Loving tributes to fire victim Sheila

The congregation filled the hall, the balcony and spilled out into the entrance hall to celebrate the life of 54-year old Sheila, who tragically died in the Sackville Road fire three weeks ago.

The service was held in the Mount Street church of which she had been an active member since she lived in Catsfield some years before. Hundreds of well-wishers from Bexhill and Battle crammed into the hall to share their grief and express their support for the family.

But the atmosphere was definitely one of celebration with many smiling through their tears and lifting their voices in song.

Sheila's 25-year-old son Alan Hill Junior read a poem and Pastor Dennis Nolan praised her joyfulness.

Brenda Picknell, a fellow member of Sheila's Bexhill house group where members met, read a moving tribute on the group's behalf. She said Sheila, who had twice battled cancer, would be missed for 'her quiet and gentle ways and for her encouragement'.

She spoke of how much Sheila had been loved and respected.

She said: "One of the members used to call her 'my little flower' because she was so delicate and lovely. She had a lovely smile and her eyes sparkled with sincerity and joy.

"She showed wisdom and shared her own experience. She was filled with gentleness, joy and peace.

"Her family were of paramount importance to her and her love and devotion to them was obvious at all times.

"But her love went beyond her family and touched the lives of many. She was always ready to listen and also non-judgemental.

"If she was listening now she would be very embarrassed - she was an extremely modest person."