Lindy Collard-Baker passed away peacefully at 1.30am on Friday 9th October, surrounded by friends and family. She started the Littlehempston Ladies Lending Library as a way to keep in touch with her friends. Here are a few of their thoughts:
Lindy was special – wise, generous and very funny. She was one of the first to welcome us to the village – her Games Nights at the Tally were a great place to make friends. As chair of the Parish Council, she played a big part in getting the Tally re-opened, smoothing the way with her ability to listen to others and getting people working together. Despite being ill, she stayed connected with local life and just a couple of weeks before she died was sending suggestions for future events. Great the scarecrows were such a success. What about a funny father Christmas or snowman one and mince pies and singing on judging evening? Green Christmas tree in the field? Solar lights? She knew she wouldn’t be here at Christmas, but that wasn’t the point. Reading this, she would probably crease up with laughter at all the compliments. But it’s all true, Lindy, and we’ll miss you terribly.
The things that come to mind when I think of Lindy are her positivity in the light of what she had to face day to day. I knew Lindy as a well person for a few years, and remember her then with her love for plants and her gardening work. Then later her garden always looked fabulous while she minded it from her chair and her bed. She inspired me a number of times with her knowledge of horticulture. Lindy took the “bull by its horns” when she had to confront her illness years ago and really defied predictions right to the end, when she faced it with frankness and clear eyed positivity.
Lindy was inspirational – at our gatherings to ostensibly discuss books, it never felt like Visiting the Sick. Lindy was always positive and interested in everyone – sensitive to our views and feelings. We did talk about books and read poetry aloud, but we also just talked and got to know each other better. Lindy was a facilitator, offering warmth, intelligent conversation and intuition – with a dash of naughtiness. The last time I saw her – no hugs or kisses of course, she showed me a gift one of her carers had made, knowing that I would love it too. She inspired me to make my own for Christmas presents. Typical of Lindy to be looking forward, thinking of others, while clear about her own chances – no self pity! Oh how we’ll miss her!
Lindy was one of my first friends when we moved to Littlehempston 37 years ago. Our immediate link was both having small children and both recognising the worth of our local school at Berry Pomeroy – in fact Lindy was the one who ensured that the school was given a new sign indicating that it was Berry Pomeroy AND Littlehempston primary school. Lindy was a fixture at school May Fairs with her badge-making machine – encouraging the children to colour in their own design so that she could turn it into a badge to be worn with great pride. She was also the driving force behind the school recipe book ‘In Good Taste’ – my copy is dog-eared and splashed with cake mixture, but it is a treasured memory of those times. Lindy was a supporter of all things ‘local’ – the Parish Council, locally grown food, the Littlehempston Environment Group which worked so hard 30 years ago to plant trees and improve local footpaths, but most importantly, she loved and supported her local friends with such a positive spirit. We will miss her.
Seeing Lindy walking down the school drive to my school. Pushing people in wheelchairs. Convincing her she could be the chair of the Berry Pomeroy Village School parents group. Enticing her with home made cakes. Introducing the Duke to the welcoming group at the school. Lindy was uncertain. I was tasked to meet him at the gate. I walked in with him to the room and announced him. Here he is – one duke. Lindy said it broke the ice. Lindy striving to have a play field for the children in the village. Neil obtained musicals she wanted to sing to. We sang our way through several!! Such an inspiration!! Tears falling…
Lindy was so many things. She was full of grace and warmth; she was gentle and resilient, she had great tenacity. Lindy was so instrumental and committed to the saving of the Tally and she continued all through her illness to join campaigns for positive change at both a micro and macro level. She was a good listener giving full attention to her visitors who she made to feel so welcome. At the LLLL she always had to hand a positive, funny poem to share and always reached out to people.
Her acceptance and the way she dealt with her own mortality was inspirational. Lindy’s wish was to die in her own home and her family, close friends and support team made this possible. I feel lucky to have known her. We all will miss her.
Ali, Anna, Christine, Jenny, Jill, Sandra, Val