ANN MILLER
It is with great regret I have to tell you of the death of Miss Ann Miller of Oak Tree Cottage, Brownhill, Ruyton XI Towns. Ann passed away at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on Monday 6th June.
As Ann has been housebound for the last 5 or 6 years, probably half the people on the mailing list have no idea who I am talking about. To those of us who have known her for many years, she will be remembered as someone who was always there, whatever the need, Ann could be depended upon to offer help.
Ann`s grandfather, Dr. Edward Hugh Sankey, ran the Licenced House for the reception of Insane Patients of the Upper Classes at Boreatton Park (now the PGL centre) from 1878 until 1884. So it is not surprising that she decided to come back to her Shropshire roots when she retired from running the village shop, café and delicatessen in Purbright, Surrey.
During her new life in the village Ann was an active member of Pradoe Church, taking on any task, from selling raffle tickets to doing the flowers. Ann had a particular affinity for the Derwen College and served on the Friends` committee for many years, again doing whatever was needed.
However, for my part I shall never forget her contribution to the Charter Celebrations in 2008. During the four years of fund raising events to run a Medieval Festival, Ann Miller`s support was inestimable, always up for getting into the appropriate fancy dress for each event including performing as the perfect Queen Victoria. Then finally, Ann was everywhere she was needed at our amazing Charter celebrations – when it poured with rain from dawn to dusk!
She even produced a book to raise funds for the Charter, `Recipes from Ruyton`.
Ann also wrote a book about her own chequered life, from growing up on her parent`s smallholding during the war, running a pet shop specialising in tropical fish and spending her latter working years running the shop on the green in Purbright, Surrey which she expanded into a delicatessen and cafe.
In 1985 Ann spread her wings to visit the Kora National Reerve in Kenya as a volunteer with George Adamson, of Born Free fame, and his lions. Her first and subsequent visits made a great impression on her. Always an animal lover, but from then on she was devoted to raising funds for the Born Free Foundation.
Not long after she arrived in Ruyton, Ann acquired Oscar, a Border Terrier who was her constant companion. Having to have Oscar put to sleep in April 2014 was devastating for her, and perhaps she never really got over the loss.
Ann has had several health issues over the last few years and sadly, the spark went out of her with the loss of Oscar and when she was not able to get in her car and help the people of Ruyton, Pradoe and the Derwen College who needed her.
Ann`s funeral will be on Tuesday 21st June at Pradoe Church, near West Felton at 10.30am and after wards at Cafe Eleven, in Ruyton.
-- Yoland Brown Brownhill House B&B & Garden, Ruyton XI Towns nr. Shrewsbury SY4 1LR Tel: 01939 261 121 brownhill@eleventowns.co.uk www.eleventowns.co.uk www.eleventowns.org uk www.eleventowns.com ShACC - Shropshire Alternative Car Club - www.ShACC-uk.org MAILING LIST for Ruyton XI Towns area Yo`s blog: http://Yo-emails.blogspot.co.uk
