Evelyn Tucker 1931-2025
We are sorry to report the sad death of our long serving organist, Evelyn Tucker, who passed away just before Christmas 2025. A Memorial Service was held in January and was attended by over 70 people.
Evelyn played the organ for over 80 years firstly at Heath House and when that church closed, she gave the same gift to East Brent. She was a constant presence and even serious illness only kept her away for a couple of weeks (in 2017 she underwent treatment for leukaemia and sepsis). She did not appreciate the new versions of the hymn books as she thought they had too many twiddly bits! As a result she had a stack of tune books by the organ and at home, to choose what she felt was the correct tune.
For forty years Evelyn was a teacher at Cheddar First School, retiring just before her 60th birthday. The many hundreds of children she taught in the Cheddar Valley received a wonderful start to their journey of lifelong learning.
It is true to say the church held a central place in her life. In addition to playing the organ, she meticulously kept the records for the collection envelopes, compiled the flower rota, was part of the life of the Circuit and other local Methodist Churches, especially in the Women’s Fellowship (latterly the Link Fellowship) where she played the piano, helped out with catering and shared stories and poems (both sacred and secular). She took a keen interest in sport and every Sunday would discuss the cricket and football scores or whatever sporting event was taking place at the time.
Evelyn passed away, peacefully on 23rd December aged 94 years. She was able to drive, play the organ and join in fellowship with those she loved to be with right up to end and most of all to die at the house she had been born in. Her many gifts, sound common sense and sense of humour will be missed by all who knew her. May she rest in peace.
Christmas Fayre December 2025
Thank you to everyone who supported our 2025 Christmas Fayre which had a “new look” this year. We are grateful to the All-Sorts Community Choir who provided musical entertainment in the form of Christmas Carols and Songs and which certainly put everyone in the Yuletide mood. We sold out of mince pies fairly early on but the soup was well received by those who stayed for some lunch. It was great to see and our church and hall so full of people both local and our friends from neighbouring churches. So far we have raised the sum of £365 but hopefully this may grow a little more in the days to come.
We were very pleased to welcome children from East Brent School to decorate our Christmas tree. Each child in the school made a decoration and the children from the Reception Class and the Pre-School walked to our church (with the help of staff and parents) and hang each decoration on behalf of the whole school. Didn’t they do a good job?
