The family of a proud Costessey woman - and 1960s Carrow Queen - have paid tribute to her following her death at the age of 78.
Born Ann Lovejoy to parents Alfred, a carpenter, and May, a teacher, Ann George was born on April 27, 1944 in Sunny Grove, Costessey - a house built by her grandparents with £500 loaned to the family by Colmans. It is also where she died.
She grew up with her brother Robert, who died two years ago, and went to Costessey School.
A Costessey girl through and through, it was Ann's grandparents that brought the family to the area.
Arthur Read was a conscientious objector who was sent to Wakefield Prison to be executed where he met prison volunteer Alma.
Saved from death by the end of the First World War, Alma followed him back to his native Costessey.
Alma, who died in 1978 at the age of 83, was the first woman to serve on Costessey Parish Council. She was a Costessey Labour Party founding member, district councillor for 18 years and parish for more than two decades.
Following in her family's footsteps, Ann then went to work at Colmans in 1960, working in the computer room.
She married husband Bernard George - a messenger boy whom she met while working at Colmans - on November 20, 1965 at St Edmunds, Costessey.
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It was her husband-to-be who entered her into the Colman's Carrow Queen competition of 1961 - much to her bemusement - but Ann came out on top.
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The couple had two children; Andrew in 1968 and Nina in 1970.
She then worked as a bookbinder at Jarrold before moving to the old Norfolk and Norwich Hospital for many years in the catering department before becoming a sugaring practitioner.
Her daughter Nina said: "She had been in Norfolk her entire life.
"Swas lovely and known by so many. She came across so many people. We'll miss her dearly.
"I can't imagine life without her.
"Everyone thinks their mum is lovely, but she was one of these very rare people who never complained. She would do absolutely anything for anyone.
"I have never met a single person who had a bad word to say about her. Everyone loved her.
"She loved making people happy.
"She hated me shouting about her being a beauty queen. I was so proud of her.
"She was so modest. She came from a very grounded background."
Her father Alfred built the family a bungalow at Sea Palling, where Ann spent many a holiday and considered the seaside village a big part of her life.
"She spent all her time there," Nina added. "As a kid, we wouldn't have had holidays if we didn't have the bungalow.
"It is filled with so many happy memories."
Ann died on April 4, just shy of her 79th birthday. She had pancreatic and bowel cancer and had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's four months before her death.
Nina added: "Three weeks before she died, she and dad would go for a mile-and-a-half walk every single day. I think that's what kept her alive for so long.
"Sea Palling was heavily involved in the walks, of course, and they'd go to Runton quite a lot as well.
"She really knew all the good spots."
The family hope to install a bench in Ann's memory there in the coming months.
Ann is survived by husband Bernard, two children, seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at Colney Wood Crematorium at 3pm on Friday, April 21 followed by a wake at Elm Farm.
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