The funeral service that caters for everyone’s needs

Barbara Hilton

(18th September 1931 - 18th February 2021)

Mum didn’t have a conventional childhood but we loved the occasional stories she would let slip. Like walking in Hyde Park with her pet monkey on her shoulder. Her love of ballet (a potential career as a dancer was dashed when she grew too tall). Modelling fur coats up and down Regent Street. The many, many animals she loved and nurtured – really she should have been a vet.  Mum enjoyed a long career in fashion retail starting off behind the scenes (not allowed to serve a customer for two years) and working her way up to buyer.  Then, stories of buying trips to London, staying at the Dorchester to watch the fashion shows.

Mum gave up work when she married and had children. She was devoted to Bob and they were married for over 50 years. They had Patricia and Antony and provided them with a loving and pretty idyllic childhood with most importantly, the security that she had not enjoyed. Living first in Bramhall and then Cheadle Hulme Bob and Barbara (or B&B as they were known) threw great parties and wined and dined family and friends on home grown produce and home brewed beer and wine. During this time, Mum also owned and ran two dress shops, ably assisted by Dad. She was, quite simply, the best Mum you could ever ask for.

Mum and Dad retired to Orleton in Shropshire where in typical fashion they threw themselves into village life. They joined the gardening club, ran the friendship club, were active members of the PCC. Mum did the church flowers – they even got into bowling. They remodelled the garden and showed it off on open garden days. The grandchildren remember fondly the smell of Mum’s fridge and pantry, picking fruit in the garden, playing games on the lawn and running across the fields at the back of the house to the swings. At every point of her life Mum made friends.

The last 7 1/2 years Mum has lived in Hinchley Wood. Again, she became completely involved in the community at Gibson Court, making friends along the way. She was on the committee, active in the WRVS, played in the scrabble club, drove a group of ladies out to lunch every month and to church weekly. Even during the pandemic, she organised ‘happy time’ for a group of friends to enjoy a drink and test each other with quiz questions. As Mum’s health declined, she did not complain or moan. In fact she loved her little red wheel chair and Trish was forever asking her to slow it down as she bashed another dent in the skirting board proclaiming that she was a better driver now!

The last 3 ½ years Barbara has been cared for, predominantly by Kelly who became Mum’s closest friend and was with her at the end. The ultimate act of love and friendship I think.   

Charity Donation In Memory of Barbara Hilton

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A Few Kind Words...

“I would like to say a huge thank you to both Carina at Alan Greenwood and Sons in Frimley and the Celebrant. When my mother-in-law passed, we had absolutely no idea what we were doing other than needing to contact a funeral directors. After calling, Carina invited us into the Frimley branch for an informal chat and made us feel at ease straight away. She talked us through every step whilst being compassionate, caring and professional during the whole process. It was a difficult time that was made so much easier by the way Carina and Maria handled everything. When the Celebrant contacted us we were unsure of what we wanted for the service, with his knowledge and understanding he helped us to put together a service that was both relaxed, professional and perfectly suited to us. Thank you to the whole team!”

Sarah

“Dear Fran

I just wanted to drop you an email to thank you for all your care and support in the arrangements for my dad, John.

I know that my Mum, Valerie, was most grateful for your support and care, particularly last Friday which was a difficult day for her. Mum said to me that you went over and above in her eyes, making sure she was ok before you would let her leave.

Dad would have highly approved of the day yesterday, and that’s all we could have asked for. It really was the celebration of his life that he would have wanted.

Again, my sincerest thanks and gratitude to you all.”

Helena

“Dear Jo,

Thanks so much for all you did leading up to the funeral. None of us could have got through it without your support.

Many thanks for everything you did for us, for all your help and for making a very sad day so easy. Your support has been amazing.

A huge thank you. Your dedication made saying farewell to Mum all the more bearable.”

Sue, Vicki, Clare & Richard

“Thank you so much for the care, support, compassion and understanding you showed with helping Chris and us to plan his funeral. You made a very difficult time for us more bearable for which we are very grateful. Thank you also for enabling all Chris’s plans to come to fruition. His ‘send-off’ was exactly what he wanted. Malcolm did a brilliant job too. Thank you, Jane, With love and sincere, thank you.”

Kathy, Samantha, Rosie and all the Sayer Family

“I just wanted to drop you a line to say a massive thank you for everything you have done over the last two weeks. When I walked into Alan Greenwood’s on the 5th November I didn’t know where or how I was going to organise my lovely Mum’s funeral and the thought of it horrified me, you made a daunting job so much easier and were there to guide me all the way until the day of the funeral.”

I can’t thank you enough for your kind words, thoughts and help during this very difficult time. Losing someone as precious as mum is very hard but you helped so much. Thank you for everything you have done for mum, myself and my family.”

Sue, Mundy, Luke and Faye

“Thank you so much for the way you took care of Loui’s funeral for us. You really went the extra mile, we are really grateful for all your help with the arrangements with Louis and Mum.”

Sheila, Kenny & Family

“Dear Judy,

Thank you for all your hard work and great communication for the arrangement of mum’s funeral. Even though the restrictions limited certain things, everything ran so smoothly. We were able to celebrate mum’s life with a lovely service and great help from you and all at Alan Greenwood funeral services on the day.”

Yvonne and Peter Richardson

“Dear John,

Thank you for the wonderful service, support and help you offered me and the way you looked after my partner Bob, after he passed away.

From the professionalism and courtesy your team showed on that most traumatic moment – taking Bob from our house – to your kindness, and surefooted advice, the recommendation of the Celebrant, and then your kindness in coming to the cremation as well.

It’s been the hardest month or so of my life and yet I was so pleased with how the service went, the wonderful order of service you arranged and helped me with and of course the music as well. Throughout it all you treated me with respect, dignity and gave me such helpful advice. I’m not sure I would have managed well without that. Even more, I can now look back and reflect that the day went well and represented my partner and our love so well.

I think it’s important to thank people when they have done such a great job.”

Douglas

Dear Cindy,

I just wanted to say thank you for yesterday and please thank all the gentlemen who helped us. Everything ran very smoothly and they were excellent.

I was also very happy with the service booklet and photographs.

Lyla

Dear Chloe,

We just wanted to all thank you and the rest of Alan Greenwood team for providing excellent service for organising and conducting our mother’s funeral – The day went perfectly.

Mike

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