Mary (left of centre, holding a paper) receiving an award from Margaret Wilson at the Summer Show, 2001
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Mary (left of centre, holding a paper) receiving an award from Margaret Wilson at the Summer Show, 2001
Our former Secretary and Summer Show Secretary, Mary Frings, passed away on 11th August 2007, after a long and very determined battle with cancer. She leaves behind her husband Jon, two sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She will be greatly missed, not only for her encyclopaedic knowledge of all things horticultural, but also for her kindness and generosity.
After a full and busy life in Bahrain as the mother of two sons, and working journalist, she and Jon moved to Uplyme in the late 1980s for the next phase of their life: retirement – but not a rest. Sailing trips, a climb up the Irish holy mountain Croagh Patrick at 73, and unstinting support for our Society, of course.
Her son Peter said ‘She believed strongly that “if you’re going to do something, do it wholeheartedly and to the best of your ability”.’ On her retirement 19 years ago, Mary threw herself into gardening, relieving 25 years of frustration from her time in Bahrain. Anyone who visited her organic garden will tell you that it was a model to inspire us all: she produced an amazing range of fruit and vegetables for the table, kept beautiful borders for display and cutting, and grew large numbers of plants on (as do other members of course) for our biannual plant sales.
Mary was always up at the front collecting trophies and awards at local produce shows. But she also quietly encouraged people in the background, and gave a lot back – in service to the Society, in judging other shows, and helping train other judges.
Those of us who attended her burial at St Peter’s and St Paul’s, Uplyme, were reminded of her individuality and spirit as we listened to the Arcadia Jazz Band playing her coffin into the cemetery.
We miss you, Mary!