Daphne Fisk joined the club in membership year 1965 - 66. I did not meet her until 1988 at which time she was an active member and we often met on the Sunday rambles and at the "Christmas Parties" which took place in January.

 

Prior to my meeting her and only three years after becoming a member Daphne was elected Club Secretary on 7 October 1969 and in 1972 - 73 she served as Secretary of the Social Committee. At that time, unlike the present, there was competition for committee membership. The rule that no one could serve more than two consecutive years unless no one else was nominated was strictly applied and many people, like Daphne, did their committee job for just one year.

 

Sadly Daphne died on New Year's Day 2005. A large number of club members attended her funeral Mass in St Aidan's Church, Coulsdon and afterwards at Croydon Crematorium.

 

In the summer programme 2005 the following tribute was published:

 

It is with great regret that I have to announce that Daphne Frisk died on New Year's Day. Daphne in previous years was a key member of our club and for the last three years had bravely been fighting cancer. I have received a letter from Barbara Bridle who was her very dear friend and an extract is as follows: “Her funeral was on 18 January and was a wonderful celebration of Dapne’s Life and it was so good to see so many of her friends there including 24 members from the club. Daphne was a member since the early 60s and will always be remembered for her calm, caring manner. When she was Club Secretary and once whilst on a summer outing, there was the famous coach fire and Daphne dealt bravely with a difficult situation in evacuating the coach. She also typed the Club’s Ramble List for many years. She was such a very brave lady, always cheerful and will be sadly missed and may she rest in peace. “

 

More recently, in 2022, I acquired some historical club documents from Maurice and they included the paragraphs reproduced below. I don't know who wrote them but they read like a eulogy which may have been read at Daphne's funeral by a felow parishioner:

 

Born in Woking in 1944 when her Mother was evacuated from London Daphne was brought up in Battersea.  She loved children and for twelve years was Brown Owl of the St. Anne’s Brownie Pack at Vauxhall. in 1966 Daphne joined the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers' Club for whom she led many rambles over   the years and I met Daphne on one of their rambles in 1967. Daphne went on to become    Club Secretary and is especially remembered for her calm caring manner when the coach caught on fire during       their summer outing and had to be evacuated with some difficulty. She also typed the Club’s Ramble List for many years. Daphne loved walking and enjoyed many rambling holidays both at home and abroad and until relatively     recently rambled with the Croydon Ramlbers. She also enjoyed the Townswomenf s Guild and the U3A and attended several classes. Daphne moved here to Coulsdon in 1978 where she took part in various aspects of parish life and until her illness she was a regular Mass Rep at the 9 00am Sunday Mass. She worked in London for Prospect, a trades union, for 26 years, where she was secretary to the General Secretary. Daphne was a wonderful daughter. Her Father died when she was 17 and her Mother lived with her until she died nearly five years ago at the age of 96. Daphne was very close to her uncle, Denis Griffiths, and was bridesmaid at his wedding to her Aunt Maria, Denis was also her Godfather and they often met up and enjoyed lunch at the Royal Festival Hall.

Daphne was a wry special friend, always ready to listen, cheerful, caring and kind, and this is the opinion of all her friends to whom  I have spoken over the past fortnight, We all feel so enriched by her friendship.

 

Finally, mentIon must be made of her great courage over the last three years whilst fighting cancer. During that time she was very upbeat and lived life to the full when in remission, and was always cheerful. We shall all miss Daphne very much, May she rest in peace.