In Memoriam Daphne Mee, née Eley 27 March 1929 - 5 June 2025

Soon afterwards the family moved to Cambridge, much to Daphne’s dismay as she loved their home area of Ashdon. Daphne’s father, Robert Eley, was a quiet gentleman, a talented musician, a gardener and clever with his hands. He worked as head gardener at Pembroke College and sometimes added to his meagre salary by waiting in Hall. They lived in Abbey Road and Daphne attended the local school before winning a scholarship to the Perse School for Girls. Once there, her love of English and art was nurtured. In the sixth form she learnt secretarial skills (girls having fewer opportunities in those days than now) and left to work at the Chivers factory in Histon, cycling to work every day, as most employees did. She became secretary to the Technical Director. She made good friends there and went with them to Torquay, her first holiday without her parents, and on another occasion they flew to Guernsey from Marshalls Airport.

Over the next few years Daphne was one of a circle which included Don Mee, the love of her life. They thought nothing of cycling 50 miles in an evening and, being ambitious, they decided to go on a cycling holiday to Devon in August 1952. Fortunately they just missed the disastrous Lynmouth flood which claimed 34 lives. Their wedding was then delayed as Don was ill with nephritis but eventually they were married and in 1956 Daphne gave birth to their daughter, Carolyn. Fairly soon afterwards, Don was offered a good job as a draughtsman with the British Aircraft Corporation in Bristol so the family moved there. Unfortunately Don’s health deteriorated and, shortly after the loss of Christopher, their baby son, Don died in 1959.

Daphne returned to Cambridge, with Carolyn, where she had her family’s support. She bought a house in 1960, which was to be her home for the remainder of her life. She took a job as secretary to the Headmistress of the Perse School for Girls. She is fondly remembered by former colleagues. One wrote, “She was a lovely lady who was most welcoming when I first joined the office staff at Perse Girls and was always extremely patient and helpful during my time there.” Another said, “She was so welcoming when I started to teach at Perse Girls in September 1975 and gave me a great deal of tactful help and guidance.” Meanwhile, Carolyn followed in her mother’s footsteps and was a Perse girl from 1963-1974. They enjoyed holidays in Wales and Dorset. They also attended Holy Trinity Church together and friends from there, along with others, supported Daphne after the tragic death of Carolyn in October 1980.

Daphne retired from her position at school in 1989. Her leaving present was a Canon SLR camera and lenses as she was a keen photographer. Now she had the time, she was able to travel more, enjoying holidays in Austria and Italy. She also drove to Devon to visit her aunt, uncle and cousins. The family remember ‘Auntie’ as a smiling, white haired lady, usually dressed in blue, with twinkly eyes and dimples, who gave great enveloping hugs. They also remember her long, conversational letters written on handmade cards, usually featuring delicately painted flowers or birds, and the gifts she sent through the post, carefully wrapped in so many layers of brown paper and string that it took forever to open them – adding greatly to the excitement!

Always keen on dogs, having had some when she was younger, Daphne bought a sweet little Yorkie puppy in 1998, which she adored. Kimmee went nearly everywhere with her and never had to go into kennels, as holidays were then taken in dog friendly cottages in Norfolk.