Obituary: Audrey Annandale
Dec 21 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner
A WOMAN who dedicated her life to helping her community has died.
Audrey Annandale passed away at her Springwood home last week, aged 82.
A member of various community-based groups, she was best known for her tireless efforts in helping those in need around her.
She was born in Huddersfield in 1928 and lived with her family, including sisters Dorothy and Marjorie, in Fitzwilliam Street.
As a child she attended the school in Venn Street but left aged 14 to work as a waitress at cafes including one at the former ABC Cinema.
Audrey met her husband Lawrence at a dance at the town centre Co-op during the war and they eloped to Edinburgh to get married.
The couple lived at Fitzwilliam Street first and then later moved to Brackenhall with their five children Robert, Peter, Julie, Susan and Clive.
Their youngest son Clive suffered from cerebral palsy, and it was needing help getting the equipment he needed that led to Audrey becoming one of the first members of the Huddersfield branch of Scope.
She became a dedicated member of the charity, helping raise money to provide equipment and holiday grants for disabled people.
Audrey was also caretaker of Huddersfield Methodist Mission at the original Queen Street and King Street sites.
She was one of the first to open the building up to the homeless and would often take sandwiches to people living on the streets.
A regular church member, she would visit churches talking about different faiths and even tried to learn to speak Punjabi so she could speak to some of her neighbours.
Audrey was a member of the Kirklees Racial Equality Council and also volunteered her services as a governor of Huddersfield Technical College.
When her husband passed away in 1999, she continued to throw herself into community activities.
Then living at Springwood, she became involved with the Tenants and Residents Association as well a member of the main Kirklees Federation.
Audrey was always there when her neighbours needed help and it was down to her efforts that a piece of wasteland was transformed into a community garden.
Her daughter Susan said: “She was a wonderful, kind person.
“She was always trying to get people together and would help anybody if she could – she had an open heart and an open house.
Audrey also leaves 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
There will be a service at Huddersfield Crematorium on December 29. Donations will be given to Help for Heroes.
