Extraordinary LIVES
HAVE you lost a relative or friend in recent months whose life you’d like to celebrate? our Friday column tells the stories of ordinary people who lived extraordinary lives. Email your 350-word tribute to: lives@ dailymail.co.uk or write to: Extraordinary
GLADYS ETHEL LENTON was born in Friskney, Lincs, where she lived her whole life. She met her husband Dennis Ingham at a village dance and it was love at first sight. They were married on August 30, 1947, and their son, Stuart, was born in 1948. Tragedy struck when 16-year-old Stuart came home from school feeling unwell. He was rushed to hospital in the night, but died of viral pneumonia within
hours. Heartbroken, Dennis and Gladys found that being around young children helped them deal with their sorrow. They qualified as youth leaders and helped to found the successful Friskney Bowmen archery club in 1965. Dennis and Gladys excelled at the sport and became the local Robin Hood and Maid Marian. Gladys was locally named sportswoman of the year numerous times and was the European Ladies Field Archery Champion. There were more than 200 archery medals and trophies in her home won by the couple, and Gladys was still shooting arrows at the age of 80. The club’s annual tournament has been renamed the Ingham Memorial Shoot in memory of Gladys, and each of the trophies awarded features one of her medals. Throughout her life, she was hardworking. A former school dinner lady, she was loved by all the children. Caring, selfless and a true friend, she would do anything to help anyone. Gladys cycled to the churchyard to tend the graves of Dennis and Stuart into her late 80s and cared for family and friends during their final days. Friendship was very important to Gladys and she would send and receive up to 100 cards at Christmas and 40 or more on her birthday. A great fan of country and western music, she was an inspirational lady.
gladyS EThEl ingham, born September 18, 1926; died march 3, 2018, aged 91.