Julie helps others, even in death
THE family of a well-known West Norfolk community worker and churchwarden, say allowing her organs to be used in transplants is helping them come to terms with her sudden death.
Julie Davies (50), of Wallington, an active trade unionist, collapsed at Unison's National Women's Conference, at Harrowgate International Centre on Thursday afternoon. She was rushed to Harrowgate Hospital, and then transferred to Leeds General Infirmary, where she died the following day.
"Julie was a very firm supporter of organ donation and we always knew that if something like this happened this is what she would have wanted. Someone who's had a massive cerebral haemorrage, who has otherwise been quite healthy, makes an ideal donor," said her husband, Alan, recalling how bouyant and excited his wife was when he drove her to Downham Station on Thursday morning.
"She was full of zip and at the height of her powers – so active and effective in all the things she did, in the community, the church and the union," added Mr Davies, who is a lay minister at St Edmund's Church, where his wife was a churchwarden.
Mrs Davies also drove a local mobile library for several years before moving to Gaywood Library where she was assistant librarian and union representive.
She was chairman of Downham Festival Committee for five years, and remained on the committee after retiring from office two years ago.
When her children, Hugh (26) and Julia (20) were smaller, she ran a local playgroup, and later drove the Downham Paybus around the villages, and ran a youth club at Runcton Holme.
"There's no doubt about it, she functioned really well on committees and was an incredible organiser. They breed them tough in Yorkshire and she would tackle anything," said Mr Davies, recalling how he and his wife, and young son, moved to Downham in 1985 after the effects of the miners' strike destroyed their small shop business and rendered them bankrupt.
The couple soon became involved in West Norfolk community and church life.
"Julie was born and bred in Barnsley and it seems strange that having escaped from the place, she ended up dying in Yorkshire," said Mr Davies, adding she never did things by halves.
"There were 300 women in the hall that afternoon and she collapsed in the middle of it all, bringing everything to a standstill. Some people were surprised I led the intercessions at church on Sunday, but I couldn't bottle out. She would have told me not to be such a wimp."
Paula Kellingray, the present chairman of Downham Festival Committee, said: "Julie was such a lively and bubbly person and she will be sadly missed.
"With the festival, if there was something that needed to be done then Julie would be there. She was such an amazing lady and just took everything in her stride.
"She was chairman for five years and even after stepping down had stayed on the committee and was our programme co-ordinator."
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
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