Today I was shown an obituary in a regional paper. The lady had always been successful in the hospitality business. At one time the family were running two busy restaurants some miles apart. We had visited both. The one that was featured in national papers is the one that still exists.

The proprietrix, herself, publicly lived her fantasies and allowed everyone to share the fun of them. She presented herself as a mirage and her monument is her restuarant which is called La Mirage and is to be found in a little village called Helmsdale in Sutherland, in the North of Scotland.

I remember when I first met Nancy Sinclair, she was meeting and greeting her old and new customers in the restaurant. Her platinum hair was groomed into a long back-combed bob, her stage-type make-up was expertly applied and her eye make up blended in with her pea-green silk suit. Her nails were polished with light green nail varnish, she was wearing pale green tights and her shoes were a shade of soft green. This co-ordinated colour presentation was Nancy's trademark style.

The restaurant contained every oddity that would blend in with the theme of a mirage including a tree and a round table with dropped globe lights above; the lights were encompassed by a South Pacific grass unbrella. What was not a mirage was the good food and the home made meringues with double whipped cream and fresh fruit always twirling round on their glass shelf in the refrigerated cabinet.

Next door, Nancy ran a hairdressing salon called the Daffodil Room. It sported a bright yellow colour scheme throughout. The Daffodil Room closed to business many years ago and the space was incorporated in to the restuarant. The additional space could easily be filled with customers. La Mirage was and is a popular place for individuals, groups, couples and families, to stop for a bite to eat.

There were her favourite photographic themes around the walls, the majority included Nancy herself. Her 'doppelganger' Barbara Cartland is photographed with Nancy and later, Lady Lewisham, Barbara Cartland's daughter, followed suit, with a photo of the two of them. Many other personalities visited La Mirage and contributed to the mirage with their photographs and autographs. They are still on display there. These pictures are now an established part of the character of the venue.

In early April this year, I visited La Mirage and Nancy Sinclair was holding court at her usual table with a group of friends. She stood out from the group like a bright light, as always, immaculately groomed in her inimitable style. I had a chat with her. Her eyes seemed to have a deep sadness within. I knew she had been taken ill earlier in the year. I also knew that Nancy Sinclair had fought some major health battles before and won. Though she batted it back several times, I insisted that she was an inspiration to many. For the first time on that occasion, I saw Nancy's eyes really light up and she beamed at me. "Thank you" she said and continued, almost breaking into song, "We have to... keep right on to the end of the road..." And we said goodbye.

Nancy Sinclair died on the 30th May 2007. I am so glad I had the opportunity to tell her what a wonderful person I thought she was, and to be able to say goodbye.