Thame’s oldest resident, Marjorie Hulett, died peacefully at home on Wednesday 10 March, just four months short of what would have been her 107th birthday. Marjorie moved to Thame in 1996 in order to be near her son John and his wife Janet’s family after he had been appointed headteacher of Barley Hill Primary School.
She was born in East Ham, London in 1914, lost her own mother when she was only 8 years old and lost her first husband, an RAF airman, in a flying accident at the beginning of the second world war. She married John’s father in 1948, living first in Gidea Park, Essex, then Tunbridge Wells, and then New Milton in Hampshire, before her move to Thame. She was widowed for a second time in 1979.
During her time in Thame, Marjorie regularly worked at Oxfam until she was 101 and was a very active member of U3A, running a music appreciation group at her home and attending an art group which she much enjoyed. She was made an honorary member in 2014.
Her son John commented, ‘Marjorie has had an amazing life, living through more than a century of such dramatic change in the world and having to cope with much personal tragedy. Despite all this she never dwelt on the past but was always looking forward to the new opportunities that life offered her. Her love of family (two grandchildren and four great grandchildren) and her passion for gardening, music and art were what kept her going for so many years. We will miss her so much’
Marjorie received three cards from the Queen and visits from Thame mayors on her special birthdays.
The family are hoping to arrange an exhibition of her paintings as a celebration of her life when pandemic restrictions are lifted.
