Mrs Val Harfield - East Meon Parish Award

Each year the Parish Council considers names put forward for the Parish Award and after careful consideration decides on one or perhaps 2 village residents who in the opinion of the Councillors have particularly contributed to village life.

At the Parish Council meeting held on 26th November the Councillors were unanimous in their decision to make the Award to Mrs Val Harfield for her outstanding commitment to the School as well as to the Village Hall and perhaps even more importantly in recognition of all the kindness and consideration she had shown to so many residents over so very many years.

The Minutes of the Meeting held in November record

“The Council discussed the Parish Award nominations and it was unanimously agreed that Mrs Val Harfield would be presented with the Award for her contribution and help to the local community.” Sadly Val died before we were able to present her with the Award shield. At the request of her family as Chair of the Parish Council I placed the shield on her coffin at her funeral on 19th December.

Val was an exceptionally generous individual. Her work in the village always focussed on caring for others. She was housekeeper at Bereleigh for Capt Tyrwhitt Drake, and also at The Court House before working as a carer at Bordean House at the Sue Ryder Home where she was highly valued and a great friend to many of the patients.

Later she worked at the school for many years as a dinner lady and cleaner, indeed she was there so long she was woven into the fabric of the school.She was enormously popular with the children and ALWAYS knew each individual child by name. Each Christmas she would write a Christmas card for every child in the school. At the end of every summer term, Val would organise a celebratory meal for the Year 6 leavers, spending her own money on cakes and MacDonalds lunches for them. She would lay the table with cloths and give them their own 'top table', serving them squash and waiting on them.

She set high standards for herself and the children and expected them to show respect for others. If anyone was misbehaving in the playground, one look from 'Mrs Harfield' would stop the unwanted behaviour in its tracks!

Val was an avid reader buying masses of books and loved Bingo going into Petersfield to play each week.

She was a stalwart of the village. Having lived in the same house all her life she was very well known by all generations. She had a wonderful reputation as someone who could be relied on and was a faithful friend to many residents. Val was a very special person and is much missed by us all.

Susan Davenport, Chair East Meon Parish Council