We Remember ... Heroes of the Faith at St. Michael's - Muriel and Cyril Stazicker

MURIEL STAZICKER
24 October 1909 - 23 January 1999

Muriel was born and educated in London. She married Cyril in 1940 and they had one son, David. She was a keen pianist and stood in for a friend on one or two occasions in the 1930s as rehearsal accompanist at Sheilla Van Damm’s Windmill Theatre. For most of her life she did secretarial work for a variety of organisations, including some temping. In the early stages of the war, including the London blitz, she served as a watchroom operator at the fire station in Chiswick, and continued with this until the last practicable stage of her pregnancy.

She was active in St Michael’s Players for many years. She had already been a keen amateur actor with other companies, and joined the Players in about 1949. Before long she had drawn Cyril into this as well. They co-starred as the two head teachers in “The Happiest Days of Your Life”. They remained active in the Players for over a quarter of a century. Muriel then turned her attention to singing. No-one who heard them will forget her duets with Michael Barney, notably the incomparable “Come into the Garden, Maud”.

Soon after Cyril died in 1995 Muriel moved to St Mary’s Convent, where she remained until her death four years later. Her requiem in the Convent chapel was conducted by Nicholas Fincham and was followed by cremation at Mortlake.

CYRIL STAZICKER
6 January 1907 – August 1995

Cyril was born and educated in Liverpool, moved to London in 1926, worked in Nigeria from 1929 to 1936 as the representative of a Liverpool shipping company, and then returned to London for the remainder of his life. He married Muriel on 20th July 1940 and they had one son, David, who was born on 24 May 1941. Because of a heart weakness, resulting from a bout of rheumatic fever when young, Cyril did not serve in the armed forces during the Second World War but worked at the Napier’s factory which made engines for motor torpedo boats. He was also an air raid warden.

After the war, he worked as a book-keeper, an invaluable experience for the service he so willingly gave to St Michael’s. He served both as PCC Secretary and as Treasurer, supporting St Michael’s during the incumbencies of Samuel Manning, Michael Oatey, and Michael Barney. He was also a member of the St. Michael’s Players, sometimes appearing opposite Muriel. Having suffered a stroke in the mid-1980s, Cyril gave up driving and it may have been the stroke which led him to retire as Treasurer.

Cyril and Muriel worshipped at St Michael’s Sutton Court from the late 1940s until they became infirm and housebound almost a half century later. Even when it was clearly a considerable struggle to do so, Cyril continued to kneel to receive the sacrament. He particularly made a point of taking Communion at Epiphany which was his birthday. When he was no longer able to come to St. Michael’s, Nicholas Fincham administered the sacrament to him and to Muriel at home.