Isabel
Isabel Wright
It was with great sadness that we heard the news that Isabel Wright had died last Friday. She had been suffering with pancreatic cancer. Isabel's joviality and smiling face had been familiar features at our concerts since the early 1990's when her husband Jim joined the choir.
Isabel was at the centre of all social activities in Great Easton and together with Jim they organised concerts and even a Barn Dance for us when we hosted Bohemiachor of the Czech Republic in 1998. When we travelled to Prague a year earlier Jim and Isabel were very much part of the team coping with accommodation - which will live long in the memory (not for good reasons)! Few on that trip will forget a two hour coach trip, a walk across moorland, a boat journey through limestone gorges, lunch, rehearsal, concert, banquet laid on by the local town council and a late night journey back to our dormitories with Isabel wearing her carpet slippers throughout saying “I thought we were only going for quick sightseeing trip”.
Jim retired from the bass section after a Cathedral weekend at Southwell Minster where we sang the services and gave a concert with the Central Band of the RAF in 2011 but both Jim and Isabel continued to support us at every concert right up until last Christmas. Isabel you will be greatly missed. Jim, our thoughts are with you.
Here are Isabel’s memories of VE day, recently published in the Great Easton parish magazine
I was 10 years old on VE Day. I just remember the excitement of my parents, and the relief they felt. The women in our short stretch of street began to organise a street party for the children.There was to be jellies, cakes and biscuits. I don’t remember any sandwiches...
It must have been late afternoon because Mums and Dads were all there. In Corby most of the men were in reserved occupations so in our street I can only remember 2 servicemen. It was a nice day and tables and chairs were brought out and set up in the road. There were about 20 children, and the women were busy bringing out the food.
A girl acrobat and dancer came to entertain us, she lived round the corner and I remember thinking, I didn’t know Betty McNulty could do that. My dad brought out our standard lamp as it got darker and someone had a radio.There was dancing and singing and everyone was very happy.
Isabel Wright (nee McEwan)
… and a Thank You from Jim for those that were able to stand at the roadside in Great Easton on the day of Isabel’s funeral.