Audrey Eileen Rickenberg (31 Jan 1935 - 6 Dec 2020)

Audrey was born on 31 January 1935 in Hornchurch and was the 4th Daughter of Fred and Edith Wilkins.
Sadly, her two middle Sisters Evelyn and Joan both died at a young age leaving Audrey and her oldest sister Dorothy as the only surviving siblings.
Audrey was a very tough, independent and determined lady and suffered many ailments throughout her life including Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosed in 1975 and later several joint replacements. She also suffered several local Cancer attacks one of which she succumbed to on December 6th. Throughout this she always managed to be kind to people and got on well with everybody.
Despite this background she led a fulfilled life including 50 years happy marriage to Leslie who she married in November 1953 and the birth of her only child Chris in 1954. Audrey and Les managed to celebrate most of their Wedding Anniversaries with a short holiday break at various UK places including Kent, West Country and Wales.
Other highlights were:
• Audrey’s childhood and early married life spent in Essex (Hornchurch) – as a young girl she had a passion for horses and horse riding.
• Audrey met Les at Labour Party meeting in 1952
• Audrey & Les moved into a Council Flat in 1955
• Audrey & Les join School of Economic Science in 1956 which was to provide a dominant backdrop to their lives until 1970 and involved philosophy, life sciences, Far East teachings including meditation and an array of practical skills deployed in renovating old properties purchased by the school. These events had a significant impact on Audrey’s life and they also met some life-long friends
• Audrey started a job in London for Williams Lea Printer in 1957 where she arranged an educational visit for Leslie which helped him advance his career.
• Audrey starts work for Essex River Board in 1961
• Audrey was the first in the immediate family to pass her Driving Test in 1962 (first time) - a fact that she was proud of – driving the family in a Morris Minor many times to holidays in Devon, Swanage, Wales & other places in the 1960s and she remained a keen driver until early 2019 when her failing mobility finally prevented her from getting into a car on her own.
• Audrey’s Sister Dorothy marries Les’ older Brother Arthur in 1965
• Audrey and Les purchased their first house in Crawley in 1966 – a three storey town house in Furnace Green.
• Audrey starts work for the New Towns Commission in Broadfield House as an Admin Supervisor the same year.
• Audrey discovers Ashlehay in 1972 – then a ‘wreck’ needing major renovation but Audrey and Les saw the potential as a ‘dream’ house
• Audrey’s Father Fred dies in November 1972.
• Audrey and Les move into Ashlehay in December 1972 and are prepared to live in a couple of caravans (one for them and one for Chris) for about six months during the building works.
• Ashlehay was a major theme in Audrey’s life with much of the 1970’s and 1980s dedicated to home improvement projects.
• Chris marries Deb in 1985 and Audrey gains a daughter and Audrey also made Deb’s Wedding Dress !
• Audrey’s first Grandson Adam is born in 1987 followed 16 months later by the second Grandson Daniel in 1989.
• Audrey’s Mother dies in 1991
• Audrey & Les experienced some special Holidays during the 1990s – including a Boat holiday on the Thames with Chris, Deb and the Grandsons in 1990, a Far East Cruise in 1991, Lanzarote with Chris, Deb and the Grandsons in 1993, Turkey and Malta in 1995
• Audrey’s third Grandson, Philip is born in 1994.
• During the 2000s Audrey has continued interest in Plants, Gardening and Birds
• Audrey and Les hold 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration at Ashlehay in July 2003 which is attended by family and friends and neighbours – a memorable day.
• Sadly, Les passes in March 2006 leaving Audrey on her own.
• In the intervening years Audrey was happy to live by herself but always spend the Christmas (and some Easter breaks) with Chris, Deb and the Grandsons – but she was always happy to return home to Ashlehay.
• More recently as her mobility began to fail, she spent several months in various hospitals but was always keen to get home.
• Finally, in October 2020 she moved in with Chris & Deb.
As a footnote – Audrey was keen on animals and over the years acquired a number of pets – as a girl she grew up with Scots Terrier Peggy but later was to acquire a number of cats including a litter of 11 found in the Dustbin Shed at the Council flat in Essex. Sadly, she was unable to look after a pet after the mid-1990s.
A lasting memory will be of her secret delight when Chris and Deb’s cat Perry jumped onto her bed and sat with her several times during her last few weeks of her life.