Family pays tribute to ‘truly inspirational’ Scalford woman

Janet Allen, who lived in the village for her whole life and was awarded an MBE after raising thousands of pounds for charity, passed away at home last month aged 84.

Daughter, Mandy Darby, who lives at Eastwell, said they had been inundated with sympathy cards and messages from her mother’s many friends.

Unfortunately, the restrictions brought in during the Covid-19 crisis mean Thursday’s service at Grantham Crematorium can only be attended by a small family gathering

But as a mark of respect to Janet and her love of gardening, villagers will place garden forks with messages on them in the churchyard opposite her home.

Mandy told the Melton Times: “It’s not until you lose someone that you realise just how many people cared for them.

“The response from her many friends and the cards we have had have been absolutely amazing.

“It’s such a shame that we are only allowed 10 mourners but we wll have a memorial service for mum in Scalford later in the year when the restrictions are over.

“She was a truly inspirational and remarkable lady.”

Janet had suffered ill health since having a stroke in 2016 and she had a heart pacemaker fitted just six weeks before she died, on March 26.

Mandy said: “I found her peacefully in the conservatory. She had been going downhill over the last couple of years but it was still a complete shock when I found her.”

Janet was born in the village and was one of 12 children - her father was a market gardener and her mother a farmer.

The family lived at Roberts’ Farm in Scalford and Janet attended the village school and then Sarson School in Melton.

She married Sid but was widowed for the last 39 years of her life following his death in 1981.

The couple had two children - Mandy and Simon, whose death in a car crash five years ago at the age of 54 was devastating for the family.

Mandy recalled: “Mum was the post lady for the village for many years which she really enjoyed.

“I remember her going off on her bike every day and she would go as far as the lodges outside the village delivering the mail.”

Janet remarkably raised more than £100,000 for cancer charities and over £80,000 for other local causes through a variety of activities.

She ran Friday Club Bingo fundraisers, helped with village auctions and also organised the Scalford 200 Club.

“Mum was also quite well known for what became known as Janet’s Wall, where she would sell bric a brac, vegetables and homemade pies and cakes for her charities outside her house,” said Mandy.

“People would come and buy something and then put the money through her letterbox.

“After dad died, she really got involved in all the charity work and it always kept her busy.”

One of Janet’s biggest passions was gardening and her own was always immaculate. She also mowed the grass in the churchyard until she was 80 and kept it tidy. Janet planted daffodils on the edge of the village and it remains as a lasting legacy of her love of flowers.

She doted on her family and took great pleasure from spending time with her grandchildren, Craig and Kimberley and their respective partners, Ellie and Shane, as well as great-grandson, Ethan.

Mandy added: “Mum was a loving nanna and she absolutely adored Ethan. We will miss her enormously as a family.”