OBITUARY - ELLA MARGARET CHAPMAN

10th August 1916 – 27th May 2008

It is with sadness we report the passing away of Ella Chapman, who lived in Evington for the majority of her life. Ella was born in Evington at the corner shop opposite the Cedars in 1916.

She only left Evington for two short periods in her life.  In 1919, aged 3, she moved to Feltwell in Norfolk, where her father was employed as a mechanic repairing tractors.

Ella's three sisters and one brother were born in short succession and, sadly, all died owing to illness. Her father died as well.

She returned to Evington in 1925 aged 9 and attended the Old Village School. She achieved a scholarship to Collegiate Girls School. On leaving school she trained as a secretary and a hairdresser. She had her own small hairdressing round, and it was whilst working at an electrical company that she met her husband, Cedric.

In 1930, her mother bought property where Ella lived until she married Cedric. Ella and Cedric moved to Stoughton where Cedric worked on the farm during the war period. Following the birth of her two children, Peggy and Colin, the family returned to Evington in 1952 to a property next to her mother's.

Ella's hobby was the history of Evington, Stoughton and Thurnby and she was regarded as a good source for anyone researching the history of the area.

Most people in the village knew her for her gardening skills: growing flowers and vegetables. She spent many a happy hour talking to people about her garden.