Emma Elizabeth Nobbs 1914 – 2005
From the Parish News – December 2005
1st March 1914 to 4th November 2005
Lizzie Nobbs died peacefully at All Hallows Hospital on the 4th November, with members of her family at her bedside. Having lived nearly the whole of her 91 years in Denton, most parishioners will know her very much as a part of the village.Lizzie was born at a cottage at Denton Road Farm, Earsham, but her parents Jane and Charlie Rodwell moved to Mill House, Denton when she was a very young girl and where she lived until her marriage at the age of 21 to Herbert Nobbs. They then moved to "Sunnyside Cottages," Norwich Road, (present site of Ashton Autos) and later moved to No.4 Trunch Hill when the Council Houses were built. Both Herbert and Lizzie were very quiet and reserved personalities. Herbert worked on the land all his life helping out on many farms in the area, including White House Farm (Mr. Jardine) Glebe Farm (Mr. Albert Skinner) and Mr. Frank Revell at Chapel Farm.
He died at a comparatively young age in 1975, when Lizzie moved to the Council Bungalow where she stayed to the end of her days. Lizzy also helped on the land at times and was known to take on sugar beet hoeing in the season, but most of her life was spent in domestic service at various homes in the district, including Mrs. Fox (Denton Rectory) and Mrs. Battell at the shop; she also took in washing for the American airmen during the war. Apart from bringing up their only son George, Lizzy helped the young Sheldrake family in the neighbouring house when they lost their mother and created a special bond. More recently her great-grandchildren were to give her a great deal of pleasure. Throughout her life she had a passion for "Poodles!"
During her latter years Lizzie enjoyed the "Friendly Club" and was always pleased to have a chat with friends in the village especially on her visits to the Post Office on a Thursday. She always looked forward to her weekly trip into Harleston on the community bus. Our condolences go to George and Jean, her grand children Julie and Linda and their families with her four great-grandchildren Sarah and Steven, Sam and Alice.
George and Jean chose this poem for Revd. Peter Smalls to read at her funeral service:
I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one,
I'd like to leave an after glow of smiles when life is done,
I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the way
Of happy times, and laughing times, and bright sunny days.
I'd like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun
Of happy memories that I leave when life is done.