Anne 'Monica' Wilkinson (7 Jun 1925 - 25 Jan 2018)

Born on 7 June 1925, Monica's birth wasn’t registered until 9 July because her father was so thrilled that, on meeting a friend in Bakewell and telling him the news (perhaps over a pint), he quite forgot to go to the Registry Office. Certainly, his excitement may have led to the error on the Birth Certificate showing her full name Anne Monica Knight, with the surname, Knight, crossed through. Known as Monica because there were several “Anne’s” in the wider family, it was a happy childhood around Stanton-in-the-Peak.
Being an only child, she enjoyed playing in the fields, Sunday School and walks on Stanton Moor with her father who hid sweets in the heather to keep her amused. In the winter, the village children would toboggan down the steep road having packed down the snow to make it really slippery. They got up to other mischief too, such as tying doorknobs together then knocking on the doors and running off to hide and giggle when the doors couldn’t be opened from the inside!
Fastidious in her appearance, Monica was often called upon to be an example of how her Lady Manners school uniform should be worn and helped teach younger girls how to use their utensils at lunchtime. She loved new dresses, and especially shoes, and could weave her father into buying them for her. I was often told that I didn’t do enough of the same with my father.
Her career started with the Post Office in Bakewell, and her training there stood her in very good stead over the years. Watching her count notes, and sort coins, fascinated me as a child; and she was quicker adding a column of figures than I was with a calculator. Despite this, the family apparently warned my father, when they married, that she was hopeless with money and certainly she always enjoyed spending it!
Monica had been very much in love with Alec, the brother of a school friend, but he had taken the opportunity of a posting to Jamaica with the bank he was working for. Neither her family nor the bank would let them travel together – the family because she was needed at home (her mother was already ill with pancreatic cancer) and there were concerns over Monica's health in such a hot climate.
Monica and Len met in Rugeley (Staffordshire), where my mother was staying with her aunt (Ann, her mother’s much younger sister) and her husband. Ann and Sam Fowkes were friendly with Leonard and Gladys Wilkinson. Sometime after Gladys died (very young of breast cancer) my father proposed, asking Monica to wait for his return from a cruise holiday – she said no. However, on his return she was persuaded and they married on 17 March 1951. Later that year Lesley Anne appeared, and 15 months later, Bryan Roger. While living in Rugeley Monica was very involved in the Amateur Dramatic Society with Dee Arnold, one production being HMS Pinafore.
The family moved to Great Barr soon after, as Len's career within the gas industry took off, and in 1962 another career move to Solihull where new offices had been built. Monica returned to clerical work, now with the Gas Board in the Wages Section. Whilst this was part-time, Len always said it was amazing how much her pay packet funded (and occasionally had to bail her out when the house-keeping didn't cover all of the bills. Mum always enjoyed buying shoes and clothes, and liked to dress her family well too (whether they wanted it or not).
Monica was very sociable too, and now moved on to the Town's Women's Guild, with whom she travelled abroad, sharing a room with her close friend Sheila. They continued to travel together into their 70's, making friends with many and possibly scandalising others with their giggling and fun-loving ways.
Around 1966 British Gas offered Len a move to Hinckley to manage the natural gas pipe-laying across the country, so they found a new property and new friends in Nuneaton, especially near neighbours Colin and Vera who soon had Monica involved in raising funds for Cancer Research through coffee evenings. Sadly, in 1975, Len passed away just 6 months after retiring. Monica had found a new job, this time with the Electricity Board, and later at Nuneaton Courts (despite her lack of typing skills).
After being on her own for a few years, Monica decided to move to the north-east, finally deciding on a property on the new housing estate near her daughter in Cramlington. As the estate was not complete by the time Monica moved in, she took advantage of being close to the site office to arrange additional work and ensure snagging was undertaken promptly. The Foreman called her The Duchess, maybe because of the fur coat she really got enjoyed while clearing snow or walking the dog. Many of her friends, and relatives, visited her and were taken on grand tours of the beautiful Northumberland countryside.
When Lesley moved to Derby chasing a job offer, Monica soon followed, despite the wonderful support from neighbours who had become firm friends. There were new friends to be found in her neighbours, and friends were still happy to visit and wander the Peak District with her.
Sadly many of her friends have now passed away and were very much missed. Despite that, Monica has battled through a hip operation, mastectomy, stroke, and lastly cancer of the bile duct for which she underwent a stent operation. Her hospitality is legendary, her advice honest, and her memory excellent to the last. We will miss you.

In loving memory of Anne 'Monica' Wilkinson who sadly passed away on 25th January 2018
Funeral Service at Derby Crematorium, Mark Eaton, on Tuesday 13 February at 14.40hrs.
Please, no flowers. Donations for Cancer Research - see this page or www.lymn.co.uk