Edna May Durrant (4 Jul 1928 - 29 Oct 2020)

Edna Durrant 4th July 1928 to 29th October 2020

Edna was born in East Ham (London) in 1928. Her early years were dominated by war time memories. She was evacuated first to a family in Wiltshire and later to Wales during the blitz. Edna was a keen student, winning a scholarship to East Ham Emergency Grammar School where she achieved excellent marks, despite the war.

After the war ended Edna and Chris Durrant started courting and married in 1949. Chris served in the merchant navy and after completing his war time national service joined the fire brigade. After training at Brighton College Edna pursued a career in teaching, inspiring children in the subjects of English, French and Needlework, up until 1966.

Chris and Edna started a family, with the birth of Merril, in 1950. Merril completed a PhD in the field of nutrition, and started her own family with the birth of Amy and Leo, making Edna a proud grandma in 1979.

Edna moved around the country with Chris' career in the fire service taking them to Essex, Surrey and Devon. In 1967 Michael was born. In 1973 the family moved to Cumnor, Oxford. Edna and Chris were active members of the village community and stayed in Cumnor for many years. Chris retired from the fire service in 1984. Chris and Edna enjoyed an active retirement, with many walking holidays in the UK and further afield including trips to China, Canada and the USA. In 1989 Chris and Edna celebrated their Ruby wedding anniversary, with family and close friends from the Oxford fire brigade.

Edna was widowed suddenly in 1995 when Chris suffered an aortic aneurysm. Edna carried on with her love of nature and joined in with friends on walking holidays, rambles and History Society events. Edna loved to visit her elder sister, Gayle with her family in Australia and Michael and his family in California.

In 2006 Edna decided to downsize from the family home in Cumnor and move to Kidlington, for better access to Oxford and to be closer to her dear friends in the fire service community. Edna became an even prouder Great Grandma with the birth of Toby in 2011, and then Clara in 2014 and Felix in 2020.

In 2014, at the age of 86, Edna further down sized and moved to a retirement community in the village of West Malling, Kent. Edna was often out and about, a keen member of the residents association and quickly made friends. She loved strolling the local footpaths, tending to her garden and attending get togethers in the communal lounge.

In 2018 Edna celebrated her 90th birthday with family and close friends at the King and Queen in East Malling.

Edna had a life long love of learning and reading. She shared this love with her family, being inspirational to the younger generations. Edna was a dedicated wife, mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother, determined to live a full and independent life, which she did until her final breath.

May she rest in peace.