Jill Marilyn Bingham (23 Aug 1943 - 21 Sep 2020)

Jill Marilyn Bingham, daughter of Albert and Elizabeth Nixon and sister to Hilary was born on August 23rd 1943 in Kilston Hospital, Worksop. She passed away on 21st September 2020.
Jill leaves behind her beloved husband David, children Sara and Simon, and grandchildren, Thomas, William, Christopher and Charlotte. She also leaves behind an unfathomable ‘bit of this and a bit of that’ recipe for treacle tart and a life time of superb, loving memories. Unforgettable to all who met her and an inspiration to her children and grandchildren, none of whom seem to have inherited her heat proof asbestos hands. She will be greatly missed.
Due to the current situation there will be a private family funeral. We would ask that donations in lieu of flowers be given to The Amazons Breast Cancer Support Group via the link on this page. Following her first skirmish with breast cancer in 1994 Jill helped found this charity to increase the aftercare available to breast cancer patients at Kings Mill Hospital, Mansfield. More details about the charity can be found on their website http://amazonsgroup.org.uk/
This site will be updated following the service.

Eulogies from the Service

Rev. Caroline Phillips

Jill was born on the 23rd August 1943, the second child of Albert and Elizabeth Nixon and sister to Hilary two years her elder. Her early years were spent in the village of Bircotes on the Yorkshire-Nottinghamshire border, and although her parents were from Nottingham, Jill was proudly a Yorkist. Her father was a shot firer at Harworth Colliery, whilst her mother had worked in Erickson’s drawing office in Beeston before marriage. Jill’s grandfather was an Irishman, who’d come to England to fight in the First World War, and she often said she’d inherited her ‘Gift of the Gab’ from him.

As a child, she went to Sunday School and sang in the choir of All Saints Church, Bircotes, and also took to the stage singing and dancing in school concerts.

When Jill was five her father was promoted, and the family moved to Brinsley and her father the worked at Moorgreen Colliery. Jill loved going to church there too, three times every Sunday and singing in the choir alongside her sister Hilary. She was very active at the local school and continued her dancing lessons and entered competitions for speech and drama and won many book prizes at church. Jill also took up the piano at which she was quite accomplished.

A myriad of certificates is testament to her success as a singer, dancer and pianist spending many happy years singing in various church choirs and in competitions around Nottinghamshire. Her interest in choirs continued throughout her life and in 2018 she was elected Vice President of The Eastwood Colliery Male Voice Choir.

The life of a war time child bears little resemblance to modern times, She remembered boiling water in a copper and steel baths next to the fire on a Friday evening, outside toilets and milk ladled into your own jug at the side of the road. But family Christmases were happy occasions, with gifts of a book, sweets and fruit. Jill and Hilary would walk down to the Co-Op to deliver a grocery list which would then be delivered on Friday. Perhaps the Nixon girls were forerunners of Ocado and Amazon. With her cousin Irvin, they would place halfpennies on the pit railways tracks which would flatten them into pennies they then spent in the sweet machines in Eastwood!

In 1953, the family moved to Cotgrave, where Jill’s father helped sink the first shaft at the new colliery. Initially they lived at Normanton, where again Jill joined the church choir. She also joined the Girl Guides where she eventually became the Company Leader.

The family then moved to Tollerton a year later, and another choir to sing with! Jill passed her even plus and went to West Bridgford Grammar school, where she was also in the first teams for tennis and hockey. Two of her school pals, Pam and Judy, remained close friends throughout her life and are here today.

Not always conventional she studied French at School but went to Germany on a school exchange. Whilst there she made her way with her friend Pam to the army camp where Elvis Presley was doing National service. Unfortunately the King didn’t get their message so they didn’t manage to see him.

Jill was not greatly academic with five O levels, and a quote in one of her school reports: “Jill does not always give of her best. Less than her best will not be accepted, nor should she offer it”. However, when one of the teachers accused her of being slow a voice from the rear interjected ‘She’s not slow on the back row of the picture house with Sam Baldwin.”

On leaving school Jill decided on a career in nursing. but at that time you could not enrol until you were 17, so she took an assistant’s job at the Nottingham General Cripples Guild Department. From there, Jill started nursing training at Harlow Wood Orthopaedic Hospital where one of the patients tried to chat her up. She would have none of it for four weeks until the day before he was discharged when she stood by his bed and said she would be on the 7pm bus into Nottingham Bus station on Saturday. The patient was David.

He suggested a trip to the Matlock Lights but Jill had to call in at Granny Nixon’s in Kirkby in Ashfield first to deliver a parcel. She took David in with her and Granny, a clairvoyant said “Oh thank you for bringing the boy you are going to marry”.

Having passed her orthopaedic examinations Jill then continued her State Registered Nurse training at Leicester Royal Infirmary where she won the second year prize. A distant courtship ensued as David worked all over the country for McAlpine. Nothing dimmed the relationship and they were married a few days after her return to Harlow Wood as a Staff Nurse in 1965.

They purchased a bungalow in Ravenshead and set up home. David had never lived in a house with taps before and was bemused by Jill taking a daily bath but she soon had him trained.

Jill was promoted to Theatre Sister and was later pressed by a surgeon to apply for the Senior Theatre Sisters post. This she did and was interviewed by a large committee of doctors and the Matron, who was set against married nurses having senior positions. Eventually Jill snapped and said ‘What is wrong with me, have I got horns coming out of my head? And anyway I am always in theatre setting up and hour before any of you show your faces’. She got the promotion to Senior Sister.

The next big change was the arrival of daughter Sara closely followed by Simon and this when David, who kept saying he would like his own business, was kicked up the backside by Jill telling him to stop talking and get on with it.

So, Jill then became a housewife with two children and having to quickly train to be a company accountant, whilst David and his partner Tom Broadberry got on with the work side with Tom’s wife Molly manning the office. On top of this David’s salary was far less than at McAlpine and Jill’s salary had gone altogether.

However, once a nurse, always a nurse. Jill’s sister Hilary had been a District Nurse, so the two were often heard discussing the NHS over the phone on Sunday mornings in later years. In fact, when she was in the City Hospital a week before she died, she phoned David at 10-00pm demanding he complain because she’d been left sitting out in her chair so late. David duly telephoned, to which the Staff Nurse replied, ‘Oh yes, our little diamond Jill. Let me tell you why. She has had her small ward of six plus the nurse in raptures with tales of her hospital experiences and how things should be run with a Matron, Ward Sister etc. I told them all off and she is being put into bed as we speak.’

The business flourished and after five years was able to hand over her duties to a full-time accountant and become David’s secretary. This allowed her more time running the home and looking after the children, who both sailed through school and university making Jill extremely proud.

With both children excelling in varying sports Jill was omnipresent on touch lines, riverbanks and at Pony trials all over the country. Something that continued with all the grandchildren, never missing a game or a show – always sitting proudly in the front row.

The extra time Jill devoted to various charity works including DHSS tribunals on behalf of The Engineers Trade association.

In 1994 the family were devastated to learn that Jill had breast cancer, undergoing operations, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Undaunted she thought the medical service from Kings Mill was exemplary but the aftercare was sadly lacking.

Encouraged by the Oncology Sisters, Jill helped form the Amazon Breast Cancer Support Group Charity providing much needed aftercare and additional treatment equipment for the hospital including a special lounge where new patients could receive help and advice in living their life after cancer. Many of the original Amazon members are still very active and many thousands have been raised by the group.

David and Jill both retired in 2002 and started travelling as far afield as New Zealand. In 2003 some old friends who had a small Villa in France were selling it. They offered Jill first refusal, but David said he’d never consider a property abroad. Flying back to the UK Jill said to David ‘I would like to buy the Villa’. So, the die was cast and four weeks later the deal was done. A ten-year restoration project followed, with Jill setting on a young Frenchman to draw up plans and then getting quotes and organising the work. It was a work of love and she enjoyed herself greatly.

Cancer raised its ugly head again in 2013 when her breast cancer returned. Another operation and chemotherapy followed. Throughout her illnesses Jill remained cheerful, witty and happy, never complaining. Travelling on holiday and to France, school visits all started again as she regained strength. But unfortunately the cancer came back a third time in 2019 and another eighteen months of chemotherapy led us to the end of Jill’s final battle.

Cheerful and resolute to the end she live life to the full and will be greatly missed.

Mr. Geoffrey Taylor

David, you and your family do me the huge privilege of speaking here today of memories of Jill. I have been fortunate to have both worked with Jill and spent leisure time in her company. Always smiling and greeting as a most generous host and witty entertainer. Jill had many arrows in her quiver, Senior Nursing Sister, highly successful business entrepreneur, charity worker for thirty years, especially The Amazon Breast Cancer Support Group. This charity has raised over £200,000 and the first money raising event was to predict the birthweight of Jill’s first grandchild. Thomas who is here today of course.

Jill always reminded people that she was a Yorkshire girl and would say that the intelligence level of both counties improved when she moved to Nottingham as a child. When asked where she and David met she always used to say “In bed” having nursed him at Harlow Wood.

Jill maintained her involvement with Caunton Engineering and supported David as President of the British Constructional Steelwork Association touring many countries round the world, Europe, USA, Australia, South Africa and Japan being examples. Wherever they went Jill was a huge success as David’s supporting partner with her jolly smile and great sense of humour.

A great love of tennis, especially Wimbledon fortnight where nothing, including preparing dinners, would interrupt her following the tournament. Jill had many hobbies from cross stitching, her dolls house and puzzle solving but all these were as nought to her love of crosswords – the Daily Telegraph being her absolute favourite and a daily ritual right up until the end.

Creating a loving home and close family atmosphere – the Sunday roast being a family institution only moved around for Wimbledon or the start of a Grand Prix. Claiming ‘not to be that bothered about the race’ when the rest of the family went to watch a race live they would return only to discover that Jill seemed to know more of what had happened than those who actually went.

The love she showered on her grandchildren was both immense and inspirational. The holidays with the family in many places -Jersey, Disney land, Old France and many many more leave happy memories.

A sleep over at Nan and Pops was always a treat – often taken out to Moda the Italian Restaurant, a go in the ‘dip tin’ and breakfast including teddy bear fried bread.

The eldest grandchild present always had the cherished ‘dog place mat’ – something that is still sought after even now.

Having tea in a war time jeep in the back garden or a visit to Chungs Chinese to celebrate birthdays – all these are happy memories. Day trips to Crich Tramway museum or just playing in the pool parties and friends were always welcome.

As Sara and Simon grew up and started going out Jill taught them to cook and look after themselves – something that back fired on occasion when they would return in the early hours and cook bacon sandwiches –the noise and wafts of bacon from the kitchen a clear indicator that everyone was home safe. She instilled a love of creating good food and entertaining guests well, and she taught Charlotte to knit.

She wasn’t the most confident swimmer so it was a huge surprise when Jill announced that she’d like a swimming pool in the garden. David’s pragmatic response was that if she went swimming three times a week for the next six months, he’d build a pool. For the next six months Jill, along with Margaret went swimming in several different pools around the area three times a week. The pool was duly built and Jill swam daily right up until she simply could not. When asked if the grandchildren could come over for a swim she would waft her hand in the air and say ‘well it’s there’.

She loved big gatherings and always said –“there’s no point going to a party unless you feel badly the next morning”. She love the lobster and ginger with spring onion at Chungs and the lamb chops at L’Oursin Bleu. She didn’t like scallops and didn’t suffer fools gladly. She could have someone taped within seconds of meeting them.

She had a mobile phone but only turned it on when she wanted to call someone. No-one ever saw her take a photo – ever - but her mobile phone and Ipad were full of photos –mostly of David undertaking various tasks he’d been set.

Over the years grandchildren have arrived with Thomas and William for Sara and Christopher and Charlotte for Simon and Helen. Jill had endless pleasure, always on the touchline at games and mainly on the winning side. Jill was very proud of them all and never happier than when travelling to a school event as a spectator.

One of the favourite memories of David’s friend Don was of the two families all together at a party...everyone had a glass and was mingling outside...his daughter Suzanne came & whispered in his ear « Dad, can you fix it so I sit next to Jill ? I just love her
That was Jill and her magnetism...everyone wanted to sit next to her.

So many wonderful memories of Jill.
We are all grateful to come across someone whom it's not only a joy but a privilege to have known. Every memory is good and rewarding. That is how we all will remember Jill. The grace, sense of humour, wisdom, common-sense, and the generous spirit she showed. Jill - for all that, and for so much more, thank you.