A mum-of-two who died of pancreatic cancer was determined to leave a magical legacy for her family and friends.

Charlotte Williams, who was just 38 when she lost her short battle with the disease, lived by the motto “you make your own magic”.

It was her last wish that this message be passed on to inspire others to live life to the full.

Charlotte and her husband Rob, of Walderslade Woods, were childhood sweethearts who met when they were 10, grew up on the same street, started a relationship at 16 and married in 2004.

He said: “Charlotte’s message was, you make your own magic, she always said that. She lived every day to the full and was always making memories with the children and family. She enjoyed every moment of life.

“During her illness she pointed out to people that life is short, she wanted people to smile. She was smiling right to the end.

“Charlotte wanted everyone to know how much love and support she got. The amount of love and support we’ve had as a family has been overwhelming. I’d like to thank everyone who’s supported us.”

In September, Charlotte and her friends started organising a fun day at Mote Park, Maidstone, where people would wear wedding dresses, princess outfits or other fancy dress, but she became too ill for it to go ahead.

Instead, while she was being cared for at Wisdom Hospice, parents of children at Tunbury Primary in Walderslade, where her daughter Piper, 10, and son Leyton, eight, are pupils, held a similar day in her honour, with fancy dress, dancing and custard pie throwing.

Charlotte hoped making her experience public would show people pancreatic cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease, can hit anyone at any age.

Charlotte and Rob went to Spinnens Acre school in Lordswood before going to secondary schools in Walderslade. She previously worked in banking but had decided to become a child minder and received her certificate from Ofsted just before she was diagnosed at the end of July.

Charlotte set up a Facebook page to update her friends and when she announced she had terminal cancer, she ended her message with: “We are going to be making lots of lovely memories as a family and all I feel is love at the moment.”

She also leaves a younger brother and sister, several nieces and nephews and many friends.

Charlotte’s funeral will be at Medway Crematorium, Blue Bell Hill, at 12.45pm on Thursday, November 5, followed by a gathering at Lordswood Sports and Social Club, North Dane Way.

Charlotte requested traditional dress and people can make donations to the Wisdom Hospice or bring flowers if they wish.

Friends have raised money for the family and hope to hold fundraising and memorial events in the future – request to join the You Make your own Magic Facebook page for details.