Skip to content

Church Hassocks

“These albums of photographs form a tribute to all those people who worked hard to bring this scheme to fruition. They bear witness to the diligence, enthusiasm and expertise of the planners, designers and workers involved in the project and reflect the diversity of our community.

The project started in 1996. Mrs Frieda Robinson wanted to do something for the Church in memory of her late husband and she instigated the scheme of making the memorial hassocks. The idea was enthusiastically received by many people who wanted to commemorate their families and friends. Mrs Robinson formed a group of people to plan how her ideas could be fulfilled, and many other people offered to help in various ways.

Mrs Robinson directed the project and with the devoted help of Dr Hilary Christie, who has designed the majority of the hassocks, Mrs Judy Holden, who has laboriously drawn the basic shape onto each canvas and Mrs Margaret Allen for all manner of help and support. Mr Michael Holden acted as Hon. Treasurer and a great many people have contributed financially and offered hours of work.

We are immensely proud of such a splendid result to Mrs Robinson’s original idea, and grateful to all those generous people who have contributed to its success.”

Introduction from Book 1 of the 2 reference books held by St Laurence Church.

In 2026 David Seymour, of the Local History Group painstakingly took fresh photos of all the hassocks and we present them below along with the legend that details who was remembered and who worked them. Thanks to Ray Thackrah & Lynda Raynor for additional assistance.

In memory of Edith Bousfield.
Worked & donated by Frieda Robinson
In memory of John Robinson (1921-1994) who planted Seven Acre Wood, The Green North.
Worked & donated by Frieda Robinson
In memory of Dora Heffer, sister of Stuart Robinson who came to Warborough in the time of the Allende Revolution after 53 years in Chile.
Worked & donated by Frieda Robinson
Dedicated to the Burma Star Association
Worked & donated by Frieda Robinson
Dedicated to The Royal British Legion
Donated by local members. Worked & donated by Frieda Robinson
In memory of Peggy Windebank 1914-1989. Donated by Peter Windebank.
Lived in The Manor. Worked by Frieda Robinson
In memory of Robert Cobb, Bellringer for 65 years. Donated by Elsie Cobb. Worked by Frieda Robinson
Dedicated to the Bellringers of St Laurence Church. Donated by the Bellringers. Worked by Frieda Robinson
In memory of John Stuart Robinson (1921-1994).
Donated by Mrs John Robinson.
Worked by Rebekah Robinson
Commemorates the baptism of Andrew Ponsford.
Donated & worked by Rebekah Robinson
Dedicated to David Ponsford.
Donated & worked by Rebekah Robinson
In memory of Peter Potter (1923-1985).
Donated & worked by Muriel Potter
Dedicated to Kyriakos & Kate, married in the church 1983.
Donated & worked by Muriel Potter
Dedicated to Amanda & Richard Potter, married 1977.
Donated & worked by Muriel Potter
Hassock for the Vicar’s Hall.
Worked by Romey Jameson, Valerie Fielding, Frieda Robinson, Margaret Allen & Betty Aplin
In memory of The Very Revd. & Mrs Olive Conybeare.
Donated & worked by Romey Jameson.
The Arms of Southwell Minster; Revd Conybeare was former Provost.
In memory of Pat Harcourt-Williams.
Donated & worked by Romey Jameson.
Mrs Harcourt-Williams was a Clerk to the Parish Council
Dedicated to Revd. Peter & Muriel Beresford-Pierce, Vicar of Warborough (1969-1975).
Donated & worked by Romey Jameson
Dedicated to Jane & Gispian Jameson, married in St Laurence Church, 1978.
Donated & worked by Romey Jameson.
Dedicated to Clare & Rodney Jameson.
Donated & worked by Romey Jameson.
Dedicated to Caroline & Charles Lovibond.
Donated & worked by Valerie Fielding,
Their marriage in Church, 1993
Dedicated to Caroline Fielding to commemorate her baptism in 1966.
Donated & worked by Valerie Fielding
Dedicated to Oliver Fielding to commemorate his baptism in 1974.
Donated & worked by Valerie Fielding
Dedicated to the Warborough & Shillingford Women’s Institute.
Donated by its Members.
Worked by Valerie Fielding
Dedicated to the Warborough & Shillingford Women’s Institute.
Donated by its Members.
Worked by Valerie Fielding
In memory of Bruce Fielding (1926-1990).
Donated and worked by Valerie Fielding
In memory of John Mark Powell, aged 21 months.
Donated & worked by Ann Powell
Dedicated to Carol & Judith Powell to commemorate their baptism, 1976.
Donated & worked by Ann Powell.
In memory of Vona Donnell (1911-1979).
Donated by John Donnell.
Worked by Ann Powell
In memory of Basil & Elizabeth Deed.
Worked by Dr Hilary Christie.
Mr Deed, a former headmaster of Stamford School & a founder member of the Warborough & Shillingford Society
Dedicated to the St Laurence Bellringers. Worked by Joan Church
This was the first hassock to be made.
Donated & worked by Dr Hilary Christie.
Dr Christie was responsible for the majority of the designs
Dedicated to The Royal British Legion.
Donated & worked by Joan Church
In memory of George Belson (1924-1997).
Donated by the Hassock Fund. Worked by Mrs L M Buckland.
A chairman of the Parish Council
In memory of Colin Buckland (1948-1995).
Donated & worked by Mrs L M Buckland (his Mother)
No Information listed
Dedicated to the Benson Women’s Institute
Dedicated to Catherine Allen.
Donated & worked by Margaret Allen
In memory of John Allen (1913-1994).
Donated & worked by Margaret Allen.
He was a founder member of the Warborough & Shillingford Society.
In memory of the Revd. Lawrence & Mrs Winifred Bunce, Vicar of Warborough (1961-1967).
Donated & worked by Margaret Allen
In memory of Dennis & Rene Walker.
Donated & worked by Margaret Allen
In memory of R G Oliver R.N.
Donated & worked by Claire Oliver
In memory of Phillip Bradford (1928-1991) Donated & worked by Ruth Bradford

Dedicated to Tom Heather (1910-1994)
Donated & worked by Margaret Heather. Church organist (1974-1993)
Dedicated to Tom & Margaret Heather.
Donated & Worked by Margaret Heather.
Married in Warborough 1972
Dedicated to Silver Threads.
Donated by the Silver Threads.
Worked by Margaret Heather
In memory of Johnny Crittall, aged 5 years.
Donated & worked by Jean Crittall
In memory of W C Bennett (1844-1922).
Donated & worked by Audrey Ewing-Shaw
Dedicated to Judy Holden.
Donated & worked by Judy Holden.
Mrs Holden has drawn the majority of the canvases & joint treasurer of the project
Donated & worked by Helen Lawrence
Donated by Jenny Atkinson.
Worked by Helen Lawrence
Donated and worked by Barbara Hannah
In memory of Mary Wright (1918-1990).
Donated by Derek Wright.
Worked by Joanna O’Hare
In memory of Margaret Newey (1943-1996).
Donated by the Ashmolean Education Service.
Worked by Ruth Davies
In memory of Margaret Newey (1943-1996).
Donated by the Ashmolean Education Service.
Worked by Ruth Davies.
The design is a representation of the front of the Ashmolean Museum
No Description Given
Dedicated to Warborough & Shillingford Angling Club.
Donated by its members.
Worked by Brienne Bland
Donated & worked by Brienne Bland
Dedicated to Warborough Playgroup.
Donated by its members.
Worked by Brienne Bland
Dedicated to Janie Stevenson.
Donated by her daughter, Steve Godfrey.
Worked by Irene Pollard
Dedicated to Robert & Alison for their marriage, 1984.
Donated and worked by Joan Goodchild
In memory of Reg Goodchild
Donated and worked by Joan Goodchild
Dedicated to The Revd. Peter Atkinson, Vicar of St Lawrence Church (1986-1991).
Donated by the Hassock Fund.
Worked by Joan Goodchild
Donated and worked by Mary Amos
Worked by Olga Blakely
In memory of Frank Baker.
Donated by Brenda Baker.
Worked by Avril Smith
In memory of Len Bailey (1926-1996).
Donated and worked by Molly Bailey
Dedicated to Graham Standing (1929-1988).
Donated and worked by Margaret Standing
Donated and worked by Rosemary Heelas
Dedicated to The Friends of St Laurence Church.
Donated by the Friends.
Worked by Ruth Webb
In memory of Kirsty Raphael (1917-1993).
Donated by Deborah Montefiore.
Worked by Tiniki Sands
Dedicated to Violet Kaufman (1917-1992).
Donated and worked by Mrs Dyson (nee Kaufman)
Donated and worked by Iva Carter
Donated and worked by Sadie Cole, mother of Hilary Warburton from North Farm Shillingford
In memory of Roy Coolie (1932-1992).
Donated and worked by Pamela Coolie.
Roy was a very keen cricketer
Dedicated to C A R Freeman (1907-1989).
Donated by H K Freeman.
Worked by Brigadier Fraser Scott
In memory of St Frideswide, the Patron Saint of Oxford Diocese and the City.
Donated and worked by Janet Huins.
Fritillaries are the special flower of St Frideswide
Dedicated to Ivan Lloyd-Phillips (1910-1984).
Donated by Faith Lloyd-Phillips.
Worked by Frieda Robinson
In memory of Brigette Dudout (1894-1987).
Donated and worked by Leonie Grant, her daughter
Dedicated to the R A F.
Worked by Joan Goodchild
Dedicated to R C Oliver.
Worked by Frieda Robinson
Dedicated to Ken & Pat Arnold.
Donated and worked by Brienne Bland.
Ken & Pat devotedly ran the shop from 1975-2006
Dedicated to the births of Amelia Emma & Claire.
Donated and worked by Lesley Munro-Faure
In memory of Harry Turner, village postman from 1946-1975.
Donated by Joan Turner.
Worked by Romey Jameson
Dedicated to the Warborough & Shillingford Society.
Donated and worked by Dr Hilary Christie
Shillingford Bridge. Dedicated to the baptisms of Oliver & Fenella Cook.
Worked by Sadie Cole
Dedicated to Georgina Freshwater (who loved trains).
Worked by Margaret Allen & Valerie Fielding
Donated and worked by Judy Holden
Dedicated to George & Nan Noakes.
Donated by The British Legion.
Worked by Frieda Robinson
Dedicated to Audrey Ewing-Shaw.
Donated and worked by Margaret Allen
In memory of The Revd. Canon Harry & Mrs Olive Barker. Vicar 1948-1958
Donated and Worked by Romey jameson
Worked by Helen Lawrence
Dedicated to Johnny Walker.
Donated and worked by his daughter, Lesley
Dedicated to the Toddler Group.
Donated by the Toddler Group. Worked by Liz Dyson
Dedicated to William Collins.
Donated and worked by Joan Collins
In memory of Fred Tyler.
In memory of Evie Standen.
Dedicated to the Sunday Club.
Donated by the Sunday Club.
Donated by Dr & Mrs M Watkins.
Worked by Joan Goodchild
Donated by North Farm.
Worked by Sadie Cole
Worked by C L H, 1997
Donated by the Midland Pig Producers Ltd.
In memory of Joan Pott
In memory of Thomas Blakeley
In memory of Eddy Bond
Dedicated to St Laurence Primary School.
Donated by the School.
In memory of Richard & Wendy Allen.
In memory of Theo King & Graham Tappin.
Donated by the Warborough Scouts & Cubs
In memory of Deborah Montefiore.
Dedicated to the births of Harry & Ben Stevens.
Dedicated to George & Mary Duckworth.
In memory of Michael Heelas.
In memory of Janie Stevenson
In memory of Jim Absalom.
Dedicated to the W & S Surgery Car Service.

Dedicated to the Blessing of Philip & Lorraine Allen.
In memory of Grace Robotham.