Horse drawn send off for popular Chard family woman (From This is The West Country)

Horse drawn send off for popular Chard family woman

6:00am Thursday 13th September 2012 in Somerset

PEOPLE are invited to pay tribute to a popular member of staff at a Chard newsagent’s who died following a brave battle with illness on Friday, August 31.

The family of Margaret Lathom, 78, who also lived in Tatworth for a number of years, have been overwhelmed by the support they have received from the community and are holding a celebration of her life at St Mary’s Church on Friday from 12noon.

Margaret used to work as a cleaner at Manor Court Primary School and was a familiar face in the town – working at the corner shop on Coronation Street, in Balfour News as a shop assistant and organising Sunday newspapers at the Choughs. She also had a household item stall on the Boden Street market.

One of her requests was to have a horse drawn carriage and with difficulties arranging a route around the church in Tatworth, Bishop’s Funeral Services has arranged a route through Chard town centre.

Son David, 51, an appliance fitter with Chard Domestic Appliances, said: “They thought of another circuit, which was absolutely fantastic – Steve at Bishop’s has been brilliant.”

The procession leaves Summerfield Road at 11am and will head towards the Kings Head pub, before going onto Old Town, past the police station to the traffic lights where it turns left, goes up Fore Street, turning left into Holyrood Street and then out to St Mary’s Church.

David felt as his mother knewpeople from all walks of life, and from toddlers to the retired, it would be fitting for those that knew her to attend.

He added: “Whenever you came to see her the kettle was always on – everybody was welcome – so everybody will be welcome to the service.

"We want it to be a good send off.”