The death has occurred at the Winters Park care home, Penrith, of former charity fundraiser, music enthusiast and committed churchgoer Mary Elizabeth Kidd, aged 86.
The wife of Eden businessman Lindsay Kidd, she was particularly known for her work for national charity the Children’s Society and her leading role in the Penrith music scene.
Born in Norwich, Mary was the oldest daughter of the Rev Edward and Winifred Flowerday. Shortly after her birth, her father took up the position of Methodist minister in Mevagissey, Cornwall, which is where her sister Gillian was born.
Following a decision by her father to transfer into the Anglican Church, the family moved back to Norfolk in 1943, after which they lived for a time with her paternal grandfather. When Mary was 10 years old the family moved to Hopton-on-Sea, on the Norfolk coast. In 1950 the family moved again to Scalby, near Scarborough, where she finished her schooling.
After leaving school she went to teacher training college, with part of this time being spent at Trinity College of Music, in London.
She subsequently taught for a couple of years in London and then went to live once more with her parents, who had by then moved to Acomb, in York.
She took a job at the York Museum working in the costume department, following which she worked at the education office in the city, and very much enjoyed both jobs.
It was in 1966 that Mary met her future husband during a trip to see one of her school friends in Penrith. In a ceremony performed by her father, she and Lindsay were married later the same year and the couple made their home in the town. They went on to have two daughters, Catherine and Liz.
In 1971, after the Penrith maternity home was converted into the Abbeyfield home at Newton House, Mary became an active member and then chairman of the voluntary house committee and carried out this role until it closed in 2010.
She supported many charities and was a long serving fundraiser for the Children’s Society. As a keen gardener she held coffee mornings and enjoyed opening her garden to raise money for this and other causes. She was recognised for her work by the society, being rewarded with an invitation to attend a Buckingham Palace garden party in May, 2017.
Mary had a huge love of singing and music. She was a member of Penrith Savoyards for many years and in the early 1970s was one of those who formed the Beacon Singers, which went on to put on local concerts for more than 20 years.
From the time she moved to Penrith, Mary attended the town’s St Andrew’s Church on a regular basis and was a member of its Tuesday Club. She had a very calm and consistently strong faith and the church was a significant part of her life.
She is survived by her husband Lindsay, Penrith; daughters Catherine Davies, Emsworth, Hampshire, and Liz Barrett, Hesket Newmarket; and sister Gillian Porter, Haxby, near York. She had four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
The funeral service was held at St Andrew’s Church, Penrith, on May 20, followed by a private cremation. Walkers Funeral Directors, Penrith, handled the arrangements.
