Pilgrims will be very saddened to learn of the death of Joan Gale. On the 27th of December, Maurice Hickman informed us as follows: “Some very sad news was related to me by a former pilgrim who lives in my parish, Anne O’Donnell. She told me that Joan died this morning in East Surrey Hospital. Apparently unbeknown to me she had been unwell for some time.”
There is a funeral notice here.
Joan first came on our pilgrimages in the early 1990s as one of the burgeoning Redhill contingent. She remained a regular into the 2010s and introduced several of her friends to the pilgrimage. She was one of those pilgrims who was the life and soul of the party. In recent years she was no longer walking with us but continued to come and meet the pilgrims, most recently on the final Sunday morning of the Bristol to Arundel pilgrimage 2023, when she joined us for coffee after mass, and she seemed in fine fettle then.
Here are some photos to remind us of the good times Joan shared with us:
So sorry to hear about Joan. She was a real inspiration on my first pilgrimage, helpful to a new pilgrim, down to earth, efficient and full of energy. Not to mention eager to learn new things; that was the first year she played the recorder at a service.
Joan was always fun. May she rest in peace
Sad news indeed. Joan was always in the thick of things, remember when she was Sarnie Queen and even made making the Sandwiches fun! May she rest in peace xx prayers for all her family and friends.
Oh saddened by Joan’s passing. Always happy and fun. Howard
So sad. I am shocked. Rest in Peace fellow Pilgrim.
Danny
Sorry to hear this news!
May you rest in peace Joan . Many fond memories of you and your infectious enthusiasm and joy for life. Thinking of you and all your family at this time.
When ever I came on pilgrimage, each time I still missed her. For me she had been so much part of what the pilgrimage is about: religion and fun and she could certainly do both.
I have added more photos of Joan from our web diaries.
Thank you John. Great photos xx
The pilgrimages have seemed less fun in recent years, and I now realise that one of the main reasons for that was because Joan wasn’t on them.