A COMMUNITY stalwart has died and her funeral will take place this Friday.
Eileen Mortimore, the wife of Gerry, died peacefully on 25 February after a five-year battle with cancer.
Gerry plays a significant role in the voluntary sector in Wokingham. He has been a long standing member of the Wokingham Unicorn Club and for many years has taken a very active role in running their Wokingham Fireworks Spectacular, which has raised several hundred thousand pounds for local charities.
As well as organising the event each year he is the most active programme seller and must have knocked on tens of thousands of doors.
Gerry also joined The Rotary Club of Wokingham in 2001 and immediately took an active role in supporting Rotary’s work in eradicating poliomyelitis worldwide.
His contacts with Wokingham Borough Council and Town Council have resulted in the long oak seat which was erected in Market Place about 10 years ago together with the selection of a Council employee to attend a three-week exchange trip to Western Canada.
He has probably spent more hours with a collecting tin outside supermarkets than any other member. His tireless work was recognised with a Paul Harris Fellow award six years ago, an award within Rotary for ‘Service above Self’.
For the past five years Gerry has devoted his life to supporting Eileen and made countless trips with her to the Royal Marsden Hospital, where friends say she received exceptional treatment.
Eileen’s funeral will be at Easthampstead Park Cemetery and Crematorium at 1.30pm on Friday, March 18, followed by a reception in her memory at Sandmartin’s Golf Club.
Any ladies attending are asked to wear her favourite colour, fuschia or bright pink.
Those who wish to do so can donate to the Royal Marsden Hospital charity in memory of Eileen via http://memorygiving.com/eileenmortimore .
ALAN ROUSE
