Obituary
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Pauline Millatt (Nice, 1945-50)
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From her daughter, Sally: also an Old Girl
Pauline Nice was born in 1934. Her dad was a carpenter and the family lived in Copford. In 1939, on the first day of the Second World War, the family moved to a bungalow built by her dad in Stanway. Pauline recalled that she was at her grandmother’s and her dad cycled all the way to Tiptree, returning with her on the cross bar of his bike. Her brother David remembers that
during air raids the family hid under the dining room table with tin trays around the edge for protection, which he and Pauline thought was great fun at the time!
Pauline attended CCHS from 1945 to 1950. It was in the second year that she met Beryl Pettitt who would become a lifelong friend. Pauline left school when she was 15. (right: CCHS North Hill 1947:Pauline Nice, Daphne Goodwin, Beryl Pettitt, Barbara Hatton, Gaye Lomonaco.)
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She and Beryl returned from a few days away and found out that
Pauline’s mum had been to the Labour Exchange and got her a job! She worked in the office at British Road Services and went to night school to study book-keeping. When the company relocated to Ipswich, Pauline didn’t like the commute, so in November 1953 she took a job as Sales Ledger Clerk with HE Williams, which later became the well-known Colchester shop, Williams & Griffins.
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In her spare time, Pauline learnt bellringing at Bures Church. As she became more experienced, she also started ringing at St Peter’s Church in Colchester where Harry Millatt was the Tower Captain. Harry was 19 years older than Pauline and a formidable character in ringing circles. He started giving her lifts on his motorbike and romance blossomed. They announced their engagement at Christmas 1954, and were married the following summer. They had 4 daughters: Wendy, Rosemary, Sally and Lesley (all Old Girls of CCHS!).
When they got married Pauline gave up her career to be a home maker. Each Friday she would cycle home from town, bags balanced on the handlebars of her bike with a week’s shopping for a family of 6, and often one of the children in a seat on the back! Pauline enjoyed knitting and sewing, making the girls’ dresses and cardigans, and later the bridesmaids’ dresses for Rosie and Sally’s weddings.
With the children growing up, in 1981 she decided to apply for a part time job at Shrub End Post Office. She was up against people far younger than her, but she got the job as she was the only candidate who could add up the stamp book correctly! She worked at the Post Office for over 35 years until she was over 80. Although she said she would leave when they brought in computers, she went on the IT training and carried on. She loved the job, and got to know many local people when they came to collect their weekly pensions.
Bell-ringing was Pauline’s biggest passion for 70 years. She rang her first peal in 1953 for the Coronation, and also rang with Harry in a peal to mark their engagement. She rang regularly at Shrub End church and was the secretary and treasurer for the tower, welcoming visiting bands of ringers. She was a long-standing member of the Ladies Guild of Ringers and the Essex Association of Change Ringers. At the age of 83 Pauline had a knee replacement and, much to the astonishment of the surgeon, after the operation she asked if she could still climb a ladder! She was, of course, keen to get back up the bell tower, managing to continue bell-ringing until Covid restrictions brought things to a halt.
Pauline’s faith was very important to her. She was an active member of All Saint’s Church for over 50 years, and co-ordinated the distribution of the monthly church magazines.
Pauline and Harry were married for 48 years until he passed away in 2003. They celebrated their Ruby Wedding Anniversary in 1995 by going on a hot air balloon ride over Colchester. In 1996 they flew for the first time, visiting Lesley in the USA, and ringing the bells at Washington Cathedral. Pauline also went on various holidays organised by the church, including trips to Europe, and bell ringing holidays in the UK.
For the past 36 years Pauline lived in Stanway, in a bungalow built by her dad, Henry, in the 1960s on the piece of land next to where she lived as a child. She loved being outdoors and was often seen weeding or trimming the hedges. Despite her mobility declining, Pauline was very independent and was determined to continue living in her own home.
Pauline had 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Her daughters all followed in her footsteps by studying at CCHS. Over the years Pauline kept in contact with a number of her CCHS school friends, and continued her connection with the school through the Old Girls’ Association. She enjoyed attending the annual garden party and regular coffee mornings, the last time being at the Grey Friars in May (right).
Pauline passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully, at home on 3rd June, at the age of 87.
A service to celebrate her life was held at Shrub End Church on 8th August, with the bells being rung before and after the service.
Pauline’s daughters describe her as selfless, modest and compassionate, but also calmly determined. She was a loyal and trusted friend to many people, a good listener, with a heart of gold.
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Middle V B, from 1949. Names (below) recorded by Pauline
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