Page 2 - HGS Suburb News 135 - Summer 2018

Joyce Littaur 1925-2018 Glen, was born in 1949 and needing companionship and an David Cohen 1939-2018
Gavin, their son arrived in 1950. opportunity to confide in an open
For some years, Joyce listening ear. Her visits continued
involved herself in the orchestra until her nineties, when several David was born in Gresham
David conducted, Philomusica of her ‘protégés’ were far younger Gardens, Golders Green on the
of London, in a managerial than herself. 27 February 1939, the youngest
of three children. He went to
capacity. She helped to plan Another activity, meaningful Golders Hill School and then to
concerts as well as booking to Joyce, was her involvement in
venues and artists. This work volunteer reading help in schools. Beaconsfield Prep School from
continued until 1998, when She assisted pupils in Wessex the ages of 7 to 11. David then
attended the City of London
David retired and the couple Gardens School for many years; it School until he joined his father
downsized to their home in was only her deteriorating eyesight
Wildwood Road on the Suburb. that caused her to step down. She in the family retail shoe business
At this stage, Joyce began to was much admired and appreciated in 1956.
David married Judith in
play an important part in by everyone she assisted. 1962 and moved to Hampstead
hosting meetings for the Events She made many friends
Committee of the Residents from these activities and was Garden Suburb, where they
Association, which her husband much loved by all who knew have lived for 56 years, starting
in Hill Rise, before moving to
chaired, and providing them her, especially members of the
with refreshments. Unlike David, Suburb community. They will Northway and then to Sheridan Rotary Club of Golders Green,
she did not enjoy serving on miss her terribly. Joyce’s Walk. Their two boys, Richard which has grown from year to
committees – “I am not a voluntary work at the North and Peter, had a wonderful year and is now usually attended
childhood in the Suburb and
by around 100 people with the
committee person” – and much London Hospice for many years made many lifelong friends. police stopping the traffic around
preferred the social and catering provides yet another example
elements. Joyce played a similar of her charitable activities. David always took a very the Clock Tower for the Two
role in Proms at St Jude’s, Abbeyfield, Like most people’s lives, there active role in local community Minute Silence.
Sport always played a large
events including Neighbourhood
at the Fellowship Club and, on have been some painful passages. Watch, annual cricket matches part in David’s life – an Arsenal
occasions, at Alyth Gardens. In 2015, her dear daughter Glen
Joyce and David enjoyed was seriously injured in a traffic on the Heath with the residents Season ticket holder, a Saracens
travelling together. Their travels accident. Joyce was overjoyed of Northway – the Odds v. the supporter, as well as playing
rugby, cricket and hockey in his
Evens – battling it out, classes at
included ski holidays in when she began, slowly, to make
Joyce was the youngest of three In September 1939, his family Switzerland, tours to Norway, a recovery and she would have the Institute and the Proms, to early years. David coached rugby
sisters. She was born in 1925 in went on holiday to Buenos Aires Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and been so proud and grateful to name just a few. and cricket for seven years at
Aberdare Gardens, West Hampstead in the Argentine. Their ship left Hungary, as well as visits to her for taking the long journey After spending 26 years in St. Anthony’s Prep School in
and her parents were Cecil Fox, from Southampton, not far the family business, David and Hampstead where Judith worked
well-known locally as a successful from Bournemouth, where the David’s parents in South Africa from her home in Sussex to say Judith formed David Cohen for 30 years. He also gave a
and her sister in Los Angeles. goodbye to her at her funeral.
property developer, and his wife Fox family happened to be She especially enjoyed seeing her There have been a large Fine Art in 1984. They spent 32 yearly talk to the Year 8 boys on
Evie. The family moved to 31 staying. David and Joyce have a much-loved granddaughter and number of recent tributes to years dealing in First World War Remembrance and the First
Bracknell Gardens a few years photo of Joyce and her parents, art supplying major museums World War.
later and they became good friends standing on the dockside, her husband, Rachel and Petter, Joyce received by David, her and clients around the world. David ended his days in the
adoring and grieving husband.
and her great-grandchildren and
with people called Littaur, who looking up to the ship and step-grandchildren in Norway. They share a common theme: David joined the Rotary Club North London Hospice – a
lived a few houses away at No 21. waving goodbye to the Littaurs. Joyce and David went there repeated references to her of Paddington in November haven of peace and tranquility
Joyce and David, from the The War started a few days 1963 and became President in – and the family will always be
age of about 10, used to meet afterwards and they were many times. kindness, gentleness, sweet 1980. When his business in grateful for the love and care
Joyce loved people, and she
nature, service to others and,
each other when accompanying stranded in the Argentine until enjoyed visiting the elderly and above all, her lovely smile. Bayswater ceased trading, David that David received there.
their respective mothers on local November 1942, the year the chatting to them about their lives. became a member of the Rotary The many cards, letters and
shopping expeditions. They liked Littaurs returned to Britain. Of Club of Golders Green where he e-mails that Judith has received
one another and David was course, there was a reunion During the week, she would pay The above is taken from the eulogy made many lasting friendships. all talk of David being a very
drawn by Joyce’s big smile. But between Joyce and David. regular visits to lonely people, given at Joyce’s funeral. He served as both President and special man. He had a way of
that was as far as it went in By now, Joyce had volunteered Secretary of the Club and was making people feel comfortable
those early days and it would be for the Women’s Auxiliary Air David shared the following memory from his great-nephew very proud to have done so. whenever he met them and
an exaggeration to say it was Force and became a radio operator, Jonathan with Suburb News Since 2009 David led the there were many references to
“love at first sight”. mainly on RAF stations in the My great aunt Joyce, my Grandma’s actually went to the same French annual November Ceremony of his warmth, his smile, his
At that time, Joyce was West Country. David became a sister, was a smart, selfless and tutor as the young princesses, Remembrance at the Clock laughter and his generosity.
attending South Hampstead High trainee navigator in the RAF incredibly wonderful human Elizabeth and Margaret (this Tower at Golders Green. This David was a real character and a
School. When WW2 started, in and in 1945 did a course of being; Joyce could talk to anyone must have been back in the was an event started by the true gentleman.
1939, the school was evacuated training in Canada. At the end and was kind to everyone. She 1930s or early 1940s). One day,
to Berkhampstead, but Joyce’s of the war, both of them were and her husband David recently the tutor had the princesses BRILL OWEN
parents decided to stay in obliged to await the turn of celebrated their 70th wedding over and they were all playing CHARTERED ARCHITECTS
London and sent her to The their respective demobilisation anniversary. Together, they always hide and seek when he knocked We are able to offer a complete
Henrietta Barnett School in the numbers and they went back to loved to travel, and to meet new one of them over (David adds: service from conception to
Suburb. Little did she know then civilian life in 1947. people wherever they went. Princess Margaret was very reticent completion helping you to create
that Hampstead Garden Suburb They became increasingly When I visited them in on my visit and hardly spoke. a unique home that fulfils your
would become her home in the close to one another, announced London, Joyce would wake me Princess Elizabeth, our present Queen, needs
final 20 years of her life. their engagement in 1947 and up – usually around 6am – to spoke a great deal and we had Contact us for a free no obligation
David became a boarder in were married in 1948. They lived have tea, and then we would been instructed to do so in French! consultation on
0
the preparatory school of Clifton in Stormont Road, Highgate, take long walks together. Every Then we played hide-and-seek or 0208 349 0037208 349 0037
College, Bristol. In the holidays, where they raised a family of place we went to, somebody some such game and it was she Or email at
he would occasionally be invited two children and this was their who knew her would come over whom I knocked over by accident.) architects@brillowen.co.uk
over to see Joyce and these home for 50 years until 1998. to say hello. I said to David that if he had View our recent work at
invitations were reciprocated. Joyce and David’s daughter, There is one wonderful played his cards right at that www.brillowen.co.uk
memory I want to share, moment, he could have married
especially timely with the royal a princess. David put his arms We are Chartered
Hall and Randall Plumbers wedding: one time my great around Joyce and, with a big Architects based in
uncle David was telling me the smile, said, “But I did marry a North London
story of how as a child he princess!” specialising in
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