Nora Mead (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Nora Mead

9:16am Thursday 8th September 2011 in Obituaries

Great grandmother Nora Mead, who many people in Marlborough will recall working in Boots the Chemists for years, has died suddenly at her York Place home at the age of 91.

The funeral of Mrs Mead, whose husband Frank died of cancer in 1970, took place on Tuesday at St Mary’s Church where she had worshipped for much of her life.

It was followed by cremation and her ashes will be put in her husband’s grave in Marlborough cemetery.

Her only son William, who lives in Swindon, said Mrs Mead had been in good health until she had a fall at Christmas and her health had deteriorated since then.

She died suddenly at her home for the past 11 years, York Place, on Sunday August 28.

She is survived by her son William, daughter-in-law Jan, two grandsons Matthew and Duncan, four great grand children Bethany, Oliver, Abby and Darcey and by her 87-year-old sister May Greenaway.

She was born in Marlborough and spent much of her life living in Salisbury Road where her family owned several properties.

In a potted history of her life she wrote that as a girl she recalled running up and down Salisbury Road with a whip and top and she said: “There was so little traffic it was perfectly safe.”

She won a scholarship to the former Marlborough Grammar School.

One of her aunts had been burgled and the only item the thieves missed was a silver bangle she gave to Mrs Mead as a present for passing her scholarship and which Mrs Mead treasured and wore for the rest of her life. It was on her wrist when she died.

She could not afford to go to college and went to work at the Old Town railway station in Swindon as a booking clerk and it was there that she met railway worker Frank Mead who she married in 1943 in St Mary’s Church in Marlborough.

Mr Mead’s work took him to Dilton Marsh in 1960. They lived there until 1968 when they returned to Marlborough, initially to Stonebridge Close where Mr Mead died. Then Mrs Mead returned to Salisbury Road.

Mr and Mrs Mead were very active socially and they established a Gay Nineties old time dance club. Mrs Mead took part in productions by the former Marlborough Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society (MADOS).

Mrs Mead had treasured memories of taking part in carnival floats in the early 1950s.

She was a member of the former Cadley WI for many years and of the Mothers’ Union at Dilton Marsh.

Until her health deteriorated she helped with the flower displays in St Mary’s and she always made sure the entrance hall at York Place was decorated with floral displays.