Mary Alice Springham – Gentle soul could command respect with just one look

Published: 26th May, 2011

“SHE always used to say she was saving her best china cups and plates for her funeral,” said 55-year-old Lesley, daughter of Mary Alice Springham.

“She was the sort of woman who never felt sorry for herself. She’d laugh things off, didn’t sit and cry about them.”  

Mrs Springham, who spent a lifetime connected to London Zoo, died in her sleep, aged 86, earlier this month.

Born at University College Hospital in November 1924, she spent her childhood living above a chip shop in Regent’s Park.  

Her father was the head-keeper of the lion house at London Zoo. She went on to marry Reg Springham, the zoo’s resident boiler engineer, at a church in Edgware in 1951.

In 1964, Reg and Mary moved with their family into the zoo-keeper’s residences in the Outer Circle of the park. They already had two children – John, now 58, and Lesley. 

Mrs Springham was the zoo’s catering supervisor until her retirement. Her husband ran the zoo’s cricket team and she was remembered for making cheese, ham and salmon sandwiches for players. 

After Reg’s death in 1980, Mary moved out of the zoo. She made regular theatre trips, visits to the Prince of Wales swimming baths in Kentish Town and took courses at the University of the Third Age, where she studied child psychology and music appreciation. 

“One thing about my mum – she was a gentle soul,” said Lesley. “She didn’t have to scream and shout to command respect. All she had to do was give you ‘the look”, and you could feel it piercing through your head, even if you were facing the other way. She was famed for that look, and if you didn’t take note then she exploded. But it was rare. It took a lot to make her angry. Mum was a lady, through and through. She used to say: ‘If you don’t have anything nice to say to someone, don’t say it all”, and that summed her up.”

A keen knitter and crocheter, she made jumpers and dresses for her family while watching television.

Her ashes will be scattered close to her husband Reg’s at Golders Green Crematorium. “It’s what they both would have wanted,” said Lesley. 

PAVAN AMARA