Hilda Maud Chattaway
Hilda Chattaway's heart-warming story is of a remarkable woman. She was born in Cubbington on 12 December 1902 to Alfred Chattaway and his wife Alice (nee Aris). She had three siblings and a half-brother, Ernest Aris.
By 1905 the family had moved to Stoneleigh and Alfred was working as a roadman for the council. This he continued to do apart from service in the Great War, along with his brother William, who was killed in 1916 on the Somme.
Aged 14 Hilda left school to work in London, but on 14 April 1928 she travelled with a friend to Canada to take up employment. Apart from an occasional visit home this was to be where she stayed until her death on 12 June 1985. She worked at Appleby College in Oakville, Ontario, as head chef for 55 years, from 1929 until her death in 1985.The school magazine gives this tribute:
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Hilda Chattaway was Appleby's Head Chef from 1929-1985. Born in Stoneleigh Village near Coventry, England, Hilda came to Canada in the early 1920s and settled in Guelph. Hilda arrived at Appleby in the fall of 1929 and was in charge of the kitchen that was located in the basement of School House. Known for her kindness, understanding, generosity, pies and mince tarts, Hilda was a surrogate mother to the Junior students and known to give extra cookies and milk. In 1979, Hilda commissioned a stained glass window in the chapel to honour her colleagues, Rose James and Mona Niblett, to recognize their selfless service to Appleby for more than 25 years. The window is based on Christ's "I am" statements, pivoting around the central image of I am the Light. In recognition of Hilda's 50th anniversary at the school, a flowering chestnut tree was planted at the brow of the hill behind Colley House. In 1982-83, the Junior School dormitory in Colley House was named in Hilda's honour."
The school even dedicated a cookbook to Hilda, saying in its introduction that she "devoted all her talents and all her concern to a long procession of Appleby boys and in fact, to the entire Staff. Indeed throughout her life she has dedicated herself completely to the welfare of others.... no-one is the recipient of more affection than our Hilda."
Hilda died on 12 June 1985 at the Oakville Memorial Hospital in her 83rd year and a Chattaway Scholarship Fund was set up in her memory. Her funeral was attended by more than 250 people, when she was described as "one of His saints on earth." Her final wish was to be buried in Stoneleigh, and her body was duly flown home.