Arthur Rank Hospice Charity
Registered Number 1133354
Miss Lou Parmée
'The world Lou entered on 22 March 1955 had rather more in common with the Victorian Newnham described by Gwen Raverat than the one she left. The sacks of coal for heating were delivered from Austin Beale by a man with a horse-drawn cart, brown sugar was sold loose in Wood's on the corner in dark blue paper - and Empire Day was marked at Newnham Croft primary school with a parade and flag-waving. At that school, to which Lou went, following her brothers, a popular playground game was 'Boys against Girls'.
Lou also joined the happy group of children who roamed the almost carless streets, in and out of each other's gardens and unlocked houses, enjoying for example Owlstone Croft Nature Reserve, at that time known to us as the Dump, because that's what it was - full of rather grubby treasures. A lot of time was also spent on - and in - the Cam.
Next for Lou was the Perse Girls Junior School, where her lively talent for making friends was already well marked, as was her sharp sense of how ridiculous people can be.
On then to the County High School for Girls, where she also thrived, her circle including many whose loving friendship lasted till the day of her death. Their world was one of endless energy and laughter, including stage performances of skits and songs - Lou had already shown strong musical gifts and was an excellent pianist. She was also a brilliant mimic. Sport was an important feature of Lou's life; she was very good indeed at hockey (county standard in due course) and netball. After the County, Lou went to Nottingham University to read Spanish.
The early eighties found her in London at the Grant & Cutler foreign bookshop. Gordon's wine bar nearby, the French pub and the Marbella Spanish restaurant in Soho saw her often. Lou also continued to play hockey, women's and mixed, the latter including British and overseas tours.
The Church had also begun at this time to play a newly-significant part in her life and she was confirmed in St Paul's Cathedral. It was in the eighties too that she went twice with her mother to visit her brother in New Zealand; they ran several half-marathons together.
But ultimately the capital was not for her and she took the typically bold decision to completely retrain, as a physiotherapist, which she did, in Bristol, before getting a post in King's Lynn in the early nineties. At that point her mother's failing health called her back to the house she was born in, where Lou lovingly nursed her till the end. That end released a determined athlete back to something more like normality, with half and full marathon medals and cups proudly on display.
Sadly, the various health problems that assailed her and in the end shortened her life were beginning to make themselves apparent and her horizons were narrowing, but going to the gym and swimming, puzzles and crosswords, to which she admitted addiction - and meeting friends at the Millworks restaurant - were possible pretty much to the last, as of course was attending the 8 o'clock service on Sunday at St Mark's.
One of Samuel Beckett's characters remarks that the day of our death is a day like any other day, only shorter. Lou's life was not like anyone else's, although it was shorter than we would have liked. She remained absolutely herself and true to herself, even in extremis at the wonderful Arthur Rank Hospice. She will be much missed by all who had the good fortune to know her.'