We were sad and shocked to hear of the death of Rosie Fooks on 18 August 2023. Rosie was the treasurer of the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign from 2012, only stepping down a year and half ago. We would like to pay tribute here to the work that she did for the Campaign – always calm and efficient particularly at a time when fundraising for our Judicial Review was so central to the Campaign in 2013.
Louise Irvine, Campaign Chair writes on behalf of the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign
It was with great sadness that we in the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign heard that Rosie had passed away. We all remember Rosie with enormous gratitude as she was a member of our steering committee and campaign treasurer for many years, only giving up the treasurer’s job last year after about a decade.
Rosie was a central part of the team throughout the whole of our campaign and we remembered Rosie when we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the campaign victory in July this year.
At the peak of the campaign Rosie was handling thousands of pounds in income and outgoings, as we fundraised for both the campaign activities and the successful judicial review. Rosie had all the qualities of a good treasurer: she was utterly reliable, conscientious and meticulous. We couldn’t have done what we did without her. In addition she was full of enthusiasm, warmth and good humour – also essential ingredients for a successful team and campaign.
We are aware that in losing Rosie we have lost someone exceptional and precious. We send our heartfelt condolences to you and all her family and loved ones.
With love,
Louise (chair) and all of us in the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign
The following piece was written by Rosie’s daughter Sophie for the Brockley Labour Party, of which she was a member
Rosie Fooks (1949-2023)
My lovely mum, Rosie Fooks, died on the 18th of August 2023, shortly after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Before moving to Colchester, to be part of a pioneering co-housing scheme (Cannock Mill), she lived in Brockley for 40 years and was a member of the Brockley Ward Labour Party (previous Drake ward) that whole time.
(She even stood as a councillor – but not at an optimum time. No one was voting for us because of the Iraq war (which she was vehemently opposed to) and more locally, because of the closure of Ladywell Swimming Pool).
My mum was a woman of action and used her time on this earth to advocate for those who, because of structural inequality, discrimination, or just bad luck, needed a friend and supporter. All her life she used her perfect Grammar School grammar to write and speak up for those who were not being listened to.
She spent most of her working life in adult education, starting off working with young disabled adults and ending as the manager of Community Education Lewisham.
Despite working full time, raising me my sister and my foster brother, voluntary work and campaigning was her great passion. In addition to Labour Party activism, she campaigned against slum housing in Notting Hill, as part of the feminist campaign for crèches (big in the ‘80s); and against Nuclear weapons at Greenham Common. More recently she was the Treasurer of the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign. For many years she was Chair of Governors at Lucas Vale School. When she retired she taught English as a second language to a group of Vietnamese ladies in Deptford.
She also gave blood for over 50 years!
But beyond her formal volunteering and campaigning work, her greatest impact was what she did on an individual and informal level, much of which happened around our warm and welcoming kitchen table: writing letters in defence of people; helping people get back into work by building them up and re-drafting their CVs; teaching people English by getting them to read Guardian articles (!) and then patiently, gently, kindly, explaining what it all meant.
She wasn’t a saint and wouldn’t have wanted to be one, but her life had deep meaning. At the end, though annoyed it had not gone on for longer, she was truly happy and satisfied that she had made a difference. In this increasingly individualistic age, we can all learn from that.
Sophie McGeevor (Rosie’s daughter and former Brockley Councillor)
Olivia O’Sullivan, Co-Secretary, Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign
I was so sad to hear that Rosie had died so unexpectedly. As Louise says, she played a key role for the campaign as Treasurer and Steering Committee member, particularly at a time when things moved very quickly and a calm head was needed to manage the results of our fundraising and multiple donations. Rosie had a quiet humour and didn’t like making speeches or big occasions but would always be there when called on. Thank you Rosie and much love to your husband Phil, your daughter Sophie and all the members of your family.
Kathy Cruise, Co-Secretary Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign
Rosie was committed and hardworking and tenacious in her role as treasurer in ensuring that the campaigns books were balanced and that we had sufficient funds for all that we needed to do . She was also good fun and good company . Thank you Rosie for all that you did for Lewisham and condolences to all of your family and friends
Vicky Penner, Steering Committee member, Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign
This is such sad news. Rosie was always so kind, warm and calm, she was lovely to work with and made a huge contribution to our community campaign. Love and condolences to Rosie’s family at such a difficult time.
Tony O’Sullivan, retired Lewisham consultant and campaign member, now co-chair of Keep Our NHS Public nationally
I was very sad to hear we had lost Rosie, and so soon after she and Phil were making their new home in Colchester. I was very grateful for Rosie’s total support for our campaign as member of the steering committee and treasurer. I remember at the height of our campaign I was sending Rosie emails and donations and money sales of campaign merchandise from Lewisham hospital and community health staff almost daily for months – all adding up to thousands and thousands of pounds! Rosie was totally reliable and patient with all that as she was for our campaign. Thank you so much Rosie. Deepest sympathy to Phil, Sophie and your family.
Maggie Palmer, Member of Save Lewisham Hospital Steering Committee and long time campaigner
I am saddened to hear about Rosie’s death. Rosie was a great treasurer of the Lewisham Hospital Campaign. Although I didn’t know Rosie well she was always so lovely. My thoughts are with her family and friends.
Gillian Lewis, Steering Committee member and long time campaigner
Rosie was a lovely, intelligent and committed campaigner and a very efficient Treasurer.
I can see her smile and the positive, sunny energy and humour that she exuded.
She also stored the gigantic birthday cake that went on the central London March a few years ago (and needed 4 carriers to hold aloft) in her garage. So helpful, so much a part of the fight to save the hospital and the NHS – and so missed.
Iain Wilson, Steering Committee member, Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign and there right at the start of the campaign
This is incredibly sad news. What I remember about Rosie is that she was wholly trustworthy and passed on her radical spirit to her children. She was always so helpful and understanding, given I wasn’t brilliantly organised (I was secretary at the beginning), and she never once made life difficult, which was so important for a campaign that needed to grow quicker than its codification. Thinking about it, things could have been much more tricky if someone overly fastidious or untrustworthy had been in her position. Rosie once took a biscuit tin full of thousands of pounds from Mel that we had fundraised and essentially counted it up and sorted it out… And she had the good sense to escalate things when people were trying to spend the money (on countless badges🤦♂). I’m not sure Rosie knew what she was letting herself in for when she agreed to be finance officer at the beginning with Brian and Louise, but she took it in her stride. A real champion
