Local Face: Judith Hacking

Judith has been a well known face in and around Wendover since she moved here in April 1960. She had been living in Buckinghamshire since 1953 and as her parents, Alan and Kitty, were enthusiastic members of Ellesborough Golf Club a move to be nearer their favourite pastime seemed very sensible.

In 1959 Judith was introduced to the pleasure of Scottish Dancing in Southcourt and became completely hooked when a friend introduced her to Lucy Clarke’s Scottish Dancing Group in Amersham in 1961 and she kept up the active interest until 1994. It even led to Scottish Dancing in her own garden some idyllic summers evenings.

For about 30 years Judith was an intrepid traveller being very familiar with Austria and the Nordic countries during the 1950’s and 60’s branching out to North America in 1959 and including an epic 3½ month safari from Mombassa to Cape Town by landrover through Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) to South Africa from August to November 1965, coming home by sea. Now she delights in returning to her childhood haunts in remote Yorkshire and near the sea in South Wales.

Judith moved down from Ellesborough Road to the centre of Wendover in 1977 as her parents were retiring. She became a member of St Mary’s Parochial Church Council in 1985. Inevitably, with her background, she was Treasurer from 1988-96 and remembers working closely with Andrew Meynell the then Vicar of Wendover.

Judith was also recruited as Treasurer to Abbeyfield House in Dobbins Lane and served in this capacity from 1988-2000. She returned as a committee member from 2005 until 2007 when it merged with the National organisation and has continued to be a member of the much smaller social committee.

During this time Judith had been an articled clerk in Tring but later worked as an accountant in Chesham followed by Aylesbury, a brief spell in Sheffield and finally for Mr Maurice above what is now Florence Nightingale Hospice Shop. This became of great significance in 1977 when Mr Maurice became the first Treasurer/Secretary of Wendover Community Trust and Judith became the bookkeeper. The only other surviving members are the chair Tony Mogford and the founder, Lord of the Manor, Lionel Abel-Smith. The Trustees were delighted that last year they were able to celebrate 30 years and giving away one million pounds to the people and organisations of Wendover. In addition to individuals helped in all sorts of ways, Wendover Community Trust has contributed towards our Schools, Swimming Pool; Bowls, Cricket and Tennis Clubs; Scout and Guide Huts; Memorial Hall and has pledged money towards the rebuilding of St Anne’s Hall.

Wendover News has received many requests nominating Judith as a Local Face. Neighbours are always sure of a friendly word and smile in the street and Judith regularly pops in to see old friends as part of her busy schedule. Judith has so many friends in Wendover who would like to thank her for being such a wonderful neighbour over the years.