Vivien Zena Needham (20 Jul 1943 - 13 Dec 2024)

In loving memory of Vivien Zena Needham who sadly passed away on 13th December 2024

Vivien was born to Zoe and Joseph Hind on the 20th July 1943 in West Bridgford. She grew up at her parents’ home in Bunny with her sister Nina in house backing onto the fields and brook. This seems to have afforded her a childhood with lots of space to roam around the village, the farms, the pub, the hall and the woods developing a lifelong love of the countryside, wildlife and flowers. Vivien was closely involved with Bunny church where she became one of the bell ringers.
Vivien went to Bunny School, then Ruddington and the Lutteral School in Bridgford. She attended college in Beeston; gaining RSA qualifications in typing, shorthand and arithmetic. She worked in a number of secretarial roles. The most surprising of which was at Field Aircraft Services in perhaps the most land locked point in Britain, Wymeswold Aerodrome where she worked for the team producing pioneering highly respected sea going sailing dinghies.
In keeping with the early 60’s Vivien continued to be adventurous and fun loving heading off to Europe with a friend and spending time at the Jazz club and the Boat club in West Bridgford where she met her husband Dennis Needham with a shared love for music and dancing. They were married in 1964, Martin was born in 1965 and Deborah in 1970. Viv gave a lot of herself to everything she did, she always thought of other people, she was always loving and supportive. She was always very social she knew everyone and their children and their parents winning 1st prizes for her Mince Pies and Jams at the Village Flower Shows.
Things were not always easy, she experienced mental health issues that returned periodically. When she later returned to work she worked for a number local firms including British Gypsum and The Liquor Licensing Magistrates at Shirehall.
As she got older she attended regular skills and learning for wellbeing courses at one of these she was asked to identify her own strengths she wrote Considerate, Loyal and Loving and this will be our abiding memory of her as her children and grandchildren Aidan, Zoe, Rowan and Leo.
After she retired she attended regular socials in Ruddington, Bridgford and Bingham where she loved the company, cards, dominoes and dancing. Viv still loved countryside walks or a good house and garden visit. We would like to thank all of those who helped Viv to stay at home and lead the sociable village life she loved, Nina, David and Claire who have always close by, the very long-standing neighbours from Wilford Crescent where she lived for 60 years and the Friendship Group at St Peters Church. Thanks especially to the carers at Service Tree for providing such excellent support and companionship to Vivien and ourselves right to the last.