Sarah's Early Years 

Sarah was born Sarah Jane Hayward at Hillrise Maternity Home, Lyndhurst in the New Forest on 10th June 1967 at 6.25am. It was a Saturday morning and it was the day the Six Day War ended in the Middle East.

She was a very happy baby and grew into a happy and loving child and, indeed, adult. She was the first child of Margaret and Dennis and the family were living in Lymington at that time.  When Sarah was one month old the family moved to Hordle, between Lymington and New Milton, and in 1969 her brother Mark was born.   In 1970 the family relocated to Trowbridge in Wiltshire and Sarah’s first school was Margaret Stancombe Infants in the town.  Sarah used to say she had a “fruity” school because one of her teachers was called Mrs Orange and another Mrs Banan (the kids called banana)!  There was also a care assistant at the school with the same surname of Hayward although no relation.  Many years later this same Mrs Hayward became a very great friend of the family.  Sarah moved on to The Parochial School, also in Trowbridge, until the family relocated to Southwick, just outside Trowbridge, and she went to the local school.

In 1977 the family moved to Southampton and Sarah and Mark went to Bitterne Park School in Manor Farm Road.  Their mum, aunties, grandmother and possibly great grandmother also went to this school so they carried on a great tradition.  Sarah moved from Manor Farm Road to Dimond Road for her secondary education and finished her schooling there.

During this time Sarah was a member of the local Brownie and Guide packs and in her spare time she attended The Doreen Redmond School of Dancing in Thorold Road and Thornhill where she enjoyed her dancing and also won many medals and danced in various competitions. 

Brownies of Bethleham (2nd from left)                Taking Guide Promise                        Disco Competition

The family were Family Centre Members at The Dell and spent many Saturday afternoons in all weathers cheering on their favourite side.  Sarah was in love with Stevie Williams and her favourite number was always number 4 – we think because that was the number that Stevie played at.  All in all she had a very normal childhood doing all the things that kids at that age did.  As mentioned, she was a very happy child.  She had lots of friends, was full of fun and had a very caring and loving personality, although, like all kids, she had her moments!  Her teenage years were a bit traumatic and she went through a “wild” spell due in part to the fact that her parents separated when she was about 13 but she sorted herself out over the years and grew to be a most wonderful daughter, wife and mother.

                  Saints bring the FA Cup Home 1976                                 Sarah & Mark with Alan Ball