This site is a tribute to Sylvia Anderson. She is much loved and will always be remembered.

 Eulogy

Born Sylvia Symkiss to Joseph and May Symkiss on 26th August 1938 in Tottenham Edmonton. Sylvia was one of five children Alan, John, Pamala and Peter. 
She lived at number 11 Queens street until the age of 18 when she left queens street and moved in with her friend Iris, The two girls were like sisters. They would travel together to see their idol Dickie Valentine at the Finsbury Park Empire, even traveling to the Winter garden in Margate for a week to see him. You’ve heard of Beatle mania well these two had Dickie mania… screaming at the top of their lungs from the balcony box..! Dickie Valentine would often chat them after the performances. 

The girls were part of a group of friends, dancing at the “Cooks Ferry Inn” Edmonton, They were known as “The Cooks Ferry Gang”  The pub was the place to be with lots of named bands and top jazz musicians.

Sylvia then moved to Southend, and in 1959 she married George and they had an ‘Angel’ of a son Karl.. At the time they were living in an upstairs flat at Salisbury Avenue Southend, they moved to Rochford in 1962 where they would live for the rest of their lives at number 15 Johnson close. 

Sylvia was a very talented machinist/dressmaker, she started working in a factory on the Wingate estate Tottenham as machinist working alongside one of Shirley Bassey’s sisters, then after moving to Southend  she worked for local firms, but decided to work from home to look after her “little angel”… one of the rooms in the house was converted into a work room and stayed her workroom until 2022. Karl remembers well school holidays making waistcoat belts and linings for pocket money under mums supervision and quality control, Sylvia would be able to make dresses from scratch, if they were going out on Saturday night she would often make a new outfit that day..! Later in life she would be making designer wedding dresses for a London firm and ladies lingerie for the middle east.. Stunning items with minute intricate detail… she continued to make wedding dresses for local brides well into her late 70’s. 
She made all of Dani’s costumes for the school plays. On one occasion Dani needed a black pencil skirt and could not find one anywhere.. Nan knocked one up in less than an hour..!

Sylvia learnt to drive, a fellow machinist “Flo” whose husband Cyril was a bus driver taught her how to drive, she passed her test first time, and was often heard to say whilst in town traffic “come on mate you can get a bus through there!!” Wonder where that came from?

Sylvia also was a “floral artist”, herself and two friends Joan and Salina would make wonderful flower arrangements for weddings etc. often going up to Covent Garden at the crack of dawn to get fresh flowers for the arrangements. 

Bingo and gambling.. Sylvia was lucky ! Very lucky.. she would visit the Bingo club twice a week to get her friends, every Thursday and Sunday evening’s and would more often than not come home with a bunch of notes or a purse full of £1 coins from the fruit machines.

Sylvia took up golf in her early sixties and loved it.. she had lessons and joined Garron Park golf club where she would eventually become lady captain, the ladies would have days out on the course.. golf and a buggy loaded with Pimm’s #1 on the course..! I believe the men stayed well clear on those occasions…! 

Sylvia and George travelled, and they loved the lake district many weeks were spent there with friends and family and Cruising, George loved the sea and Sylvia just loved to go on holidays. Visiting the Caribbean for Xmas was a favourite in their 80’s. On one occasion while in Florida on holiday with family they visited Disney’s Blizzard Beach, where Sylvia proceeded to “Plummet the Summit” a 360 foot long 12 story high water Slide, she was in her mid sixties at the time. And loved it. Sylvia used to take Dani her granddaughter across to Lego land in Denmark where the would spend hours walking round together. 

Sylvia also loved West end shows and theatre, She would go with Dani to get their hair done go shopping visit theatres in London all on George… worth mentioning, George didn’t ‘do credit cards, so Sylvia looked after it for him..

Sylvia and George were a great team and always ready to help others.. George with DIY and gardening and Sylvia with dress making and altering Melvin’s trousers. 

They were fantastic parents.. always supportive and there..! Wether it was to bring petrol to a stranded “angel” or financial support you name it they would help..! They will both be greatly missed by many people.
 
There is one other thing that should be mentioned.. 
Silvia’s legendary apple pies… Those who tasted will never forget them.. how she did it we still don’t know.. she just said “its all in the pastry mix”..??  Whatever it was… they were the best apple pies ever!! 
David her nephew once said “aunt Silv we could be miw-yen-airs this time next year selling your apple pies !! 

R.I.P together Silvia and George..