Page 53 - OM Newsletter - Issue 43 - 2020

EOG OBITUARIES
Ruth Bennett (née Steele) (42-49). After Ellerslie, Ruth was to study Music at College, but her father’s untimely death stymied that ambition. The resilience imbued in her as the seventh of eight children growing up on a farm served her well in the circumstance; and, inheriting her father’s strong work ethic, in married life she was tireless in managing the family business. At the age of 52, when most people would start to slow down the family decided to open a Farm Park, where Ruth became the de facto manager. It needed detailed attention which she had in spades in presentation and in animal husbandry: she enjoyed the goats, the llamas, the sheep and the poultry. She was an expert on hens and eggs and was often heard on the local radio talking about eggs. There was nothing that she didn’t know. Being a farm girl she could single out which hens had colds and restore them to full vigour!
Apart from raising four children, she found time to enjoy the local film club, her interest dating back to ciné film in the 1950s; she made it her mission to finish her film marking the 100th anniversary of the Bennett family in Worcester, and finished it a week before passing away. Ruth worked tirelessly with other farmers wives in the Women’s Farmers Union, promoting English produce and the countryside. She also influenced the ice cream business insisting that we should use natural colours and flavours when Bennett’s Ice Cream started in 1982. In many things her instincts were correct.
Ruth will be remembered locally for her involvement in local charities, with Rotary fundraising and community work; for her determination, hard work, stoicism, good nature and loyalty. Ruth was one of life’s givers and nothing was too much effort; she always put 100% into everything she was involved in.
Above all Ruth cherished family, be it coaching a grandchild through grade 8 piano or hosting over 70 family members at Christmastime, including 28 nieces and nephews! She will be remembered for her dedication, generosity and warm personality.
Died 4 November 2019.
Anne Goddard (née Lloyd) (44-50) Anne came to Ellerslie (Hampton) towards the end of WW2. A niece of Miss Rogers, she was a studious pupil who seemed to enjoy exams. Tennis was the only sport she enjoyed at school but she also enjoyed skiing. After leaving school she studied Pharmacy at Birmingham Technical College and after qualifying worked at Boots in Dudley. After
her marriage to Ken, whom she met skiing, Anne moved to London and had a son and two daughters. For many years she worked as a Pharmacist at Greenwich and District Hospital. On retirement she and Ken moved to Norfolk, near the Rogers’ family home in Cromer, and took up Bridge, but after Ken’s death she moved up North to be near one of her daughters. A few months before her death, Anne with her sister Mary McGraghan (née Lloyd) (46-53) together with one of Anne’s daughters, enjoyed a lovely holiday in Cromer visiting places where they spent many family holidays. Anne died following a stroke.
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