About Diva...
Diva Elizabeth was born in Manchester in 1993 the only child of Sinead Gibson, but she gained lots of brothers and sisters through her adolescence.
Right from birth Diva was a bright soul, with the midwife even commenting that she had been here before. Diva picked things up very quickly, brains and beauty, she was beautiful inside and out… and always remained that way.
Diva attended EP Collier school and Sinead was so very proud when she passed the exam to go on to Kendrick Girls School. This gave Diva the confidence boost she needed, after being made to feel that passing the exam was unachievable by those within the school. Some of the friendships she made through school, neither distance or time could break. It didn’t matter how many years passed she would be there for anyone whose friendship she valued.
If someone said Diva couldn’t do something this gave her the drive and ambition to push herself to achieve her goals and prove people wrong. She began to realise what she wanted in life and would grab the opportunities with both hands. If anyone upset her, she would put her energy into her education.
Whilst at school, many of her peers were excited for the Apple store to come to Reading. Whilst many applied, Diva was fortunate to be recruited when it first opened. When Hollister opened in the same shopping centre, again whilst many were excited and applied, Diva found herself ‘head hunted’ by them due to her brains and beauty.
Diva was proud of herself for passing her driving test on the first attempt. But she was always uncomfortable when her Mum said how clever she was, to the point that Diva would tell her off for saying it. Whilst her mum was immensely proud of her, Diva felt she was no better than anyone else.
Diva gained a place at the University of the West of England, in Bristol, to study Biological Science and was planning on taking her Masters Degree in the future.
Diva was always offered jobs, even if she didn’t really want them. She applied for a job at Ernst & Young for the interview experience, and didn’t think she stood a chance of being offered it. At each stage she would say that she was shocked she had got through, but would be adamant she wouldn’t get through the next.
She actually cried when she got the offer of the job, as she didn’t really want it, but the opportunity was too good to pass up, so she took it anyway.
When she was younger Diva loved photography and took her camera with her everywhere. She also loved Manga, the Japanese comic characters and graphics, she loved to draw them and was so taken by it that she had started to learn the Japanese language. Whatever she was interested in she would throw herself in and master it.
Diva was into all kinds of music including rock, hip hop, Motown and 90’s RnB, depending on her mood. Her musical appreciation went well beyond her years.
More recently Diva had started Rock Climbing as a pastime, she encouraged other young people to join her. She also had a fascination for astronomy and loved the ‘Moon’, often commenting how beautiful it was.
Diva was well travelled, when she was younger, and also in recent times, she travelled extensively visiting numerous places, including Nigeria, Florida and Europe. Even at home, Diva would enjoy exploring Berkshire’s beauty spots, encouraging her mum to join her.
Diva’s friends and family were very important to her, she greatly enjoyed the times she spent with her family from Manchester, particularly at Christmas time and their numerous holidays in Florida.
Diva had very good friends, life-long friends, they were so important to her, too many to mention individually, but Sinead wants them to know how very much they all meant to Diva. Diva was upfront and would only spend time with those she wanted to. If you were her friend, you were fortunate.
Sinead has many special memories of her daughter, and she will share some with us in this Service… but she remembers fondly the previous Christmas, Diva persuaded Sinead to stay in Reading with her and spend Christmas day together with other family members rather than travel to Manchester. Unfortunately, Sinead was poorly on the day, however Diva came to the rescue and cooked Christmas dinner for six!
Diva was mad about cats and sloths and her sense of humour included saying her cat was gender neutral… so it had two names, one for a boy and one for girl.
Diva was very into politics, she had strong views, interested in world events and what was happening around the world. She had very strong beliefs on equality and social justice particularly around the rights of women and the vulnerable.
Diva has attended Glastonbury for a few years. Having heard a call-out for ideas for themes for the Left Field stage she contacted the organisers and noted that autism was a key subject often not debated and commonly misunderstood. Additionally, the needs of women and girls are often not identified because of the gendered way in which the condition is seen. Because of her commitment to social justice Diva was keen that all aspects of equality pertaining to autism was debated. Diva received an invitation for a telephone discussion about her proposal. She took this seriously, had at least three mock interviews and discussions to prepare and by reports from Glastonbury, made a strong impression as a confident, articulate, bright and knowledgeable person. She was clear that lived experience of autism should be valued over men in grey suits who have studied and touted as experts.
On hearing of what has happened Glastonbury are keen that provided the festival runs in 2021, the panel discussion will take place and it will be noted in material that it is being held in the name of Diva Gibson.
Sinead will remember Diva as a funny, quirky, beautiful and a protective daughter…
Diva loved with all her heart… but also felt the pain that love can cause…
She was… is… and always will be her Mother’s Angel…