After a long period of negotiation, during which many people have been asking for news, I can now tell you when Gill’s service of Celebration and Thanksgiving will be held.
The service will be at Great Meeting, Hadleigh United Reformed Church on Friday 26th.May at 2.00pm. It will be preceded by a private cremation in the morning. You will all be very welcome at the service.
There will only be family flowers and a donation to a cancer charity will be appreciated.
A Celebration and Thanksgiving for the Life of Gillian Taylor
Hadleigh United Reformed Church, 2pm 26th May 2017
Service led by the Rev’ds Bryn Rickards and Jim Dalgleish
Welcome and Call to Worship
Hymn: Jesus is Lord! Creation’s voice proclaims it.
Jesus is Lord! Creation’s voice proclaims it,
For by His power each tree and flower
Was planned and made.
Jesus is Lord! The universe declares it,
Sun, moon and stars in heaven
Cry, ‘Jesus is Lord!’
Jesus is Lord! Jesus is Lord!
Praise Him with hallelujahs
For Jesus is Lord!
Jesus is Lord! Yet from His throne eternal
In flesh He came to die in pain
On Calvary’s tree.
Jesus is Lord! From Him all life proceeding,
Yet gave His life a ransom
Thus setting us free.
Jesus is Lord! O’er sin the mighty conqueror,
From death He rose, and all His foes
Shall own His name.
Jesus is Lord! God sent His Holy Spirit
To show by works of power
That Jesus is Lord.
David J. Mansell Copyright ゥ 1982
Prayer: Approach and Confession
Scripture: Psalm 100 – Jane Brown
1 Corinthians 13.1-13 – David Atkins
Hymn: Be still for the presence of the Lord
Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here;
Come bow before Him now with reverence and fear.
In Him no sin is found, we stand on holy ground;
Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here.
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around;
He burns with holy fire, with splendour He is crowned.
How awesome is the sight, our radiant King of light!
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around.
Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place;
He comes to cleanse and heal, to minister His grace.
No work too hard for Him, in faith receive from Him;
Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place.
David J. Evans Copyright ゥ 1986
Scripture: John 14.1 – 7 – Mary Boon
A sermon on the Christian hope
Prayer: Thanksgiving and Intercession
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen
Hymn: To God be the glory, great things He hath done!
To God be the glory! great things He hath done!
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son;
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done!
O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood!
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son:
But purer and higher and greater will be
Our wonder, our worship, when Jesus we see!
Fanny J. Crosby
Prayer: Commendation
Blessing
There will be a retiring offering for the work of
World Wide Cancer Research.
All are warmly invited to share in refreshments and conversation in the Community Room after the service.
Hymns printed under copyright licence: CCLI #7319
The service at Seven Hills went off very smoothly with David leading, Jane and Ritchie, Roger and Anita and me forming the congregation.
In the afternoon a congregation led by Jim Dalgleish paid tribute to Gill and appreciated the hymns and readings she had chosen. About eighty people attended, coming from the church, the town, the school, the naturalists, the garden groups and including life long friends. Elegant refreshments were provided by the Foster family in the Community Room, overflowing back into the church.
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Gill died yesterday evening (19th.April 2017) in Ipswich Hospital where she had been removed on Easter Sunday from Canterbury House, Hadleigh
Gill and I had been friends for some sixty-five years. We met in the Junior Church of Woodford Green United Free Church, where we both subsequently became helpers, teachers, eventually department leaders and church members. Gill showed such promise that the minister Harry Gradon arranged for her to take up a church scholarship for Sunday school training at Westhill College, part of the Selly Oak group of colleges. This lasted a term and Gill was generously allowed time off from her job in the City, where she returned subsequently. The training and her work with children so enthused Gill that she worked hard to gather qualifications and gained entry to Saffron Waldon college for teachers where she was awarded her Teachers Certificate.
During this period her father had retired and Gill with her parents moved to a bungalow in Castle Rise, Hadleigh in 1967. I married Alan Morgan in the same year and we moved into the Woodford house which the Taylors had vacated. After training Gill began her teaching career at the recently opened St.Mary’s Primary School where she continued to teach the reception class for the rest of her career. There are many parents and children in Hadleigh and around who speak warmly of her care and leadership in that role.
She became a member of what was then Hadleigh Congregational Church in 1970 and worked tirelessly with the children in the Sunday school for many years.
Gill was instrumental in bringing me to Hadleigh when she alerted me to the post at Elmsett school, where I was head for a short time. Alan and I followed her to Hadleigh in 1985.
After her parents died Gill was left alone in the world, her only relative a second cousin who lives far away in Chippenham. Jane has been a tower of strength during Gill’s recent illness and was enormously supportive when Gill had to leave her bungalow and take up residence in Canterbury House. Ill health has dogged Gill for many years with numerous operations to back, hip and wrist. Two falls breaking the same femur in two places in June/July 2015 meant the end of independent living. Although sad to leave her car and bungalow Gill accepted the inevitable and appreciated the care given by the staff at Canterbury House. She was cheered when Elizabeth a close friend from the church, moved into the bungalow with her husband. Gill’s quality of life deteriorated rapidly in recent months and a series of falls as well as a heart condition saw her transferred to hospital on Easter Sunday. She died in Ipswich Hospital on Wednesday evening 19th.April.
Gillian Taylor 1936 – 2017
A sketch by Wendy Atkins …….
Although I can tell you the story of my 65 year friendship with Gill there are others here who could fill in many details and one, Judy, who first met Gill 80 years ago when they were in their prams and Gill’s mother Lettie and Judy’s mother were friends. They grew up in the same road in Woodford Green, near to London and on the edge of Epping Forest. Together they attended Miss Kimmings little school and after a period of evacuation became pupils at St.Mary’s Convent. Stan, Gill’s father was away fighting during the war and Gill treasured his letters and shared them with several of her classes. Judy enjoyed many outings with Gill’s family as they were growing up, in the countryside and in London. Gill met Bryony at the convent and it was she who introduced her to the Junior Church of Woodford Green United Free Church. That was where I first met Gill. Bryony remains in touch, she lives in Derby and is with us in spirit today.
It was in the junior church that Gill and I subsequently became helpers, teachers, eventually department leaders and church members. Gill showed such promise that the minister Harry Graydon arranged for her to take up a church scholarship for Sunday school training at Westhill College, part of the Selly Oak group of colleges. This lasted a term and Gill was generously allowed time off from her secretarial job in the City, where she returned subsequently. The training and her work with children so enthused Gill that she worked hard to gather qualifications and gained entry to Saffron Waldon college for teachers where she was awarded her Teachers Certificate.
During this period her father had retired and Gill with her parents moved to a bungalow in Castle Rise, Hadleigh in 1967. I married Alan Morgan in the same year and we moved into the Woodford house where Gill had grown up. After training Gill began her teaching career at the recently opened St.Mary’s Primary School where she continued to teach the reception class for the rest of her career. There are many parents and children in Hadleigh and around who speak warmly of her care and leadership in that role.
She became a member here in 1970, of what was then Hadleigh Congregational Church and worked tirelessly with the children in the Sunday school for many years. Doreen could tell you all about that. She was also an active member of the Guild.
Gill was instrumental in bringing me to Hadleigh when she alerted me to the post at Elmsett school, where I was head for a short time. Alan and I followed her to Hadleigh in 1985.
Philip Mann takes up the story ………
I first met Gill on Friday 15th July 1977, when I came to St Mary’s School , Hadleigh, for my interview as Head Teacher of the school. Gill told me that she had taught at the school since September 1969. She had trained as a teacher at Saffron Walden Teacher Training College ( or College of Education, as these establishments were now known) as a teacher of younger, or infant children; indeed Gill made this work her own specialism, so when she retired in July, 1994, she had completed 25years of devoted service to the same school, teaching in the Reception Class, and Years 1 & 2.
She also worked very hard, together with Keith Brisland, our Deputy Head Teacher, in setting up our Environmental Studies Curriculum in the early 1980s, several years before the National Curriculum came into being; this involved her in planning, with Keith, work for Key Stage 2 Year Groups as well as her own Key Stage 1 work.
Gill was an efficient, conscientious and reliable colleague; she was always punctual and hardworking. She had a great sense of humour, and fair play. The next 25 classes she taught enjoyed her well organised and interesting lessons, and her classroom was always colourful and stimulating, yet had an atmosphere of calm and purpose.
Gill was well liked and respected by her colleagues. We found in her a true friend and supportive colleague.
Out of school, yet living in the same town, Gill was our friend, especially in our work with Churches Together in Hadleigh. Thanks to Gill and her kind hearted Mum we bought a bungalow near to where they lived, and after retirement we enjoyed each others’ company from time to time, especially Audrey and Gill sharing books they had read.
So, thank you, Gill, as a colleague, friend and fellow Christian for the last 40 years. May you rest in peace.
Wendy continues the story ……
Gill was very active in the town, where she served on the Town Council for four years representing the Liberal Democrats. Her love of natural history, particularly wild flowers, led to her becoming chair of the Hadleigh Naturalists and a prime mover in their annual Spring Fair. She was also a member of the Women’s Institute, a U3A garden group and a small handicraft group.
After her parents died Gill was left alone in the world, her only relative a second cousin who lives far away in Chippenham. Over the years Jane with her husband Richard and children visited Gill whenever possible and went on outings together. Jane has been a tower of strength during Gill’s recent illness and was enormously supportive when Gill had to leave her bungalow and take up residence in Canterbury House. Ill health has dogged Gill for many years with numerous operations to back, hip and wrist. Two falls breaking the same femur in two places in June/July 2015 meant the end of independent living. Although sad to leave her car and bungalow Gill accepted the inevitable and appreciated the care given by the staff at Canterbury House. She was cheered when Elizabeth a close friend from the church, moved into the bungalow with her husband Mike. We are happy that their daughter Elaine is playing the organ today. Gill’s quality of life deteriorated rapidly in recent months and a series of falls as well as a heart condition saw her transferred to hospital on Easter Sunday. She died in Ipswich Hospital on Wednesday evening 19th.April . She is sorely missed by all the people who knew and loved her.
My Dear Gill, (A tribute from Bryony, a lifelong friend)
How sorry I am that I wasn’t able to visit you during these last few years when your health declined and you moved into The Canterbury Care Home, where you have been secure and happy.
My memories of you go back to our Convent School days in Mornington Rd, Woodford, when we found ourselves sitting next to each other in the first form and became firm friends. You lived in Woodford Green and I lived in South Woodford, by this time, as my parents moved there from Buckhurst Hill in early 1949. Sometimes we walked to school along the High Road when we were saving our bus fares for Lent, so we could hand it in as our contribution. In the summer time, I remember you liked to put a dent at the back of your panama hat, as a little rebellion against the school rules. We both had plaits in those early years and our hats would bounce nicely up and down as we walked along.
You had long legs, Gill, and a group of us in our class, soon realised that with a little help and training you could be an accomplished runner. We went over to the green, forest land behind school in our lunch hour and worked with you on the 100 yard’s race. We wanted you to beat the best runner in the 5th form then , as we were still in the 4th form and it was your last year at school because you were leaving to go to the Pitman’s Secretarial College in the summer.
Sport’s Day duly arrived and the whole school, plus any available parents, congregated at the Ashton Playing Fields where the races were to be held. I also stood with your dear Mum, Lettie, as we waited for your race to begin and our hearts were in our mouths watching you run your socks off. The excitement was palpable as you closed the gap between you and the leading runner and finally outstripped her to touch the tape first. We were so thrilled for you, Gill, it was one of our best moments in our school days together.
You would often come and have tea at my house with all my big family and I would enjoy the similar treat of visiting you in your quieter house and sampling your Mum’s excellent cooking. Our fathers were wonderful at walking us home afterwards, if it was a dark night. You had a television, too, and a number of us would congregate in your house once a year to watch the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.
Then, what about your Thespian days in Woodford acting in plays with a local drama group performing for our entertainment at The Memorial Hall and later in our church.
For early on in our friendship you heard me talking about my Junior Church activities and asked if you could come along, too, and you were given such a lovely welcome by Hilda Dowsett, who ran our girl’s group at Woodford Green United Free Church. After that, we saw each other constantly, even though we were not at school together any more. We both became church members the summer of 1955, before I went away to college for my teacher training and some years later you also decided you would like to teach.
By this time I had married and moved to Derby and your parents had moved to Hadleigh, where you joined them, so we were both now out of the London area. I’m glad to say that over the intervening years we managed to keep our lives intertwined with visits and holidays that brought us together again to catch up on our experiences, hopes, joys and interests. I still remember one phrase you used in our annual Christmas letter when you said, ” We have arrived at the glue and glitter season again,” so appropriate from one infant teacher to another.
To think we both made it to 80 , Gill , before you received your call to a better place, one of our Father’s many mansions that has been prepared for us. One day we shall all meet up again for that long awaited re-union. In the meantime, perhaps you are having fun with the infant angels, out in the heavenly gardens, showing them how to use their wings for an extra power surge in the 100 yard’s race.
With my love , Gill, and my thanks for a lifetime of friendship.
Bryony x