Peggy Eileen arrived in this world on 10 January 1932, the middle child and elder daughter of Rose and Dick Warnes. She was born at home in Mendham, where she grew up.
After a happy childhood, illustrated by some lovely photos of her enjoying a day at the seaside, paddling in the water with her younger sister Pam, and on Sunday School outings, she left Mendham School at 14 and went to work in the village shop in nearby Withersdale, which was owned by her Dad’s brother Charlie. Another of her Uncle Charlie’s assistants was Cyril Blyth who would later become her brother in law when he married Pam.
By the time she was 16 Peggy had met the love of her life. A local farmer’s son, Jack Debenham was one of ten children so she acquired a large new family to add to her own when they married on 18 July 1953.
A lively, friendly person, Peggy loved being surrounded by her new in laws, which was just as well as Jack worked on the family farm, which he later ran with three of his brothers.
They moved to a pretty cottage by the farm in St Margaret’s South Elmham. Pretty as it was, typically for a rural house in the 50s, there were no modern amenities – the loo was outside and the bath was tin!
In 1956 Peggy gave birth to her adored son Anthony, and never one to sit and do nothing, she integrated motherhood into her busy life.
This meant walking, pushing the pram, into Mendham to visit her parents, and then home again to St Margaret’s, going fruit picking at Hamilton’s farm, taking Anthony along with colouring books and pencils to keep him amused while she worked.
Alongside this, her family and friends were welcome to pop in to her house at any time where they would invariably be greeted by a big smile, a hug, a cup of tea and a huge selection of home made cakes.
One of Peggy’s great talents was baking, which she loved. Whist drives were another hobby – sometimes she managed to pack in four in a week!
When her beloved Dad died in 1963 Peggy had no hesitation in inviting her widowed Mum to live with her, where she stayed for the rest of her life.
In 1972 Jack and his brothers decided the time had come to give up the farming life, so the family moved to Bungay. The furniture was moved by Jack’s brother Roly, in his farm lorry!
The larger, modern bungalow gave Peggy the opportunity to entertain friends and family, who all remember her fantastic parties and barbecues, to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries – or just because she felt like it!
The main thing she loved about the new house – apart from the indoor loo and bathroom! – was the garden. Jack took care of the vegetables while Peggy grew the flowers and made it look so beautiful that she won a prize for the Best Garden in Bungay!
As Anthony grew up she went back to work at Norvic Shoe Factory in Bungay and later Crooks Meat Factory in Harleston.
It wasn’t all work however – as well as her social life Peggy found time for holidays in Switzerland, Austria and Canada among other places.
Sadly, Jack fell ill in 1998 and Peggy cared for him devotedly until he died. Peggy had lost her soul mate and was devastated, but typically she carried on until she sadly died on 19 February 2014, without complaint and learned to enjoy life with the family and friends she loved.
In return, we all loved her, and will always remember her lovely beaming smile, her laugh, her sense of humour and her kindness.