It is with great sadness to announce the passing of Sue Moffitt. She died
peacefully on 4th February surrounded by family after a long battle with cancer.

The funeral will take place at Westside Farm on Tuesday 21st February 2023 at 2pm.

The family are pleased to say that Sue has chosen to be buried in the field at Westside Farm where she can continue to watch the family thrive. She would welcome family and friends to attend the funeral, however parking is very limited, and the area is likely to be muddy under wheel and foot. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear. The ceremony will take place in a marquee in the front garden of the farmhouse, followed by the burial in the field in front of the house. Please don't feel you need to wear dark clothes, Sue loved colour and she wanted this to be a celebration of her life.

There is parking on the road from St James’ Church, Newton, and for those able to walk there is some space in Newton itself (the pub car park or the Village Hall) which is about 1km from Westside Farm. Car sharing is encouraged.

There will be space for a number of cars on the farm track to the East of the farmhouse, but many of those places will be saved for those less able to walk, so please email Lucy if this is required.

The Family would like to welcome you after the Ceremony to raise a glass to Sue at The Duke of Wellington, Newton where they would be pleased if you would sign a book of condolence.

No flowers please – but donations would be welcome to St Oswalds Hospice, Tynedale Hospice at Home and Macmillan Cancer Care, all of whom the family wish to thank for Sue’s care.

Download Parking Map

Tynedale Hospice at Home charity donation

St Oswald's Hospice charity donation

Macmillan Cancer Support Charity donation

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Born in Corbridge Northumberland, Sue studied at Newcastle College for a Diploma in Art and Design, and then went on to complete a BA(hons)Fine Art at Sunderland University.

Brought up on a large dairy farm, Sue has always been surrounded by farm animals and wildlife - always feeling rooted to the natural world.

Her fascination and interest in the relationship between man and animal continues, especially with regard to communication, intelligence, perception and interaction. This continues to be a great source of inspiration for her work. 

Westside Contemporary was run by Sue and her late husband Roy Sturgeon, after his untimely death in 2016, Sue now runs the business with the help of fellow director and son William Anderson and daughter Lucy.

“In the very earliest time

When both people and animals lived on earth

A person could become an animal if he wanted to

And an animal could become a human being.

Sometimes they were people and sometimes animals

And there was no difference.

All spoke the same language.

That was the time when words were like magic.

The human mind had mysterious powers.

A word spoken by chance

Might have strange consequences.

It would suddenly come alive

And what people wanted to happen, could happen-

All you had to do was say it.

Nobody could explain this:

That’s the way it was.”

- Magic Words is an anonymous Eskimo poem