2013 closed with the sad news that Audrey Hewes died on 17 December; news that was all the more stunning as just four days before she was her usual chirpy self at our museum Christmas lunch.

A larger than life character, Audrey was known and liked throughout the hockey world. Wherever there was a hockey event, Audrey was there. She will be so sadly missed.

Closer to home, Audrey was Ashford Hockey Club and I was Staines, two local rival clubs who were not always on the friendliest of terms, yet Audrey was someone who could bring peace and friendship to such occassionally difficult situations.

She was a lovely lady who imbued the true meaning of sport. She was a delightful, enthusiastic colleague at the Museum, always cheerful and smiling and it definitely won’t be the same without her. We will miss that lovely Leicester accent!
Other tributes can be found on the England Hockey website and the Ashford HC site.

Audrey’s cremation will be on Tuesday 14 January 2014 at 12.40pm at Hanworth Crematorium, Hounslow Road, Hanworth, Middlesex TW13 5JH.

There will be a reception for all afterwards at Sunbury Sports/Hockey Club, Court Meadow, Lower Hampton Road, Sunbury-on-Thames TW16 5PS. Flowers or donations (probably to the Diabetics Association) will be accepted and further details will be forwarded once the arrangements are confirmed. The idea at present is to forward the flowers after the event to a care home where a friend of Audrey and Robin’s (Audrey’s husband) is residing.

Following the autopsy on Monday of this week, the cause of death was established as a sudden and virulent attack of lobar pneumonia that got into three lobes of her lungs.

To donate in memory of Audrey please visit the Lodge Brothers website and donate using Audrey’s name.

Mike Smith, December 2013