A service of celebration for the life of Hilda Storey of Beeford took place at St Leonard’s Church, on 29th November. She died peacefully on November 21, aged 99.
The service was conducted by the Rev James Grainger-Smith, with Nick Tanton on the organ. Great granddaughter Ella sang an anthem and granddaughter Hannah gave a reading.
Hilda was born in the village of Norton near Malton, the daughter of a tailor and a teacher. She attended the local primary school and then the grammar school in Malton where she passed her matriculation exams towards the end of the 1920s. Hilda enjoyed her schooling so much that she chose to be a teacher.
She began her teaching career in her own primary school of Norton where at the end of her first year she had become a non-certified teacher. In 1932 she moved to Londesborough School in the East Riding where the school had seven pupils. She then moved to Beeford School in the mid 1930’s to take up a temporary position, which lasted for five and half years. It was through the village drama group and tennis club that Hilda met Jack Storey and in 1938 they were married in the chapel at Norton, and set up home in Eastfield Farm at North Frodingham.
The couple had three daughters, Gill, Judy and Angela. Hilda had an active life in those days, she enjoyed tennis, dancing, sewing, knitting and cooking and baking. Her chocolate cakes and teacakes were always popular at local fetes. She was a member of North Frodingham Women’s Institute, and a high spot in her life was attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace through the WI.
Eventually the three girls grew up and left home and Hilda and Jack were blessed with firstly grandchildren and then great grandchildren. She enjoyed the company of the children cooking, talking, reading and playing games with them. She was never too old to learn and in her 60s passed her driving test and at 90 mastered emailing.
In the 1980’s Hilda and Jack moved to Dringhoe Lea for retirement and they started going on coach holidays travelling all over Europe with old friends from Beeford. In 1997 they lost their daughter Judy and in 2002 Jack passed away. Hilda decided to move into Beeford for her final years. She enjoyed reading, crosswords, TV quiz programmes and attending the Afternoon Tea and Social Group in the village.
Hilda was a strong, industrious and determined person she was also generous, considerate, and very caring. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Donations in Hilda’s memory were for Cancer Research UK and St Leonard’s Church.
The passing bell was rung by Mrs. Anne Smith.
Chief Mourners: Angela & Geoff Sims (daughter and son-in-law), Dave Light (son-in-law) Nicola & Martin Wilson (granddaughter and husband) Tess and Sasha Wilson (great granddaughters), Carolyn & Stephen Christian (granddaughter and husband) Ella & Jack Christian (great grandchildren), Robert & Naomi Light (grandson and wife), Hannah & Andrew Murphy (granddaughter and husband), Anne and Les Smith, Claire Adkins, Philip Laird, Mrs Bette Storey, Mrs Linda Taylor, Also rep Mr P G Taylor, Mrs Margaret Storey also rep Martin Storey, Canon Michael Storey, Ken Tate also rep Gill Storey,
Others Present: Mr & Mrs I Crabtree, Mr C Robson Also rep Sandra Robson, Mr & Mrs T Sowersby also rep family, Margaret Duggleby also rep Joan Marwood, Gill Butler also rep Ullyott’s of Driffield, Don & Ros Watson, Mrs A Mckie also rep North Frodingham YCA, Sandra Coates, Mr & Mrs P Blanchard, Pippa Robinson also rep Nigel and family, Sylvia Berry, Sheila Norris, Mr A Dixon also rep Mr K Watson and Mr & Mrs A Hillyard, Mr & Mrs David Kell, Jean & Trevor Pickering also rep Helen & Gill Woodall, Wilf Norman, B Jordan, Mr & Mrs J Gillies, Shirley Hebden, Flora Twiddle, Cliff Warkup, Nev Hobson, Neil Clixby also rep Diane Clixby, Mrs G Shepherdson, Mrs K Fitzpatrick, Christine Jackson, Mrs E Barraclough, Roger & Joyce Parkin, also rep Mr & Mrs Robson, Jennifer Chaudry, Karen Jordan also rep Girls from Proactive, Mrs Heather Beard, Mr & Mrs M Warkup also rep Mrs Louise Muirhead, Mr & Mrs A Duggleby also rep Mrs I Benson and Mrs B Kirkwood, Mrs Helen Foreman, Mrs M Kirkwood also rep Mr G Kirkwood, Mrs Ann Aconley, Mr Phil Warkup, Mr & Mrs S Oxtoby, Sheila Robinson also rep family, Verna Shouler, Robert Kirbitson, Ernie Perry, Mrs M Warkup, Faye and Sherree (carers).