SHEILA Walshaw, who undertook the task of researching the lives of all the men named on a Wye Valley village war memorial, has died.

The Howle Hill Memorial Garden Project team said it wished to acknowledge Sheila’s research on the war memorial, and other historical projects, including the memorial garden in the village, which sits between Lydbrook and Ross, as she was one of the project’s key contributors.

Sheila was a member of the Walford Parish Residents’ Association and a significant contributor to their book A History of Walford and Bishopswood in which she wrote the chapter on housing.

Virginia Morgan and Yolande Watson from the memorial garden’s project team explained that less than a month before her passing on Friday, August 23, Sheila handed over a large box of valuable archive material.

Aside from her research into the men named on the memorial, and their families, the box also contains her detailed notes and photographs relating to other memorials in the local area, in Bishopswood, Walford, Goodrich and Marstow.

Sheila, who for many years was the treasurer for the Walford Village Hall committee, was a quiet, dignified person and diligent researcher with a keen eye for detail.

The project team members added: “Sheila’s work will not be forgotten because she has left an important legacy for the next generations to read.

“Once our project is completed, we will hand over her research to the Herefordshire Archives and Record Centre.”

The Howle Hill Memorial Garden’s recent open day which was followed by hosting a stall at Walford’s Fun Day also provided the researchers with additional information about the village and its lime kiln industry.

Two photograph albums of Howle Hill dating from 1897 to the 1990s were donated by Sara Ayliffe (nee Wilce). 

A steady stream of visitors to both events saw two local historians, both with family links to Howle Hill and Forest Green, who were able to help the researchers link the dots between various families and generations.

One visitor, Andrew Gardiner from the Forest of Dean, enlightened the team with many stories including how his uncles had 'lime throat' which is a painful upper respiratory disease from working with lime over many years.  

The researchers also discovered that several relatives of people who had passed on weren't happy where the memorial was placed in 2004, and expressed their delight in the proposals for it to become the central point of the memorial garden.

Virginia and Yolande thanked everyone who came and talked to them, shared their knowledge and their memories and added: “We are especially grateful for their kind words and the gratitude expressed over our efforts to create the memorial garden.”