Death of Dilys Biggs, 100
Dilys Myfanwy Rose Biggs, a resident of Rutland Manor Nursing Home in Ilkeston, died on 22nd August, two months short of her 101st birthday. She was buried next to her husband Arthur James Biggs in Park Cemetery.
Her son Neil told us: “The wake at Hogarth’s was as nice as it could be but the sadness was compounded by the early evening announcement of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Mum was an avid royalist and for the Queen to die on mum’s funeral day was deeply shocking.”
Dilys was born into a family of five. She had four brothers Ronald, Ken, Malcom and Paul. Her parents were Etta and Herbert Newton of 8 Nelson Street, Cotmanhay.
Her first job was as a lift operator at Carrier & Sons Ltd. Later she moved on to their cutting section in the hosiery department. She soon became skilled in that trade and moved to Booths Hosiery factory on Awsworth Road, Ilkeston where she worked until the onset of the second world war. She was then seconded to help the war effort by working at Stanton Ironworks helping on the production of bombs.
In 1942 she met Arthur Biggs who also worked at Stanton. They had a hard but happy life resulting in two children: Neil Biggs born in 1948 and Janis, now Eaton, born eleven years later.
Neil told us: “They were married for 63 years until my dad died in February 2008, aged 86. Mum had four grandchildren, Lindsey, Kirsty, Nicholas and Natalie and four great grandchildren Jacob, Rosie, Blake and Amelia, all of whom she loved greatly.
“Mum loved old time dancing with dad, who had two left feet according to Mum. They enjoyed many dancing holidays with various dancing clubs around the Ilkeston area. Sadly, after dad died Mum started with dementia which gradually got worse until she had to go into a home.
“The carers at Rutland Manor Nursing home looked after her with great skill and kindness and they gave her a lovely 100th birthday celebration – despite Covid restrictions – on 18th October 2021. The birthday card she received from the Queen was a special delight.
“I would like to thank all the staff at the home, Revd Andrew Baguley of St Mary’s Church and Lymn’s undertakers for their kindness and professionalism. Mum was known to many people in Ilkeston and I know they will be saddened to hear of her passing.”
