09 Jan “If i leave everything is gonna fall apart” – Marie Coffi : Rotherhithes most important french
A part of the Friends of Southwark at work ©SE16
For 30 Years Marie Coffi has been serving a good cause with the Friends of Southwark Park and there is absolutely no end in sight.
As soon as I meet the french woman I notice the energy that she seems to radiate. Friendly she shakes my hand and greets me with a ” Welcome, Welcome!” We meet at the little Cafe in the Park because you can’t tell Marie’s story without talking about Southwark Park. 30 years ago the ambitious, young lady moved from Marseille to London to study Business. At that point she would never have thought that, by now she would still be here. ” I just wanted to spend a few years in London. Just to study.”, she chuckles. ” But then you know…i met my husband.”
Together they moved to Rotherhithe almost immediately after her graduation and it didn’t take long for her to fall in love with the place. ” You know this is a real piece of London. Everyone is welcome. It’s not for the rich or the poor. It’s a real gem.” A little homesick at first, Marie didn’t know if this should be it. But then….she discovered the Friends of Southwark Park, a group of people that volunteer to keep the park clean and care for it. The first time she started her shift there, she knew that’s were she belonged. “It’s so important to look after mother nature and to give the world back what it provides us with. ”
Every Saturday teenagers come to the Park to plant seeds and trees with the 60 year old. Education the youth about why our environment is important is one of her biggest passions. ” If we don’t share our skills and mindset how will they know? They are young but they are our future.”, she chuckles softly and sips her coffee. Marie is a very casual, warm woman. There is a never ending smile on her face and for some reason I feel very comfortable in her presence…..and that might exactly be why she is such an important part of the community.
“Without wanting to praise myself, I think if I wasn’t doing what I am doing…everything would fall apart”, she says as she crosses her legs and puts her hands into her lap. It’s clear that this topic isn’t as light-hearted as before. Every week the Friend’s of Southwark Park hold meetings to see what they have to work on and last weeks topic was the very cafe we are sitting in. I sip on my coffee as she keeps talking and i almost spit it out. “For weeks and weeks I’ve been speaking to the Councillor not to take this cafe down but they won’t listen.” There is no doubt in my mind that this pains the french woman. Her face has gone from cheery to serious, looking down at her coffee cup.
As ask her if she’s ever thought about going back her mood lightens again and she shakes her head. “Oh mon dieu, no. I am needed here and i love being needed.” A soft laugh escapes her that is so contagious that i have to laugh as well. ” France will always be my home but London….London is where my heart is.”
