Audrey was born 4th June 1930 in Eltham, SE London, where she lived until approx 1948 - except for a brief period of evacuation.
After school she became a member of Equity and joined a repertory theatre company touring southern England. After a while her father became ill, and she moved back home to assist her mother. She obtained a job leading conducted tours of a Mother's Pride bread factory.
In 1950 Audrey married Rip, who had been a wartime pilot, and moved to the Midlands where Rip had a job has the area manager for Firestone Tyres.
Their son Roger was born 1953, at Stoke on Trent.
Early in the 1960s the family moved to Lytham. Audrey and Rip led busy lives founding (in 1966) and developing a company called Industrial Energy Costs, which later became Inenco. This was ahead of its time, acting as consultants re the procurement and conservation of energy for other companies. Their first office was above Woolworths (now B&M Bargains) in St Annes.
Sadly Rip died in 1990 leaving a bequest, such that Audrey began work to create a place to support local art and culture. After extensive renovations the old TSB bank became Lytham Heritage Centre and opened in April 1997, in proud memory of Rip.
For nearly thirty years Audrey devoted her time, talent and energy to develop the Centre’s exhibition space to host local artists’ and heritage exhibitions. She was a force of nature, always looking for improvement to the space and it’s use. Many artists and those who helped with the exhibitions learned from her and appreciated her knack of knowing how to set up an exhibition. She knew when a group of paintings looked right on the wall - and said if they did not.
Every year until the last dozen years she would produce one or more heritage exhibitions - in the early days cutting out photos and sticking them onto card with captions. These exhibitions told the history of all manner of local aspects, such as wartime, sports, and theatrical history.
Somehow she found the time to volunteer at Lytham Hall as well.
Despite her busy life in Lytham, Audrey spent many weeks away satisfying her continued love of travel. She went to many countries all over the world and even in her 80’s she travelled through Guatemala and Columbia. When asked if she had any hairy moments she said “Not really, although in Columbia our taxi had to do a detour due to some shooting going on somewhere.”
Audrey spent much time in America visiting her son - being 93 when she last made the journey. It was no bother to her.
She was stewarding at the Centre up to few months ago, and many will remember her welcoming smile, her innate sense of style and impeccable taste. Audrey will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
She died on Saturday 14th March after a long illness, bravely borne.