Félise (Phil) Helen Kingerlee 1924? - 2005
Phil Kingerlee passed away at her home in Marriotts Close on 14 September 2005, aged 81 years.
Phil's funeral eulogy. "Phil was a unique and entertaining character, a woman of great strengths and purpose, which sustained her during this last year. In true naval fashion giving, orders and laughter till the end, to the many that cared for her. We have all listened to her many stories, her life experiences, her high and her lows. Undoubtedly her greatest times were her time in the navy and on the P & O cruise line where she worked as a children’s hostess. In her many years since then she devoted much time to animal charities and the care of her many cats and dogs, and latterly the wild birds, she would get upset by a Sparrow hawk that used to prey upon the birds feeding at her bird table.
She was also passionately devoted to HMS Cavalier, which is a wartime destroyer, which has been renovated, and is now a piece of history, showing others the conditions sailors had to endure in the war. She remembered them all. And of course all her amusing anecdotes and not least paper cuttings sent in the post to all and sundry. Her great high in the last days of her life was being told that she was to be given the white ensign to go on her coffin. Her comment was, “I can’t believe they do that for a little wren like me.”
Photo courtesy Joan Thomas
But she deserved it for the many things she did during her life. We celebrate having known her, we smile at our own memories, but our lives are greatly diminished now that she is no longer here. In her own words “life goes on, do not be sad, keep smiling.”"


The following Obituary was written by Joan White
 
The passing of Miss Kingerlee, “Phil” to those who knew her, marks the loss of a valued member of the community. She was a regular contributor to the Ouse News as she took an active interest in village affairs. She founded and funded the original Homewatch Scheme, organised the annual R.S.P.C.A. collection and successfully lobbied for improvements in the village such as the provision of a full sized post box.
Félise had a wide circle of friends, as she was always one of the first people to give newcomers a warm welcome. Her acts of kindness were many and most of them unknown to anyone but the recipient. She kept up with the wider world by a tireless correspondence with the great, the good and the nonentities and was quick to respond to any injustice or lapse from her own high standards that she noticed in the press by contacting the person concerned. Her energetic distribution of press cuttings was legendary.

She came from a generation where standards of courtesy and behaviour were high and where a sense of duty came before personal considerations. Although well travelled she remained a staunch patriot and championed all things British. She served her country during the Second World War in the W.R.N.S and was one of an elite group of women who crewed a boat to release the male mariners for other duties. She contacted the local schools to ensure that the importance of the war was not forgotten by the coming generation and that it had a proper place in the curriculum and supplied valuable archive material to the Imperial War Museum. Her memories of the war and her subsequent professional life as a Children’s Hostess on the luxury liners were wide ranging, broad-minded and often hilarious.

Félise will be best remembered for two things, her courage and determination during her last illness, which made a deep impression on all who saw her, and her love of animals. No living creature was beyond her compassion. Birds, fish, cats, dogs and hedgehogs all benefited from her care and skill. Hers was a practical, well-informed rapport with animals, which was never clouded by indulgent sentimentality.

The high regard in which she was held was clearly shown by the crowd of Felmersham people who attended her funeral. This was made a very special occasion by the presence of the H.M.S. Cavalier Association led by their President Rear Admiral John Hervey, who gave her the full naval honours of their standard and the White Ensign to drape her coffin in recognition of her unwavering support to save and preserve the ship.

She was indeed as her funeral notice said: ‘a lady who will be greatly missed by her many friends and family’.
 
Rev George (Gerry) Sidebottom 1916 - 2005

Gerry was born in Londonderry in 1916 and initially followed his father into the fish business. However, always a stalwart of Derry Cathedral, in his late twenties he realised his vocation was the priesthood. He studied at Trinity College Dublin, and was ordained in 1950. After serving as a curate in Ireland, he moved to Chester, where he met his future wife Hazel. They were married in 1955, and soon afterwards moved back to Ireland – to Achill Island, Co. Mayo. Here they enjoyed five happy years, and their three children were born, before the family returned to England in late 1960 when Gerry was appointed to the parishes of Bletsoe and Felmersham. Initially they lived in the rectory at Bletsoe, before the promised new vicarage was built in the corner of the (then) new Marriott’s Close development in Felmersham.
 
Gerry served as vicar of Felmersham until his retirement in 1981, during which time he and Hazel immersed themselves in village life, built many lasting friendships, and saw much change taking place. After his retirement they moved to Clapham, and Gerry helped out on the staff of St Paul’s Church in Bedford for a number of years until lack of mobility got the better of him. Three years ago they moved to a flat in Bedford where Gerry continued to enjoy life right to the end. He and Hazel celebrated their Golden Wedding in Felmersham in August 2005, and two weeks later he died peacefully in Bedford Hospital. Besides Hazel, Gerry leaves three children - Joanna, Mark, and Evan - and five grandchildren. - Jo Sidebottom
   

Frederick John (Jack) Hulatt 1928 - 2005
Frederick John Hulatt was born in Radwell in 1928, where he grew up on his father's farm., and he soon became known as "Radwell Jack". In his childhood he helped his father on the farm and also with the milk round using a horse and cart.
Later he met and married Gill and settled in the family home in Radwell. They had three children, Steve, Belinda and Tony. Jack and his father kept pigs and chickens and he always had  a Jack Russell at his side. Jack loved being in the fields, catching rabbits with ferrets or out with a gun.
He had various jobs including building, working on the dust carts and collecting waste from butcher's shops where he earned his other nickname "Laughing Jack". Jack was well known in the Sun Public house in Felmersham. In 2000 he moved to North Wales to live with Belinda, Nick and the grandchildren.
His wife died in 1986 and there are four grandchildren.
 
Peter Campbell Maddocks  1943  - 2005
After a recent history of heart attacks Peter, who lived in Macclesfield, died of a heart attack while bell  ringing. He will be remembered in Felmersham for his appearances on the stage with Pinchmill Players Theatre and for his bell ringing at Felmersham St Marys. Peter worked for Macclesfield Borough Council involved in assessment and authorisation of housing benefits.
 
Hilary Lander Gunn 1944 - 2005
 
 
Ivy Helen (Nel) Longstaff  1916 - 2005
Ivy Longstaff has passed away, aged 89 years. She lived in MacQueen Cottage, Radwell all her life.
Nel was a member of a family of 7 children, and she was the fourth of five sisters. Born in 1916 she was the last surviving member of that family. Her mother died when she was 10, and consequently she looked after her younger sister, her father, and the family home.
Nel met and married Frederick William Longstaff, and in 1937 a Son, Terry, was born. In 1947, as the result of a railway accident, her husband was killed, and Nel was left a widow with a young son to bring up. These were hard times, but Nel was an active member of the Women’s Institute, Mother’s Union, and later the Three in One Club. She was also was very interested in cricket, and in particular, the local club, where for many years she helped to provide the tea and refreshments for village matches.

If you wish, you can record the death of  someone dear to you by writing a short obituary for insertion into this section. The person may have died some years ago, the only qualification is that they must have spent some of their life living in the parish of Felmersham or Radwell.
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Page last updated: 17/12/09