The funeral was held on Tuesday at Heighington for a well known character from Heighington, Rosemary Boynton. Rosemary was born in Heighington and spent her life serving the community.
During the 60’s and 70’s Rosemary and her husband Arthur ran the popular Fish and Chip shop in Heighington. Customers came from all over the local area and they often delivered up to a hundred fish and chip suppers to night shift workers on the trading estate.
Rosemary was forthright and tenacious but remained a popular figure in the village. She was instrumental in the opening and extension to the village hall when it was closed as a school in 1961; A facility which is invaluable to the village and well used even now.
She spent many years as a Parish Councillor and also a District Councillor where she fought for a fair deal for Heighington and the rural areas, often leading campaigns such as better street lighting, children’s playing areas and keeping a local doctor’s surgery open.
During her lifetime she was an active member of The WI, attending a conference in London to represent Heighington, and enjoyed the homemakers, the church services and activities, the over sixties and remained a trustee of Heighington Village Hall all her life.
Councillor Gerald Lee gave a glowing tribute to her at the funeral quoting from messages of sadness and respect for her work from Linda Todd manager of democratic services in Darlington, Heather Scott Leader of Darlington Conservative Group and the Head of Darlington Council
As well as this she was a devoted Daughter, Wife to Arthur for 56 years, Mother to her 4 children, Grandmother to 8 and Great Grandmother to 7 and will be greatly missed by them all.
The family would like to thank Bethany House, Durham Stroke unit and local doctors for their excellent care and also John Blenkiron and Sons Funeral Directors and The Reverend Lissa Gibbons for the lovely Service.
Contributions are being accepted by The Village Hall for a lasting memorial to the time she gave to the village.
