Esmé Bennett

Esmé Bennett

Esmé Bennett (right), a vital, caring and dedicated worker for Glossop Women’s Aid and Glossop Labour Club, has died of cancer, aged 69.

Esmé was born in Stockport on January 30, 1936. She is survived by her mother Ellen and two younger brothers, Keith and Ian; her father Herbert died only last June.

Esmé grew up during the war years in Brinnington when it was surrounded by trees and farmland and they had their own air-raid shelter. Keith still remembers they used to race each other to get to the best bunk-bed and it was usually Esmé that was first.

Right from those early days Esmé loved her holidays. They would go to the seaside and the holiday was usually paid for from the Co-op dividend stamps they saved.

Esmé was in the Brownies and the Girl Guides. She always loved an adventure and a challenge, something which she carried with her throughout her life. Esmé was an intelligent girl and went to grammar school. She would also go to church and Sunday school and acted in the pantomimes, often having a leading part.

When Esmé left school she worked in a bank. She met Bill in her late teens and they went on to marry and have four boys - Alan, Angus, Colin (who sadly died in a tragic accident when only 21), and then Malcolm. Although Esmé and Bill separated, they were both very proud parents and seeing her boys grow up happily and successfully meant everything to Esmé. She developed a good relationship with their partners - Janet, Anne and Louise - and being a Grandma to Robert, Sarah, Helen and Ben was a bonus for Esmé.

Esmé enjoyed working at Dr Hopkins’ surgery and went on to be a coordinator at Glossop Community Transport, where she was well respected for her hard work and many skills. Esmé went back to education in 1979, gaining a degree which she was really proud of. She taught A level English at Glossop Adult Centre and worked in the Co-op Bank in Glossop for a few years. She also did some proof reading and published a book about walks round Glossop.

Esmé met her partner, Richard Rowbotham, in 1984 while working on the bar at Glossop Labour Club.

Sue Latusek, co-ordinator of Glossop Women’s Aid, says:

"Esmé has been a part of Glossop Women’s Aid for over 25 years. Her knowledge, commitment, compassion, enthusiasm and professionalism have shone through in all her work. She was passionate about supporting women and children experiencing domestic violence. Through her work for Glossop Women’s Aid she supported hundreds of abused women over the years.

"Esmé became involved in GWA when she was asked to sell programmes for a sponsored run to raise money to help set up our local refuge. From 1979 to 1995 she was a dedicated and committed volunteer whilst still having a paid job elsewhere.

"She was secretary of GWA management committee for about 15 years. She also helped to fund raise and in 1995 her application to Children in Need was approved. This was the start of funding for our children’s services in the refuge.

"Her approach was non-judgemental; it was also very caring and understanding. Women warmed to Esmé, sensing that here was a person who understood what they were experiencing, without them having to say very much. She was calm and considered in her approach. She gave women choices and accepted what they decided to do, but was always there for them.

"In 1995 GWA was able to employ paid staff for the first time and Esmé became our part time Outreach Worker, Volunteer Coordinator, domestic abuse trainer and publicity officer. She was still employed in this role when she died.

"Esmé now established and developed the GWA outreach service for women and children who did not want to come into a refuge but who were living in the local community and needed support. She also supported families leaving the refuge and settling in the High Peak.

"She developed and structured our volunteer service and put it on a more professional footing. She was responsible for the recruitment, training and supervision of all our volunteers.

"She also started and developed our domestic abuse training for other voluntary and statutory agencies. She wanted to speak about the injustices of domestic abuse, to discuss the myths surrounding domestic abuse and raise awareness. Publicity was another aspect of her work; Esmé was the public face of GWA.

"She was also a committee member of local groups including the Glossopdale Furniture Project and Victim Support.

"Esmé was always enthusiastic and was still planning how to develop our services up until the time she died."

Jan Lee, chair of Glossop Labour Club, says:

"Esmé was on the committee of the Labour Club for over 30 years and had served as club secretary. Latterly she was minutes and membership secretary. She regularly came to club events and was often the first up to dance. As she was an excellent cook - she did a Cordon Bleu cookery course - we enjoyed her contributions to the ‘food to share’ events.

"After a late night at the club on New Year’s Eve she was there, bright and cheerful, for the New Year’s Day walk. It was wonderful to see her in the club this New Year’s Eve and that is how I will remember her.

"She was a founder member of the club's Red Ramblers walking group and we all used to comment on her well polished boots. She also started a reading circle in the Labour Club, forever called ‘Esmé’s Reading Group’.

"She was a keen walker and had done several long distance walks including the Coast to Coast, the Southern Uplands Way and Offa’s Dyke. Her first long haul holiday was to Kenya and then to China, before it became more popular.

"She went to the Tolpuddle Martyrs' Rally weekend, last summer, with the Labour Club and carried the club banner - I still have an image of her dancing along to the sound of the New Orleans jazz band. On the cliff walk she was the only one of us who swam in the sea."

Esmé died peacefully at home on Saturday, January 7, with Richard, her partner of 22 years, at her side.

The funeral is at Dukinfield Crematorium on Thursday, January 19 at 200pm.