Marion Insch, long-time resident of and SVPOA Road Steward for Meadfoot Road, passed away on 17th April. Her funeral was held on Tuesday 13th May at South London Crematorium. I first met Marion and her daughters, Karen and Allison (Allie) in the Spring of 1986 when I was canvassing Meadfoot Road for that May’s local elections, the first election in which I was elected a Councillor for Streatham South Ward. Every time I saw her for the next 39 years, which was usually a few times a year, I always got a lovely smile and we exchanged warm pleasantries and sometimes had brief conversations about things that were going on in the Vale.
The following is adapted from the eulogy given at her funeral – it was written by Karen and Allie and Allie’s son, Ciaran, and read out on their behalf by Pastor Alex Camp from Streatham Vale Baptist Church.
Simon Hooberman
Editor
EULOGY – MARION ELSIE INSCH 2/10/1938-17/4/2025
Our Mum and Gran …….
Marion Elsie (Elise) Hendey was born on Sunday 2nd October 1938 to Florence and Bert, she had two brothers Derek and Ron and lived in Whitely House, Clapham.
During the war years, she spent a lot of time in Ashington, Northumberland, with her mum’s sister’s family Aunty Ethel, Uncle Tom and their children – this love and travel to the North East continued throughout her life with Karen and Allison joining her and their grandma spending their summer holidays there, with Aunty Ethel’s family coming to London for Christmas. Some of the best times!
Mum went to Rosa Bassett Grammar School for Girls (now part of Graveney School) In 1955, having left school, she started work at the Bank of England where she made some dear friends on her first day who have remained so to this day. From when she was young Mum loved to holiday with her friends – a favourite destination was Austria.
Mum moved to Meadfoot Road on 6th June 1966. Always keen to meet her neighbours, she met long-time friends Maureen and Dan, Linda and Joan. Karen was born in 1970 and Allie in 1973, and together they were known as MAK, a nickname used by Mum when she started making pickled onions. She made the best cheese scones and was a really good cook and baker, she used to go to evening classes and we used to love tasting what she had made, her famous cream slice was delish and more recently Mum made a fat free tea loaf for Karen and sponge cake for Ciaran most weeks. When Ciaran was born in 2005 we added the C and became MACK – it fitted perfectly.
When Mum returned to work, she started as a Civil Servant at the Prison Service and, when she retired, she began working for John Andrews, a member of the Holy Redeemer community and Mr Collis in an office at Smithfield Market, and really enjoyed her time there.
She continued to enjoy holidays on her own or with her cousin, her best friend or us, travelling to Spain, Gibraltar, Tenerife, Rhodes, Cyprus, Malta, and Ypres for Battlefield Tours and walks, as well as marching at the annual Remembrance Service to the Cenotaph with the Western Front Association. They would have both enjoyed the recent VE Day celebrations, as they were both so patriotic – the flags would have been out. We had fabulous times together and there was lots of laughter, especially after a glass or two of wine.
Mum has always had her faith, she attended the Baptist church in Clapham, The Holy Redeemer, and Streatham Vale Baptist church, attending services, meetings, talks and events, and more recently with the Freedom club at St Leonard’s. Mum made so many friends and was normally found making the tea/coffee for everyone.
Ciaran was like his Gran’s little helper when he was young, she doted on him and the feeling was mutual. Mum and Karen spent lots of time visiting Allie and Ciaran when they lived in Brussels and Germany.
More recently, Mum joined the over 50’s club at Streatham Library, and the Horizon Group exercise class. She really enjoyed these and attended until quite recently.
Mum was a longstanding SVPOA Road Steward, delivering Vale Topics and she would try in earnest to get all the neighbours to join, she was still delivering Topics up until this year. She would also attend the annual flower show, winning a few cups for her roses, and the Handicraft Cup as recently as last September!
Mum was always out, we joked she had a better social life than us, often not being home when we rang, and she remained active until very recently.
Mum loved music – she liked listening to Frank Sinatra, Johnny Ray, Abba. When she had a stay in hospital years back, in the ward she was in, they would sing “Don’t Worry Be Happy” and “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”, and that was Mum, always saying “Don’t worry be happy”, everything will be ok and always look for the positives.
Holidays together continued as a family until recently – in the Isle of Wight, Ashington and last October a week in Wittering together. After Covid, we decided to start to go into London more, visiting Buckingham Palace and theatre trips including to see Mrs Doubtfire, Giselle and Wicked.
Karen, Allie and Mum went on their first cruise last year which was supposed to be around the British Isles but, because of that British weather, ended up in France – another place we had visited a lot over the years.
Mum always enjoyed cuddles and was very proud to have recently become a great great aunt.
The kind words we have heard at this sad time, have helped us – lovely lady, wonderful person, kind, ‘end of an era’, what a caring and dear friend she was – there has been so much love shown towards her. She was the most amazing Mum and Grandma, who is now our angel in heaven. Miss you and love you forever.
Karen, Allie and Ciaran