Helen Fletcher remembered

Helen Fletcher passed away on July 21st 2025. Elizabeth Maytom remembers her, and other team members share their memories too.

Helen started volunteering for what was then Norwood and Brixton Foodbank in 2013. A woman full of compassion and desire to support those whose lives were difficult and challenging.

Over the years Helen was always so willing to do as much as she could to support our work and whatever she did was always with a smile even when life was tough for her. Through volunteering Helen met many new friends and started new interests.

With changing health conditions and then Covid Helen adapted her volunteering to ensure she could continue to support our work fully never wanting not to volunteer. Even in Covid she did all she could to support our work remotely.

As we talk and share memories about her support, members of the team remember different things she helped with so apologies, I may well miss things but to give a flavour of what she did.

Packing parcels for clients, sorting donations, collecting at supermarket collections, helping to prepare a signposting handbook for volunteers to use to support clients, serving tea and coffee, helping deliver cookery lessons, calling clients to find out what they needed in their parcel and packing children’s activity packs in Covid.

Below are just a few memories of Helen from other team members:

“I am forever grateful for Helen’s generous contributions to the bi-annual Foodbank fundraising stall at the “LOVE West Dulwich” Rosendale Road Street Fair. Not only did Helen donate large quantities of yummy homemade sausage rolls, which helped raise much needed funds for Foodbank over many years, she also gave her time manning the stall.  If custom was slow, Helen was happy to pick up a plate or two of baked goodies and walk up and down cajoling and encouraging more people to buy.  A great team player!  Fond memories.  Thank you Helen.”

      Susan

“Helen was a very special woman. She was exceptionally principled and always worked to help others with particular attention to those who were disadvantaged. We met at Foodbank back in 2013.  Volunteering there was the first activity Helen embarked upon after moving back to London.  She quickly joined many other groups and activities, singing, playing with other flautists, art classes and book groups to name a few. Her family were very important to Helen and she was always proud of their latest achievements.  She had clearly been a very dedicated teacher as former students were still visiting her to make her lunch towards the end of her life when she was less able to leave home.”

      Jan

“Helen had such a big heart for the vulnerable.  She understood suffering.  Fond memories and gratitude for times at Foodbank together.”

      Rachel

“Helen was such a lovely lady. I remember she did beautiful handmade cards, which I bought from her. We liaised a lot regarding books for Foodbank and I collected them from her flat. Sad news.”

      Amanda

“Helen was a very considerate person and would always think of others, even at a time when she was not well and life was more challenging. When I’d send her a message, she’d send me a message back, letting me know that she’s ‘worrying about me’. She was a very valued member of the Norwood and Brixton Team.”

      Mona

“Whenever we as drivers arrived to deliver next box books, collect activity packs made up she always greeted us with a lovely smile, it was a joy to meet her.”

      Covid Driver Team

So as a Foodbank team we are all so grateful for all you did and for me knowing that you were instrumental in my honours, thank you.

Elizabeth Maytom MBE

Details of Helen’s funeral are here.

Photos courtesy of Laura Vroomen

Back to News