Have only just come across the sad news of Stella's passing. I was a pupil at St Gilbert's, Austin Street, in the final 4 years before the move to Foundry Road. Bumped into Stella in Wothorpe, near her home a few years back, she remembered me and complemented me on my handwriting way back when she taught me (circa 1969/70), asked if it is still as neat now (almost certainly not!). She really cared about every pupil, as her son John brings out so well in his eulogy.

Thoughts of our dear Stella Ward It would be fitting if I could do this tribute to our dear friend Stella in verse. We all know how much she loved her poetry and how she enjoyed quoting it from an immense memorised repertoire. However, I also know that she will be looking down saying “please don’t, please don’t “as she was a stickler for making the lines scan and rhyme properly! She was a wonderful lady and a great friend. Her humour and sense of fun were always at the forefront of anything she did. Being with her and working with her was always a joy. I have so many happy memories as I know our members will. Working with her for our 65th Charter was rewarding if hard work. Stella researched our history and the result was the brilliant programme for the evening (the hottest one on record I think – the evening not the programme!!) and I am sure it will give you all great pleasure to read once again the song/hymn she wrote which I have printed out below. Next time we meet I will bring the photo book which we did. One of Stella’s many attributes was being wise. She was always someone to discuss ideas and problems with and you knew she would make a worthwhile contribution to any debate. Stella loved her books and took great pleasure from her extensive collection – and yet she was always willing to lend you a treasured volume – generous to a fault. Stella was always there with the ready donation and to encourage others to do the same. We all know how much she loved her family, and it is fitting that she was able to spend some quality time with both Jean and Liz before packing them off to their respective homes and once more becoming independent in her own home. I think we were all in awe at the way she would jet off round the world to visit them, and always undertook the journeys in a positive manner. She was also very content to be at home and was more than happy to be there. She embraced new technology which she sometimes found challenging but made great use of it to keep in touch with her family and friends. Her contribution to our Inner Wheel club was immense and her support was always guaranteed. She could always be relied on for a meaningful vote of thanks or to take part in club discussions. She was always quick to ensure that our club dispensed with any pomposity! I have a lot to thank Inner Wheel for and one of the most enduring and best reasons is for introducing me to lots of lovely friends but in particular giving me the opportunity to get to know the wonderful lady who was Stella Ward. What a privilege and a pleasure it has been. Musical Farewell For four and sixty years now This club has marched along The spirit of its founders Is still alive and strong At this our celebration Proclaim it clear and loud Through friendship and through service We’re bloody but unbowed. Gone are the cake and candles Which once adorned our feast We’ve ditched the silver teapots The frilly hats – deceased We’re cool and enterprising Despite our greying locks And tolerate a big wig Enforcing SILLY SOCKS In early 1990 A new club came to town It took the name of Burghley A link of some renown We meet for socialising Enjoy their youthful zeal But bras outside our sweaters Undignified, unreal Go on your way rejoicing Our friendship we extend Our birthday celebrations Reach their appointed end But if you care to join us New friendship you may forge There’ll always be a welcome On Mondays at the George Words by Stella Ward May 2018 Tune: The Church’s One Foundation One of our members I think (or it could even have been Stamford Burghley) penned the following. Stella There is absolutely no one like Stella Who is really a jolly good fellow She is bold and brave And writes like a slave When we’re given a task – we shout STELLA There is absolutely no one like Stella Who keeps us on track in all weathers She picks up her pen Always witty again Keeping Inner Wheel laughing, with pleasure! Stamford Club is so proud of its members Past and Present, we’ll always remember Our Association Pres And others in res. Thank you all for your skills but especially our STELLA! Zena Coles

Eulogy for Stella Ward Written by John Ward I think that when Mum was alive, if I thought about how her funeral might be, I envisaged a service, probably in All Saints’ Stamford, where the church would be full of family, friends, and, importantly, a large number of Stella’s former pupils. This has not turned out to be possible. Eldest grandson, Joe said what we were all thinking soon after Stella’s death; that he wished we could all just do for Grannie what we did for Grandpa, which was to jump on a plane and be together in England for the funeral. Stella, in her usual way of accepting what is unavoidable, and making the best of any situation, would probably say that we would have to get on with it and just spread the word in the best way we could. This is what we are doing, so please ask your friends and relatives to add something – a photo, a memory, an anecdote or anything they would like to Stella’s tribute page. And add something yourselves. When Jean contacted me to tell me that Mum had died, I called Hayley, Robyn, and Jodi. Jodi came over straight away and Hayley came up from Brisbane the following morning. Some interesting things were said about their Grannie…. “She taught me how to tie up my hair” “She loved playing Grandmother’s Footsteps” “She never complained” “She was so open-minded about so many things” “She was constantly educating herself” These are just a few thoughts from my daughters. No doubt many of us can relate closely with these thoughts. In my own mind, I think I always imagined that Mum would make it to 100. As a cricket lover this would have been significant for her. Jodi said, about this, “Missing out on some years that she could have had does not detract from the life that she did have.” Thinking about a life such as Mum’s you realise that she was a grand-daughter, daughter, sister, wife, sister in law, mother in law, godmother, mother, grandmother, aunt, great aunt, great great aunt, cousin, second cousin etc. and would soon have become a great grandmother, as one of her granddaughters, Catherine, is currently pregnant. All these relationships make for a big job and one that needs to be taken seriously. Mum took on these relationships with this simple approach: Be involved as much as you can, offer advice when it is asked for and give love without condition. Recently Stella rediscovered part of her mother’s side of her family and this had been a great delight for her, reconnecting particularly with another Stella on that side of the family, who was named after Mum. As Jean, Liz and I moved away from England, Mum’s view was that this would give her the chance to go to new places, which she did frequently, and she said to me that she had met some wonderful people and gone to destinations she would never have visited without the opportunities presented by our lives away from the UK. But time after time she would say that it was always nice to return to Stamford, because that was her home. We all have lovely memories of the house that we moved into on a stormy day in 1966. Dad bought 4, Primrose Villas at auction and was devastated that he had to go over his ceiling price by $50 to get it. The price was $5050!! Liz and I were lucky enough to have been taught at St Gilbert’s school with Mum as our teacher. Liz for one year, and I for two. When I have mentioned this to various people during my life, they have reflected that this experience must have been awkward, embarrassing, tricky, or difficult. I think that Liz would agree that it was never any of these things, and only ever felt normal and a very happy time. We were treated in exactly the same way as all the other pupils. Mum could not have encouraged any of her pupils any more than she did, so we received the same high level of encouragement as everybody else. It was a great privilege to have been taught by her and I am sure that each and every one of her former pupils, reflecting on days in Stella’s classroom, would agree. Some years ago, Mum said that she didn’t expect to see her grandchildren grow up. In fact, she lived to see all six of them into their twenties and three of these six into their thirties. This is my final thought. When getting up from a chair slightly stiffly, Mum would occasionally say, “You have to expect a few aches and pains at my age; I’m very lucky to be here.” We were all very lucky to have been here, either because of, or just at the same time as “Our Stella” for so many wonderful and love filled years.