Pakenham Village Tributes : Christine Joan Mumford

Christine who sadly for us, departed this life on November 25th 2013.

Christine and her husband Frank whom lived for many years at 6. Council Houses Fen Road were without doubt two of the kindest most helpful people, that I personally have known. With the certainty of a strong Methodist faith and a lifelong dedication to The Lord, Christine followed to the letter The Word of God and lived her life exactly to that end. Her belief was total.

Christine's belief gave her a decisive mind and a conviction that was as clear as a midsummer's day. One can recall, when my wife and I were kindly invited to the Village Hall for a celebration Mumford family event (it may have been a milestone event such as a birthday or an anniversary or something of that nature), after the meal which we had all enjoyed Christine got up to speak. Some of us who were there were unprepared for what we were about to hear from such a quiet and mild mannered lady.

The power and directness of the words were quite clearly delivered in such a way to encourage us to rethink the way we lived our daily lives and to move away from our bad habits. I am sure those words had an effect on all of us.

Christine knew and could quote the Bible at any given time and could sing every hymn in the hymn book and she will be a huge loss to this community.

Christine was born on 22nd. September 1927 at Flatts Lane Tostock to Eddie and Beatrice Houghton and was the oldest of six children. Christine was eight years old when her family moved to Eastern Green at Ixworth Thorpe and attended Ixworth Primary School. Five years on and the family moved to New Road Ixworth.

Christine left school at 14, the leaving age then and started work at Pakenham Lodge where she lived and provided domestic service. A few months later she had moved on to work at the Cross family home at Ixworth where her father worked as a cowman. During this time of employment she met Frank, who was lodging next door to Christine's home at New Road and a chat over the fence and a little help from sister Shirley led to romance and finally marriage on 20 th November 1948.

Christine and Frank started married life living with Frank's sister Hilda and her husband Frank Rush and then moved to Badwell Ash in February 1949 where the rent was a massive 6 shillings per week! In 1953 they moved to Number 6, The Council Houses, Fen Road, Pakenham where of course they remained until their passing.

In 1950 Anita their first child arrived followed by Stephen in 1954 and as Anita and Stephen grew up, Christine took on work at SCAMA Ltd. where Frank and Anita also worked. She later took on various cleaning jobs most notably at Hambling House Hotel in Pakenham for many years before the hotel was sold for private occupation.

Christine's love of God and the readings of the bible and indeed the truth and the lifestyle that The Bible gives were Christine's mantra. And her devotion was obvious to all who new her. Originally Christine and Frank attended Pakenham Methodist Chapel until its closing many years ago, then moving to Ixworth Methodist Chapel where in her early years she taught one of the Sunday school classes. Needless to say both were and have been the backbone of Ixworth Methodist Chapel ever since.

PV&CN - February & March 2014