In memory of
Rita Laura Evens
Rita was born near Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, into a farming family and worked as a shorthand typist in a Munitions Factory, later becoming her boss's secretary.
She met Ron at a Saturday evening dance in Tenbury Wells in 1943 and they married in 1946. In 1951 their daughter, Susan was born and two years later their son Mark.
In 1958 to 1960, Ron was seconded to the Colonial Office to work in the Solomon Islands. Rita remembered this as a very happy time in a beautiful climate where the only downside was the mosquitos. There, as well as looking after her growing children, Rita ran a Girl Guide troupe.
Back in England, at Amersham, she continued her interest in the Girl Guide movement and ran a Brownie troupe, still being known as “Brown Owl” by her charges in later years. She was also a keen member of the local badminton club where she made several life-long friends.
Rita was well known around the Hilltop Villages where she lived with Ron after they moved from Amersham to Tankards Dene, Hawridge in 1974 and later to St Leonard’s in 2001.
During her time there she was very actively engaged in many local activities, in particular 30 years on the committee of the Horticultural Society.
Rita was also part of a lace-making group at Northchurch, which she attended for over 30 years, and a keen member of the Local History Group.
She was an excellent cook and gardener and was renowned for her generous meals and extensive knowledge of flowers. Possessed of a lively mind, after she became less physically capable she continued to read extensively and do incredibly complicated jigsaws.
Rita was a long-time supporter of Iain Rennie Hospice at Home (now called Rennie Grove Hospice Care). Please make any charitable donations in her memory to them. You can do this by either:
- a cheque (sent to the Funeral Directors - Heritage & Sons, Wendover, if after the event) payable to Rennie Grove Hospice Care.
- online at https://renniegrove.org/donate/donate-online (no admin fees other than the normal card fees)
- on the donations page on this website (but be aware that an additional admin fee of 5% is deducted)