Announcements

Acknowledgements

Ray Humphries MBE Chris, Mark and Sharon and family thank everyone who sent them condolence cards and letters on the passing of our dear Ray. The number of Shaftesbury people who came out to pay tribute to Ray was overwhelming and a wonderful tribute to the affection and respect that people held for him. Thank you also to Merefield & Henstridge Funeral Directors, Rev. Denise Binks and Rev. Steve Hawkes for their help and guidance throughout. Donations received to date in Ray’s memory total £2,232.10 and will be shared between his three chosen charities; Shaftesbury Town Silver Band, Shaftesbury & District Carers H.O.P.E., and Cancer Research. As a family we are so grateful for the love and support we received from our extended family, many friends and the people of the town during this difficult time. Ray will be smiling on you all as he did in life.

Birthdays

BERYL STONE

Congratulations to Mrs Beryl Stone – 100 years young on the 14th December 2020.

With all our love from the Stone Tribe, all Relations & Friends.

Deaths

DURRANT RAYMOND

Of Coniston, Cumbria. Passed away peacefully in Preston Hospital on 28th November after a long illness aged 74 years.

Formerly of Blandford St Mary, son of the late Mr and Mrs Len Durrant, brother to the late Rita.

A much loved dad to Lisa, Dawn and Scott and loving grandad.

Will be sadly missed by family and friends.

ANDREW BICHENO Andy aged 75, formerly of Sixpenny Handley, died peacefully at home in "The Gambia" on 13th November. In our hearts forever, he will be greatly missed. His loving family xxx

Ruth Goddard (Doggrell) Formerly of Wyke, Gillingham and Motcombe. Passed away peacefully at St Andrews care home, Ewerby, Linconshire on 18th November aged 82. Much loved Mother and Grandmother, loving sister to Jean and Helen.

COCKERELL CYNTHIA ERNESTINE of Stalbridge passed away peacefully on 9th November 2020 aged 75 years. A much loved wife, mum, grandma and sister. Funeral service to be held at Yeovil Crematorium on 7th December 2020 at 14.40. Due to restrictions limited attendance only. Family flowers only. To make a donation in her memory for Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance please visit her tribute site at: funeralcare.co.uk / tributes-and-donations Co-operative Funeralcare, 4 Market Square, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 1FG, Tel: 01258 472073

MOORSE, Heather Ann aged 81 years of Gillingham. On 14th November 2020, peacefully at Yeovil District Hospital. A much-loved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. A life dedicated to animals. Private cremation. Donations in memory of Heather are being invited for the RSPCA c/o Funeral Director Harold F Miles South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Telephone (01963) 440367

NURSE, Peter aged 90 years of Mudford. On 14th November, 2020 peacefully at Yeovil District Hospital. A much loved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. Private cremation. Donations in memory of Peter are being invited for Yeovil Hospital Charity, Oncology Unit, c/o funeral director Harold F Miles, South Cadbury BA22 7ES, Telephone (01963) 440367

Ann Salwey Passed away peacefully at home in Child Okeford on 11th November 2020 after a long battle with dementia. Much loved wife to John, Mother & Granny. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. A memorial service will be held next year to celebrate Ann’s life

STREET Philip Maxwell (Phil)

aged 74 years of Trent. On 16th November 2020 peacefully at his home. A Much loved husband, father, grandfather and friend. Private Cremation. Donations in memory of Phil are being invited for Marie Curie Cancer Care, c/o Harold F Miles, Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Telephone (01963) 440367.

Mary Storrs

Mary passed away on the 18th October 2020 after a short illness.

Loving wife of late Peter Storrs, dearly loved Mum to Jonathan & Sarah, Granny to Hayley, Oliver, Mary, Elaine and Alisha & Great Granny to Olivia, Lily & Amelia.

GOODBODY

A.J.H. (TONY)

Formerly of Durweston

Passed away on the 2nd August aged 72 years at Salisbury District Hospital after enduring with courage and spirit his illness over several years.

Cremation has taken place. A celebration of Tony’s life to take place in 2021.

A seat of remembrance is to be placed in Cann Churchyard, Shaftesbury.

A much loved Husband, Father and Grandfather who is greatly missed.

BENJAMIN

Vera (of Wincanton)

Passed away peacefully on 11th November 2020, aged 91 at Cookson’s Court Care Home, Yeovil. Beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who will be sadly missed by family and friends. A private family funeral will take place. Donations in memory of Vera for Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance may be sent c/o Clive Wakely, A.J. Wakely & Sons, The Old Police Station, Carrington Way, Wincanton, BA9 9JS, Tel: (01963) 31310. Please make cheques payable to Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance.

HAROLD JOHN CHANDLER

(HARRY)

Peacefully passed away on 6th November, aged 86. Much loved Father, Grandad, Great Grandad, Brother and Uncle.

Funeral to take place at St Cuthbert’s Church, Oborne, Dorset on Friday 4th December at midday.

Due to covid restrictions this will be a private burial. Family flowers only. Donations if desired to Peter Jackson Funeral Services, Mons, High Street, Henstridge, Somerset, BA8 0RB, (01963) 362570 in aid of Dementia UK

YEOMAN Shirley Lucretia, aged 85 years of Holway Farm, Sandford Orcas, on 14th November 2020, peacefully at Fir Villa Residential Home. A much loved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend. Private Cremation. Donations in memory of Shirley are being invited for The British Heart Foundation, c/o Harold F Miles, Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Telephone (01963) 440367.

PARSONS Nigel Kenneth (of Alweston) Passed away on the 16th November 2020 aged 75 years. Much loved by Pauline and all of his family. He will be sadly missed. A private funeral service will take place. Donations in memory of Nigel to Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and Macmillan Unit, Yeovil District Hospital may be sent c/o Clive Wakely, A.J. Wakely & Sons, 16 Newland, Sherborne, DT9 3JQ

Kenneth David Willis On 26th November 2020, peacefully at home aged 83 years of Shaftesbury. A much loved Dad, gang and wother gang who will be sorely missed by all family and friends. Private family service. Donations if desired to the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance may be sent to Merefield & Henstridge Funeral Directors, Ridgemount, Pitts Lane, West Melbury, Shaftesbury, Dorset. SP7 0BU. Tel: 01747 853532 JOHN FARLEY

Died peacefully at home in Milborne Port on the 17th November 2020, aged 87 years. He was much loved by his family and well liked by all who knew him. He has served his community for many years as a county, district and parish councillor. Donations in his memory are invited for St Margaret’s Hospice, Yeovil. C/o Peter Jackson Funeral Services. Tel: 01963 362570. The family would like to thank the hospice and district nurses, the Butterfield Carers and all those who have sent their best wishes and kind thoughts.

BIRD Dorothy June (June)

aged 70 years of Yeovil. On 17th November 2020, peacefully at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton. A much loved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, partner to Malcolm, sister, aunt and friend. Private cremation. Donations in memory of June are being invited for Yeovil Freewheelers, c/o Harold F Miles, Funeral Director, South Cadbury, BA22 7ES. Telephone (01963) 440367.

TAYLOR JACQUELINE MARY (Jackie)

Passed away peacefully at home on Monday, 23rd November aged 91.

A much loved and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunty.

Funeral will be held at Yeovil Crematorium on Friday 11th December at 2pm.

Donations if desired to Alzheimer’s UK may be sent to Grassby & Close, Innes Court, Sturminster Newton.

Anyone wishing to attend, numbers are limited due to covid restrictions, please phone 01258 472200.

DUCKWORTH, Roz Passed away peacefully on 17th November 2020 aged 88 years. Much loved mother of Sue and Mike. She will be very sadly missed by all of her family and many friends. The funeral service will be held at Salisbury Crematorium on Thursday, December 10th 2020 at 2pm. Please note attendance of funeral services has been restricted. If you wish to attend, please confirm with the family before attending. Family flowers only, donations if required can be made online at funeralcare.co.uk /tributes-and-dona tions. For any enquiries, please contact Co-operative Funeralcare, Shaftesbury on 01747 858968

Ball (nee Morgan) Mary

formerly of Denes Avenue, Mere. Passed peacefully away at Bramley House, aged 94, on 31st October 2020 Loving mother to Diane & Wendy, Grandmother to Ian & Emma, Great-Grandmother to Jennifer & Dean. She will be missed by all. Donations to the Illeostomy & Internal Pouch Association

Peter Jackson Funeral Services

Independent Family Owned and Run Funeral Directors

Private Chapels of Rest • 24 Hour Service Golden Charter Pre Paid Funeral Plans

Henstridge (01963) 362570

Mons, High Street, Henstridge, Somerset BA8 0RB

Gilligham (01747) 833757

Harwood House, Newbury, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4QJ pjfs@btinternet.com. www.peterjacksonfuneralservices.co.uk

KEANE WIN

Win Keane, formerly of West Cross, Swansea passed away peacefully aged 89 in the Malthouse Residential Home in Dorset on 23 November 2020.

Beloved younger sister of her late brothers Raymond and Gerard, and loving aunt of Paula and Sara, she will be much missed by her friends and family.

A service will be held with close family at Salisbury Crematorium on 9 December at 2pm.

Her ashes will be interred in the family plot at Oystermouth Cemetery in 2021, when times are better.

Any enquires to Peter Jackson Funeral Directors, Harwood House, Newbury, Gillingham Dorset SP8 4QJ, 01747 833757, pjfs@btinternet.com

A J Wakely& Sons

Independent Family Funeral Directors

Choice of Hearses available including our Land Rover Hearse – 24 Hour Service –

Sherborne Tel: 01935 816817

Wincanton Tel: 01963 31310 Pre-payment plans available

Please contact Richard Wakely, or a member of our dedicated team for any advice or guidance.

Announcements should reach us by 1pm on the Monday before publication. However every effort will be made to accommodate them until we go to press 35

Remembering the much-loved

OBITUARY

A Sherborne business which went from selling milk with a horse and cart to a multimillion-pound firm employing 500 people is mourning the loss of its much-loved former chairman. Sybil Hunt was in her 100th year when she died in March, leaving her Bradford Road home to 18 charities that were close to her heart. Born in Sherborne in 1920, Sybil attended the Lord Digby School, which today is known as Sherborne House. As a young woman during the Second World War, Sybil served throughout the war with the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the forerunner of the British Women’s Royal Army Corps in Oxford and Bicester. After the war, Sybil returned to her beloved Sherborne, taking a job at Hunt’s Dairies in Cheap Street, making ice-cream. And it was here where she met her future husband, Michael Hunt. The Hunt family’s roots are in farming and the wholesale business began life as a horse and cart operation delivering milk from Blackmarsh Farm from 1912. But it was when Sybil was making ice-cream for Sherborne’s delicatessens that the ice-cream delivery service really took off and fast became one of the biggest businesses of its kind in the south west. Michael and Sybil married at St Cuthbert’s Church in Oborne and set up home in the flat above the small retail shop they owned on Cheap Street, which was in front of the dairy. The Hunt’s Dairies site is where Waitrose is today and the small shop they owned is now Oliver’s Coffee Shop. Michael was a man of great innovation and with Sybil by his side, the pair were unstoppable and used diversification to take the business from strength to strength. The pair made the bold decision to sell the dairy in

A LIFE WELL LIVED: Sybil and Michael with dairy staff, the shop in Cheap Street, making ice-cream, right, and, below, bottling milk

1976 and invested in frozen food deliveries to hotels, garages, and cold stores across the southwest. After selling Hunt’s Dairies, the couple moved to their new home on Bradford Road, where they lived for the remainder of their lives. Hunt’s Frozen Foods grew and grew, becoming Hunt’s Foodservice. Their nephew Richard Hunt is now its chairman. He said: “Sybil and Michael’s commitment to the community was always at the heart of their actions.

dairy ex-chairman Sybil Hunt

COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY: Sybil Hunt, the former chairman of Hunt’s Dairies and, below, with her late husband Michael and, right, the firm’s truck with a personalised plate

“They were warmly remembered for the Christmas parties they held for staff and their children in Digby Memorial Hall – a huge box of party hats still remains to this day.” Michael died in 1988, and Sybil ensured her husband’s legacy lived on. The Hunt’s business was her passion and she dedicated her life to its success. She became company chairman and was actively involved in the business. Often seen working on reception, Sybil knew everyone who came in and out of the business. Richard said: “Hunt’s Dairy started out as a small business in the town, serving the community. It’s like we have gone full circle and opening the supermarket is a way of honouring our family roots, where we can support the town once again in that personal way. It was a move which Sybil greatly supported.” He added: “For the Hunt’s business, the family, and to the local community, Mrs Hunt was an influential figure. Leaving her house to charity in her will shows just how much she cared for the community and is a great reflection of her kindness.” From humble beginnings from selling milk with a horse and cart, Hunt’s Foodservice can now sell up to £2.5million of food a week using 150 lorries to support hospitals, schools, pubs, coffee shops and independent retailers. Employing 500 people across numerous sites it is also one of the town’s biggest employers. Described as ‘kind, spirited and influential’, Sybil –despite reaching her 100th year – was still actively involved in the family business, taking a keen interest in the ‘monthly board meetings’ which were held in her house in recent years. Hunt’s Foodservice even has a lorry dedicated to Sybil, with her very own personalised number plate, SEH15. Sybil passed away peacefully on March 16, 2020 aged 99. Her funeral was held at St Cuthbert Church in Oborne, the same church in which she was married and for which donations were made in her memory. A much-loved aunt of seven, great aunt to 11 and great, great aunt of nine, Sybil touched the lives of all those who knew her and is sorely missed by her family, her many, many friends and the hundreds of members of staff, both past and present, who worked at Hunt’s Dairies and later, Hunt’s Foodservice.