Sylvia Firth – Tom Jones Appreciation Society
January 17th, 2011 | By TomJones
For those of you who know and remember Sylvia Firth, it is with great sadness to announce that she passed away last week.
Sylvia ran the Tom Jones Appreciation Society for 30 years until sadly becoming ill around 5 years ago.
We want to express ours and Tom’s sadness at her passing, she will be missed by all who knew her as well as the life-long friends she made through the fan club.
She was a lovely person who did so much for Tom and his fans and we wish her family and friends our condolences.
Posted in: News
I was so sorry to hear that Sylvia passed away in January. She will be remembered by many Tom Jones fans for all the work she did running the Fan Club, also in the beggining for getting us good tickets for Tom’s concerts and arranging for us to go to his TV appearances and signings although living where she did she did not always come to London herself. Bless her she was pleased to do it for the rest of us.My husband Alastair and myself send our condolences to her family and are thinking of you at this sad time losing your Mum.
We are so sorry to hear this sad news. Jon was a member of tjas for many years and is a great fan of Tom and the work that Sylvia did to keep us all up to date on his work. Truly a very sad time for all the family but how wonderful that she will be remembered by so many people.
very sad to hear of sylvia s passing.sincere condolences to ian,lindsay and diane.fond memories of my visits to huddersfield,always made to feel very welcome. rest in peace.
sylvia was a lovely person and a good friend to my mum she did loads for tjas she will be missed by lots of people so sorry to her family for their sad loss rest in peace love mandy. jeans daughter
Thinking of sylvias family at this sad time love 2 u all x x
i was in her fanclub always enjoyed reading the news letter.
I was a member of Sylvia’s club even though I lived in Canada. I know she was not well – my thoughts and prayers are with her family
Sincere condolences to Sylvia’s family. I was a member of TJAS for a few years and had the privilege of speaking with Sylvia a number of times on the telephone. She was always cheerful and a lovely person. God Bless.
Sylvia was a good friend of mine also & I was very sad to hear of her death.I was a member of TJAS for 16 years & I used to meet Sylvia @ The Opera House @ Blackpool when Tom was still in concert there up until 2000.She very kindly got me a signed copy of “Reload”in 1999 & even sent me a signed photo of Tom for one of my Birthdays. Ive really missed her friendly letters & TJAS newsletters since the fan club disbanded in 2006.My sincere condolences to Ian,Lindsay& Diane & her grandchildren.I know one of Sylvia,s favourite Tom songs was “TILL” so till we all meet up again with Tom I will miss you SLVIA!! LOVE Jennifer @ Chorley xxxx
I too have happy memories of Sylvia, a lovely lady, kind & generous with her time.I have missed our telephone chats. My deepest sympathy to Diane, Lindsay & Ian at this sad time, she was so proud of you all. Best wishes to you all & your families. Gill Burke
It is with great sadness I write this, I was one of the early members of the fan club Sylvia ran. We spoke often and I would always look forward to the fan club magazine arriving with news of Tom and reviews from the members on Toms concerts. My thoughts are with Sylvia’s family at this very sad time.Your in my thoughts and prayers .
Sincere Condolences to Dianne, Lindsay and Ian at your loss from Me and and from Margaret (the Mobility Scooter lady).
sylvia was a lovely friend to me she did such a lot for tjas and for all her members and i appreciated it very much. i webnt to huddersfield many times to see sylvia also went to shows with her,we had a good time when they opened the virgin store in london at midnight. sylvia and myself were there.sylvia ended up bringing home in our car a life sized cardboard cutout of tom himself.4 people went to london 5 came back.i never forgot sylvia even when the club was disbanded,when you had sylvia as your friend, you had her for life, you couldnt have a better friend than sylvia she said it as it was.i will miss her very very much. all my love to diane lynsey ian and all the family i love you sylvia you will be dancing with your husband now xxx
I am also her daughter and just want to say how lovely it is that people remember her. She meant the world to us, her family and it is heartwarming to know she meant a lot to others. She was one in a million and will never be forgotten. Love you Mum. You will be sorely missed x
Lindsay, I thought you may be interested to hear from someone who was not a member of tjas, but who went to school with Sylvia. From approx 1937 to 1943 we attended St Thomas’s School on Manchester Road, Huddersfield, when she was living on Longroyd Lane. After being successessful in passing our 11+ exams we both moved to Longley Hall School, until 1948. As your Mum and I were the only two scholars to pass that exam in ’43, the Headmaster was so proud that he had an honours board made, on which were our names – Sylvia Woodhouse and Shirley Broadbent.
I have today looked out a photo of the traditional nativity play from St Thomas’s days – your Mum was the Innkeeper’s wife and I was Mary – I guess taken about 1941/2.
So far as I know, I have never met up again with Sylvia in all the years since then, even though I never moved away from the district.
My sincere condolences to you and your siblings on your recent loss.
Shirley.
Hi Shirley,
I am Sylvia’s son, I have heard about the plaque at St. Thomas’ School. I also have a copy of the school play photo, this also included a former work colleague of mine Eugene Walker.
My sisters and I would like to get in touch if you still live locally, or by e-mail if you don’t.
My e-mail address is shadowonthewall@hotmail.co.uk
We all live in and around Huddersfield.
Many thanks for your comments about Mum they are really appreciated.
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This is sad to hear.I was a member of the fan club she run,and often phoned her.My thoughts are with her family at this sad time.
Yes she was the one first listed me as a member to the Tom Jones Fun club maybe 26 to 27 years ago. God rest her soul.I still have her first letter.
I am Sylvia’s son. My mother ran the TJAS for 30 years, and loved every minute of it. It is a sad time for us all, but my two sisters and I apppreciate that through comments left on this site, all will be saved and Sylvia will never be forgotten.
Many Thanks
Ian Firth
yes i know her,i was 8 years a member from her tj fanclub
my deepest condolances to her family
truus bakker
This is such sad news. Sylvia was a dear lady. We had such fun exchanging albums and such way back in the day and had lovely conversations on occasion. She worked tirelessly to promote Tom through her club. My condolences to her family and friends. Rest in peace, Sylvia.
she was my mum, the best friend i ever had,and i love her so much my special memories will keep her close to me for ever. i miss you mum x
your diane xxxxx
I am so sorry to hear of Sylvia’s passing. She was a great lady and we used to write to each other and she’d send me little sticky pics of Tom to put on my wheelchair. She was a lovely, lovely person, devoted to her family too. Rest in Peace Sylvia x
So sorry to hear of Sylvia’s passing.I was a member of the TJAS since it’s very beginning. Sylvia worked tirelessly for Tom and for the members of the TJAS. What a sad day!
Hello Diane,
You may remember writing to me upon the passing of my friend Mollie Dobson in 2001 after which your mother and I struck up a penfriendship.
May I offer my condolences – I can still see (in my minds eye) all her wonderful cross stitch pictures. Lovely clever lady.
Barbara
Auckland. New Zealand