It was a scene that could have inspired a Victoria Wood sketch.
Two women chatting in a hospital cafe, masking their nerves about upcoming medical tests by joking about the weather and the silly names given to storms.
In the past, the comic genius would have discreetly eavesdropped on the conversation, squirrelling away little snippets of dialogue to later turn into comedy gold.
Except this time Victoria was the one joking around to disguise her own fears about another round of tests in her secret six-month battle with cancer .
Tragically, the disease had already taken such a toll on her that her hospital companion didn’t recognise the much-loved star of TV and stage, who died last week aged just 62.
Fellow patient Sue Spinks revealed how she met Victoria at the Finchley Memorial Hospital in north London a few weeks ago.
She tells how the award-winning comedian, who entertained millions over three decades, was still able to laugh in the face of her disease and to make Sue smile.
“Victoria was on her own at the time, and just started chatting to me,” said Sue, 60, from north London, who was at the hospital for blood tests.
“We were both waiting in a cafe area ahead of going in to see a doctor, and she was asking lots about me.
“But it wasn’t until she got up and left that I even realised who she was. She looked so different.
“She had lost a lot of weight. I remembered her being a little chubby before, but she was very thin and her hair looked much darker.
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“It was sad to see, but it obviously hadn’t affected her sense of humour because she was still cracking jokes.
“There was some very bad weather at the time and she was joking about who gave the storms all those silly names.
“She was such a lovely lady and it’s very sad news that she has passed away.”
Victoria died at home in High-gate, North London. Her children, Grace, 27, and Henry, 23, as well as her former partner, entertainer Geoffrey Durham, were at her bedside.
She had kept her illness secret from all but her family and closest friends – just as she had guarded her privacy throughout her career.
Although she had been taken into hospital for the final weeks of her illness, she insisted on going home to die.
News of her passing prompted tributes from around the world, with celebrities flocking to praise her genius.
Sources close to Victoria say they expect there will be an “incredibly small and private” funeral to be held in the coming weeks.
One friend said: “She had been in hospital a few weeks ago, but had made it clear she wanted to come home – and that’s exactly what she did.
"She made sure she spent that time in the home she loved with the people she loved.
“The funeral arrangements haven’t been finalized yet, but she has always made it clear that she doesn’t crave publicity or fanfare.
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