Ann Wells (30 Jul 1943 - 10 Feb 2026)

In loving memory of Ann Wells who sadly passed away on 10th February 2026

Margaret Ann Wells 30-07-1943 – 10-02-2026

Ann was born on 30th July 1943 at Newark Hospital. She was christened Margaret Ann , but has all her life been known to us all as Ann. She was the only daughter of Ian and Dolly, who both originated from Scotland, something she was very proud of and never forgot. She was immensely proud of her Scottish heritage and carried it with her throughout her life. Her father, Ian, had moved down south to work at RAF Syerston during the war, and it was in Farndon near Newark that Ann was raised.

She attended Farndon Church of England School until the age of eleven, before moving on to Barnby Road Academy in Newark. At sixteen, Ann left school to begin an apprenticeship as a hairdresser at Cath Mottram’s Hair Salon in Newark, studying alongside her work at Clarendon College Nottingham.

Ann met Neville in 1958 at the local young conservative club, and they were married on 3rd September 1960 at Farndon Parish Church. Later that same year, they welcomed their first son, Mark. The young family initially lived between both sets of parents in Farndon whilst Neville was away doing his national service. In 1963 their second son Stuart was born and shortly afterwards they moved to 12 Moor Road in Calverton, and stayed there for 16 happy years.

Ann devoted herself to raising her two boys as they grew up. Alongside this, she worked part-time as a dinner lady, later taking a position at Oxton Golf Club. She eventually went on to work at Nottingham Suspended Ceilings the family business, where she remained until her retirement in 1999.

In the Summer of 1980, Ann and Neville moved to Roslyn, Willow Wong in Burton Joyce — the old doctor’s house — where they spent 22 very happy years enjoying village life and becoming firmly rooted in the community. In 2002, their home was sold to a developer, who later built apartments on the land and they moved to Newton Close in Lowdham. In time, however, Burton Joyce drew them back as they wanted to downsize. In 2022, they returned to Willow Wong, this time to one of the apartments built on what had once been their garden, where they have spent the last three and a half happy years.

Last September, Ann and Neville celebrated the remarkable milestone of their 65th wedding anniversary. They were absolutely thrilled to receive a congratulatory card from His Majesty King Charles III, marking such a significant and special occasion in their long and devoted marriage.

Ann had a great love of travel. She thoroughly enjoyed holidays over the years and especially loved cruising — the excitement of setting sail, the changing scenery, and the joy of discovering new places. Those times away created many treasured memories with her beloved Neville and friends too.

Ann’s life was one of dedication to her family, steady commitment in her working years, and deep roots within the communities she called home. We now give thanks for her life, and her family will now share more personal memories of the love, character and warmth that defined her.

Eulogies

Our mum was never one for wanting to be the centre of attention, but today she truly is, as we gather here to celebrate her beautiful life. She would be absolutely staggered — and probably a little overwhelmed— to see you all here today. But more than anything, she would feel so loved. And that love, filling this room, is the love she gave to each and everyone of us.
You grow up believing your parents are somehow immortal — that they will always be there, steady and constant in your world. I have felt incredibly blessed to have both my parents with me into my 65th year, sharing laughter, milestones, ordinary days that meant everything, and truly extraordinary moments. The memories we made together are treasures that I will carry with me always.
Mum was one of life’s true givers. She had a heart of gold and was always thinking of others before herself. She was stubbornly independent, determined in her own way, and remained mentally sharp throughout her life. And wherever Dad was, Mum was never far behind— his constant companion, his shadow, and his steady support through everything.
A big part of their life was the infamous “Burton Joyce Mafia” who gathered faithfully on most Friday nights at The Cross Keys. Many of that dear group are sadly no longer with us, but the joy they shared remains. More often than not, the evening would continue back at Willow Wong, with Mum effortlessly playing host — rustling up late-night snacks and welcoming everyone with open arms. Those were truly golden times. They all created such fantastic memories together — memories that will live on in all who were part of that circle.
Some of our happiest memories are the holidays we shared, especially the skiing trips to France and Austria. They were such fun times for us all. Ironically, though, I never did see Mum ski! One year on the very first mornings ski lift she was courteously dislodged off the chairlift in Neville’s haste to get off, in so doing damaging her knee, and on another occasion, she took a tumble in Geneva airport car park and damaged her shoulder— she was far more concerned about fussing over the rest of us than watching where she was going. But despite all of that, she thoroughly embraced the après-ski, the laughter, and the fun. She may not have conquered the slopes, but she certainly embraced everything else that came with them — and that was so very Mum.
I will miss the experience of driving with Mum too. She had an exceptional ability to appear to be in conversation with the person sat next to her in the back seat, yet repeatedly still managed to advise me of a car that was considering turning 200 yards in the distance. It was incredibly frustrating, so ultimately I resorted to seating her behind the drivers seat, but she still managed to offer more guidance than the sat nav !!
Mum had a real love of sport, but her heart truly belonged to Notts County. She got so used to the three of us disappearing every other Saturday in the early 70’s that she thought that if I can’t beat them I might as well join them. She became a season ticket holder and thereafter a life long supporter, following them through thick and thin, mainly the thin I must say. There followed away trips to places like Leeds, Newcastle and Brentford to name but a few, along with the occasional trips to Wembley which were never to be forgotten. Her sporting loyalty didn’t stop there — she also loved following Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, she had a season ticket, going with Dad and Daphne, thoroughly enjoying the 20/20 and keeping up with the cricket season and taking a real interest in how they were getting on. Sport brought her such enjoyment, and supporting her teams was something she did with true dedication and pride.
Golf was another love of Mums, She didn’t just enjoy watching golf — she loved playing it too, and she became pretty good at it. Golf brought her so much enjoyment over the years, and she was incredibly proud to serve as Lady Captain at Mapperley Golf Club in 2011. She threw herself into her captaincy year with real enthusiasm, hosting events, supporting fellow members, and embracing every occasion with warmth and dedication. She latterly moved to Radcliffe on Trent where when her playing days were over due to her declining health, she remained an active social member. And when she wasn’t on the course, she was happily watching golf on the television — wherever in the world the tournament happened to be. From the early morning tee-offs to the final putt on a late Sunday afternoon, she followed it all with genuine interest and passion.
Mum’s world extended beyond home too. She had been a devoted member of the Burton Joyce WI since 1985 and so enjoyed their evenings together — the friendship, the laughter, and the sense of belonging. It meant a great deal to he, to be part of that community for so many years.
Another of Mums passions was that she was always keen to keep up to date with the weather forecast, and absolutely loved sharing it with everyone. The daily weather update was almost a ritual — she’d happily tell you exactly what that particular day/ week had in store, whether it was sunshine, wind, or rain on the horizon. It wasn’t just about the forecast; it was her way of connecting, of looking out for you, and of feeling prepared for whatever the day might bring.
Over the last fifteen years, Mum faced more than her fair share of health challenges — two heart attacks, four stents, and four TIAs, to name but a few, yet each time she showed extraordinary strength and resilience. We often said she was like a cat with nine lives, because no matter what she endured, she somehow found the courage to bounce back.
Her greatest joy in life however was her grandchildren and their partners. She was immensely proud of every single one of them, and never missed an opportunity to talk about all their achievements, and the people they were becoming. Alongside all of them was her beloved Monty, her four-legged grand -pup who bought her great joy and comfort every time she saw him.
In 2022, she asked to visit the church in Chipping Camden where Willis and Siobhan were to be married in May 2023, quietly worrying that she might not be there for the day itself. How blessed she was that she not only saw them marry, but also, last year, witnessed Jordanna and Shaun’s beautiful wedding at Babington House — and then experienced the indescribable joy of welcoming her great-granddaughter, Minnie, into the world.. Those moments meant everything to her.
So today, we don’t say goodbye with sadness alone, but with gratitude — for the love she gave, the laughter she shared, and the countless ways she shaped our lives.
Mum may no longer walk beside us, but she will forever live within us — in our
memories, in our stories, and in the love we continue to share with one another.
Rest peacefully, Mum. You were deeply loved, and you always will be.