Athena Joan Valerie Caldwell

Athena was a determined high achiever and it is hard to list all her many and varied achievements in 5 minutes, but her are some highlights.

In 1934 Robert Clark, a successful mining engineer and Molly Whiteside, a talented pianist, were married in South Africa. Their daughter Athena was born in Darlington (new Durham) in 1937. The eldest of four daughters (Athena, Diana, Helmdon and Lesley Felicity) she took her responsibilities seriously and spent her life looking out for those around her.

Athena has always valued her friends highly and one of her best friends from Polam Hall School was Celia, who was still her good friend over half a century later!

Athena was proud to secure a place at Aidan’s Court, part of Durham University to read English, French and Psychology. Athena stayed in touch with many of her friends from those days including Elsie, Ann, Ether and Peter, among others. Athena went on to study librarianship in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and worked as an industrial librarian in London, before returning to Durham to complete a post-graduate teaching dip0loma. There she coxed the college rowing crew and met her future husband Roger. When Roger proposed to her on the landing stage of St John’s College, Athena was so happy her head spun and she nearly fell into the river!

In 1965, just over 40 years ago Athena married Roger, then a curate, and moved to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, commuting to her teaching job in Wolsingham, Co. Durham. She and Roger were delighted to have three children in four and a half years: Penny, Peter and Andrew, before the family moved to Helmdon in 1974 when Roger became Rector there.

Athena never let a bit if hard work stand between her and her goal. She redecorated the large Victorian rectory virtually single handedly with just a gaggle of children to help! Scraping walls, burning off paint, wallpapering and brightening up the rectory with her trademark bright colours.

Athena was very competitive and loved her daily games of scrabble with her close friend, Edith and later, with her own children and their spouses. In Helmdon, she ensured her children benefited from a country upbringing (as a “townie” child she had thought bunnies were pink and blue, like her toys) with country walks and nature projects. She joined the Young Wives club, ran the Helmdon Brownies for many years and became a supply teacher when the children got older.

Athena was an early adopter with an eye for a bargain who always loved the latest gadgets and materials, carefully researching her purchases to ensure she bought the ideal product, from microwaves to video recorders, photocopiers to computers, digital cameras to DVD recorders.

An excellent driver, she was delighted when a local car dealer dubbed her the “fastest woman in Northamptonshire”, a title she took to heart. Perhaps she demonstrated by the time there was a survey conducted on the road to their home in Lower Heyford. After a week it was found that the average traffic speed was between 40 and 50 miles an hour, with the occasional 60. The notable exception was the car that passed at 90! I am sure we can all see the grin on Athena’s face as she first shot past and later as she recounted the tale.

She was interested in canals, and took her family on many memorable canal holidays. She and Roger joined the Brackley bowls club together and won many trophies and competitions. She remained a committed member there, even 20 years later after moving to Oxfordshire.

In 1989, Roger retired and they moved to their home in Lower Heyford, originally purchased while being built as just a roof and outside walls, and spent many happy years there building a home and developing a wonderful garden from the mud.

Athena was an enthusiastic collector. She made lots of friends through the various collector societies she joined. Her many and varied collections (all carefully catalogued and displayed – as befits an ex-historian) included thimbles, buttonhooks and sewing collectibles (an interest shared with her sister Diana) delightful Peter Rabbit characters, cocktail sticks, kinder surprise toys, salt and pepper sets, canal plates, a library of books by Thomas Kitchin, Durham Memorabilia and owls (which were a sacred symbol of the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athena). I could list more but I am sure you get the picture.

Athena was adventurous and always looking for a challenge. She and Roger enjoyed traveling to exotic places including China, Norway Canada and Alaska.

Athena was fascinated by family history, completing a detailed and complex family tree for the Fripp, Innes and Peacock families (Roger’s maternal forbears) helped by the details provided by her near and distant relatives and her exhaustive records. She gathered information for further family trees which unfortunately she did not have time to complete, but we are very grateful for the help provided. Her research took her half way round the world!

Family was important to Athena. She was delighted when her children graduated, when Andrew married Julie and Peter married Ed. She was hugely proud of her four grandchildren Robert, Douglas, Molly and Holly. She loved family get-togethers with her own children and their families, and with her sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews and nieces.

In childhood and adulthood, Athena battled serious illness with her customary determination, usually with great success. She finally passed away peacefully in hospital with her family around her after complications following a fall.

From: Talkabout Spring 2007