Phillippa Caroline Owens

The Blackheath High School community mourns the loss of Phillippa Caroline Owens, née Evans, who passed away in January 2025. Caroline served on the OGA committee for over 30 years, bringing her tireless enthusiasm for community and volunteering to many generations of alumnae. We are honoured to be able to share her obituary below – thanks to her children Jonathan and Henrietta, and her friends Rosie Medhurst and Jean-Jaques Aune for their moving words, which formed part of the eulogy at her funeral. 

We send our deepest condolences to Caroline’s family and friends.

Phillippa Caroline Owens was born in Croydon in 1948. That was the furthest from Blackheath she ever lived – she was a Blackheathen through and through as were her mother’s family for several generations. She won a scholarship to Blackheath High School, although I didn’t meet her til several years later when we both had very young boys. We were friends for over 40 years and her commitment to the local community was a large part of her life. She will be hugely missed.   
- Rosie Medhurst 

Caroline was a force of nature – her blend of perfectionism, creativity and community spirit made a lasting impact on life in Westcombe Park. Behind her signature “Oh really?” was a kind, considerate, generous and always well-intentioned woman. 

Volunteering was serious business for Caroline, not just a time filler in retirement. It became evident that Caroline had a forensic knowledge of the area, buildings, shops and people and a very clear idea of what she expected from volunteers. That, combined with her exceptional organisational skills, ensured that everything she touched ran perfectly - from the Dickensian-themed Christmas bazaar and hugely successful Macmillan Coffee Mornings to musical fundraisers and beautifully curated postcard collections celebrating our area’s history. 

Her attention to detail was legendary, whether organising sandwich-making teams, securing council support for community trees, or sourcing crafts from fairs across the country (often with Robert by her side). And she never lost sight of the purpose: to raise funds for local causes. Her efforts supported children’s hospices, mental health charities, hospitals, and more, including over £20,000 raised for Macmillan. 

Caroline’s legacy is written in the laughter, friendship and generosity she inspired and in every local initiative that now flourishes thanks to her passion. 

“Oh really?” Yes, really. She did all this, and more. We will miss her greatly. 
- Jean-Jaques Aune 

My mum was the beating heart of our family - her presence shaped our whole lives and her quick wit, endless curiosity and instinct for kindness touched everyone who knew her. 

She grew up in Blackheath, attending Blackheath High School where she made many lifelong friends. She was also surrounded by cousins and the stories from her childhood are legendary - horse riding and building igloos back when it used to snow; trips on the Flying Scotsman for adventures in Aberdour; swimming in the sea, climbing rocks and walking. 

Sadly her dad died unexpectedly when she was 16, and she had to leave school before finishing her A-levels – however, the school remained a cornerstone of her identity and served on the Blackheath High School Old Girls’ Association committee for over 30 years, many of them as Chair. 

Caroline trained as a secretary and went on to have a career that included roles at the Royal Society of Arts and, most notably, as personal secretary at the Hayward Gallery. She thrived in the arts environment, helping prepare exhibitions and meeting many renowned artists. She left work in 1980 to start a family with her husband Robert. 

She was fiercely devoted to her family, always putting others before herself, and she took immense pride in our achievements, no matter how small. She adored her grandchildren -reading to them, playing with them and introducing them to her legendary love of Christmas. 

Even in the face of illness, mum’s resilience never wavered. She carried on with her committee work, continued to host family events, and was still getting out to visit National Trust properties with Robert in the last few years.  

She was, quite simply, unforgettable.
- Jonathan Owens 

Caroline’s son Jonathan will be running the London marathon in 2026 in her memory, and raising funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK. If you’d like to make a donation and leave reflections on Caroline, you can do so on his fundraising page.