KIND AND FRIENDLY LIBRARIAN WILL BE MUCH MISSED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Chris Ramsdale - warm, kind and cheery

                                                                                                             
 FORMER Grimsby woman Christine Ramsdale (nee Knight) was fondly remembered at her funeral this afternoon.

The ex-pupil of Wintringham Girls’ School had been living in recent years in the Skegness area where she and one of her two daughters ran a holiday cottage business in Croft.

For much of her life she had worked as a librarian, including a spell at one within a prison,  and it was while volunteering at the public library housed in Magdalen College, Wainfleet All Saints that she died suddenly of a heart attack, aged 73, on December 1.

In her funeral address, daughter April described her mother as “warm, kind, cheery” and an excellent conversationalist.

April went on to read an excerpt from her mother's favourite poem, Tennyson’s Lady of Shalott.

Christine (known as ‘Chris’ to family and friends) was born in Lockington, Leicestershire, after the wartime evacuation of her family from their home at Hackney in North London.

During her varied life, she had lived in Grimsby and   many different parts of the country. She was twice married (the first time after eloping to Gretna Green) and had travelled extensively, notably last year to India. 

Before her death, it is understood she had completed the manuscript of a book with the amusing title: Who  Do I Think I Am?

As well as April, she leaves Sueellen and son Geoff, grandchildren  Jodie, Louis, Natalie, Jasmine, Amber and Alfie, great granddaughter Megan and sisters Linda and Kathryn.

Christine had wide cultural interests and loved animals - she once kept goats - and, indeed, all wildlife, regularly feeding squirrels, ducks, swans and other birds.

She had lived long enough to recall a time when Lincolnshire used to be known as “the aviary of England”.

She was also an authority on all aspects of  astrology.

The funeral, held at St Giles’ Church, Scartho, was conducted with great compassion by the Rev Sheena Cleaton who reminded the 35 or so mourners, including friends from Wainfleet, that the service provided an opportunity not just to mourn Christine’s loss but also to celebrate her life.

Afterwards, more fond memories were shared at a gathering Millfields Hotel on  Bargate, Grimsby.

The arrangements, handled with consummate good grace and  professionalism, were by Kettle Funeral Directors of Granville Street,  Grimsby.

Christine was immensely popular with colleagues and book-barrowers at Wainfleet Library.

It is appropriate, therefore, that donations in her  memory can be made payable to Magdalen Museum Community Hub, c/o Wainfleet Library, St John Street, Wainfleet All Saints, Lincolnshire  PE24 4DN.