Tributes for Gaddesby woman who was awarded an MBE

Jean Hill, who has passed away aged 93, pictured in her garden three years ago EMN-200709-165710001

She spent her last months at the Egerton Lodge residential home in Melton and told loved ones in her final days ‘I’ve had a wonderful life’.

Jean dedicated her life to flowers and plants and her talents led her to working on displays at St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Chatsworth House.

A treasured memory was the day she learned she was to receive that MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 1995.

Her daughter, Trish, told the Melton Times: “When the letter arrived mum was absolutely stunned.

“It was wonderful she got it because she so enjoyed arranging floral displays in the local churches and chapels as well as the big cathedrals.”

She was born in Newbold Verdon and her love for flowers and plants was nurtured through helping out on her father’s allotment - he became a gardener after losing a leg fighting in the First World War.

Jean married Alan, who served with RAF ground crew during the Second World War, in 1948, and the couple eventually moved to Gaddesby after he found work at Rearsby.

She began arranging flowers for festivals in the last 1960s and raised more than £250,000 for various charities from the events.

Jean began a business called The Studio at East Goscote where she taught members of WIs and flower clubs how to do displays as well as doing flowers for weddings.

Alan passed away in 2005 after 57 years of marriage and the couple had another daughter, Diana, as well as Trish.

They had a grand-daughter, Nicola, and two great-grand-daughters, Sophie and Charlotte.

Trish added: “Mum listened to people and liked to help people.

“She had a strong sense of right and wrong and a lot of people admired and liked her.

“She loved living at Egerton Lodge and I can’t talk highly enough of the staff there.”

A funeral service will take place at Loughborough Crematorium on September 15, for family only because of coronavirus restrictions.

It is hoped that a memorial service will be held at a later date so Jean’s many friends and colleagues can pay tribute to her.