Eileen was one of five sisters born and raised around Yoxford in east Suffolk. Educated at Saxmundham secondary modern school she initially worked in a printing and stationary business in the town.

She married Anthony John (Tony) Woods in September 1966 at Carlton church, Saxmundham.

Together they lived and worked in south east Essex living in Westcliff, Eastwood and Rayleigh. They had two children, Robert (born 1973) and Helen (born 1975).

Once her children were of school age Eileen undertook a variety of part time work including working as a playgroup supervisor and a school cleaner.

The family moved to Taverham, Norfolk in 1985 to the house on Nightingale Drive which would remain Eileen’s home for the next 35 years. Eileen continued to work part time until her early sixties at an interior design business and then a fabric store in Norwich city centre. She was widowed in 2006.

Eileen took an active part in village life, for many years she delivered the Taverham Newsletter and in more recent times was a very active member of the Knit and Natter group turning out a huge array of woollen items including large numbers of handbags beloved by children and sold in aid of various charitable concerns. She was also a keen attendee of the Taverham History Society meetings, and a member of the Norwich Out and About Club.

Following a perhaps ill-advised attempt to resume driving following the death of Tony, Eileen became a keen user of the local bus services. Determined to get full value out of her bus pass she would travel all over the county and beyond often only deciding where to go when she saw which bus was next to depart from the bus station. In this way she developed a group of ‘bus-stop friends’ who were a great support to her.

Holidays were always a big part of Eileen’s life. Invariably domestic self-catering holidays as a family to beautiful parts of Wales, Yorkshire and particularly Northumberland which remained a regular destination until her final years. Once her children had left home, she and Tony resumed foreign travel exploring many destinations in Europe with a particular fondness for Italy. Following Tony’s death Eileen continued to travel to a wide range of destinations in the UK, Europe and beyond for organised walking holidays with Ramblers and the Holiday Fellowship.

Always a keen listener to Radio 4, Eileen was a regular visitor to Ambridge over many decades. She also enjoyed Norwich’s cultural offerings and was a regular at the Silver Screen showings at Cinema City and matinées at the Theatre Royal. A keen reader, she enjoyed a range of books which she often exchanged with family and neighbours. Eileen held strong views on political and social matters and would enjoy discussing current affairs with friends who she knew were of a like mind.

Eileen has benefited from the large number of friends and neighbours that she came to know over the years. With no family living nearby she received amazing support from a number of people following the stroke she suffered in December 2019 and during her final brief illness.

Eileen is survived by her son, daughter and granddaughter.