A poignant piece of poetry written by a wordsmith grandmother was rediscovered the day after she died.

Armistice Day was written by Jeannette Gray – who died on October 23, aged 76 – and one of many she produced throughout her life.

The coincidence of the poem’s reappearance became more acute when it was announced her funeral will take place on Tuesday – Armistice Day.

Shaun Gray, 57, Jeannette’s son, was at her house in Main Road, Queenborough, when the moving verse came to light.

He said: “My daughter Nicola and I were chatting about Mum’s love of words and how she’d read a piece of her poetry on local TV some years ago.

“Then her partner, Brian, said, ‘actually, I’ve found this one’.

The poem speaks of watching “brave men of war”, marching “so proud, so tall” and ends: “They died to free us… so let peace prevail and lose friends no more”.

Dad-of-four Shaun said: “We didn’t think any more about it until the date came through for the funeral – Armistice Day.

“It felt that her being buried that day was meant to be and we were meant to find the poem.

“It’s weird how things turn out.”

As well as being a mum-of-three, Jeannette was a grandmother-of-nine, with 12 great-grandchildren.

Before retirement, she worked as a barmaid at Queenborough pubs including The Old House at Home and The Ship, now known as The Aviator.

Shaun, of Alexandra Road, Sheerness, said her love of words never abated.

“When online Scrabble became available, she’d play people all over the world and beat them,” he said. “She was a real wordsmith.”

Jeannette’s poem will be read out at her funeral, which will take place from 2pm on Tuesday at the Garden of England Crematorium, Bobbing.

It will also appear in the order of service.

---

Armistice Day, by Jeanette Gray

The day was dull
The wind was cold
The men were frail
And most were old

I watched them march
So proud, so tall
Remembering friends
That they’d watched fall

Their medals they wore
Their hats on their heads
The wreaths they carried
Were of poppies so red

The massed bands played
Their music so bracing
The solemn occasion
Set my pulse racing

They died to free us
These brave men of war
So let peace prevail
And lose friends no more