Meet a special East End volunteer — Marie, 97
A NONAGENARIAN with a passion for helping others has been presented with a Jewish Care award as a top volunteer.
At a dinner and ceremony at the charity’s Friern Barnet complex, Marie Joseph, 97, was honoured for “being a positive force within the Stepney Jewish community all her life”.
Although now living in Essex, she travels to Stepney every week to help out at the Jewish Care centre, for which she is also an active fundraiser.
Centre staff say she “lights up the room with her energy. She is funny and is concerned for everyone. Stepney is richer for her involvement.”
Mrs Joseph is a true East Ender, brought up in Bishopsgate (her former home is now a hotel). She became a caterer almost by accident, having been looking for a job that fitted in with ferrying her youngest child to and from school.
“I was waitressing and picked it up as I went along,” she recalled. “[As a waitress] it was silver service, with head waiters checking you were doing everything right. I worked at most of the guilds in the City and the Lord Mayor’s banquet.” She went on to cater dinners, parties and shul kiddushim.
Mrs Joseph has been volunteering at the Stepney centre for well over 30 years. She commuted by train twice weekly from Loughton until her family decided her son should drive her.
She said she was surprised to be singled out for an accolade as “there are so many volunteers and they’re all doing a great job. I love volunteering at Stepney. The club is a lifeline for the members — it breaks up their week.
“When I’m there with the members, we have a chat and a laugh. I meet people I went to school with — the original JFS in Bell Lane.
“I get them a cup of tea and serve lunch. The people at Stepney are part of my life, they’re like family.”
Mrs Joseph added that the recent visit of the Duchess of Cornwall to the centre had been special. “Meeting Camilla and dancing with her was one of the nicest days. We schlepped her around a bit.”
Her daughter Millie said that everyone remembered Mrs Joseph “because she’s helped people all her life. She had five children and was widowed quite young so she had to raise us on her own.
“She will never miss going to the centre — or the club as they call it — on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It gives her a lift.”
At the opposite end of the age spectrum, Jasmine Spurling, 17, was recognised on awards night for her commitment to youth activities at Redbridge Jewish Community Centre. Jasmine has been involved as a participant and leader in the local Mike (Motivation, inspiration, knowledge and education) leadership programme. “I love volunteering and enjoy being with the kids,” she said. “I have a lot of fun and really I’m just as much as a kid they are.”
Mike volunteers aged 15 to 17 who run afterschool clubs received a group award. Susan Schlaen — a former resident of Jewish Care’s Sidney Corob home for those with mental health issues — was acknowledged for her contribution as receptionist and befriender at the charity’s Jack Gardner home. “Volunteering helps me to overcome some of my own hurdles and gives me the opportunity to help others,” she told the 200 guests at the ceremony. Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue received the “outside organisation” award. In 2015, the shul teamed up with Jewish Care to help those in the locality experiencing memory difficulties and isolation.
The Memory Matters Club now meets regularly at the shul. Co-ordinator Angela Peters said: “People tell us how much they enjoy it. We know they go home invigorated by the experience and we all do as well.” Comedian and scriptwriter Ivor Baddiel hosted the awards, at which leaders of the charity expressed their gratitude to its army of 3,000 volunteers.
She lights up the room with her energy’
The people at Stepney are part of my life, like family’