As one of the longer serving members of the HR team, I was lucky enough to have known and worked with Janet since she started at York nearly 18 years ago.  Starting back in the early days when we were upstairs in the attic of Heslington Hall – her office was next door to mine and she shared our printer.  I’d often be able to pop my head round her door (as she was so approachable and it was very rarely closed) and ask for some advice about a query or issue that had arisen and I’d know that she would always take time to help and that her advice would be spot on!  I learnt a great deal from Janet over the years and as many others have said, she was patient, knowledgeable and generous with her time. Myself, Janet and Kari were all pregnant at the same time with our babies arriving in late 2005/early 2006 – Tash you were the first to be born in the October and I can always remember your mum leaving work on her 40th birthday laden with gifts, flowers, helium balloons and her very neat baby bump!   Since that time we’ve…

It’s taken some time for me to find the right words to say, and lossing Janet still doesn’t quite feel real. In the 10 years or so I worked with her, Janet was, as other colleagues have said, the ‘go to’ person for a great number of things and was never too busy to offer help and support – despite being on a tight deadline herself juggling work and family committments. Janet had an unshakable sense of right and wrong and this was the cornerstone of who she was. As well as her professional contribution to the team, whilst not always the instigator of office ‘off-topic’ discussion, Janet would often contribute with amusing tales from her travels, or details of an unusual theory or plan Rob was following at that time (sorry Rob). This she did with a twinkle in her eye, especially when discussing Rob and Tash. My single status was the subject of one lighthearted discussion, with a theory emerging that the lack of a dishwasher in my house was a contributory factor.  Janet’s kitchen was being re-fitted at that time and a few days later she brought her old dishwasher in to work for me to…

I have only just heard of Janet’s death and am reeling with shock at the news. She was always such a calm and gentle presence ‘downstairs’, and always ready to help with her exhaustive knowledge, both of the University and of employment law. But more than that – a quiet and empathetic soul with a ready smile, truly a reassuring presence for a harrassed PVC. My deepest sympathies to her family….

I will miss Janet so much.  Janet recruited me 5 years ago to my first HR role in higher education and I couldn’t have hoped for a more kind, patient and knowledgeable colleague.  We worked closely together almost every day since then and Janet quickly became a source of expertise, a pragmatic sounding board and mentor to me.  I would marvel at her ability to be able to clearly navigate us through some seemingly impossible situations, her absolute unflappability in meetings and her good humour.  I feel extremely lucky to have had the good fortune of working with Janet so closely over what seems like a few short years.  It was also clear to me that many colleagues sought Janet’s advice on all kinds of things, not only work related.  Janet would make time for anyone and despite her own heavy workload, nothing was too much trouble – Janet had a big heart, which is clear from all these lovely messages from her colleagues – they provide comfort to me, as I hope they will to you both too.   I will always remember Janet with fondness as a warm, sincere, funny, occasionally stubbornly determined (hilariously so when it came…

Janet was so kind to me when I returned to work and was one of the people who helped me settle back into things, helping me along in meetings we went to together.  She was so knowledgable and was always happy to help, support and share what she knew with others. Janet was such a warm,friendly person and a true professional, and I am lucky to have known her.  Janet, you will be sadly missed. x…

It’s taken me a while to process the news of Janet’s passing.  I first met Janet when she came for her interview at the University, and she became my manager for a number of years.  Janet was incredibly kind and caring and brought her humanity and compassion into her work, never losing sight of the person or people that may be impacted by the issue of the day.  Janet’s approach was the very epitome of quiet leadership.  I was often in awe at her tenacity in meetings, directing discussions back to the heart of the matter, to the benefit of all, and showing that you don’t have to speak over other people or more loudly to be heard and understood.  I’ve benefited from Janet’s mentoring, particularly her generosity with her time, in sharing her knowledge, and her very good advice.  Janet was so proud of Tash’s many achievements – particularly her dancing, and would talk about the fun times spent together as a family.  I feel very privileged to have known Janet, and her legacy lives on in everyone whose hearts or minds she touched.  I will forever remember the twinkle in her eye, a smile never far away…

Rob and Tash, Janet was taken from this world far too soon and she will be missed greatly by so many of us who had the pleasure of knowing her. For the 12 years I have worked with Janet she has has been a constant source of knowledge and expertise for me. On many occassions she has balanced my enthusiasm and desire to get things done quickly with a quiet, meticulous and data driven rationale as to why it may be more benficial to seek an additional perspective, or gain greater detail and evidence.  This has always been driven by a deep commitment to do the best she could for those affected and for the institution as a whole. I will miss this wise counsel greatly.  We often shared stories of our kids growing up and it was so clear how  proud she was of you Tash. I am so immensely sorry for your loss and am thinking of you at this time….

It has taken a little while to write this – I’ve found it very hard to take in Janet’s passing. Janet was a dedicated and professional work colleague but beyond that she was such a kind and lovely human being. She always checked in with you to see how you were feeling and she remembered things you’d told her and followed up on them. She was incredibly thoughtful and I will miss her kind and wise contribution so much. Iona…

  It was a real pleasure to work with Janet and get to know her over the last 5 years. She was an incredible person, principled, knowledgeable and a genuine role model to many of us. I already miss being able to seek her guidance and her wicked dry sense of humour – a roll of her eyes and the ‘now come on…’ . My heartfelt sympathy to Rob, Tash and her family as you navigate such an incredible loss….

I feel so blessed to have had Janet in my live since first working with her in HR 15 years ago. In her work she was the consummate professional. If I needed someone to sense check an idea I could always rely on Janet to share her time and knowledge, always giving calm and impartial advice. Janet loved digging into the law, although GDPR did somewhat get in the way of her desire to retain paper documentation, as did our regular office tidy days. Janet must have held one of the finest (paper) collections of the University’s Statutes and Ordinances. My fondest memories of Janet will be as a kind and considerate friend, who always tolerated my incessant chattering at the end of a long day! Janet was a truly special person who touched the hearts of so many of us and I shall cherish the time I spent with her. My thoughts are with Rob, Tash and family….

I was very fortunate to know Janet for a number of years whilst working in the HR Business Partnering team. Janet was always quietly extremely professional, one who did not say a lot but when she did it was very much worthwhile listening. Her knowledge was immense and her detailed and meticulous approach could be relied upon to ensure any subject could be dealt with in the best possible way. She had, rightly, a lot of resect, very well earned by the way she handled each and every piece of work, be that casework or projects. It has come as a shock that she is no longer with us; far too soon and it is very difficult to find the words for what is immensely sad. Janet will be very much missed by all who knew her. My thoughts and prayers are with all Janet’s family and friends…

Janet – an amazing HR professional and friend to many. On a number of occasions Janet would dig deep into her handwritten notes to find answers to queries that nobody else knew about or could remember. She was always there to help and support in her calm, considered manner. My heartfelt condolences go to all her family – such a sad loss. …

The news of Janet’s untimely death has been so shocking to all who had the pleasure of working with her.  I hope the wonderful messages and memories that so many colleagues have shared will bring some comfort to Rob and Tash.  I have worked with Janet since 2008 and throughout that time she was a fabulous colleague, conscientious to a fault. Her forensic knowledge of HR (particularly employment law) was always in great demand as she made complex matters simple and accessible. Her calmness and poise provided reassurance and she shared her time willingly to encourage and assist others. Never someone who spoke for the sake of hearing her own voice, Janet made every word count, and you ignored her at your peril! Renowned for her love of paper she embraced new technology with some caution as her inimitable and at times enigmatic smile kept you guessing about what she might be really thinking…. There is a giant Janet shaped hole that belies her diminutive stature in the HR team.  Loved and greatly missed but so grateful to have known and spent time with Janet.  Deepest condolences Paula x …

The news of Janet’s passing has deeply saddened me. It’s hard to come to terms with losing someone that’s been part of my life since joining the University. Janet was always a strong, uncompromising individual, respected by all of us as a valued colleague. I will miss the opportunities to tease her and the look on her face when she realised I was ‘pulling her leg’. It won’t be the same returning to Heslington Hall without her. I cannot imagine how her family must feel at this time and offer my heartfelt condolences to them. …

My thoughts are with Janet’s loved ones and close colleagues at this extremely sad time. I greatly appreciated Janet’s willingness to share her considerable knowledge and expertise sympathetically with the trade unions as well as to engage in sincere discussion. Janet’s loss will be felt in our joint work together….