Eileen Hurst passed away peacefully at the home of her daughter, Alison, who cared for her in her final years. Eileen will be deeply missed by her family and friends who knew and loved her very much. She will be especially missed by Alison, her son-in-law Mark, and Corina, her nurse, who helped support Alison and Mark to give Eileen the best quality of life and enable her to stay living with her family where she most wanted to be. 

Eileen, born in Liverpool, lived, worked and raised a family there for most of her life, only moving to live with her daughter and son in law in the Wye Valley, when, at the age of 94, she became too frail to live on her own. 

Eileen grew up with her father and mother, Fred and Elsie Naisby, alongside her brother, Eddie in the Liverpool suburb of Wavertree. Fred was too young to enlist to serve in WW1 and so gave a false age to join up. He suffered artillery injuries at Passchendaele and learnt to play the flute as part of his recovery from hand injuries. Fred, my grandfather, taught both my Uncle Eddie and my mum Eileen the flute and both went on to teach and play professionally. Later, Mum started me off on the flute too.

Eileen was also proficient on the piccolo, bassoon and saxophone. In the early part of her life, she played all of these instruments in different bands, shows and orchestras across the Merseyside region. She was also a talented pianist who accompanied her flute students. 

Eileen was a skilled shorthand typist who began her working life as a medical secretary at the University Hospital. She met Robin Hurst and following their marriage in 1955, like most women of her generation, she gave up work. Robin was a professional violinist and teacher who later in his career held the position of Northwest Branch Secretary for the Musicians' Union.

Four children arrived in quick succession: Jonathan 1956, Nicholas 1957, Alison 1958 and Tin (Phillip) 1959. Fortunately, Eileen and Robin lived with Eileen’s Auntie Alice who loved and cared for the young family as her own. This allowed Eileen to start work again, becoming a respected peripatetic teacher of woodwind working for Liverpool City Council teaching across several Primary and Secondary Schools in Merseyside. During this time Eileen continued to play for choral societies, pantos and shows e.g. Gilbert and Sullivan, New Brighton, St. Helens.  

Following her retirement, Eileen survived her husband and her three sons. She continued as an active musician, particularly looked forward to playing the bassoon on her annual Orchestral Summer School in Rydal in the Lake District and the Liverpool University Orchestra. She also joined the Maghull, Red Rose and Heswall Concert Bands playing flute and piccolo. Eileen made many special friends amongst her fellow musicians including Andy, Adrienne, Alan and Ken. She continued to enjoy playing lead flute in the bands until well into her late 80's. 

For several years, Eileen was the only female allotment holder to manage one of the plots in Aigburth (near the station by the Mersey) and was committed to working on her allotment every day sharing, eating and preserving her own organic produce. She had many friends and loyal neighbours who advised, helped and supported her at this time. 

Eileen leaves behind Alison and nine grandchildren: Robert, Louis, Parsifal, Clara, Becky, Alex, Billie, Max, Xal and four great grandchildren: Francis, Thomas, Arlo, Nina with another little one due very soon!

Eileen's funeral service will be streamed for those who can't attend, and the family will set up a Zoom at the reception. Please contact Alison or Mark for more details.