Thelma Irene Reynolds (18 Apr 1925 - 19 Mar 2021)

In loving memory of Thelma Irene Reynolds who sadly passed away on 19th March 2021

Thelma Irene was born in Hinckley, Leicestershire in 1925, to Arthur and Lily Barrowcliffe. Sadly, her father passed away when she was only 2 years old. After Arthur's death, Thelma and her mother went to live with Arthur's parents.
She attended convent school in Hinckley. As her school time was coming to an end she planned to attend an art and design course at college in Leicester, to study fashion design. Her grandfather, who was her guardian, was required to give his permission. He went to the college to give his consent. On his return he informed Thelma that he had enrolled her on a secretarial course. She showed her innate grit and determination to follow her own route in life by quitting school and starting work with the local Environmental Health Office.
At the start of WW2, Thelma had wanted to enrol in the 'Wrens'. Again, her grandfather's permission was required and, again, he refused to give it, thinking to protect Thelma from potential danger. Thelma once more proved her mettle. Not only did she join the British Red Cross (for which she needed no other permissions) with her life-long friend Addie Pemberton, she also joined the Volunteer Fire Service and was on duty during the Coventry Blitz. She served with both organisations for the rest of the war. She remained a Red Cross supporter all her life.
Shortly after the war's end, Thelma met her first husband, Greville Sweeting and they were married in 1947. One year later Thelma gave birth to her first child, a son, Godfrey. Soon after, Greville's work took them to live in Bournemouth where sadly, the marriage failed after a few years and Thelma and Godfrey returned to Hinckley, to live with family.

In late 1957, Thelma met Ken Reynolds, her second husband (of almost 50 years) whilst making sandwiches for a local darts club match. Ken was a butcher from nearby Earl Shilton. Thelma soon realised that whilst working for Environmental Health, years before, she had approved the trading licenses for the Reynolds family butchers! Thelma and Ken were married soon after and went on to have 3 children together, Sandra, Ian and Philip.
The family moved to live in Somerset in 1965, where, with three small children in tow, Thelma and Ken started their own business, a café called 'The Primrose Lounge'.
In 1968 the family moved to Sussex, where Ken returned to his profession as a butcher. Thelma, ambitious and creative as ever, enrolled herself at Crawley Technical College to study for her City and Guilds in catering. She passed with distinction and this qualification secured for her the role of chef at Ockenden Manor in Cuckfield, where the family were living above the butcher's shop. Whilst at the Manor, Thelma's delicious pies became legendary and earned her the nickname "Mrs Pie"

Thelma's oldest son, Godfrey, who now went by his middle name, Simon, married his Swiss wife, Luzia, in 1968 and in 1969, Thelma's first grandchild, Nathalie, was born. In 1970 Simon, Luzia and Nathalie moved to Switzerland, just before Nathalie's first birthday.

In 1976 the chain of butchers closed down and Thelma, Ken and family moved into a Local Authority house in nearby Burgess Hill. Thelma had various jobs over the following years, showing her versatility. She was able to utilise her dressmaking skills and knowledge, working at Vokins haberdashers. Her considerable skill as a chef was then employed with Burgess Hill Age Concern, where she prepared meals at the day centre, for residents across the town.

Over the following years the family flew the nest and Thelma and Ken retired. They decided to move to Gillingham, Kent in 1997,to be nearer to their daughter Sandra and their granddaughter, Hannah. Thelma and Ken were both involved with the Garrison Church, Gillingham. Thelma became a member of the Women's Guild there, the Guild of St. Helena, where she made many good friends.

Ken passed away in November 2008, which Thelma found very hard, but accepted with calmness and stoic grace.
Thelma was always loving, welcoming, funny, strong-minded and an absolutely wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is survived by her adoring family; four children, five grandchildren and four great-
grandchildren.