Today I heard that Elizabeth Capleton died at the end of May. The name may not mean that much to most people but Elizabeth was a leading figure in the village a few decades ago and lived in Firs Road. Her husband Alan was a well known local dentist.
Elizabeth was a former parish councillor and was on the governing body of Hethersett Middle School (now Hethersett Junior) for a number of years, including a period when I was chair of governors.
I particularly valued her support to have a dangerous art and technology block at the front of the school pulled down. The building had asbestos in the roof. It was replaced by a new technology block towards the back of the school and there is a plaque there commemorating the day Elizabeth opened the new area.
Elizabeth was 79 and died in a care home in Wymondham. I think it would be fair to say that we didn't always see eye to eye but there is no doubt that Elizabeth's heart was always in what was best for the village. I will be doing a more extensive piece for the next Hethersett Herald and I know tributes will be paid at next Monday's parish council meeting.