Mrs Daphne Impey

Daphne Margaret Impey (nee Challis) 07.11.54 - 13.05.24

Daphne was born in November 1954. The family lived in Halifax Road, Cambridge.

After her Father’s death, Daphne aged two and her Mother moved to Blinco Grove, Cambridge to live with her Grandparents. She attended Homerton College Nursery and subsequently began at Morley Memorial Primary School.

In 1960, Daphne’s Mother bought a shop, ‘Woolwise’ in Cherry Hinton, it stocked; wool, haberdashery, tights and was the first stockists of ‘Ladybird’ clothing.

Daphne attended Coleridge Community College, Cambridge (with a short spell at Carnforth Secondary School, Lancashire). Daphne worked hard at college and was good at everything especially art, craft and needlework. She excelled in swimming and swam for the county.

Daphne met David in 1972, a handsome hardworking farmhand from Dry Drayton. They married and four and a half years later they had completed their family and moved to Bar Hill.

Daphne juggled her career with motherhood, a talented seamstress; producing patchwork and appliqué skirts for Cambridge clothing designer Maggie Norton; knitting cricket sweaters for Luke Eyres and garment construction for Sara Fermi of Cambridge.

In the 1980’s Daphne worked in ‘Countryside wools’ in Bradwell’s Court; a small shopping precinct in Cambridge between St Andrew’s Street and Drummer Street Bus Station which was demolished in 2006. In the late 1980’s and 90’s she was a merchandiser for ‘Thomas Cork’ managing and delivering stock for various local stores. With a wealth of knowledge and skills Daphne’s last employment was at the fancy dress shop ‘Wardrobe’ based in Cromwell Road, Cambridge.

In 1983 Daphne returned to leading Brownies in Bar Hill. Her career in Guiding was exceptional, this totalled in excess of thirty seven years service. Predominantly as a leader of the first and second Bar Hill Brownies and later the third Bar Hill pack. Roles included District Commissioner; Division Residential Outdoor Activities Advisor and in the late 1990’s Daphne was the County Arts Adviser lead and subsequently, between 2000 and 2008 she was the Country /Regional Arts Advisor lead. She was still registered and helping with Guiding duties up until 2021.

Immensely talented and creative there was never a dull moment; Daphne continually studied during the last twenty years, graduating with a Diploma in Patchwork and Quilting in 2006. Her work was exhibited across the country. She was a founder member of ‘Out of the Fold’ textile group and a valued member of Cambridge Quilters and Stitch Wild. Daphne was friendly, approachable and keen to share her skills by teaching others.

Retirement (the term used loosely) saw Daphne and David plant over two hundred fruit trees on their smallholding, they worked hard together daily.

In November 2022 Daphne and David celebrated fifty years of marriage; two children and four Grandchildren. Sadly, Daphne’s health began to fail and in April 2023 the shocking diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease was given. Committed and determined David nursed Daphne at home with limited support; every minute of every day, every sip of tea, every sip of soup until she slipped away on 13th May 2024.

Daphne loved life, her commitment and love for David was beyond compare. She was completely self-less; hardworking; a wonderful Mother and Nanna and a truly beautiful person both inside and out. She quietly excelled in her textile and knitting projects, she used her time wisely. Her commitment to Guiding and her love for others was genuine and steadfast.

Daphne will always be remembered for her smile and her laughter; “It’s only me” understated nature and with love and affection. There really is no one you will ever meet like Daphne. We have chosen the Motor Neurone Disease Association as the charity we would like to support; to fight this disease and end the suffering.