Our thoughts are with those who have lost a loved one
Announcing the passing of a loved one in local news media is a long standing tradition and we are proud of the trust placed in us to make these important announcements. Every notice published to our newspaper and news site also appears on funeral-notices.co.uk – the UK’s number one site for death notices and memoriams. Every notice remains online forever providing friends and families with a lifelong tribute to their loved one, a safe place online to share memories, add tributes, photographs and make donations in memory.
Each week we pay tribute to the loved ones remembered in our area with a funeral notice and online tribute page. To read the latest announcements and add tributes to those from our area who have passed away, or to create a funeral notice yourself, click here . Alternatively, you can create a notice by calling the team on 01482 908084.
Here are a selection of notices published earlier this week.
Death Notices
Janet Nita BEDFORD
Formerly of Isleham passed away peacefully at her home in Newmarket surrounded by her family on Wednesday 26th November 2025, aged 87 years. Beloved wife to the late William Noel “Bill” and much loved mum of Tina and Tracy. Dear Grandmother to Thomas, Naomi (and Dan) and Rhys and Great Grandmother to Aria. Mother-in-law to Steve. Funeral service to be held at St Mary’s Church Newmarket, on Wednesday 17th December at 11:00am, followed by private interment. In honour of our beloved Mum, we kindly invite everyone to wear a little bit of sparkle nothing extravagant – just a small touch, i.e. Jewellery, a pin, or something subtle. Family flowers only please but donations may be made payable to The My Wish Charity (To support the Cardiac Unit) West Suffolk Hospital and left at the service or care of Southgate of Newmarket Funeral Directors, 25 Duchess Drive, Newmarket, CB8 8AG
William John CHALLIS
of Stapleford Passed away peacefully on 14th November 2025 aged 58 years. A much loved brother, uncle and great-uncle, who will be greatly missed. Funeral service shall be held at Cam Valley Crematorium on Thursday 11th December at 3:00pm. Family flowers only please. Donations in memory of William will be gratefully received for Cancer Research UK and can be made by visiting his in memory page at www.peasgoodandskeates.co.uk or sent c/o Peasgood and Skeates 45 Moorfield Road, Duxford CB22 4PP.
Daphne ELLIOTT
Daphne Sloan Elliott MBE, died aged 103 on 24th November. A much loved aunt and cousin to a large family. A career in nursing and pioneering health education in Croydon. Private funeral service on 23rd December. No flowers. Donations please to the Red Cross.
Janet May EVANS (Bell)
(Bell) 12-08-1932 to 24-11-2025 Wife of William/Bill (decd) Much loved mother of Io & Danae Wonderful Grandmother (Mamgee) to India & Tilly Great Grandmother of: Ellie-May, Finley and Sophia. Loved by family in the UK, Canada and Australia. Friend to many. Teacher at Homerton Nursery School Cambridge. Headteacher at Ditton Fields Nursery School Cambridge. Early years education was her passion and joy. Janet’s funeral will be held at the Cambridge Crematorium: Friday 12th December 10:30. Janet’s ashes will be interred at Barton Woodland Burial Ground on a date to be arranged. Enquiries to Co-opFuneral Care, James Street Cambridge 01223 080882. Family flowers only. Donations in Janet’s memory to the Red Hen Project Cambridge. redhenproject.org/give-support-2/donate/
David LEWIS
Beloved husband of Margaret, much loved Dad of John and Jane, loving grandad of Juliet, Eleanor, Maggie and Harry. Passed peacefully to rest on Sunday 16th November 2025 aged 93 years. Requiem Mass at St Laurences Roman Catholic Church, Milton Road, Cambridge on Friday 19th December at 11am followed by committal at Cambridge City Crematorium West Chapel at 1.15pm. Donations, if desired, made payable to CAFOD may be left at the service or sent to Richard Stebbings Funeral Service Ltd, Kendal House, Cambridge Road, Impington, Cambridge, CB24 9YS
Wendy PAYNE
of Mepal Former publican of The Bell Bottisham, passed peacefully away on 17th November 2025, aged 84 years. Much loved wife of Keith. Loving mother and mother-in-law to Cheryl & Ernie, Shane & Tracey and Nicola & Robert. Adored nana and great nana. She will be sadly missed by all her family and friends. Funeral service to take place at St Mary’s Church, Mepal on Monday 15th December at 1:00 pm, followed by a private family committal. Family flowers only please, but donations, if desired for East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) May be placed via Wendy’s in memory profile, by visiting www.cefuller.co.uk or sent c/o 23 Hall Street, Soham, Cambridgeshire, CB7 5BN. Telephone 01353 720 439
Joan Margaret RICKETT
On Monday 17th November in the attentive care of Hen Cloud House, Leek, Joan, aged 91 years passed away peacefully. The beloved wife of Robin (Bob) and much loved mum of Sally, Simon and Peter, grandmother and great grandmother. She will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her. Funeral will be held on Thursday 18th December 2025. Service at St. Edward’s Church, Leek at 11.30am, followed by private cremation at Carmountside Crematorium. Will family and friends wishing to attend kindly meet at the Church. Family flowers only please. Donations if desired to East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices or RSPB. Further Inquiries and donations via:- David H. Smith Funeral Directors, Fountain House, 17/21 Fountain Street, Leek. ST13 6JS. Tel. (01538) 399661. www.davidhsmith.co.uk
David James (Lord) SKEATES
Lifelong and dedicated Funeral Director, passed away very peacefully in his own home on the 25th November 2025, after an illness borne with fortitude, determination, and humour, with his children by his side. Beloved husband and soul mate of the late Marion, loving dad to Claire and James, much loved father-in-law, grandad, and brother-in-law. Also, dog father to many adored corgi’s past and present and a friend to many. He will be so greatly missed by all his family and many friends and all the numerous families he served and came to know during his lifetime as a Funeral Director. David was widely known to many through his family business.
Should you wish to pay your respects, the family would find great comfort to see familiar faces along the route of the cortege. Please be positioned along the route between Peasgood & Skeates, Duxford from 11.00am to Duxford Lodge, arriving 11.30am and between The Ickleton Lion from 11.45am to Ickleton Church arriving 11.55am. The funeral service will take place at Ickleton Parish Church on Saturday 20th December 2025 at 12 noon, followed by interment in Duxford Parish Cemetery. Bright colours may be worn at David’s request. Family flowers only please if desired donations in his memory can be made via Davids In Memory Page at www.peasgoodandskeates.co.uk or payable to Cancer Research UK to support their vital work and sent c/o Peasgood and Skeates, 45 Moorfield Road, Duxford, CB22 4PP. May his gentle soul rest in peace and rise in glory. Until we meet again.
Pamela Jean SMITH
Pamela, of Knights Meadow, Carnon Downs, so very sadly passed away at home, unexpectedly but peacefully, on the 26th November 2025, aged 89 Pamela was a kind, gentle and caring person. She loved the simple things in life such as walks with the family, listening to the brass band at the pavilion, Songs of Praise, and spending time with her precious grandchildren, who all affectionately called her ‘Cornwall Nanny’. She will be greatly missed by her adoring husband of 69 years, Ivor, and their cherished sons Brian and Andrew, Pamela was a loving Grandmother to Mark, Gary, Peter, Ivy, Shane, Kye, Dylan, and Great Grandmother to Theo, Freya, Skylar and India. Her loss is felt deeply by family and friends, whether near or far. A service in memory of Pamela will be held at Kernow Chapel, Penmount Crematorium, Truro, on Monday 15th December 2025 at 2.30pm. Family flowers only please, but donations in her memory will be to benefit the Cornwall Air Ambulance and can be received by retiring collection, or sent to the Funeral Directors at the address below. All enquiries to Funeral Director David Maddern at CFS Watters, Court & Maddern, Lemon Villas, Lemon Street, Truro, TR1 2NU. Telephone 01872 228900.
Donald ST LEGER
A much-loved husband to Pat, cherished father to Debra and Tracy, and to the late Donna and Steven, adored grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away at home in Redruth, surrounded by his family, on Saturday 22 November, aged 87. He will be deeply missed. A funeral service will be held at Treswithian Downs Crematorium on Tuesday 9 December at 2:00pm. Family flowers only, please, but donations in lieu to the Stroke Association would be gratefully received, either at the funeral service or made directly to the charity. Please direct any enquiries to Colin Matthews Funeral Directors, Camborne Business Centre, College Street, Camborne. Tel: 01209 717772.’
In Memoriams
Ida HALLETT
December 2nd 1998. Forever in our thoughts. Loving Daughters Ellen and Patricia, Son Gerald and Families. x x x Also remembering Dad and Brother John.
To add your own tributes to the loved ones from our area, or to publish a notice for your loved one, visit funeral-notices.co.uk
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those we have lost.
