These celebrations were written at times of grieving but I hope, amidst the sadness I still feel when re-reading them, that they celebrate friends for whom I continue to have deep admiration and affection.

Helen Snelson

Three photographs of Helen.

A written appreciation will follow.

 

Kate Brennan

Kate never hectored or preached; she was self-deprecating and often hesitant, ever grateful for support and encouragement. She was passionate and deeply inventive in her writing; laughter was essential but so too was real understanding of the lives and dilemmas of the people she was writing about …

 

Ian Coulson

‘Hello, Ian up there, it’s Ian down here.’

That reference to up (Yorkshire) and down (Kent) was our standard greeting, exchanged many times over thirty years.  Ian’s voice, ever enthusiastic, always seeming on the brink of laughter, told you much about the man…

 

Bob Unwin

Much of the revitalisation of History [in the 1970s] was the result of the inspiration provided by individuals such as Bob Unwin, PGCE tutor, author, conference and workshop leader, historian, innovator and enthusiast par excellence.

In fact, there was no-one quite like Bob …