Lifelong Penrith resident Alma Tyson, who was involved in many local organisations and a devoted supporter of two town churches, has died, aged 91.
Alma, the daughter of Oswald and Violet Steel, attended Brunswick Road School, leaving at the age of 14 to train under confectioner Miss M. Gardiner, who ran a shop at Mill Street, Castletown.
She met her future husband, Sidney Tyson, at a dance at the Post Office Social Club, and after a five-year courtship they were married in 1953. The pair, who, during a long and happy marriage, supported each other in a wide range of interests, recently celebrated their platinum anniversary.
Alma and Sidney — former production manager at the Herald — had two sons. Fraser was born in 1956 and Andrew followed four years later. The family lived in Poplar Place until 1979, when they bought their current home at Drovers Lane.
A great supporter of Penrith community life over the years, Alma was the joint founding leader of Penrith Tuesday Club. Formed when two young mothers’ groups were merged, the Tuesday Club is still going strong.
As a young woman, Alma attended Penrith’s Christ Church, moving to become a member of the congregation at the United Reformed Church, in Lowther Street, after her marriage to Sidney. She had been a Sunday school teacher at Christ Church, and she and Sidney were married there.
Latterly, after the closure of the URC last year, Sid and Alma became regular members of the congregation at Christ Church once again.
Holding strong Christian beliefs, at one stage Alma would regularly attend an 8am service at Christ Church, followed by a 10-45am service at Lowther Street.
When her children were growing up, Alma took a job at Pullers drycleaners of Penrith. She moved on from there to work at Birketts bakery, mainly as a driver for the supervisor, a job which took her as far afield as Lancaster, Dumfries and Hexham.
Outside work, her interests included being, with Sid, a member of Castle Park Bowling Club and also bowling at Castletown. She also at one time enjoyed playing lawn tennis on a court conveniently situated in the grounds of the United Reformed Church — an area which was later made into a car park.
Never one to be left out, Alma persuaded Sid to teach her to swim in the River Eamont at Frenchfield so she didn’t have to sit on the bank as an observer.
Along with Sidney, Alma was a devoted supporter of Penrith Town Band. While he played with the band for decades, Alma was a staunch fundraiser.
She was also a past Grand Master of the Penrith Oddfellows Beacon Lodge — a position which was also held by Sidney at one time.
The Oddfellows friendly society was set up as a mutual support organisation, helping its members with the cost of healthcare and providing other benefits. Sid and Alma’s involvement was in the 1950s and 60s — although the organisation was wound down with the advent of the National Health Service.
After her retirement, Alma embraced the role of full-time grandma to Fraser’s children Caroline and Will, and Andrew’s children Mark and Craig. More recently she became a great-grandmother to Will and his partner Sarah’s daughter, Maisie, now aged almost two.
Maisie was a source of great joy to Alma, who loved her company and the sense of new life she brought to the world.
As well as being keen and skilled at all kinds of crafts — she created upwards of 100 handmade Christmas cards each year — Alma was also known to friends and family as a wonderful baker.
Her grandchildren would make “straight for the cake tin” whenever visiting, and for many years she kept up a tradition of making dozens of mince pies for the whole staff at the Herald at Christmas time.
During their retirement years, Sid and Alma enjoyed travelling, in particular taking part in cruise ship holidays organised by the Herald with Appleby Travel. Madeira was a favourite destination and they also enjoyed many holidays in the UK.
Sid reflected that during their 70 years of marriage, he and Alma had supported one another in everything they did. Her family said Alma’s was “a life well lived”, full of love for her family and community.
She is survived by husband Sidney; sons Fraser, of Penrith, and Andrew, of Stainton, and their wives Deirdre and Shirley; grandchildren Will, Caroline, Mark and Craig; and great-granddaughter Maisie.
The funeral will take place on Tuesday, 8th August, at 11-30am at Christ Church, Penrith, followed by the Eden Valley Crematorium at 12-30pm. Arrangements are in the hands of Richardsons Funeral Directors, Penrith.
Donations will be for the Penrith Hospital League of Friends district nurses fund. The family paid heartfelt tribute to the Penrith district nurses for their kindness and care during Alma’s final illness.
