Freda Cuthbert (11 May 1934 - 30 Oct 2023)

In loving memory of Freda Cuthbert who sadly passed away on 30th October 2023
Freda Marion Cuthbert, nee Davis, 11th May 1934.
Youngest daughter of Rose and Fred Davis, Freda had 4 elder sisters, Rose, Dolly, Mable and Jean.
At birth Freda was a very small baby not making 3lb, her sisters were quite concerned.
Freda was baptised at St Georges church.
Freda always said she grew up with 5 mothers, but the best part was her sisters boyfriends, who knew to impress her dad was to make a fuss of Freda, she had more dolls and books than the average child at that time Freda went to West Court Infants School, later Gordan Girls school, at 15 she went to Cooks Commercial College until she was 17.
During the war she was evacuated for a short while with her sisters Jean and Rose, also Roe’s daughters Lilian and Marion. The family had to come back to Gravesend because Freda was constantly losing weight. Also her father had been invalided out of the Royal Navy at this time. Family life was important and close evenings round the piano singing and pushing the table back to give space to dance. Our family did not have a lot but we had so much.
Freda’s mum was brought up strict Roman Catholic, her dad after two world wars decided he was an atheist, but said he could be wrong so insisted his girls went to church, “so the bloke in the dog collar could have a chance to prove him wrong”.
In Freda and Mable they both developed a deep abiding love for God and the Lord Jesus Christ. For both of them they would need that as they went through life.
Freda worked for Philco TV and Radio Company in the office as a shorthand typist and Invoice Clerk.
Freda was 15 when she met Colin who had come to Chalk Youth club for a table tennis competition. They married on the 16th January 1954 at Christ Church. They had 3 children Janet, Gary and Fiona. Freda’s family were very important to her and her main love, A Happy and Welcoming Home, very important. Having friends for meals a delight.
Gary’s involvement with the Scouts drew Freda and Colin into Scouting first at St James’s then at St Georges, Freda was Akala. Then later a committee member, at total commitment of 27 years.
When each of our children married, they had 2 children. Janet Sarah and Hayley. Gary Oliver and Nicholas. Fiona Laura and Daniel. When Sarah was first born, Gary Fiona, Janet, Colin and I took her swimming each weekend, we stood in a circle and floated her around one to each other, whilst on holiday abroad Colin taught both girls to swim in the sea. Also the girls liked coming to summer Scout camps with us.
We liked having the children to stay and play together in the garden making swords with garden canes and making camps. On wet days camps were made with cushions and pillows in the house and Laura was the princes who had to be rescued. As the children grew whilst Colin waited for heart surgery, Dan came to cut the grass, Oliver would watch football and keep us company and Nick was always a companion.
Freda developed a love of growing plants, usually for charity or our church. We had coffee/plant sale days at home with lots of homemade cake and plants. Freda served on the PCC at St Georges with her friends in her Bible Study group for a few years, had a very large Christmas fayre Tombola stall raising lots of money.
Later when Colin developed Dementia, her Bible Study friends were a huge support with kind words, flowers to cheer her up and cards of encouragement. These friends refused to let her say that you are sorry for tears, just we love you was their answer.