'Human dynamo' will be remembered as community champion

An inspirational woman who spent her life making sure people in the community felt safe has died aged 92.

Eileen Deacon was the lead coordinator of Neighbourhood Watch in the Bay and brought back the Feel Safe Scheme, which protects vulnerable people in the community by carrying out acts such as fitting new locks on doors or installing sensor lights on dark pathways.

Eileen worked tirelessly for the Neighbourhood Watch for over 20 years and was still active leading up to her death.

Her dedication and commitment to her neighbours have been widely recognised, and in 2023, Eileen was awarded a long-time volunteer certificate at an event attended by then. 

She was also nominated for the Lifetime Award in the 2024 Torbay Community Champion Awards.

Kevin Sproston, Devon and Cornwall Project Manager for National Neighbourhood Watch, singled out Eileen for special praise, describing her as a 'human community dynamo'.

He added: "To be a co-ordinator is one thing, but to be looking after the whole Torbay area and doing such a great job, while being as active and busy as she is, is next level. Simply put, she is Neighbourhood Watch royalty, and Torbay is incredibly lucky to have such an inspirational figure.”

Richard Stockbridge, Eileen’s nephew, said: “She was always there for us.”

Born on April 2, 1932, Eileen grew up in Harrow, Greater London, before moving to Devon, where she lived in Salcombe, Oakhampton, and eventually Torquay.

She married a John Geibel, who, according to Richard, built somewhat of a name for himself on television.

Eileen, who was an artist, also did some work on television and even appeared on the children’s entertainment programme, Blue Peter.

Her primary occupation was teaching, and she taught English and art at a variety of schools in Devon, including Montpelier, a former private school in Preston, Paignton.

Despite not having any of her own, Eileen loved children and went the extra mile to spend time with those related to her, offering private tutoring lessons with secret stashes of sweets and chocolate as rewards for good efforts. 

Richard said: “Even at 92, she wanted to teach my five-year-old daughter and help her through school.”

Eileen had a passion for painting and was a published author of arts and crafts books, including one about how to model with plasticine. 

However, she gave up her career to care for her parents, and after they passed away, she continued to care for Richard’s grandmother.

Eileen’s giving nature extended far beyond her family. 

Richard fondly recalled how she would allow neighbours and family to cut through her garden so they could more easily attend Torquay United matches.

Richard said that Eileen’s giving nature was a crucial part of her community work, which, he added laughingly, she held “very strong-minded” views on.

Usha Garrattley, Community Builder for Ellacombe and Plainmoor, met Eileen in 2012 and worked closely with her on projects in the community. 

Usha described the Feel Safe Scheme as a “brilliant project” and said that working on it with Eileen led to them becoming friends.

Usha remembered the heartwarming moment when Eileen handed her a pebble, displaying the written message: “A good friend is treasure.”

Usha also described how Eileen brought her love of art with her into her community work and once created a small drawing of a robber in a stripey suit as part of a written Neighbourhood Watch campaign.

Usha said: “The community was her passion, and she threw herself wholeheartedly into it. I feel very proud to have been her friend and to have worked together like we did. I know she had a wonderful life.”

David Evans, a Torbay Hospital radio presenter who worked closely with Eileen on Neighbourhood Watch, prepared an eight-page eulogy for Eileen’s funeral, which took place on Friday, January 24.

When researching Eileen’s life, he learned about her mum growing up in Egypt, her experience living in Salcombe, and her time in a haunted house on the moor.

David said: “She was a very private person, but what she achieved in her life could have filled 16 pages.”

David also stressed that despite all her achievements and presence in the community, she remained a private and modest person all her life. 

David added: “I didn’t know she was an author until the actual vicar told me. That’s a measure of how modest she was. A couple of years ago, Great Western Railway had a competition for local heroes to see if anyone wanted a train named after them. I thought to myself, That’s ideal for Eileen; I’d love to do that. And her response was, ‘Absolutely no way.’

“I’ve been around for a while, but it’s rare to come across a life so incredibly well lived.