TRIBUTES have been paid to much-loved Lynne Laight who died, aged 71, after a brave fight.
Lynne, the wife and consort of Bromsgrove District Council chairman Coun Rod Laight, passed away on October 29.
She was born in Selly Oak Hospital on December 7, 1949, and grew up in Oldknow Road, Small Heath.
The family moved to Alvechurch when she was 11 and she passed her 11+ to get into Redditch County High School where she was good at most sports.
She excelled at hockey and was awarded the school’s highest accolade – the Victrix Ludorum medal.
She played a high level of hockey for Redditch, spending some time as captain.
Her sister Ann was born just before Lynne’s 12th birthday and Lynne relished her role as ‘second mum’ and big sister.
They were always close, calling each other at least once-a-week.
Lynne and Rod met at the weekly dance at the Hopwood Caravan Club in 1965 and their love blossomed.
When Rod joined the Merchant Navy to save enough money for a house deposit, they missed each other so much
Rod asked the ship’s captain to release him from the BP Oil contract after five months.
The pair married on January 10, 1970, and lived in their first home in Studley for 15 years.
During this time, Lynne worked at the Redditch tax office – a job she loved and only left when son Jon was born in October 1975, closely followed by their daughter Ann in August 1977.
Lynne made a lot of new friends in Studley and enjoyed the many village activities.
In December 1985 the family moved to Southcrest in Redditch where many people were made welcome, so much so some stayed for months at a time.
The guest list even included stars, such as England 1966 World Cup winners Jack Charlton and Geoff Hurst who stayed when visiting as after dinner speakers at Redditch United Football Club.
After Jon and Ann joined Redditch Swimming Club, Lynne got involved in running it, becoming a qualified swim teacher and later its president for a number of years.
After standing down, having taught hundreds of people to swim, she was made a lifelong member in recognition of her hard work and commitment.
Lynne was well-known for her sense of humour and being humble, always underplaying her valuable roles – particularly in the family business as a company director and secretary.
When the Laights and Truslove family invested in a Menorca holiday home, Lynne was in seventh heaven and so many friends and relatives went to stay there.
Lynne’s ability to learn language and her fluent Spanish helped her form close friendships with many Menorcans.
At her funeral at St Laurence’s Church in Alvechurch today, Lynne was described as a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother. She loved being with Georgia, Sophia, Lara and Rhea and cooking for them during weekend sleepovers. She was committed to the whole family, providing unstinting support and striving to fit everyone into her life.
Lynne leaves numerous legacies, including family trees she researched and a lovely garden she planned and continually added to with her passionate knowledge of trees and plants.
Lynne’s last two yeas were very tough and she faced her fight with extraordinary bravery.
Rod hardly left her side and their bond was tightened. Support and visits from Jon and Ann and calls from Michelle and the family kept her spirits up, along with her granddaughters’ lives and achievements.
She was a great supporter of the Marlbrook Conservative branch and cherished letters and words of support from Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid who attended the funeral earlier today.
Lynne was a proud member of the Primrose Choir and made really good friends there after joining in 2004.
She had a lovely voice and relished every moment with the choir, including Rod taking her to concerts where she would always ask him what the choir sounded like at each event.
One of the things Rod said he would miss most was her singing songs around the house, including the Beach Boys’ Little Douce Coup, Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me Too The Moon and The Beatles’ Love Me Do.
The tribute during today’s service concluded with: “Somewhere, perhaps in heaven, there is a beautiful new angel singing in the choir, smiling and happy. Sleep well our lovely Lynne.”
