Hazel Baxter
Hazel was an avid reader and scholar and an enthusiastic member of the Brownie and Guide movements surrounding her!
Her brothers were often aware of the light burning in her bedroom as she was conscientiously pursuing her studies. All the studying paid off when Hazel gained entry to Royal Holloway, University of London, to read Chemistry, at a time when it was the exception rather than the rule for girls to attend University. She went on to become a Science teacher.
Hazel met Tony Baxter in Cambridge and they married while he was doing his PhD. Various moves then followed, eventually to 6 Marsh Drive in Kibworth where they remained for more than 40 years and where they brought up their four children, Fiona, Jeremy, Nigel and Paul.
When Nigel was born, Hazel quickly realised he was not responding as she expected. After several rounds with Hospitals and ENT specialists, Nigel was diagnosed with a hearing loss.
From that point on, Hazel dedicated her time to making sure he would learn to talk and integrate with the hearing world. Having achieved this she then went on to train as a teacher of the deaf and help many more children throughout the Leicester area, finally retiring as Head of the Leicestershire hearing impaired service.
Hazel was also involved in guiding as a leader, district commissioner and in the Trefoil Guild for many years.
Once retired, Hazel and Tony seemed to spend more time away in their Eriba caravan than at home for many years. Many summers were spent in France and Hazel and Tony became accomplished French speakers, as well as wine tasters! Hazel continued to go away in her caravan well into her seventies.
Hazel was always the centre of family communication and beyond into a wide web of friends. After Tony’s death in 2011, Hazel moved to Welland Place in Harborough where she continued to exercise her organisational abilities on the resident’s committee.
Foxton Community Choir
