Anita passed away on Sunday 8th April wrapped in the love of her family. Anita was diagnosed with bowel and liver cancer just before Xmas. In true Anita style she decided to fight and was determined it wouldn’t beat her. Sadly she got an infection and spent two weeks in the Hospice in March but ever strong she defeated that and returned home. Unfortunately she was not able to fight a second infection that took hold within days of coming home.
Anita joined us in 2000 shortly after enrolling her eldest Daughter Charlotte in the Cubs and it was after a District Camp that she and her Husband Barry joined us as Leaders. She didn’t know that she had just been awarded her 15 year Long Service Award for Scouting. Anita brought with her many skills but mainly her ability to have fun and her devil may care attitude. She will be remembered by many of our now younger leaders for her encouragement and “deals” about eating the food on camp. I hear an echo of “it’s not on your form so you will try it”. We have some very wonderful memories of exploits and adventures on many camps. Her infamous King John on Robin Hood Camp at Phasels, the Leader of the Daleks on Dr. Who Camp Thriftwood. She was always eager to take the “baddie” role and to teach that there is good in everybody and to bring out the best in our young people. She did so with such gusto and many laughs along the way and this is why she was so loved by all the Cubs and Scouts. She saw each of her own children Charlotte, Ben, Sophia and Sam achieve such wonderful things and to keep up tradition made us promise to keep a space for her grandson Matthew.
Anita and Barry moved on to take a short spell of leadership with the Broadstairs Explorers and her experience of dealing with teenagers came in very useful.
Anita’s funeral is on Friday 20th March at 9.20am at Thanet Crematorium. Flowers and Donations please to Nobles Funeral Directors in St. Peters. Donations will be divided between Cancer Research and the Pilgrims Hospice.
Anita will be fondly remembered by all at 14th.
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