Elsie Todd

This robust, unique character certainly had been – as had her family – but more specifically the award recognised her life-long contributions to the church and the community of Hackness on the edge of the North York Moors National Park, near Scarborough.

She was the youngest of three, their great grandfather George Todd having owned and managed the famous Saltergate Inn, the staging post between Pickering and Scarborough on the top of the Yorkshire Moors.

Her grandfather, William Todd, took on the tenancy of Lord Derwent’s farm at Silpho, near Hackness, in 1865, and it was there that he raised a family of five children.

George, Elsie’s father, worked on the farm until his marriage to Mary Knaggs when he took on the tenancy of Suffield Farm, a few miles away in the near-by hamlet of Suffield. Here Elsie was born along with her sister Mary and brother William.

She went to Hackness School, and attended St Peter’s Church from a very young age. She was 10 when her mother died, her father, helped by Mary and William, now looking after her. And the family moved a very short distance to Suffield Ings Farm, according to Elsie, for “better land.”

After George’s death, Mary, William and Elsie continued to farm it.

None of them married, and they lived as a close and harmonious family.

Elsie had special interests in the church, the tennis club, the cricket club and the Women’s Institute. William was church warden at St Peter’s for over 50 years, and on his death, Elsie took his place.

Mary was the first to die. William and Elsie eventually retired from Suffield Ings Farm, moving to Cockrah Foot in the village of Wrench Green, a short distance from their previous home and very close to St Peter’s Church and the community she loved and served.

Her indomitable spirit was marked by a positive, cheerful outlook that affected all she came into contact with.

Once she found herself locked in the church. She had been counting the collection in the vestry when the key holder, thinking the building was empty, locked the main church door.

Her common sense, rather than panic, came to the fore and with the ringing of the bell, Bessie at the post office was alerted and came to her rescue by calling the emergency services.

Despite the cold and the very long wait for her release, Elsie was full of thanks for everybody, and on the phone to relatives later that night said: “Well I couldn’t have been locked in a better place.”

With a good word for everyone, the closest she might come to a criticism was: “He tried very hard and did his best.”

More usually was heard “Well done” – and there was always a thank you. These qualities remained with her throughout her life, continuing even when she was gripped by pain and confined to a wheel chair.

Elsie was very proud of her family, often stating that the Todd’s were “good stock”. As regards herself, she maintained: “I’ve always tried to be a reasonable Todd.” Those who knew her disagreed: they considered her to be one of the best.

Whether it was ordering new tennis balls for the tennis club, counting the collection or baking a cake, it was done quietly and cheerfully, not to seek praise or thanks but because she wanted to do her bit.

She thrived on company and friendship, and is remembered with deep affection.

Elsie’s funeral is to take place St Peter’s Church, Hackness, on Monday, April 11, at 12.45pm.