S I Richmond and Dales are very sad to announce that long serving (35years) member Hilary Ibbotson died suddenly on October 16th. Hilary served as Secretary more than once, Minute Secretary, Programme Action Convenor, member of the Finance Committee and Regional Council Representative. She was club president in 1993 to 1994.
Hilary had a warm, cheerful, personality. Always optimistic, which stood her in good stead during lock-down when she was shielded. She was chatty, friendly, welcoming
and encouraging to new members. A very tall lady, certainly the tallest member of our club and probably among Yorkshire members, she was recently heard bemoaning the fact that “Long Tall Sally “ had gone out of business.
Hilary was a past Mayor of Richmond. She served on the town council for many years, a great community servant. She helped to set up the local Talking Newspaper and read for them up to now. Hilary was Secretary to Richmond School Trust, she sang in a choir, went to a keep fit class and went to the local church. She also worked for one of the estate agents in Richmond, using her charm and powers of persuasion on prospective buyers. In earlier years, Hilary worked in the Foreign Office, a woman in a man’s world, giving her many interesting stories from travels around the world.
Hilary will be sadly missed and long remembered by her many friends and two sons, Richard and Christopher, to whom the club sends love and sympathy. The club members of S I Richmond and Dales will remember her as a good and faithful member. May she rest in Peace.