1932 - 2006

Mrs Brenda Smith Warhurst, of Heckington, has died in the Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, at the age of 74.

She had been married to her husband Dennis for almost 57 years, and also leaves three sons, Gary, Lindsay and Craig, and grandsons Anthony and Gavin.

Brenda was known as a quiet and gentle person with a ready smile and a huge heart. Empathic and compassionate, she was particularly fond of animals and would get upset if she heard of any animal being hurt or ill-treated.

Brenda was born in Middleton, Lancashire, and married Dennis at the age of 18. The couple went to live in Australia in the early Fifties before returning to Lancashire and then moving again, this time to Canada. They eventually settled in the UK, moving to Heckington to enjoy their retirement.

Brenda worked for a time in her local passport office and also had a spell in a factory that produced Lancaster Bombers. But probably the job best suited to her personality was the time she spent working as a librarian. She was an avid reader and prolific writer of poems and short stories, many of which appeared in the Heckington village magazine.

She was an accomplished needlewoman and artist; the walls of her home were adorned with her paintings and needlework.

Her talents could also be seen in the huge collection of dolls she gathered together - more than 80 in total, all dressed in costumes made by Brenda.

Her love of animals was reflected at her funeral, where her coffin was carried in a horse-drawn hearse.

© 2006 Brenda S. Warhurst