Sylvia Wells, Plymouth House Parent 1986 –1990 and Norwich House Parent 1992-1998.

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Sylvia Wells, wife of Tony, mother of Alex, Abbie Greg and Rebecca. She died on 11th August 2010 after a fairly short illness, during which she faced her death with great courage and dignity.

Sylvia became houseparent in Plymouth in 1986 and immediately established herself as a caring, fair, but determined housemother of 48 Plyms. She took houseparenting to new heights, involving herself in all aspects of the lives of her charges.

Untiring and devoted to the work she gained a reputation for looking after the more vulnerable of the boys, and could often be seen with one or more trailing alongside her as she gave them confidence to face the problems of being away from home for the first time. She engaged them in sport – who could forget the softball games on Sunday afternoon, she ran with them in the mass, she stuck up for them fiercely in all parts of their school life.

After a break of two years she became housemother of Norwich, having missed the boys too much. Although the problems were different, and there were one or two more difficult boys, Sylvia approached the seniors with the same care and consideration as the juniors, her quiet chats in the linen room were a necessary part of her routine. And were often the way the boys were encouraged, or reproved, or cheered up when they were feeling down. Sylvia is greatly missed by her family and it is certain that many of “her boys”, and many parents, will be saddened at her loss.