A CELEBRATION for the life of Hilary Ward, held at Crediton Parish Church, saw a huge turn out of friends and family, including a choir of 70 with many former choristers who had sung with Hilary in the past.

Hilary was well-known in the town.

She was a librarian at Crediton Library for more than 20 years, was a member of Crediton Church Choir for 37 years and also an active member of CODS, Crediton’s Operatic and Dramatic Society.

The service to mark her full 57 years of life was led by Rev Preb Nigel Guthrie.

He said Hilary was very nearly a lifelong Kirtonian, but not quite.

She was born at Guys Hospital on November 4, 1958 and was brought up for her first few years in Thornton Heath in south London.

The family moved to Crediton in 1963 and Hilary attended Hayward’s School at the time when Geoff Woodford was head teacher.

She went on to QE and stayed on to the sixth form there.

Rev Guthrie said Hilary learned to read early and always enjoyed reading and languages, adding that she could be relied on to answer any literary questions on "Pointless"! He added that Hilary loved doing recitations, especially those of Joyce Grenfell.

Mr Guthrie said: "Hilary’s parent’s Olive and Derek Lion were both very involved in church life here and Hilary joined the choir and sang with them for 37 years.

"She was the first person to organise a choir trip to Dokkum in Holland, building on our links through Saint Boniface. She then became a founder Member of the Boniface Link Association as the town council had no resources to promote links at that time."

He continued: "When she left school, Hilary started work at the DHSS and then worked for Taylor’s paints. She also began training as a librarian, which she gave up to marry Jo Ward when she was 21 years-old."

Rev Guthrie explained that when their children, Phil and Alice were young, Hilary returned to study and took an Open University Arts degree.

"Later on she worked for the Schools Library Service and in Exeter Library for a while and used to enjoy working in the mobile library, too. But she worked at Crediton Library for more than 20 years and enjoyed it very much, combining her love of books with her innate ability to be friendly."

Rev Guthrie said Hilary’s family meant a great deal to her. He said she was keen to keep up wider family connections, loved being a mother most of the time, but always enjoyed being a grandmother to Lowenna.

He added: "She also loved cats and they were also an integral part of the household. However, Hilary was not a natural housekeeper. She made long lists of things to do in the house and garden, but didn’t usually get around to doing them!

"Jo also describes her as a serial hobbyist; you name it Hilary had done it for a while: aromatherapy, silverwork, pilates, to name but a few. But there were some things she always enjoyed doing including watching science fiction on TV, sunbathing in hot countries, and walking on the moor.

"Hilary’s other great love was CODS. Olive and Derek were founder members and Hilary was involved in productions from her teenage years.

"Latterly she was chairman and over the years she starred in some lead roles including Marie Kelly in ’Jack the Ripper’, Mama Innis in ’Viva Mexico’ in which she danced the Tango and, perhaps her favourite, Denise in ’The Baker’s Wife’."

As well as performing in musicals and plays with CODS she took part in many choir concerts over the years including, memorably, performing the "Cat Duet" with Alice.

Rev Guthrie said Hilary was "a formidable person, ’a force to be reckoned with’ as someone wrote recently in a card to Jo.

"And she was also courageous in dealing with her illness which became increasingly debilitating in recent weeks."

On behalf of the Hilary and all the family, Rev Guthrie expressed thanks to the many friends who visited her during her illness and for the kindness they had shown her and the family.

He said Hilary also especially wanted to thank publicly the medical staff who attended her, the community nurses, her GP and the staff at Cherrybrook. And Jo would like to thank everyone who has sent cards and good wishes and who attended the service.

During the funeral service Alice read from Isaiah Chapter 35 and Phil read "Contradictions" from "Winnie the Pooh" by AA Milne. "A Parable of Immortality" was read by Jeremy Turner.

Rev Guthrie concluded the service by asking those present to "thank God for the love and friendship we shared with Hilary and remember her life, character and humour."

Jo Ward said afterwards: “The family and I were very pleased, but not surprised, that so many came to the funeral to celebrate Hilary’s life. It was a wonderful occasion.

“Furthermore, I have been overwhelmed by the understanding, kindness and care of the people of Crediton towards Hilary and the rest of the family. This town has a wonderful sense of community which is often under appreciated.”

Donations in memory of Hilary for Cancer Research UK and Crediton Church Music Foundation may be sent to: LeRoy Funerals, 94-95 High Street, Crediton EX17 3LB.

Alan Quick