Shropshire & Star

SMALLWOOD

Vera Margaret Ann

nee Cleveley

In loving memory of Vera Margaret Ann Smallwood.

It is with great sadness that the Family of Ann Smallwood announce her passing at the age of 81 years, after a short battle with pneumonia. Ann will be lovingly remembered by Keith her Husband for over 40 years, her Children Janet, Judith and Robert, the many members of her extended Family, as well as everyone who knew her.

Ann was born in Criftins, Shropshire, eldest Daughter of Vera andGeorge Cleveley and is survived by her two Brothers Brian and Ian. At an early age Ann was interested in the work of Dr. Albert Schweitzer among leper colonies in Africa. This inspired her to pursue a career in Nursing. She left home aged 16 to study at The Royal Salop Infirmary and went on to achieve her ambition of becoming a State Registered Nurse, graduating with a Silver medal in 1957, after this she worked in The Royal Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, which was a pioneering centre made famous by Sir Archibald McIndoe, performing work in the area of plastic surgery. She married and had three Children and lived overseas for a number of years.

Later in her life, when her Children had left home, Ann spent six months in India working with the World Health Organisation, where she helped to train local Nurses in childcare, immunisation and nutrition.

From the early 1970's Ann lived in the Forest of Dean with her second Husband and was a driving force in many areas of the community. In thepast she represented Coleford as a County Councillor, a District Councillor and a Parish Councillor. She was a Ward Sister at Stowfield Hospital and later a School Nurse and Health Visitor. Ann helped establish the 'Contact a Family' Charity for disabledChildren and was a former Chair of the Children's Opportunity Centre in the Forest of Dean. She had been a Governor at both Coalway Infant School and The Royal Forest of Dean Collage, was a former Chair of the Credit Union Steering Group and helped to establish the Dr. Charley Day Centre for local elderly people.

Ann often returned to Ellesmere, her childhood Town, for holidays with her extended Family, where she enjoyed recounting many memories from throughout the years. The most recent of these was last summer, 2017, where her Family enjoyed a picnic in the Cremorne Gardens, rowing on the Mere and visiting the house where Ann's Grandparents lived on Watergate Street.

Since 2006 Ann and Keith have travelled extensively throughout Europe and enjoyed Winter sunshine in the Algarve, walking along the beach, drinking coffee and eating her favourite Portuguese cakes, Pastel de Nata.

A Celebration of her life will be held on April 25, at 1pm, at the West Wiltshire Crematorium, Devizes Road, Semington,Wiltshire, BA14 6HL and after at The Cross Keys in Royal Wootton Bassett.

The Family respectfully request that there be Family flowers only, for those who wish to make a donation either 'Contact-a-Family' or the Forest of Dean Opportunity Centre are charities that were special to Ann.

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