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It is with deep regret that we report the death of one of Swavesey's much loved and respected citizens, with the passing of Mrs, Ethel Hepher M.B.E.

Mrs, Hepher, although a native of Over, taught at Swavesey School during the first World War and was at the time courting a local butcher, Mr, Charles Hepher. They married in 1918 and took up residence in the High Street next to Foxglove. Later on their house was built in Market Street where they resided until the death of Mr. Hepher in 1981, and Mr. Hepher carried on living there until her death.

In the early 1920's Mrs, Hepher took a very keen interest in local affairs, from the Church to the Parish Council. She was a founder member of the Womens Institute and Womens Section of the Royal British Legion. She was also Poppy Day organiser for 30 years, a member of the Parochial Church for 60 years (25 of these as secretary) She was a member of the Church choir and Sunday School teacher.

She was the first lady to be elected to the Parish Council and the first lady representative of the County Council, also the first ex pupil to elected a governor of the County High School for Girls. During the Second World War, with her husband, she ran the Troop Comfort Fund, and many local boys received a parcel of goodies and a personal letter with all the news from home. As a member of the County Council her first love was education and it is due to her efforts that we now have a Village College in Swavesey where she served for many years a a governor. She was a very active member of the Red Cross and was a V.A.D nurse during both wars.

During her whole life her interests were for the well being of Swavesey and its people and many of them owe her a great debt of gratitude for her work on our behalf. Her services to the community were suitably rewarded when in 1980 she was made a Member of Her Majesties Most Excellent Order of The British Empire.

A suitable epitaph for Mrs. Hepher would be, "Swavesey is a lot better for having known you",

Alan Lee