Obituary

Daphne Pritchard
30 Aug 1934 – 25 Jan 2021

Obituary written by Jacky Rix-Brown

In a Club which is 74 years old it is inevitable that we learn of the loss of early members. Sadly many seem just to be names. Daphne is an exception! Her lively personality and enormous energy will be remembered by many, from those who were with her on the Rock and Ice course of 1971 through to the people on Glühwein walks of more recent years.

She was an enthusiastic member enjoying meets in the UK and the Alps and venturing further afield too. She excelled at rock climbing and was a respected member of the prestigious Climbers' Club, also on their committee. Through that club she numbered Doug Scott and Mike Westmacott among her friends. With one C.C. member she completed a traverse of the Matterhorn via the Italian and Hornli ridges when she was nearly 60. She was always keen to help youngsters get started too, taking her niece and nephew climbing in Cornwall at a very early age. Her compassionate nature meant she greatly helped an AAC(UK) member taken ill on a Himalayan meet, and also led to her fulfilling a disabled lady’s dream by taking her up Snowdon.

Daphne also skied, played hockey and was a rally driver with several trophies under her belt. She even tried para-gliding for her 75th birthday! Her day- job was with the National Physical Laboratory, where her work centred on radio-carbon dating. When their first computer arrived, she taught herself and became the Lab’s IT expert.

As old age crept up she defied it and continued with most activities – especially rock-climbing. Even when dementia forced her to live in a care home, she was taken by the staff to the Craggy Island Climbing Wall each week, stopped only at 85 by the Covid Lockdown. Maybe hers is a Covid related death, as such confinement must have made her feel there was nothing left to live for.

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