The funeral of Fay Nicholls took place at St Mary’s Church on Thursday, April 14th

Miss Nicholls was a popular Ross-on-Wye resident who was well-known as a guider with the local Brownie unit and as a bell-ringer at St Mary’s church.

Fay was born in Hereford Hospital on March 7th, 1969 but moved, with her family, to Ross-on-Wye in 1974. She attended Ashfield Park Primary School and then John Kyrle High School. Her favourite subject was maths but she also learnt the clarinet and made full use of the library.

Fay had summer jobs babysitting and helping out at Annettes Hair Salon.

After school she studied maths at university in Plymouth and Teeside.

Her fascination with numbers led to her work with several local companies including Thorpe and Thorpes and Okells and, in 2011 she started work as a legal costs draughtsman in Monmouth which she throughly enjoyed.

Maths also played a part in one of her main interests, bell ringing.When Fay was in her 20s she responded to an Open Day invitation to see inside the church tower after the bells had been restored.

Fay was a quick learner and was very enthusiastic, encouraging others and becoming a good friend to all of them. She served the church in many capacities including as Tower Captain and secretary.

Fay joined the Brownies in Ross when she was nine, a little later than most girls as she did not want to start until her sister could. However her association with Guiding was a long one.

She became a Guide, then a Ranger and after university she became Tawny Owl, one of the leaders, with 3rd Ross Brownies until 2011, when she became Brown Owl.

Fay enjoyed everything Guiding has to offer, from camping to dressing up and she recently took part in a sleepover at the science museum.

Fay also loved walking and helping her parents in their garden, after battling breast cancer she treated herself to a ticket to see Meatloaf at Warwick Castle and her sister, Claire, said she enjoyed every minute of it.

Fay’s parents, David and Edith, and her sister Claire are very grateful to everyone who has supported them and attended Fay’s funeral.