Memorial Service for Maureen Woodriff

The following article appeared in the Richmond and Twickenham Times on 5th October 2007. (Click on the PDF file below to read Maureen's obituary.)

The Parish Church of All Saints, Hampton, was filled on September 24 with relatives, neighbours and friends, many of whom had travelled long distances to be present to take part in a celebration of the life of Maureen Woodriff.

Mrs Woodriff, former mayor, a lifelong resident of the borough who dedicated her life to her family and the community, died on July 2.

Rev Julie Gittoes officiated with Veronica Barnes playing the organ.

The Mayor, Cllr Marc Cranfield-Adams led the tributes with his own account of Maureen's early years.

Speakers lined up to add their own contributions. Organisations represented included Richmond upon Thames Council; Hampton Fuel Allotment Charity; The White House Community Association of Hampton and Hampton Hill; Twickenham Rotary Club; Richmond Music Trust; Richmond Furniture Scheme and Hampton Youth Project.

The song Maureen was sung by the All Saints' Church Choir. The children's choir from Buckingham School and HCC, under the direction of Sheila Johnson of the Richmond Music Trust sang Summertime from Porgy and Bess and Now the Sun is Shining followed by a tribute from the headteacher, Caroline Boyle. Ave verum corpus by W A Mozart was sung by Cantante Camerati and Teddington Choral Society.

Each speaker paid tribute to Maureen's contribution to her involvement in their particular sphere of interest but it was Ted Rothery who perhaps summed it all up when, with a voice full of emotion, he said, "Perhaps the best tribute to Maureen's life and work was the number of people who have turned up to this service."

Maureen's husband Bryan added later: The children sang beautifully and were applauded for their contribution.

It set the scene for the service to be a joyful commemoration of a life dedicated to the service of others.'' Len Smith said, "Maureen's membership of Rotary was quite short but all her life she had lived up to its motto; 'Service above Self'.

In her quiet Christian way she loved and was loved by a large number of people from many walks of life.'' The thanksgiving included parts of the funeral service held for Maureen in the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace, on July 13.