Angela Warne (2 Aug 1954 - 8 Feb 2017)

Mum – Angela Warne (Read at funeral service by Neil Warne)

Well what can I say? How long have I got? Mum meant so much to so many people in so many different and unique ways.

She was born on 2 August 1954 to Nana Marion and Grandad Maurice. God daughter to Uncle Derek and Aunite Marjoire. Mum has lived in Saltfleetby almost her entire life. First in the council houses down North End Lane and then at the house opposite the playing fields. How anyone ever found it is beyond me as it had no number or house name, its address was just Main Road, Saltfleetby?
Mum gained a sister Caroline and they both went to Saltfleetby Primary School. They were sent to school come what may and I remember Mum telling us about one day feeling poorly, Nana making her go to school, but mum only getting as far the church here and threw up all over her clothes and then still had to go to school!

After primary school she attended to Monks Dyke School in Louth where she was a Prefect. They got to Louth on an Applebys bus. She told me Dennis was the driver who was still at Applebys when I started working there. He even taught me to drive buses & coaches. It’s a small world!

As children, mum and her friend Julie Vickers played in and around the village. Mum did tell us about the time they went to the shop in a pram (they were actually teenagers at the time) Mum must have been ‘the baby’ as she was in the pram! Not sure exactly what happened but they ended up in the Mar Dyke. Mum minus a couple teeth and the shopping. Caroline remembers Nana telling her off saying ‘you need to look where you’re going and where’s my bloody carnation milk?’ It didn’t matter that mum was stood there dripping wet and covered in dyke sludge, nana just wanted her carnation milk!

On leaving school mum qualified as a hairdresser working for Margaret Grantham in Grimoldby. She also spent time at Grandad Jackson’s in Spinney Close, Grimoldby where she first met Dad (Paul) who was helping his best friend Brian building next door. They ended up going on ‘effectively’ a blind date to the British Legion and well we know what happened then!

It was 1972 when Mum and Dad met and were soon busy building a bungalow next door to Nana & Grandad. Dad coming home from the army every weekend. He was stationed in Gosport at the time. Sometimes Mum went down there, I’m not sure why or if she was actually allowed in the barracks!

They got married in June 1974 here at St Peters and mum became pregnant not long after but sadly lost their first son who was still born, a few days before Mum’s 21st birthday.

Dad left the army in March 1975, started printing in the garage whilst also working at the Lido in North Somercotes. Mum was busy hairdressing getting to and from work on a moped! They both worked for Grandad at the Lido in the evening and it was the two of them that started the catering there serving scampi and chips or chicken and chips, in a basket, for a pound!

Mum had also followed Nana into the WI, something she became very passionate with and stayed with them through thick and thin for her entire life.

Happiness did come, well I hope it was happiness! Because on the 19 December 1977, I appeared, however there was no rest for mum and dad who were now busy building their second bungalow. They called it Penrawa, which is actually ‘Warne’ backwards with mum and dad’s initial at either end!

This bungalow they had built also had a workshop for Dad’s printing, and a room which became Mum’s hairdressing salon, so she could do peoples hair and look after me at the same time!

Mum and Dad engaged in active village life, with their friends – George & Shirley Vickers, Christine and Don Odlin and Barry and Irene Fox. They were always out as eightsome – together.

In August 1980 I gained a brother as their second son, Jonathan, was born. Mum had also now started baking, which was a real passion of hers, and was sending cakes to the WI Markets on a Friday. As kids we remember mum baking all day Wednesday and Thursday ready for the Market at the Legion on a Friday. She supplied cakes to the WI Markets for many years.

In October 1984 Jonathan and I gained another brother, as Richard entered into the world. Mum and Dad had bought a caravan by and we started having many trips out in it. One of our favourite places was at Ulrome, a touring caravan site, just south of Bridlington on top of the east coast cliffs.

We were actually there in the caravan at Ulrome when the 1987 hurricane blew through. I can remember trying to rescue the awning in the wind and rain and there was that much lightning we didn’t need torches! Jonathan slept through it all!

Unfortunately, mum and dad separated in 1988. Mum continued to bake for the WI Markets as well as bringing up us three boys. She started working at the Pavilion Bingo on Park Avenue, Louth in the early 90s and became Manageress which is where she worked until it closed.

Mum continued to support the WI and had become involved with the Lincolnshire show and the catering. She became county Catering officer and was organising the whole catering side of the show. We were dragged along and ended up helping, fetching, carrying and even running the snack bar! Me, Jonny and Rich were honorary members of the WI!

Mum had many, many friends and would do anything for any of them. One of her best friends was Chris Appleby, who owned and ran the Prussian Queen. Mum helped out in the pub, serving drinks, sometimes cooking and cleaning. She did the BBQ for the Was-sales and always helped out the Christmas draw.

Mum, Chris and Mick and Liz Vickers had several holidays together. We even got video footage of mum giggling, eating, drinking, playing cards, laughing, eating, drinking and laughing some more. They went to France and Kenya amongst other destinations. These holidays were when ‘us’ boys were old enough and daft enough to look after ourselves.

When we were younger mum took us on different Sun holidays. We had some trips with Nana and some with Chris. I remember one sun holiday where we weren’t that impressed with the site so hopped on to the train every day into central London. We had never walked so much in our lives! We even went to watch a movie on the big screen in Leicester Square!

A Soloby girl through and through, Mum was actively involved in the village life. She was part of the WI, involved with school while we were there, sang in the church choir, helped organise the Millennium celebrations and became chairman of the Millennium Jubilee committee. She organised fundraising bingo sessions at the Prussian and even took over editing the Saltfleetby News when the Marshlander stopped being published.

I’ve just mentioned the church choir, and mum did love singing. She was part of the village church choir here at St Peters as well as the Somercotes Group Singers. She continued to attend choir practise up until very recently. Can we just say a quick big thank you to Lisa and the choir for singing here today?

Mum did have a love for driving. In 2002 she came to help out at Applebys Coaches driving one of the eight seat minibuses. She continued to help out as and when until Applebys closed in 2012. In 2013 Dad and I started Wolds Travel and once the business was established we needed some additional help with driving. Guess who volunteered? We even got comments about how nice it was to have a lady driver!

Mum could also see the demise of bingo coming and was looking out for another job. When a vacancy came up in the WI office, in Lee Street, in Louth, mum jumped at the chance. It was a perfect job for her, as she had been a member of the WI for so long, voluntary, and know she could get paid for doing something she loved, and she did love that job!

Mum left the WI last year to take a job driving a Call Connect bus for TC MiniCoaches. It was something she enjoyed even though she only did it for about six weeks before becoming poorly. She even parked the bus at home – now that is taking your work home with you!

Bingo was another of mum’s loves. Not only did she work at the Pavilion Bingo for almost 20 years, she organised charity fund raising bingo not just at the Prussian but for Louth Playgoers too at the Riverhead Theatre. In the last 15 years her bingos raised £3500 for Playgoers. She would organise everything prizes, raffles, tickets but she would not call the numbers! Mum is also responsible for introducing bingo to my kids!

Mum was a devoted family lady. She loved us boys immensely and as we met our partners, she loved them just as much. Next came the grandchildren and she was very proud to have become a grandmother, sorry Nana, to Daniel, Oliver, Isabel, Ruby, Alexis and Zachary.
She loved looking after them, giving us a break, she would do anything for them - nothing was ever too much trouble.

Sadly it was only in May last year when mum became poorly. She told us when she was first in hospital that she thought it was cancer, weeks before the official diagnosis. This did not deter or phase her at all. Mum took the illness and bravely fought it head on. She said ‘these are the cards I’ve been dealt’

It’s okay to be sad.

Mum you will be sorely missed, however we are here to celebrate your life, we know you would want this. Everyone here has been touched by you in some way, and all our lives are better because of you, Mum.

We will remember the happy times, the laughs, the jokes, the red feathers and your love for life!

Mum was a formidable woman, a strong woman. She would do anything for anyone even if it cost her something or not. A family lady, a hard worker and an inspiration to us all.

Goodbye, god bless

10.2.17
In loving memory of Angela Warne who sadly passed away on 8th February 2017. She bravely battled pancreatic cancer head on and carried on a normal life till the very end.

Angela was born on 2 August 1954. She leaves behind three sons, their families and Angela's six grandchildren. The eldest son, Neil, married to Julie with Daniel (11), Oliver (9) and Isabel (6); Jonathan, middle son, with Ruby (6) and then Richard, married to Ellie, with Alexis (2) and Zachary who was born just a few weeks ago on 21 January.

Angela was also a lifelong member of the Women's Institute.

Funeral is on Wednesday 8th March, 1.45pm at St Peters Church, Saltfleetby followed by cremation, 3pm at Alford Crematorium. Family flowers only. Donations to St Barnabas Hospice.
Everyone is welcome to join us for a celebration of Angela's life after the service at the Riverhead Theatre, Victoria Road, Louth.