‘Convivial nature, her warm smile and infectious laughter’: Ina Wood with husband Sir Wilfred, the former Bishop of Croydon, retired to Barbados in 2002

OBITUARY: Lady Ina Wood, the wife of the former Bishop of Croydon, Sir Wilfred Wood, died in January at her home in Barbados after a short illness. She was 86

Ina Eileen Smith was born in Barbados in the parish of St Joseph in 1938, one of nine children.

She excelled at school and achieved top marks in many of her classes, despite being disadvantaged by crippling headaches which initially went undetected, affecting her vision and making study painful.

During those school years she met Wilfred Wood. Even at that early stage, they were destined to be a couple. Their faithfulness and devotion endured despite years of separation in London and Canada, to where Ina had initially travelled from Barbados.

Reunited in London in 1965, Ina and Wilfred, who had been ordained as a priest in the Church of England in 1962, duly got married, and joked that they had the shortest wedding reception in history.

Their wedding day ws July 30 1966, and after the service, their guests rushed to crowd around a single black and white television to watch England beat West Germany in the World Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

Settling in Shepherd’s Bush, Ina and Rev Wood went on to have two daughters and three sons. The moved first to Catford, then to East Dulwich and eventually to Croydon in 1985, when Wilfred made history after being consecrated as the first black bishop in the Church of England.

Following Wilfred’s retirement in 2002, the couple returned to live in Barbados.

Ina found vocation in the family she was moulding and put everything of herself into looking after them, while juggling her own work commitments which included working at Croydon College.

“Never one to seek the limelight, Ina committed herself to a life of service to God and community which often necessitated public appearances,” one of her sons, David, a former Labour councillor for Selhurst ward, recalls.

“She bore these occasions with good grace and a warm personality, often taking pleasure in making quietly irreverent jokes at formal events with fellow guests.”

Ina’s convivial nature, her warm smile and infectious laughter will be the abiding memory for many who knew her.

She became known in Croydon circles and beyond for her gracious hosting, particularly at the summer parties that her husband would throw for clergy in his episcopal area and their families. At these events, Ina would serve Bajan rum punch, notorious for its “secret recipe” and guaranteed to send those guests who braved it home in a happier disposition than before they arrived.

Ina led a full life, and was often busier than she would have liked to be. In her quieter moments she enjoyed simple pleasures such as enjoying a competitive game of Scrabble – where she could demonstrate her immense vocabulary. She also liked to play card games or read her favourite No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency books.

When Wilfred received a knighthood in 2000, she became Lady Ina Wood, a title that she very rarely used, fittingly for someone of such humility who lived a life of service to others and who treated everyone with courtesy and respect, be they knights of the realm or supermarket checkout workers.

Following retirement, Ina took pleasure in the visits to their Barbados home of her children, grandchildren and many visitors from overseas. Throughout this period she never lost her joyful demeanour, despite the additional challenges of full-time caring responsibilities in her later years.

• Lady Ina Wood, née Smith, born St Joseph, Barbados, December 1938, died January 2025. She is survived by Wilfred, her children Gillian, John, William, David and Nicola, and her 10 grandchildren
• There will be a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Lady Ina Wood at 3pm this Saturday, March 8, at St Laurence Church, Bromley Road, Catford SE6 2TS. All are welcome – please RSVP to davidwood7242@gmail.com if you would like to attend
  
• There will also be livestreams available to watch online via Facebook (click here) and on the church’s YouTube channel (click here)