Tribute to Sarah Spencer-Smith

Sarah was a person with a deep sense of justice and a loyal friend. Shortly after Martha and I moved into 1 Balfour Road, in December of 1979, our heating broke. In our desperation with the prospect of spending our first winter without heating, we looked at the yellow pages and called the first handyman we found. He came and fixed it in about 30 seconds; clearly there was nothing wrong, other than our lack of experience in  making it function.The bill: 80 pounds, at the time 1/3 of my monthly scholarship allowance, and a total ripoff. We paid despite our shock, and the following day, in our dismay, I told Sarah what had happened. Without hesitating for one second, she called the handyman, asked him if ripping off foreign students was his way of making a living, and demanded in a tone that left no doubt about how she felt that the money be returned to us. Two days later we got a check in the post for 60 pounds. It was not the last time she got two inexperienced students from Colombia out of trouble, nor the last we saw her react angrily in the face of injustice.

Hello Joanna 
Sorry to hear the news 
We had some good times together . Met at Ramblers. We recced and led walks together . Recces took a long time because she always had her binoculars out. On the actual  walk itself, I did the leading and she was behind me somewhere talking. Good times.. Together with Sally we had meals out or they entertained . Not me I am hopeless cook. Of course meals out were always  accompanied by complaints about the food . I used to say Dont complain until I have finished .
And then of course we had cinema and theatre visits . She was educating me on opera . Saying this one is suitable for you or that ones above your head!
I won’t be joining you for the funeral but I am sure you will give her a good send off .
Best wishes 
Steph