The funeral of the late Mrs Kathleen ‘Kathy’ Fish was held at St Deny’s Church, North Tamerton on Monday, March 31.

The service was conducted by Reverend Helen Davies and the organist was James Oldham.

Kathy was born in Bristol in 1930, to Arthur and Elsie Buxton. A younger sister, Sheila, followed. Kathy went to Cheddar Grove School, and Sunday school at St Oswalds Church.

Elsie suffered poor mental health and Kathy and Sheila were brought up by Arthur and two aunties, Arthur’s two eldest sisters. Arthur was called up, and although he was given a home posting, it was to the Orkney Islands. Kathy and Sheila were evacuated, to the village of Lansallos in Cornwall, where they were taken in by the Baldry family.

For Kathy, this was the start of a love affair with Cornwall. Throughout her life she told stories of this time, including growing food so that the household was self sufficient. They also grew flowers which were tied into posies by Kathy and Sheila and sold at the roadside. Life clearly wasn’t easy, but Kathy was very happy.

She was also very bright, winning a place at Liskeard Grammer School. However, it wasn’t possible for her to get to Liskeard by public transport, so she went instead to Polperro School.

Back in Bristol after the war, Kathy first worked in a post office, then she moved to an accountancy role in a big department store, Brights. Kathy met Gordon, and they married in the early 1950s; Linda was born in 1953 followed by Martin in 1955 and Julie in 1959. Alongside bringing up the family, Kathy worked at the cigarette factory, Willses. She worked just to save up for family holidays. Those holidays were always to Cornwall, as Kathy maintained her link with the Baldry family in Lansallos, and part of the holiday each year was visiting them, and revisiting all the places Kathy had enjoyed so much, sharing them with her family.

In the early 1970s, Len Baldry got in touch with Kathy. His two elderly sisters lived in Ogbeare Cottage, North Tamerton and he was concerned for them. Would Kathy consider moving to care for them. In 1973, as Len Baldry was at the end of his life, Kathy went to his bedside and promised she would look after his remaining sister, Dena. Gordon, Kathy, Martin and Julie moved in January 1974; Linda stayed in Bristol. Gordon and Martin both found work at Ambrosia.

So began Kathy’s years of caring. She cared for Dena at Ogbeare Cottage until her death. Kathy brought her parents to Cornwall first at Ogbeare Cottage and then at Hill Cottage. Gordon fell ill and she nursed him until his death in 1983 at the age of only 55. She continued to care for her dad, Arthur, who lived to the age of 92.

After Gordon’s death Kathy took a well-deserved holiday, going to stay with her schoolfriend Jean in Los Angeles, California. Her first passport and her first flight. Kathy met KITT the car on a visit to a film studio, and she, Jean and Jean’s husband travelled around in a camper van visiting Las Vegas and other places. Martin saw Kathy off with two suitcases and well remembers welcoming her back with four!

Subsequent holidays included annual coach trips with her friend Barbara, to Scotland, Wales, Scilly and Ireland. They would go away for a week, and Martin would look after granddad.

Kathy was someone who got involved in things. She loved being in the centre of the village after she and Martin moved to 1 Pendennis, with her good friend Edna Denford next door. She played in the skittle team for many years, she joined the bell ringers, so it is appropriate that the bells have just been restored. She was a member of the thriving Liberal Party branch here in North Cornwall. She served on the Parish Council, and she was also church warden here for many years. For some of that time she was a PCC member, she chaired many PCC meetings, and she travelled to other churches in the benefice and to events in Truro Cathedral as part of her duties, always happy to voice her opinions gently but clearly.

Kathy’s family always understood that church came first in her life. They particularly remember the annual walks, which I would have been for Cornwall Historic Churches Trust.

Kathy remained active until 2021, though she came to church less often because her hearing was going, taking her usual pew for the big events in the church year. In 2021 she had a fall and went to NDDH. The family wondered about this fall- it was 2 days before Kathy’s planned 90th birthday party, and she hated parties. She was discharged to Deer Park, Kathy did come home from Deer Park for a weekend but quickly realised that she and Martin wouldn’t be able to cope, and she asked to go back there before the weekend was over. From all her experience as a carer, she recognised that she was now the one to be cared for.

When Deer Park closed, Kathy moved to Pendruccombe in Launceston. She loved it there, and many of the staff loved her, for her honesty, for her telling it how it was. This honesty extended to telling people if she didn’t like them and telling the staff when she thought they had got things wrong. The staff had a lot of fun with her about this. Kathy had a massive stroke in February; she slept peacefully for the next four days then slipped away 2 days before her 95th birthday. Her family still gathered at Pendruccombe on her birthday, to celebrate her life. She had managed to avoid another party.

Linda, Martin and Julie say goodbye mum; goodbye and God bless you. Safe journey home.

Family mourners: Lynne Williams, Julie Fry, daughters; Martin Fish, son; Sharon and Michael Williams, Sarah Lopes-Fish, Maria Lopes-Yeo, Bonnie Burley, Alex Fonseca, Matthew and Steven Denford, grandsons and granddaughters; Katie and Melissa McKenna, Toby Hockin, Theo, Lilah and Alivia Burley, Sam Lopes-Yeo, Katie Teasdale, great grandsons and granddaughters; Esmae-Jayne Hockin, great great granddaughter; Kayleigh Smith, Miriam Denford, Bill and Ann Tamlyn, Robbie Friend, Liz Cashmore, Emily Nolan, Senga and Sarah Carroll (rep Pendruccombe).

General public attending: Suzanne and Diane Turnock (church warden and assistant), Mr and Mrs Ivor Ridgeman (Sandra and Alan Rowe), Mr and Mrs Risdon, David and Wendy Colwill, Mr and Mrs M Bluett (family), John and Rosemary Spry, Josephine Sluggett and Michael Johnson, E Hicks (Susan Hicks), Mr J Oldham, Mr R Ball, Mr Walter Johns (Phil Johns), Richard Coleing, Austin Prouse, Mrs G Adams, Mrs A Gerry, Miss Liz Johns, Mrs Barbara Worth, Mrs Susan Griffin, Maralyn Bailey (Jo, Tracey, family and Deer Park), Lorna Gerry, Joanne Britton, Peter and Pearl Willis, Diane Williams, Paul, Penny and Laura Pearce.

Unable to attend: Val and Jeff Clark, Kay and Steve Jones, Hannah Cashmore, Melou Lopes, Ashley Hockin, Shannon Whittington, Adam Whittington, Taya Lopes-Yeo, Alfie and Ethan Denford, Barbara Mason, Krystina, Charlie and Merryn Teasdale, Jen Ritchie, Jennifer Ruttley, Trevor and Andrea Grimshaw, Joan and Hilary Clifton-Brown, Sharon Ravenscroft.