Bill, Sarah, Hannah and Andy would like to invite well-wishers to share their thoughts of Irene, who passed away at home on 15 January 2022. Irene will be cremated on 3rd February 2022.

The family have chosen not to hold a funeral. Instead, her ashes will be placed beneath a rowan tree planted in Irene’s memory at Fedw Farm in the Brecon Beacons National Park.

In lieu of flowers or cards, the family encourage wellwishers to donate to the Art Fund.

Irene did many things with her life. As a young woman she travelled across Europe and Asia and ran a craftworking business in London. From her workshop in Kingston-upon-Thames, she made leather goods that she sold at fairs and markets across London and the Home Counties, with her possible highlight being Bob Dylan’s week of concerts at Earls Court in 1978.

She later moved to the Forest of Dean with Bill, where she established a new business and began a family. From a workshop at the Dean Heritage Centre, Irene and Bill produced woodcrafts that they sold in the Centre and on the road at craft fairs, markets and festivals.  

After the family moved to Aberdare, Irene decided to go back to school and gained an Art degree. The house filled up with sketchbooks and ceramic studies, as well as fat books about philosophy. During her studies, she went on trips to Prague, Amsterdam and Florence and she fulfilled a long held wish to visit New York City.

In recent years, Irene dedicated herself to care. Not only did she support Sarah every day, but she was active in the local disability and caring community. Irene got involved with local activities for carers and people with learning disabilities & autism, she helped interview trainee social workers, and was a founding member of the RCT Creative Writing Group which began life as a carers group.

While we are deeply saddened to have lost Irene, we take comfort in knowing that she will be living her best life in the great workshop in the sky. Unimpeded by aches and pains, unburdened by responsibility, she is free to craft by day and spend the celestial nights partying with Hendrix, Joplin and Jack.