TRIBUTES have been paid to a much-loved Teesdale character who has died aged 99.
Community stalwart Gladys Sparks was due to be Barnard Castle Meet’s oldest ever carnival queen on May 28 but she was too ill to fulfil the role and died a day later – just six weeks before her 100th birthday. Granddaughter Susan Shuttleworth said: “She always used to say, you have two choices in life – you sink or swim. She’d tell you she wasn’t sinking.
“Through her life she had a lot of things thrown at her but she just bounced back.”
Mrs Sparks born at Fell Houses, in Cockfield, on July 12, 1918. She lived most of her life in Copley before moving to Charles Dickens Lodge, in Barnard Castle, seven years ago. Mrs Sparks was a much-loved mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother and aunt. Aged 14, her mother died and she was left to help her father bring up her two brothers.
She met her first husband, Clifford Gargett, on Cockfield Fell when she was just 13. Love between the pair blossomed and they were married when she was 18.
The newly weds moved to Copley Lane. By the time Gladys was 20, they were parents to two daughters, Margaret and Ann.
Mrs Sparks was widowed at the age of 35. To provide for her two children, she took on a job at Paton and Baldwins in Darlington for 12 years.
In 1966 at Copley Chapel, Mrs Sparks married her second husband, Rex Sparks, who became a local preacher. Together, the pair ran Sunday school at the chapel where she was also society steward for some time.
Mrs Sparks was widowed again aged 64. Her life was touched with further sadness when her granddaughter, Judith, passed away. She also lost her daughter, Margaret.
Mrs Sparks made many friends across the dale when she worked as a collector for Doggarts department store. She retired aged of 70.
Mrs Sparks played a huge part in Copley’s entertainments committee and was heavily involved with the village’s carnival. Her most memorable appearance was as Lady Godiva.
In 2017, Mrs Sparks took part in Barnard Castle’s Meet parade dressed as Mary Poppins. This year, she was asked to be the town’s carnival queen. Her family say she was “over the moon” and told them she would be happy if it was the last thing she did.
But she was not well enough to join the parade in a horse-drawn carriage. Instead, her great and great-great grandchildren did her proud. Ms Shuttleworth said: “She was a really strong religious lady but she still had that really fun side to her.
“She was determined and faith kept her going. She was loyal, a good friend to many and a good listener. She loved her family and her family loved her. She was the matriarch of the family. She loved the limelight.”
She played badminton until her mid-1990s and was a regular contributor to the Teesdale Mercury for more than 40 years.
She fulfilled one of her dreams of having helicopter ride in April this year. Her family now plan to fulfil her other wish of having a ride in a horse and carriage.
Ms Shuttleworth said: “Something she had always wanted to do was to go in a horse and carriage. That is why we have decided on a horse and carriage for her funeral. She will get that ride she always wanted.
Gladys is survived by her daughter Ann and granddaughters Susan and Ruth. She also leaves behind four great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
The funeral will be held at Cockfield Chapel on Monday, June 11, at 2pm followed by a burial at Lynesack cemetery. A celebration of her life will take place afterwards at Butterknowle village hall. All are welcome. At her request colourful clothing should be worn.
