Family and friends were shocked to hear of the sudden death of Winifred Little last month at Woodlands, Penrith.
Winifred, who was 92, had been in good spirits and enjoyed some days out in the winter sunshine the week before with her daughters, Helen and Joy, and son Adrian.
She also attended the Nativity service at Penrith Methodist Church the day before she died.
Born at Culgaith to William and Kate Wilkinson, of Elm Tree Farm, she was sister to Kendal, who died in his 60s, and Evelyn, aged 99, who lives in Plymouth.
She loved Culgaith School and the piano lessons she received. In her teens she attended Gregg School, in Carlisle, travelling from Culgaith station.
She told the tale of her first day when she arrived at the station with a friend, having run down the fields, only to find the steam train pulling away. A wave of the arms and the train driver stopped the beast until the girls boarded!
She got a job at Reed Graham and Little solicitors in Penrith and enjoyed the various duties there. A WI member for 70 years, she represented Cumbria at an event in London during this period.
Through her involvement with the Methodist Guild of the time, she met her future husband Norman who had recently arrived back from his posting in World War Two as a sergeant in the Border Regiment.
Ruth Jackson, who also died recently, was Norman’s sister and was responsible for the introduction.
They were married and lived at Corner House, Langwathby, where they entered into the village community, including the Methodist chapel and Sunday school, circuit choir, May Day and musical events, giving piano lessons to various family members.
Sadly, their second child, Alistair, died aged five months which was a great loss and continued sadness for her.
Winifred always had great ideas for music and encouraged the children to play instruments along with neighbours, forming a singing group. She played the piano for the opening of the new Langwathby Cof E School.
A family move was made to Castle View, Lazonby, so Norman was nearer the auction mart where he was manager.
Winifred used her musical talents, continuing with the choir, the Rainbow club at the chapel and playing the piano at Lazonby School as well as being secretary and organist at the chapel.
She also enjoyed bowling, listening to cricket and following Carlisle United.
She was heavily involved with the Methodist Youth Guild pantomimes for many years and was always looking out for good ideas.
One such was a performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, followed by Godspell and Captain Noah and His Floating Zoo – the list goes on.
With daughter Helen, she invigorated the circuit choir, giving concerts far and wide.
It was not long before Norman had a bungalow built in the orchard at Castle View and they began to enjoy some retirement time, but sadly Norman died, also very suddenly, leaving Winifred at 61 years of age.
Continuing her journey through the Eden Valley, Winifred bravely moved to Little Sandhill, Kirkoswald, where she continued her piano playing for dancing lessons in the village hall and her involvement with the Methodist Women’s Network.
At the age of 80, and on hearing about the completion of independent living flats at MHA Woodlands, she decided to have a fresh start in Penrith.
The following 12 years saw her have a new lease of life through the care of Woodlands staff, and also meeting new friends and entering into the social life of the Woodlands community and Penrith Methodist Church.
Following her death, cards and messages from many friends and family say she was a kind lady who lived out her Christian faith to the full.
She was a very proud mother of Helen Armstrong, a retired headteacher and school improvement consultant; Joy Strzelecki, a management accountant living in Cookham; and Adrian, an auctioneer and valuer living in Sheffield.
She has six grandchildren and four great grandchildren who loved her because she always had a good game to play and a twinkle in her eye.
A service of thanksgiving for Winifred’s life will be held tomorrow, Friday, January 14, at 1.30pm at Penrith Methodist Church.
