Mrs AF Holmes (née Edwards)

ILLOGAN

The funeral service has taken place at Illogan Parish Church for Ann Freda Holmes, aged 80 years, of Illogan. Reverend Marlene Carveth officiated.

Ann was born in 1943 in Ilseworth Hospital, Middlesex, and lived in nearby Greenford. She had a younger sister, June.

After education at school in Greenford Ann trained as a chef in the Central Middlesex Hospital. Once qualified she worked at the Marks & Spencer West London store, where she was in charge of the restaurant.

Having an early enthusiasm for politics, Ann was also an active member of Ealing Young Socialists.

In 1967 Ann met her future husband, Paul, on a day trip to Brighton and in March 1968 they were married in Greenford. This was a historic wedding as Paul was the first bridegroom to wear a kilt in the new Cornish National Tartan.

The newlyweds set up home in South Ruislip. Two daughters were born to them, Susan and Jennyfer.

Ann joined the Liberal Party and helped organise Paul’s election campaigns when he stood in the 1971 and 1974 Hillingdon Borough elections.

In 1974, Paul found employment in his native Cornwall, in Camborne, and the family moved in to their new home in Roskear. Ann got a job as cook at Meneghy House in Tuckingmill and worked there for 25 years, until she retired. The family moved to a larger house in St Illogan in 1980. Ann was a member of Kehelland Flower Arrangement Club for many years and her flowers were grown on the family’s allotment.

Paul was elected to Cornwall County Council in 1985 and Ann was elected to Carn Brea Parish Council. She also became Brown Owl for the 1st Pool Brownie Pack which she ran for many years. Susan and Jennyfer were Brownies in Ann’s pack. Ann regularly attended St Illogan Parish Church, where in 1993 the couple renewed their marriage vows.

In 2001, Paul was re-elected to Cornwall County Council with a majority of just one vote. Ann was visited by a Liberal Democrat demanding Paul’s resignation to allow a by-election to be held. Paul refused and was taken to court in the Royal Courts of Justice in London. The stress of those events resulted in the couple divorcing and the loss of their home. Both ended up in temporary accomodation.

Ann obtained a permanent home in the Guiness Trust in Illogan. Eventually Ann became ill and spent time in hospital. She was taken home and a few days later she died, with Jennyfer and other members of her family at her bedside.

The funeral service was held at St Illogan Parish Church, where she had been a regular worshipper, and the cremation was at Treswithian Downs Crematorium on October 4.