Mountfield

ELSIE SMITH: Elsie’s funeral took place on Tuesday (8th). Her son Andrew writes: Elsie Julia Smith was born in Hastings on 15th February 1938. On leaving school, she worked at a laundrette in St Leonards which is where she was working when she met Dennis. They married in 1962 and lived on the seafront in St Leonards where Dennis worked as a builder. After the birth of their first daughter, Julia, they moved to Mountfield in 1964 and later that year Jennifer was born; Andrew followed in 1966. Elsie settled happily into being a homemaker while Dennis continued his work as a builder/painter/decorator. She surrounded herself with innumerable pets — dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and tortoises.

Although busy running the family home, Elsie played for the village stoolball club, where Julia and Jennifer later followed. Saturday afternoons were always the time for a long dog walk followed by cake baking and watching Grandstand. Later she liked to play badminton at the village hall with a group of friends. Elsie was also one of the founding committee members of the Mountfield Children’s Jubilee Club, which organised a village event in 1977 to celebrate the Queen’s silver jubilee, and afterwards became Mountfield Children’s Club.

As the family grew up she worked part time at a transport cafe at John’s Cross and then in the late 1970s moved to Vinehall School, eventually full time, and worked there for 25 years before taking well earned retirement in 2004. It was here that she became friends with May Johnson, and after retirement they spent many evenings going to quizzes together. Elsie also loved history and historical places and enjoyed regular visits with Julia to places like Warwick Castle, Windsor Castle and Chartwell.

Elsie had five grandchildren, Christopher, Peter, Kathryn, Matthew and Daisy and always took an interest in what they were doing and was always pleased to see them when they visited. Even after we left home she was always there for us, no matter what the problem, and no matter how old we were we could always rely on her for advice.

During her last years when she was unable to get out very much she took a great pleasure from doing the quiz crosswords in the Sunday and Monday newspapers, and amassed a huge book of facts for future reference should that particular question come up again! No modern technology here!

Dennis cared for her during her illness and was always there for her. Elsie passed away peacefully in her sleep.

SOUTHERN WATER WORKS: You will have seen that SW’s contractors have made the first few moves towards the start of operations in earnest by removing various bits of hedging to allow access point to be made. The Parish Council or, to be absolutely accurate, our redoubtable Clerk, Irene Marchant, is liaising closely with Southern Water and their contractors and will keep everyone posted through the Village Voice.

WORLD GARDEN OF PLANTS: Sedlescombe & District Garden Society (SDGS) still have some tickets left for “An Evening with Tom Hart Dyke” on Wednesday 16th March 2016. TV personality Tom, heir to the family seat of Lullingstone Castle in Eynsford, Kent will be giving an illustrated talk on his vast horticultural experiences. Tom is an English horticulturist, author and plant hunter who created the World Garden of Plants located at Lullingstone which contains approximately 8,000 species of plants, many collected by Tom. The story of the creation was featured in a BBC2 6-episode series “Save Lullingstone Castle” in 2006. Sedlescombe Village Hall, 6.30 for 7.00 pm, all welcome, non-members £5.00 on the door or, to avoid disappointment, reserve your tickets from Sue Parsons, 01580 831996.

CONTACT: As ever, if you have anything for the Village Voice, we can be contacted on 880614 or via [email protected].

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