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Mary Bull
Died  March 11th  2011

BULL, Mary - Aged 94 years and formerly of Rhiwbina, died peacefully on March 11 at University Hospital Llandough. The funeral service will be at Llanishen Methodist Church at 2.30pm, Thursday March 24, followed by a private cremation. Inquiries to J. Pidgeon & Son.

Published in the South Wales Echo on 22nd March 2011 

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Service of Thanksgiving
For the Life of Mary Bull

At Llanishen Methodist Church
at 2.30 pm
on Thursday March 24th 2011
conducted by Rev Phil Drake


Opening sentences

"Love Divione all Loves Excelling"

Reading

Address

"The Lord's my shepherd"

Eulogy by Helen Sweetland
(step grand-daughter)

Prayers

"O Love that will not let me go"

Commendation and Blessing

 Committal at Thornhill Crematorium.


Refreshements were served in the Church Hall.



 Mary Bull – born Mary Richards- Cardiff May 24th 1916

Mary was born in Cardiff and spent most of her life in the areas of Heath and Rhiwbina.  She had an older brother – John (Jack) Richards – born 1914. As children they lived in Canada Gardens and went to Howard Gardens and Allensbank Schools. It is clear that Mary and Jack made good friends with children nearby, at school and Girl Guides. Several of them have remained in contact until recently. One friend Doreen recalls that, one of their favourite pastimes was to walk from Heath, to Rhiwbina and the Wenallt and on to Thornhill, taking their sausages and fire wood to have a ‘cook out’. Roath Park was a popular haunt too and Mary frequently recalled how after a boating trip on the lake she fell in and returned home soaking wet, thanks to her brother!

After school, Mary went to train as a ‘nanny’, with a proper uniform (as pictures recall) and she worked for several families in London and Yorkshire. She returned to Cardiff in the Second World War and worked in nurseries in the docks and Ely. She used to recall walking back and fro to the Docks, when no transport was available.

Mary didn’t get married to Fred until 1957, probably because her father never thought anyone was ‘good enough’ for his daughter! Unfortunately Fred died soon afterwards. She married again in 1961, Henry Lewis Bull, who was 20 years her senior but she recalled this relationship very fondly. They enjoyed holidays and especially their Mediterranean cruises. When she married Lewis she became stepmother to Margery and step grandmother to me and my brother, Philip. She was a great support to my mother and cared for Lewis through a long illness at home until he died in 1972. At that time she also continued to work in a haberdashery business.

Although Mary had no children of her own she loved being involved with children. This is very clear from all the pictures of her ‘school friends’ and their children, many of whom became her ‘ god children’.  Mary maintained friendships with her friends and their children. She was excellent at writing letters and maintaining links with people. She was also very supportive to her niece Rosemary and her 3 children – Hazel, Karen and Gareth- with frequent trips to help look after them when they were small.

Mary was a very faithful friend. Her dearest friend in Cardiff was Beryl, who she met as a five year old in school in Howard Gardens. Their friendship was featured in an article in ‘Woman’s Weekly’, in 1998. At that time they had known each other for 78 years and that friendship continued until Beryl passed away 2 years ago. They shared similar interests and enjoyed holidays together after they were both widowed. In 1978 Beryl recalled that: ‘Mary was a very caring person, who would do anything for you and I can’t remember having any differences of opinion’.

After retiring from work Mary and Beryl started working in the Red Cross Library at UHW. Two afternoons a week they could be seen pushing the trolley around the wards, befriending patients and staff. Mary served for more that 25 years in this role and received a long service award from the Red Cross. For more than 25 years Mary worked hard to support other people, travelling by bus around Cardiff visiting elderly relatives and friends, supporting them in practical tasks, but also ‘baby sitting’ Lee for  her neighbours, Pauline and Chris.  She was a member of the Rhiwbina Methodist church before it transferred to Llanishen and was a very keen participant in the ‘hard of hearing’ club, where she learnt to lip read, as she realised that her hearing was deteriorating. 

Mary remained fit, well and independent until she was taken ill in 2005. Prior to that she loved to spend hours in her garden in which she took great pride. She was very knowledgeable and had ‘green- fingers’, growing plants from cuttings. She also spent many hours knitting and some of us are very grateful for the jumper s etc she made for us as children. She was a fantastic cook, and there was always a steady supply of home made cakes when anyone visited. She was an avid reader and loved the challenge of a crossword, at least once a day!

Mary moved into Morel Court in 2008, where she spent the last few years. It was difficult to give up her home but despite the help of Jean and John and Pauline and Chris, life had become more difficult.  In Morel Court Mary enjoyed the company, the activities and ‘being waited upon’. Her memory was failing but she always had some interesting reminiscences as she was pushed along the pier at Penarth or around Roath Park Lake.

Mary has therefore had a positive impact on many people’s lives. She maintained an interest in people and the outside world. Her stories and her lovely smile will be missed by us all.

Thanks to everyone who has played a part in Mary’s life, especially to those of you who have supported her in the last few years.
Helen Sweetland
24th March 2011
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