We have to report the very sad death of Sheila Binks. Sheila was a very committed supporter of the Society and served on our Committee for many years. She was always prepared to volunteer for any task that helped the smooth running of events, in a positive, cheerful and good-humoured way. Together with her husband Hugh, Sheila joined the LHS in its early years and both became Life Members.
Sheila attended the Corinthian School and went on to Quarry Bank School, where she was a contemporary of Ken Dodd. In her youth she was a keen ice skater, dancer and member of the YHA. At weekends she enjoyed many weekends on cycle trips in England, Wales and to Scotland, her favourite area. A notable achievement was a cycling holiday through a divided Germany in the 1950’s with a friend, when foreign travel was clearly a rarity. Sheila’s working life began as a confectioner with Cubbon Bros, followed by her employment with Jacobs and Thomas Scott. After Sheila and Hugh married, they enjoyed many camping holidays throughout the UK, with their two sons.
After she developed severe arthritis in her back, coach holidays replaced camping, enabling the couple to continue the travelling holidays they loved. Sheila’s health declined in recent years and sadly, she suffered a massive stroke in January this year. This deprived her of mobility and speech and was complicated by increasing dementia. Sheila died peacefully on 26 June, holding Hugh’s hand in the residential home where she was being cared for.