where there's despair in life, let me bring hope Where there is darkness, only light And where there's sadness, ever joy. Oh, Master grant that I may never seek So much to be consoled as to console To be understood as to understand To be loved as to love with all my soul. Make me a channel of your peace It is in pardoning that we are pardoned In giving to all men that we receive And in dying that we're born to eternal life.
‘In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. ABRAHAM LINCOLN What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. THUCYDIDES
The swan silently crossed the river No reflection, no ripple in her wake Lit by a moving sunbeam, she crossed the water, Just, for my sake I sat down aboard her back As her head turned to me And she looked into my eyes, asking, Are you really, really, ready I nodded, as tears rained, from my face To join countless others in their river The swan started swimming & slowly singing, The most beautiful music I had ever heard in my life And then the swan suddenly changed From black into a dazzling white And I stopped crying and started smiling As together we crossed over Into the most brilliant of light Michael Ashby, Sidmouth
Zone, I am so grateful that you were in my life and you will continue to stay in my heart for the rest of my life. We went through very good times and very bad times, this is how life works and, in the end, we had no regrets. That just proves real love. You had a major part to play in who I am today as a man. Eternally grateful for the son we share, my promise to you is that I will raise him to be a man you will be proud of. I miss you terribly, especially travelling with you and all the sports we did together. Cycling will never be the same without you. Love BS (aka T)
I love you very much mum. I miss you very much mum. Thank you for fighting and living for us – Angus Loughor-Clarke Words can't describe how much you mean to me. I'd give anything for one more hug, one more conversation, one more moment with you. Your love and memories will never be forgotten. Thanks for being the best mum ever. Love you lots – Murray Loughor-Clarke Love as powerful as your mother’s for you leaves its own mark. To have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever. —J.K. ROWLING
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