Death of much-respected former Advice Bureau manager

She died at her home on Monday evening, aged 64. A memorial service will be held at Christchurch Methodist Church on Friday, February 29 at 2.30pm.

Tragically, she and her husband Clive had learned that she was to be awarded the MBE at the same time that they received the devastating news of her cancer.

Characteristically, Jill had fought the cancer bravely until the end, insisting that she would rather end her days at home with her family than in hospital.

Jill was born in Maidstone and grew up in Hastings. She was head girl at Ore School. After school, she worked in the accounts department of the Hastings and Thanet Building Society at its Bexhill headquarters at Thrift House (now Hastings Direct's Conquest House headquarters).

She and Clive married in 1963. They moved to Bexhill from Hastings in 1972. Jill worked as an assistant librarian at Bexhill High School for nearly 14 years.

While there, she realised that everyone ought to be trained in first aid.

She joined the British Red Cross locally in 1979 as a first aider. It was the start of 16 years of devoted service to the organisation.

Through that she became involved in the Activenture project '“ activity holidays for special needs children in Ashdown Forest, becoming a group leader.

An organiser asked why there were no youngsters coming forward from Bexhill, following this up with the challenging, "What are you doing about it, dear..?"

It was the sort of challenge that Jill could not resist. Speaking at the time of the award of her MBE in 2006, Jill said: "I started a British Red Cross youth group in Bexhill for 11 to 16 year-olds.

Thanks to the support of fellow volunteers, the group grew in number and sent local youngsters to Activenture holidays every year.

"I went as leader every year and greatly enjoyed it."

Eventually she had to ask herself: "Can I still climb trees...?" and decided it was time to quit.

Jill had joined the Citizens' Advice Bureau locally in 1987 as deputy manager to Clifford Crouch, succeeding him after two years but not realising at the time how much she was taking on herself.

Then, the Bexhill bureau had 12 volunteers. By the time of her New Year Honour in 2006 it had been reorganised as Rother District CAB and had four part-time members of staff and 28 volunteers.

Jill put her heart and soul into her work for the CAB. She campaigned effectively on its behalf - not by shouting the odds but by patiently marshalling the facts and consistently presenting an overwhelming case to its funding provider, Rother District Council.

Jill was always unassuming. She would always stress that whatever the CAB had achieved locally was the result of team-work.

In her New Year Honours interview, however, she did let slip one telling quote.

She told the Observer: "Officially, it is 22 hours a week. But I'm lucky to get one day a week off...."

She quickly added: "Lots of the others do the same.

"I try to get a day off but if you run a team of volunteers you can't walk away from them when they are giving their time freely."

She added: "I would like to pay tribute to my husband. If I need some maintenance done at the office it's my husband I call on."

Unintentionally, in those few words Jill had written her own epitaph.

Quietly and without ostentation, Jill put her all into everything she undertook. She led from the front by dedicated example.

Even the notification that Jill was being considered for an award became entwined with the CAB.

Clive rang the office to say a letter had arrived at home with "Prime Minister" on the envelope.

Like Clive, Jill thought it must be mis-placed CAB business and asked him to open it in case it was urgent.

Among the first to congratulate Jill on her MBE were the couple's daughters, Michelle and Joanne.

As her illness progressed, Jill made the decision to quit the CAB, handing over the reins to her deputy, Glenn Jopson in September 2006 after 19 years of service.

She said at the time: "Looking back, it has been a privilege to work with so many great volunteers '“ I think that has been a real pleasure of the job '“ and to be able to help people see a light at the end of the tunnel, when they come in with serious problems.

"If you can help people focus on that end peace, that is very satisfying...."

Despite her illness, Jill had plans to return to part-time service for the CAB and assist with the rural outreach service which she had worked to develop.

Though clearly unwell, she was a welcome guest at the opening last November of the CAB's new offices at Bank Chambers, Buckhurst Road.

In addition to her MBE, a life-time of service to others was recognised in other ways: a long-service commendation from the Red Cross; the Red Cross Badge of Honour, the Rotary International Service Recognition Award and others.

Both daughters had given time to be with their parents, both members of Christchurch Methodist Church, as Jill prepared herself calmly for the inevitable.

Current CAB manager Glenn Jopson writes: "Having known Jill for fourteen years her death is not only a personal loss but a great loss to all my colleagues at CAB and the community at large.

"Jill was always there to offer support and encouragement to everyone around her and has seen many volunteers through the training that is required to become a CAB volunteer with her good nature and practical approach to life always coming to the fore.

"Jill was an inspiration to all that knew her giving many hours of her time to voluntary activities throughout the town with the overriding aim to improve the lives of others, which included giving up her holidays to enable disabled children to take part in adventure activities.

"I feel fortunate to have known Jill not only as a work colleague but as a friend and feel the world would be a better place if we could all make a little more time for others as Jill did throughout her life."