I was saddened to learn of the death of Gloria Townsend Parker. Just a few short months ago, I met up with her again for the first time in over 30 years – and what an impression she left.

I first knew Gloria as the wife of the late mayor of Falmouth, Ken Townsend, and subsequently as a councillor herself.

I know she wouldn’t mind me reflecting that I probably wrote fewer words about Gloria – far fewer – than about almost any other councillor during my reporting career.

For Gloria was “the quiet one” – at least when it came to the verbal knockabout of the debating chamber. That was not really her thing, as she freely confessed.

The decades passed and we went our separate ways. Then, just a few short months ago and right out of the blue, I received a telephone call from her.

First, she asked if I recognised her voice (I did, actually). Then she explained that she wanted to buy one of my books that she had read about in the Packet.

“But don’t just post it, Mike,” she urged. “Come over and have a cup of tea and a chat.”

I arrived to find her front door open. I rang the bell nonetheless, and she called me in to her lounge. She was in the process of taking a phone call, but gave me the warmest of smiles and pointed to a chair.

It was apparent that her caller had asked her how she was, because she declared: “I’m on top of the world, thank you.”

And in our two hours together, Gloria left me in no doubt that she really did feel “on top of the world.”

This, despite the fact that she was just short of 90 years old and severely restricted in her mobility.

I will never forget the kindly gleam in her eye throughout, as we reminisced about the “old days” – and characters – in that council chamber and as we “caught up” on our mutual old friends and acquaintances.

More than anything, as we leafed through various photo albums, I was struck by her obvious deep love for, and immense pride in, her family. 

Her children included son Kim, a contemporary of mine in our Falmouth Grammar School days and long since departed to the United States. (I can still clearly see him playing soccer for the short-lived Falmouth Celtic team.)

All too soon, I had to leave Gloria – but she as good as ordered me to drop by again, any time, for another cuppa and a chat. Sadly, I will now never be able to take her up on that kind invitation. 

But I will be forever grateful for the lasting inspiration I gained from those two hours together.

As I occasionally struggle to come to terms with my own new status as OAP, with my own very minor ailments and with everything else associated with advancing age, I will fondly recall how someone so much older than me, and so much less mobile, could still count all her blessings and truly feel she was “on top of the world.” Thank you, Gloria. 
 
Mike Truscott
Falmouth