Nancy Hill

Nancy's story

Mum was born on 7th October 1934 in Midway, Swadlincote to Fred and Annie Goodman in the house where she lived all of her life. An only child, Mum grew up with her cousins Margaret and Lily who lived next door. Mum was bridesmaid when Margaret and Charles got married 60 years ago last month. Mum loved doing things with her parents and enjoyed many holidays and day trips on the train as her Dad worked on the railways. She always loved train travel. Mum went to Belmont Primary School and then by bus to Ashby Grammar School, where she ended up being head girl. Mum loved languages and in 1953 went off to Royal Holloway College in Surrey to study French and German with a view to being a language teacher. Sadly whilst at Royal Holloway her Mum was taken ill and Mum came home to nurse her. Our Grandma Annie passed away when Mum was only 24. She then worked in the personnel department at BTR in Derby Road and then in Horninglow. Mum still lived with her Dad Fred until he passed away when she was 28. It was whilst working at BTR that Mum met George and they married on the 5th August 1967. Once her children were at school she started work at Eureka Infants School in Midway as a welfare assistant. Mum enjoyed working there and stayed until her retirement in 1994. She loved baking, sewing, reading, gardening, walking, dancing and watching musicals at the theatre with her daughter and grand daughter. Nancy and George were good ballroom dancers and loved a quickstep! Bude in Cornwall was her favourite holiday destination, visiting every year since 1974. In September of last year Nancy realised she had had a stroke and dialled 999 and called an ambulance. She spent six weeks in Derby hospital but was determined to recover and put a lot of effort into getting the use of her arm back which she did manage. She was discharged from hospital and with the help of the fabulous community therapy team, started to get more mobile. However, from the very end of last year Nancy fell ill again and was admitted to Derby hospital for five weeks before coming home in mid-February. Sadly she got a chest infection in mid-March and by this time she had no more strength to fight it. She passed away peacefully in Burton hospital with her much loved granddaughter Lauren by her side. Nancy, a Mum and Granny and good friend to many will be sadly missed. Nancy was a supporter of the Air Ambulance service and even though she never had to call on their services......... We would like to thank you all for donations in 'Memory of our Mum'

Remembered by Andrew Hill