Fiona Ellis - a tribute by Ann Bennett                                                              Back to Tail Corn

Fiona was connected with the Village magazine Tail Corn from its inception in 1976, when she volunteered to deliver copies in Bucks Lane.

Gradually, Fiona became more involved and in 1987 she offered her services to cut the original stencils. By 1994 she was well into word processing techniques and now had an up to date computer at her fingertips. It was during this year that with Fiona’s help Tail Corn won second place in the Cambridge Evening News competition for the best village newsletter in Cambridgeshire. There is a framed certificate in the Village hall commemorating this event.

For the last thirteen years Fiona has managed the donkey work of transforming articles, reports, write-ups and advertisements into the format that is now the mainstay of the magazine before it goes to the printer. During all this time Fiona has wholeheartedly helped to build up the magazine and has been instrumental in putting it on a firm financial footing with the advertising revenue playing a major part in this aspect of Tail Corn. The idea of changing the front cover was also something Fiona had long aspired to and she was most pleased when her idea was realised so well.

It was about two years ago that Fiona, with great foresight, unexpectedly gave me a computer disc which outlined how, where and what to do with the general putting-together of the layout along with full details of the advertisers and their payments. This proved a godsend when Fiona was suddenly struck down earlier this year and it ensured Tail Corn continued without a hitch.

Working in collaboration with Fiona was a pleasure as she was a perfectionist in her work and I knew I could rely on her to sort me out whenever necessary. We worked together very happily and always had a constructive time whilst sorting out the layout as well as catching up with local events and happenings. Fiona was the right hand man to Tail Corn and any success it may have is in large part due to her dedication.

IAB   22.12.06