Current Registers
Baptisms
"You have received the light of Christ; walk in this light all the days of your life." (from the Baptism Service)
6th December Lois Jayne CASH, Marshall Brett CASH,
Sophie Alice BOWERS
27th December Hugo Joseph ARCHER
3rd January 2010 Miya Liberty TANNER
31st January Oliver Stuart GODBOLT
Weddings
"Marriage is never to be undertaken carelessly, lightly or selfishly..." (from the Wedding Service)
"In the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for thou art with me." (Psalm 23 verse 4)
7th December IVY VIOLET TIDBURY, aged 88
Ivy was one of five Dearing siblings: Arthur eldest, then Ivy, then Harold, Eileen and Stan. She grew up in Southall, and around 1938 the family moved to Harefield. Her working life started in service at a big house on Hampstead Heath. That equipped her well for the rest of her life, because it seems there was nothing to do with housework that Ivy wasn't exceedingly good at! Add to this her instinctive gifts forc hospitality and generosity, and not surprisingly she became a wonderful wife and mother... Once she had met her Ron, which she did in casualty at Hillingdon hospital in 1939. They married in 1942, at St John's Hillingdon. Their daughters Marjorie and Marion were born when they lived in Cowley. Then they moved up to Harefield to Mount Pleasant, back to Cowley, a trial emigration to Canada, but then back to Harefield. And finally in 1977 they moved to Ruislip, and Peter Lyell Court in Ruislip was where they were living before Ron died. Happily married for 64 years is one to be proud of. What made it work? For Ivy nothing was too much trouble. They also complemented each other: of the two of them, Ivy was clearly the stronger character, usually firmly in charge, and Ron (and everyone else!) knew that. And she worked hard through all her life, and latterly she played a full part in the lives of her grandchildren and the greats as well.
11th December CHARLES WILLIAM JAMES MARSHALL,
aged 88
Speaking at Charles' funeral, his son David suggested that his father was not only a very popular man, but also a true hero. At 21 he was flying in Lancaster bombers as a Flight Engineer. He was shot down over Germany, baled out of a burning aircraft and used a parachute to save his life. Within a couple of days he was captured and became a prisoner of war for the next 18 months. Soon after repatriation back to England, Charlie joined The London Fire Brigade, risking his life on a daily basis for the next 30 years. In June 1945 he married Phyllis at Willesden, and for 64 years since has been a wonderful husband. They lived in Kenton, Camberley and latterly Eastcote, and became marvellous parents to David, and then grandparents to Toby and Jake, and great-grandparents to Francesca and Eliza, and Rosa and James. He became renowned for his skill at running bonfires and firework displays. Charles was a quiet methodical man, worked at his own pace, quite determined. But he was also a charming gentleman, and a natural peacemaker. He loved cycling, Arsenal FC, and his garden - always it was full of beautiful flowers. He faced his final illness with courage and dignity.
15th December SHEILA JANETTE LESLIE, aged 65
Her father an aeroplane engineer, and her mother proudly Scottish; and there were strong streaks of both of them in the life Sheila lived. She was a gifted and able person. Quite artistic, a potter - practical, creative, good with words, though never overly academic. Initially she worked for Herts County Council, and then she became a camera technician in a research establishment working for ICI: a keen photographer herself, her main role was touching up photographs. She also loved cars - and very early on she became the proud owner of an MG Magnet. She was highly persuasive, and effectively sold herself to BA as a "passenger handler": an escort for children who needed "auntie" to accompany them on long-haul flights. She met a young police officer called Roger, and they married in 1967 and bought a house in Hatch End. Roger and Sheila then became parents to Keil, Shotto and Alexandra. Her family really mattered to her and there's no doubt she gave her children a wonderful and happy childhood. There were always exciting holidays to exotic destinations. From a long time ago, Sheila was diagnosed with MS, and she clearly wanted to live in ways that ensured her family were left with plenty of great memories... and there's no doubt that she succeeded: she crammed into twenty years more than may people fit into a whole lifetime! And being the vivacious, bright, beautiful, sociable person she was, people could not help but like her. For the past 15 years Sheila needed the extra care and support that the Eastbury Nursing
Home was able to provide. Her connection with Harefield arose out of an interest in brass rubbing, and she and Roger came to love St Mary's, where the Service of Celebration for Sheila's life was held.
30th December PATRICIA CAUNTER, aged 86
Pat had five sisters, and her family moved to Harefield when she was still a child, to live in Northwood Road. Her schooling was in the village, and at 14 she started "in service" in a large house in Moor Park. When the last War broke out Pat volunteered for the Land Army, and found herself the only girl on a farm of men! But she did everything that they did, and thrived, milking, tractor driving etc. Her love of the land stayed with her for the rest of her life - she enjoyed her allotment, and her garden wherever she lived. She married her first husband Norman in July 1946 at St Mary's, and they became parents to Eric and Sandra. There were various house moves within Harefield, until tragically Norman died at the end of 1977. She moved to Barnstaple in Devon where she met and then married Harold Caunter, but became a widow again in 2005. Following a fall she moved to Sipson to live nearer her daughter, and with her health deteriorating came back to live in Harefield, at Rylstone two years ago. Pat was a kind lady, never one to gossip - she wouldn't hear a bad word spoken against anyone. She was independent by nature, and could be quite stubborn. An excellent cook, she was also good at tapestry and cross-stitching, and she loved reading. She kept her mind active, and was always doing word searches. She appreciated all the extra care and support that kept her going at
the end of her life, notably from her sister Brenda.
5th January JOYCE BREWER, aged 75
Joyce was born in Hillingdon, the fourth of five children in the Bignell family. In March 1954 she married John William Brewer, and they lived with family initially but were eventually able to move to Harefield, living in Ash Grove then Milne Way, and ending up in Sullivan Crescent. Joyce and John had two children - Marcel and David, but sadly John died at a relatively early age, so Joyce has played an even more significant part in her children's upbringing. She was a very hard worker, initially as a cleaner on the children's ward at Harefield Hospital, but she worked longest - for thirty years - at Knitescote Old Peoples Home, Sullivan Crescent. Through her hard work, and as she was good at saving, there were many family holidays over the years, often camping in Spain and France, but going further afield as well. Joyce was a good cook, a keen gardener and a great knitter. In retirement she enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren as well as the soaps on TV and all the old films especially "the weepies"! The last six months her health deteriorated rapidly but she really appreciated the special care the Marcel was able to give her.
9th December SYLVIA LYALL, aged 87
Sylvia was born in Kewstoke near Weston Super Mare in 1922 into a loving family with 5 sisters and 2 brothers. One brother and sister died young from scarlet fever. Although Sylvia lived away from Weston she remained close and in constant contact with her family especially Rita, Vera and Cynthia. You might think the idea of putting children on a naughty chair is new, but Vera, her sole surviving sister remembers she was once tied to a chair by Sylvia as a punishment for probably a minor misdemeanour. She was obviously practising for her future role in looking after school children. She married Ernest, her childhood sweetheart, in September
1944 and her son, Alan was born in 1949. They lived in Newdigate Green Harefield. Sadly, Ernest died in 1972, at an early age of 51, leaving Sylvia a widow at 49. During her life in Harefield, she worked over 30 years at the Harefield Junior and Infants schools first as a dinner lady and later as a nursery nurse, where she gained the love and respect of the staff and especially the children who were the most important part of her life. She retired in 1987, and one of her greatest treasures is a picture drawn by the children in one of the classes, which hangs in pride of place in her sitting room. Later her love for children was made special by the birth of her grandchildren Jonathan and Victoria, who with her own son Alan and his wife Sandra, were the light of her life Sylvia was a very caring person, always the one first on the scene when a friend or neighbour needed help Sadly her health deteriorated in later years and found it difficult having to rely on other people. Fortunately she was blessed with good friends and neighbours. Her last visit to the Junior School for the Christmas Celebrations, a tour of the new nursery unit and meeting up with old colleagues lifted her spirits immensely.
12th January DOREEN ELIZABETH COOK , aged 88
Doreen moved to Harefield in May 2005 when she came to live at the Nursing Centre, in Hill End Road. Though born in Canning Town, she actually lived most of her life in Watford. She was one of four children, and they were evacuated to Watford when War began in 1939. Doreen served as a Land Girl, and then worked in various factories. She met and married Ronald Cook in July 1949. They became parents to son Ronald and daughter Pat. Doreen and Ronald were both wonderful and hard-working parents. She ended up working in the warehouse for John Lewis. Her work meant the family could afford more holidays: Doreen loved hop picking in Kent, Then there were regular visits to Wales, to a caravan on the River Toffee - her husband loved his fly-fishing. But working for John Lewis gave her the opportunity to be part of the staff Partners' Scheme: in particular there was a large holiday house in Hampshire, and she and Ron were able to make good use of this facility, and enjoyed some really happy times, fishing on the River Test and playing some golf as well. Her family can look back with thankfulness for the fine person she was: a dedicated wife to Ron, and a devoted mother she was, whose home was always spick and span, and who cooked well. She will be greatly missed.
25th January RICHARD JAMES LAMBOURNE, aged 79
Richard was essentially an Ealing man, who came to live in Harefield at Cedar House in the closing years of his life. His final illness was a long, hard struggle, so it was wonderful at the Service of Thanksgiving to be reminded (by his son) what a full and happy life Richard has lived. His family were not well off when he was small, so he could not take up the Grammar School scholarship that he won. But he was always enterprising - a keen cyclist , he established a cycle club years ago, belonged to a drama group, headed up a youth club at St John's Church, West Ealing, and was later to serve as Churchwarden there as well. His Christian faith has always been an important part of Richard's life. From 14 he had his own allotment, and won many prizes for his roses and dahlias, and grew vast quantities of vegetables each year. Richard loved Kew, Wisley and the Chelsea Flower Show; it was at Kew that he asked Ann to be his wife, and they married in 1956. They became wonderful parents to their son and four daughters, and subsequently much loved grandparents. May he truly enjoy all the delights of heaven, where there is no more misery, and no more Altzheimers!
17th July 2009 MURIEL HAWES, aged 79
Wendy Smith, Muriel Hawes' daughter has sent us this note about her mother, whom some Harefield people will remember well. Muriel was born in Fulham but moved to Iver as a teenager. She met her future husband Charlie Hawes of Charly's Secondhand shop in Harefield when she was 15. They married later in 1947, moved to Harefield in 1957 and moved to North Wales in 1981 to be near their daughter Wendy and three grandchildren. They were married for 54 years. Muriel did domestic and house-keeping work at Mount Vernon Hospital, then transferred to
hospitals in Wales. With great dedication, Muriel cared for both Charlie - especially after a horrific accident which left him disabled - and Wendy who developed a rare blood disease as a young child. She would often say this was all part of God's plan. Years ago Muriel used to sing and tap dance. In the end she died after a long battle with cancer, which she fought with extreme strength and courage. She endured much suffering but took it in her stride.
The Parish Office
c/o The Vicarage
28 Countess Close
Harefield
UB9 6DL