Fond Memories of Freda

It was with sadness that we heard of the passing of Freda Cheney, a major village personality & heart of the community for many years.

Freda's life was eloquently covered on the 29th November 2013 by the Daily Echo. Excerpts from the story are below:

"Lifelong community stalwart Freda Cheyney has died at Southampton General Hospital aged 93.

 

Something of an institution in the New Forest village of Milford on Sea, which, with nearby Everton, was her home for more than 80 years. Mrs Cheyney was renowned for her work with the Women’s Section of the local Royal British Legion, Milford Guides, charities and community events.

 

Freda Cheyney (centre)
 with two other former
Milford Guide Guiders

She was a member of the RBL Women’s Section from 1939, joining just a few months before the start of the Second World War, in which her father was wounded She served as chairman and as standard bearer to both the Milford and Hampshire RBL Women’s Sections, and on the central committee in London.

For 74 years she collected for the Poppy Appeal and organised holidays for service widows, and she was awarded Life Membership in 1980.

 

She joined the Guides when she was 12, and was in uniform for 53 years in various posts, including district commissioner. She was captain of the Milford Company for 45 years until 1986 when she retired under company rules.

 

Freda opening new Boots branch
in Milford on Sea High Street

Mrs Cheyney was born in London but her family moved to Everton in 1930, and she attended Milford on Sea School. She married printer Richard Cheyney in 1963 after a 27-year friendship, and they remained together until he died in 2000.

For 39 years she worked with engineering firm L. Nicholson & Co, until it closed in 1977, and she later worked as an office manager in a New Milton garage, retiring in 1986.

 

Mrs Cheyney founded the Lymington branch of the Guide Dogs for the Blind charity in 1962, she helped on the Milford Village Committee organising the Milford on Sea Carnival and other events, particularly a fundraising Duck Race.

In the 2002 New Years Honours she was made an MBE for her services to the community.

 

In 2011, past and present members of Milford Guides gathered to mark Mrs Cheyney’s 90th birthday alongside the 90th anniversary of their group, which she headed for nearly half a century."

Quite a life by anyone's standards, and a rare person who did so much for others for so long.

Freda will be fondly remembered by her friends and all that knew her.