Sandra Kimber (1946 – 2024)
As Housekeeper at Green and then Green Templeton College from 1983 to 2015, Sandra Kimber managed a team of cleaners as well as overseeing and managing the contractor and the contract cleaners to ensure that cleaning standards throughout the college were maintained and a consistently high standard. While her job title was Housekeeper, she was variously referred to as ‘Head Housekeeper’ or ‘Domestic Goddess’.
Hareya Fassil (DPhil Development Studies, 1999) and many GTC friends remember Sandra
On Tuesday 30 January, the world lost a beautiful soul. To know Sandra Kimber was to love and admire her incredible energy, strength, and warmth. Among the longest serving, and most beloved college housekeepers, she was a cherished member of our Green College family at the University of Oxford.
While petite in stature, Sandra had a vivacious larger-than-life personality that magnetically drew people towards her. Especially during the time when she was living with us on the ground floor of the Green College student digs at 5 St Margaret’s Road, she was deeply involved in our day-to-day lives. Indeed, she always had an uncanny ability to be the most informed person about all the goings-on at Green. And she was always ready to lend a kind ear, to really listen, and to sympathize with our every preoccupation, and to help to resolve even the smallest of our problems in any way she could. Her wisdom, derived from the many ups and downs of her own life, was a guiding light to all who knew her.
She was like a favourite auntie to us all – one in whom we could freely confide, knowing that we would always get sound advice, along with a good hearty laugh to lift our spirits. Her dedication to her duties as Green’s head housekeeper was legendary. And her palpable pride in her work was truly inspiring. She had meticulously high standards. She insisted that all the guest rooms had to be kept spotless clean, the Common Room tables had to be set just so, and all the silverware was to be polished until it gleamed in the light.
Forever young at heart, Sandra was also open-minded, befriending Green College students of diverse backgrounds from all over the world, And she was quick to learn and embrace new ideas, including new technologies. She was the first Green College housekeeper to request and acquire a computer – insisting that email would help her manage her work much more efficiently. She determinedly taught herself how to navigate the internet and use email. Years later, the computer skills she built up through her own initiative would enable her to keep in touch with her Green College alumni friends all over the world on Facebook. And oh, was Miss Kimber ever up for some good fun! She actively supported and participated in our student social activities, including those legendary Green Bops.
She once stole the spotlight at our MCR fundraising international fashion show, stunning our distinguished Master of Ceremonies – The Late, Great Professor Jeff Burley – with her hilariously bold interpretation of traditional French attire for young women! We all had a whale of a time that evening, thanks to Sandra’s joie de vivre and her infectious sense of humour. Sandra’s occasional tough exterior scarcely concealed her heart of gold which was always evident in the bone-healing hugs she gave, and the captivating stories she shared. She told us so many memorable tales from her own life, including the time she was crowned Miss Oxford – twice! Imagine that! Clearly, those judges recognised just how truly special she was! She also recounted the exciting time she was interviewed at Buckingham Palace to work as a housekeeper for none other than the Queen Mother. She would have undoubtedly excelled in that job had she gotten it! But Buckingham Palace’s loss was our gain! Green College got all of Sandra Kimber– not just her admirable professionalism, but her unique combination of wit, wisdom, and heart.
Sandra also had an abiding love of elephants, and her home was filled with pictures and sculptures of elephants, and stuffed ones, big and small. And how she relished telling that story of her safari in Kenya when she got to see her favourite gentle animal up close and personal!
Sandra was also a very talented and creative person, known for her love of gardening, and beautiful needlework. If she was not tidying up and polishing everything around her, she was always busy with one of her unique embroidery or knitting designs, often as gifts for loved ones. She was indeed beautiful inside and out, and her instantaneous witty retorts and infectious deep laughter will forever echo in our hearts. Above all, Miss Sandra Kimber was a woman of unwavering personal integrity – always standing for what was right, fair, and proper. Oh, she was forthright to a fault – never afraid to speak her mind., ‘Now then!’ she would always exclaim after telling you precisely where she stood on any given matter.
Now then, Miss Oxford. Farewell and be sure to rest in peace, knowing that you have touched so many lives, and will always be much beloved and sorely missed.
Miss Sandra Kimber was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. She is survived by her only son, Spencer Kimber, and two lovely grandchildren, Abbie and Harley Kimber, who she was blessed to see grow into beautiful young adults, as well as her sister Elaine Kimber, her niece Davina, and her nephew Leon. She loved them all to bits and was so very proud of them all.
