Greta died on 21st August 2025. Those who knew her and worked alongside her at village events must wonder if we shall ever see anyone as devoted to the village again.
Greta was born in Cottingham and on leaving school worked as a tailor in Kettering and later at Symington’s in Market Harborough. She married Keith Hill in 1953, the Hills being a numerous village family. Greta and Keith were able to move straight into their house on Harborough Road and Greta still lived there till she died 71 years later. She had three sons, who survive her, Adrian, Clive and Graham. Keith died in 2014.
It is hard to do justice to Greta’s many services to the village. She was a member of the Parochial Church Council for many years and then did sterling work for the Age Concern group, which arranged meals in the village hall for elderly residents and coach trips to places of interest, as well as visiting older residents living alone. She was a key member of many fund-raising groups – for church repairs, for the restoration of the church bells and to set up the bus shelter on the Harborough Road. The church fund-raising at one time involved Greta and Daisy Haynes going round the village in a van collecting old papers and cardboard to sell at a scrapyard. She helped organise jumble sales and discos in the village hall. She was on the church cleaning rota and embroidered kneelers in the church and the two boards of signatures of people who donated to the funds (one is now in the church and one in the village hall). She visited newcomers to the village and helped to make them feel welcome. She helped to raise money for new crockery and a cooker in the village hall.
In later years, after retiring from work at BT and then at Ward’s Electrical, she played bowls with Keith for Market Harborough Bowls Club.
Greta symbolised the spirit of community in the village, working tirelessly to improve people’s lives here and keep village institutions going. Her passing marks the end of an era in village life.
Tribute written by Alan Langley with Adrian, Clive and Graham Hill, September 2025