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Spirited to the end
• READING the excellent tributes to Rose Hacker, I am prompted to add a note of comfort for her many friends and admirers (Fond tributes to the ‘spirit’ of Rose Hacker, February 15).
Having known her for some 50 years, I had in recent times lunched with her regularly with our mutual friend, Liz Nelson. It was in my house that she suffered the stroke on January 29; Liz and I were therefore the last friends with whom she engaged in her usual spirited discussion of political, literary and social issues.
Throughout lunch she was in tremendous form, describing ideas for her Tribune column, plans for a new book about being a Jew in an officially Christian country and regaled us non-stop with opinions and reminiscences! Then over coffee in the sitting-room she leant back in her chair, apparently for a little nap; several minutes later we realised she was unconscious and summoned the ambulance to take her to hospital.
Much as we all regret her death, we can add to the memory of an inspiring friend the knowledge that she was as positive and forward-looking at the end of her literary life as she had been during her many years of effective public service.
Catherine Avent
NW11
• SO many of us have to be thankful for having had Rose Hacker in our lives.
Alongside her wise and original insights and contributions to social reform and her inspired artistic gifts was her passionate belief in the need for music in our lives.
For well over 50 years she came joyfully and without fail to the chamber concerts on Sunday evenings at the Conway Hall.
Only a few weeks ago she had been to the complete Ring Cycle at Covent Garden (four long evenings, midweek); then to our quartet concerts the following Sunday; and on Monday to the rehearsal at English National Opera – all in the space of 10 days.
Mortals of less than 101 years might have found this series of events quite punishing, but it was rounded off the next day by lively and critical discussions on the music as well.
Meriel Serjeant
London Chamber Music Society
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