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Harlow
Liberal Democrats
Elsa Scammell
1925 - 2003
Elsa Mary Marie-Therese Scammell MA
Life President Harlow Liberal Democrats
Elsa Scammell, our President and former Chair, who was born on the 11th January 1925, died at home in Waterlooville, Hampshire on the evening of 29th September 2003. She had suffered from ill health for many years, but had long outlived both her and her doctors’ predictions of early demise. We had begun to hope she would go on forever.
Elsa has been a stalwart supporter of the Party in Harlow for many years. She had stood as council candidate, and was elected Chair in 1986, (following on from John Lee). She was the last Chair of Harlow Liberals, and the first Chair of Harlow Liberal Democrats in 1988. She was a key player in the changes locally from the Liberal–SDP Alliance to the new merged party, and most of the initial (sometimes difficult) meetings took place in her house. She also wrote the Members Newsletter at that time. Her husband Rodney had organised the Liberal News distribution in Harlow for several years.
Elsa was born in London, an adopted child who never knew her family. She worked as an English Teacher (Robert Thurston was one of her pupils). Rodney, her husband for 40 years, was a Science Teacher. Sadly, he died some twenty-five years ago.
Elsa retired from teaching early due to ill-health. In her seventies she developed further health problems. Despite this she attended the Annual Conferences in Harrogate and Torquay in the early 90’s. Although confined to a hotel room on both occasions, she savoured the conference atmosphere and was able to meet up with old friends.
Elsa left Harlow some time after Rodney died, going to live in Waterlooville in Hampshire to be near Rodney’s relatives. She regretted the move, but was unable to return to Harlow because of house prices and her increasing inability to travel. However she continued to support us morally and with generous donations, and retained her membership in Harlow. She was elected President of Harlow Liberal Democrats after she ceased to be Chair, and has held that post ever since.
Although practically housebound for most of the last 20 years, Elsa had many friends around the world. She had always shared Rodney’s love of technology, if not his full understanding of it, and found the Internet invaluable. She used it to keep in touch with friends and to help with her research, initially through CIX and the rec.music.early news group, and later through various Yahoo e-groups.. She also had her own Home Page on the web, (which will be kept online, though it may have to change address). She was proud of the fact that one year she was voted one of the "weirdest posters on CIX", a tribute to her true uniqueness.
One of Elsa’s many interests was the history of Music. Having produced some notes for a long playing record featuring the voice of Vatican singer Alessandro Moreschi, she was approached by Duckworth’s to write a book on the Castrati, entitled "Angel Voices". Her self-taught knowledge of languages (especially Italian) helped in her research. She was still working on this at the time of her death. Her book will now be completed by her friend Dr. Peter Giles. For more details, see her web site.
Elsa loved cats and found them great company. Her two remaining cats, Jasper and Tosca (who is very old now – 25) have been adopted by Elsa’s sister-in-law.
By her request, Elsa's remains were cremated, quietly and with "no ceremony and no fuss". Her ashes were sent to Harlow, and interred at Parndon Wood Crematorium, in the same area as her husband Rodney's ashes. In Elsa’s will she asked that a plaque, giving her name and dates, inscribed 'The Lord hath brought me home again' be placed in Parndon Wood Crematorium, Harlow. We shall make sure that happens.
We have received tributes to Elsa from peole we knew, and those we did not. Some are shown here
Harlow Liberal Democrat leader Lorna Spenceley said,
"Those who knew her will miss her more than she would have imagined." Her Hampshire friend Philippa Gray said
"Although she had become quite frail recently so in some ways her death was expected, her spirit was never diminished by her illnesses and the reality of her death has come as a great shock. She overcame so many problems I felt, deep down, that she would continue to do so and would always be around to inspire and brighten my life."
From jill.gunsell@ntlworld.com Fri Oct 3 23:01:54 2003
Dear Harlow LibDems,
I write to offer you my condolences on the loss of your friend and Life President, Elsa Scammell. I never met Elsa face to face - only through the Internet. As you probably know, Elsa was an expert on the Castrati, the high male voices of Baroque (C17-C18) music, and many Baroque music lovers all over the world corresponded with Elsa through Internet Baroque music groups. She helped many of us to understand better the history of the music we love, and will be remembered with great affection by a great number of people whom she advised with kindness and helped with her knowledge. She particularly encouraged some young and aspiring classical singers of my acquaintance. She will be sadly missed. I understand Elsa had no family, so I write to you because I wanted to express my appreciation of Elsa to some people who knew her.
May she rest in peace.
With kind regards,
Jill Gunsell
Moderator, the Andreas Scholl Society www.andreasschollsociety.scholl.com
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