Hungerford's first carnival queen dies
Freda Annetta Horwood (nee Giles) died at her home in Thatcham, aged 98 years.
She had lived in the town she knew and loved well until 1985, when she decided to move nearer her family.
Her son Peter, aged 65, of Bradfield, said: “She knew everyone in Hungerford. She used to pop out to go to the shops at 9am and not come back until 4pm because she’d meet so many people on the way.”
Mrs Horwood was 17-year-old when, in 1933, she was crowned Carbival Queen.
Mr Horwood said: “There had been a carnival the previous year, but no queen. It was a big deal in those days and the carnival lasted all week with joursting on the river and all sorts.”
Mrs Horwood and her twin brother Alfred were born in Hungerford in 1914 just a few days before the outbreak of world war 1 to parents Harry and Beatrice Giles.
Her father was a well-known coal merchant and haulage contractor who had taken over the family business from his father.
Mrs Horwood was a girl guide and was later in the trfoil guild.
She played both football and cricket in Hungerford’s Women’s teams, was involved in amateur dramatics and enjoyed singing.
She married Francis Horwood in 1943 but sadly she was widowed when she was aged just 52.
Mr Horwood said: “She never lost her zest for life. It took six attempts to pass her driving test when in her 50s. In the 1970’s she appeared on TV’s Houseparty with Mary Morris where she presented her famous plum pie - her mother’s recipe.
“The TV series was about regional dishes and she represented Berkshire.”
Mrs Horwood also leaves two granddaughters and four great grandchildren.
She leaves a son, two granddaughter’s two great granddaughters and two grandsons.
Cremation will place at 11.15am on Friday, April 12 at Thatcham Crematorium.