Wife's ashes scattered by Chitty Chitty Bang Bang windmill

Jodie Maile was only 43 years old when she lost her life to cancer on December 16, 2022, roughly 14 months after first being diagnosed with the illness.

The much-loved and friendly character was deemed to be an ‘expert’ in the equestrian world, where she would regularly teach people how to ride a horse, as well as tend to the animals herself.

And her husband, Simon Faulker, told the Free Press that he had been ‘quite numb’ in the immediate aftermath of losing Jodie – a feeling that stayed with him until October this year when they celebrated what would have been her 44th birthday.

Jodie was a huge horse lover, splitting her time in both Buckinghamshire and Dorset to spend time with the animals (Image: NA)

He said: “I miss talking to her, I really do.

“She was very vibrant, she made the most out of life and what Jodie had was drive and ambition.

“She had so much of it.

“After she passed away, I felt quite numb so when we celebrated her birthday in October, that was a big moment for me as it was something that needed to happen.

“On the day, we scattered part of her by the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang windmill in Turville, as that is the place where she fell in love with horses.

“She started to learn about and ride horses when she was six years old in the village, so that place meant the world to her.

Simon scattering some of Jodie's ashes (Image: NA)

“We then scattered some of the ashes in Marlow Common where Jodie grew up.

“We had plenty of good times together.”

To celebrate what would have been her 44th birthday on October 7 this year, Simon organised an event at the Royal Oak in Marlow, where he spent over £1,200 for a private bar and buffet for 41 people.

However, on the day of the event, he was notified that the bar would not be open ‘due to a staff shortage’, and that the food was ‘only enough for 10 people’.

Despite paying for the full amount, he argued that he should be refunded.

A six-week legal dispute soon followed between the two parties, but after getting a portion of the money returned (a total of £460), he has confirmed he will donate that sum to the Weldmar Hospice in Dorchester, Dorset.

They looked after Jodie in the final few weeks of her life.

He continued: “We split our time between Buckinghamshire and Dorset as we owned Dodpen Stables in a place called Fishpond.

“She loved it but after three months of being there, we were told of the news about her diagnosis.

“I’ve got a shrine for her in the yard, so I talk to her quite a bit about my day and how much I miss her.

“Her legacy was that spent many years teaching horses.

“She taught many people in the equine world and I’m she is being missed.

“She loved horses and was highly respected by those who worked with her.”

The Free Press approached the Royal Oak, who declined to comment.