I just found out about these sad news. My deepest condolences to Mr Tasos and his family. May she rest in peace. Αιωνία της η μνήμη!

It has been 2 months since the light went out. It’s been hard without Mum as she was a hero to so many of us. We love and miss you! X

As one of Andros' friends I was often spending time at their house at weekends when we were at Fetter together.
She was such a warm and generous person who treated me with love and kindness and can't thank her enough for everything she did for me.
Truly saddened by this news and lots of love to her family. 

My childhood was enriched with the times we three little girls spent together . Ailsa, Leslie and myself .
My memories are filled with happy times spent at Cumnock , Prestwick and Fairmilehead .
I remember Ailsa ,the girl.....determined, kind,confident,clever and beautiful and feel lucky to have known her and called her my cousin.
Ailsa, beautiful lady , always in my memories .

Chan eil na deòir agam ach tuiteam ann an Cuan Bròin

My Beautiful Cousin I will miss you so much.

Part of my life growing up, whether that was family holidays to Nairn or Machrihanish, or our visits to Fairmilehead, Ailsa was always the shining light.

More recently, my daredevil motorcycling holidays round Europe would attract the words of Wisdom, that Ailsa always had, and always brought a smile to me.

You have gone Ailsa, but you will be with me forever.

The first time I met Ailsa was walking down the stairs in Dalriada. Her beautifully delicate Scottish accent bellowed "Markos get in the car your father is waiting to take you to work." We sat there  in silence in the back of Tasos' Jag looking very coy hoping they realised we had spent the night talking about the world, its madness and what we would like to do in the coming years. That friendship I must say has carried on to the day. The last time I spoke with Ailsa was in Morocco when Marko and I were off on another adventure in The Atlas Mountains. She told me to be careful and look after him. How ironic I am now writing this. 

Throughout my adult life Ailsa has been in my phone as Mummy Ailsa. Whenever I visited Edinburgh I would barnstorm into their office with no warning and chat away as if they really where parents. Much to the dismay of the secretary outside who had asked if I had an appointment I would just say "don't worry they're family." In fact they even hired my brother for a few years I think secretly just to make sure Marko went to work and Greg had a future. Her mothering instincts always coming first. They're home phone number and office number is to this day imprinted on my soul encase of emergency. 

When I bought my first car I drove up to Edinburgh and before even going to my flat I drove straight to Eskbank to show Alisa and Tasos my car. I knew they were proud. Thats because they loved other people being successful and achieving their dreams just as they had.

 Ailsa had this incredible love and warmth and you always felt like you belonged. She had a wonderful smile slightly mischievous (maybe mirroring me) but caring and knowing. 

Ailsa was one of life staples. Someone you could rely on and trust and who would always welcome you with a smile. This is what I will miss the most. 
I am honoured to call myself a family friend and even though the matriarch may not be here physically I do believe she will be with us all in spirit. 
Ailsa was a mother, wife and Granny firstly to her family and then to all of us and will be deeply missed.

This quote I do not believe has ever been more fitting. "Say not in grief that she is gone, give thanks that she was yours."

Ailsa, you meant many different things to me. You were a generous and sincere friend with whom both joys and sorrows could be shared; you had a knack for reading situations and for always doing and saying the right thing; you were thoughtful and generous to a fault; and you had an innate kindness and gentle nature that one is only occasionally blessed to come across in the course of a lifetime. I will greatly miss your mischievous sense of fun that made you such a wonderful travel companion. St Petersburg, Rathmullan, Forest Park Hotel and more … you took them all in your stride. We never did get around to putting destinations into a hat for our next trip, so we will never know what you had up your sleeve – a challenge, a surprise, a practical joke. One thing for sure is that it would have been another unforgettable experience, another charming memory.

Life is so fragile and unpredictable. We are still coming to terms with your untimely departure and that we did not have the chance to make our farewells. But we live in the certain knowledge that you are in a better place. 

Ailsa, you will always have a special place in our hearts and your goodness and kindness are a legacy that we will cherish.
May God rest and protect you, and keep you safe in the palm of his hand.

Maria and Liam

It is with a heavy heart to hear of Ailsa’s passing. Ailsa was extremely intelligent, generous, hardworking and above all was kind and often when you least expected it. She had clear beliefs and opinions matched with a wonderful sense of humour. Whilst Ailsa was a trailblazing businesswoman she also had a huge heart and devoted her life to helping her family and friends. Thoughts and prayers are with you all. India X

Ailsa was many things - loving, kind, hardworking, courageous and a successful businesswoman. To me, she was my auntie and someone who I will always look up to and hold in my heart forever. Ailsa taught me some of the greatest lessons I have learnt in life. Not only was she my Aunt Ailsa, for many years she was my boss. I look back on the times we would sit and chat away in her office about family, life and my plans for the future and ambitions. She was one of the first people to treat me like an adult. Ailsa always supported me and encouraged me to be the best version of myself.

Family ALWAYS came first for Ailsa. She would have done anything to help any of us and will always be one of the strongest and most remarkable people I’ve had in my life. It breaks my heart knowing I will never be able to thank her for everything that she has done for me. I wouldn’t be where I am in my life without her and I wish I could tell her that now.

Ailsa - your absence has left a huge gap in all of our lives and I hope you know how much of an impact you had on not only me but so many. I’ll never be able to thank you for everything that you have done for me, but I promise to make you proud and fight for those dreams that you always encouraged me to work hard for. I know you will be looking out for all of us and want you to know how much we love you and appreciate everything you did for us. I didn’t get to say goodbye as it wasn’t meant to be your time, but you’ll always be our guardian angel. I love and miss you dearly.

We might have lost you, but you will always be here and in our hearts. Thank you for being our saviour and our hero.

Douglas

Ailsa
We are deeply saddened at the loss of our fun-loving, vivacious niece and cousin. There will be less laughter in the world without you.
In our thoughts and hearts,
Aunt Frances, Fiona, Donald and Andrew

For my amazing sister in law. Dearest Ailsa you will be missed by all of us not least for the kindness and thoughtfulness you have shown to us as a family over the years. You always made us laugh and we had lots of fun times together especially at the family parties you and Tasos kindly hosted at Dalriada. Neil, Rory and Myles are very sad at your loss. You have been taken far too quickly but you will forever be in our hearts. Much Love and prayers to you. Gemma

So Rare

From Jamie to Ailsa

So rare our times alone together
Without the squeals of family laughter
So little time to show my thanks
For so much generosity and kindness

So rich your life at work and play
Your grandchildren were a constant joy
You were the gentle glue, the rock and binding ribbon that kept us safe and loved
No matter what the weather

So now we must go on without you
Without your strength and kindness to support us.
But when we meet again you’ll doubtless want to know
How we’ve managed without your get-up-and-go.

Jc’s April 2020

For my Aunt Ailsa, I could write a tome. Full of the moments of kindness and generosity that were given so selflessly, and so warmly, and so utterly without condition. 

I could write a chapter on how she and Uncle Tasos, and my counsins, put up with my dramatic antics as a child, allowing me to stand on chairs and recite speeches from films, forceably commited to my memory by my uncle Neil. A platform given, and a bright smile received - encouragement given to a small child that meant so much.

I could write a chapter on how she continued to support me, and so many others. She gave me work, she gave me responsibility, and she allowed me to grow up. She treated me like a proper person. She again, as before, gave me a platform. I recall that she allowed me to make presentations to her team, suggest new business approaches, taking valuable time out of the day. None of this was necessary, what could I possibly know? The truth is, not very much, and Aunt Ailsa almost certainly knew this, but she didn't let me know that. She pulled everyone in. She gave me materials, she gave me that moment. She believed in me, as she beleived in so many others. She congratulated me, and encouraged me. I felt like a million dollars. She gave me that, wholly selflessly, because she knew that it was a good thing to do.

I could write a chapter on how these moments were not just confined to points in time where it would be convenient, but instead consistently continued like clockwork through life. Aunt Ailsa would check in with me repeatedly, emailing to ask how my work was going, if I was happy with my path in life, that she was proud of me. It is difficult to set out in words how much this really meant to me, or indeed how much the memory of it now means. It may seem to some that these gestures are small, or for a lucky few commonplace, but to my mind these are the representations of a truly good person.

With a heavy heart, I could right a chapter on regret - regret for not ever taking the time to express any of the above. There's always another day, until there isn't.

To Aunt Ailsa: I pray from the bottom of my heart, that in some small way this message might reach you, and you might know how much you meant to me, and how all you did has left a lasting, and undiminishable, imprint upon me. I can only imagine that this is true for so many others, in their own unique ways. Thank you for everything you were. Please know that I will try to do all in my life that I can to continue your spirit of encouragement, opportunity, support, generosity and warmth.

All my love

Harry

I share this poem with my Darling Aunt Ailsa imprinted in my heart and my thoughts for the rest of my life.

I will miss you as my beautiful Aunt but also as a dear friend who believed in me when I was lost and lacking identity. You showed me there was hope and possibility when the world seemed like a very lonely and dark place. Thank you for the love, the laughs and the constant support you showed to all of your extended family throughout the years. Saving us from scrapes, giving us opportunities and making us all feel so loved and appreciated no matter what. You clucked around us all like a mother Hen and you will be so missed from this coop every waking moment we exist in this realm.

But we will meet again, and share stories, love and laughter once more as a family who loved and cherished you for all that you are. One of God's chosen, golden angels.

Always in my heart,

K xxx

The Broken Chain

We little knew that day,
God was going to call your name.
In life we loved you dearly,
In death, we do the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you.
You did not go alone.
For part of us went with you,
The day God called you home.

You left us beautiful memories,
Your love is still our guide.
And although we cannot see you,
You are always at our side.

Our family chain is broken,
And nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one,
The chain will link again.

In memory of my bright, bold, beautiful sister Ailsa and for her beloved Tasos, children and grandchildren:

The Gaelic Blessing 

May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields;
And until we meet again may God
Hold you in the palm of his hand.

With deepest love,
Leslie

With love from Ailsa's adoring brothers, John and Neil:

Deep peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep peace of the shining stars to you
Deep peace of the gentle night to you
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you
Deep peace of Christ the light of the world to you
Deep peace of Christ to you.

A tribute to my lovely first born child.

You’ve Just Walked On Ahead of Me...

And I’ve got to understand
You must release the ones you love
And let go of their hand.
I try and cope the best I can
But I’m missing you so much
If I could only see you
And once more feel your touch.
Yes, you’ve just walked on ahead of me
Don’t worry I’ll be fine
But now and then I swear I feel
Your hand slip into mine.

For Aunt Ailsa, my godmother;

An elfin figure passed me gracefully by, 
Her smile, bright like sweet buds in spring.
Her embrace, warm like summers soothing balm. 
Her wisdom, gentle like the gift of autumn rain. 
Her love, pure like winter's first frost returned.  
And until we meet again, in heaven, she looks on.

I will hold you in my heart always xxx

We are so sad to hear of the loss of Ailsa. She has been part of our lives for many years, starting at Ballet School, then St George’s and most recently in Dubai. Ailsa’s genuine warmth, friendship and kindness brought great happiness to us all
Rob and Maggie

Ailsa always wanted the best for and from those around her, I will dearly miss her words of encouragement, pointed advice and ability to see through the myriad distractions that life places in front of our goals. She always had time to listen, and had the best of minds for reframing things in the right way for the audience at hand. I loved Ailsa very much, she was like a second mum.

She will always be in my heart and her words of wisdom will be heard as long as I live.

Condolences from all the Cormacks, you are in our prayers.

So sad to hear this news. We loved Ailsa she was always so kind and positive to everyone. ❤️
Kindest love to all the family. From everyone at Charliemillerhairdressing we are truly saddened.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Sending condolences from myself, Nicos and Carol. She'll be forever missed! Treasuring the many beautiful moments we all spent together over at the house, the parties and the family gatherings.
May her soul rest in peace. ⚘⚘⚘⚘

Sending condolences from myself and my parents. Whilst they only met once, your mother was such a kind and lovely spirit, she is unforgettable. Your mother was always amazing to me, she was an incredibly special woman.

So, so sad to hear the news. Always remember her for being such a strong and beautiful woman. She was so hospitable to all the kids friends as well as being such a successful business woman.

I always remember the kids parties at the house and am so lucky to have known Ailsa.

Love,

Emma

Just heard this very sad news. Sending love and thoughts to all the family from Pandora, Tom, Nicholas and Christopher 

Freesia - Mum's favorite