In Loving Memory of
Sarah Waller
We shared the tragic news that our beloved colleague, Sarah Waller, tragically passed away on Sunday 16th April in Bedfordshire.
Sarah spent much of her career in academia, with roles covering the arts (a real passion of Sarah’s), engagement, and research. She joined us from the Open University in 2019, taking up a post as a Bid Manager, and was promoted last year to Senior Bid Manager. In her time working for us, Sarah’s expert knowledge of a wide range of funding bodies was used to brilliant effect to manage the successful delivery of a large number of impactful bids and proposals. She was motivated to make a difference in people’s lives and proactively supported her colleagues to maximise the potential impact of our work. Many of her bids and proposals have become projects that are changing how we all live for the better, through unlocking innovations in mobility and cities in the UK and around the world.
Sarah’s superpower was her ability to engage with absolutely everyone. Bids can be challenging at times, as deadlines loom and people bring differing views on the best way forward. Sarah took every situation in her stride, demonstrating a gift for drawing people in and deftly keeping everyone on track.
Almost all of us at Connected Places Catapult have worked with Sarah, and we truly loved our interactions with her. She brought to every conversation humour, warmth and a keen interest in hearing about our lives. Time spent with Sarah was invariably uplifting. We miss her deeply.
We would like to share our deepest condolences with Sarah’s family and friends.
We have now opened an online Book of Remembrance so that we can capture messages and share stories about our wonderful colleague to celebrate her life, work and fun at the Catapult. The book will be printed and shared with Sarah’s family.
Book Owner: Connected Places Catapult
Book Size:Â 500 Messages
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Nicola Yates
Sarah was a well-respected, inspiring and engaging colleague. Her enthusiasm for her work was outstanding as well as her appetite for life. Her positive impact on the organisation is without doubt and she is greatly missed. Nicola…
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Sallyann Coxon
I was so sorry to hear of Sarah’s passing. She was such a vibrant, fun loving colleague at CPC and was very much loved. My thoughts and love are with the family at this difficult time….
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Kristoff van Leeuwen
We will always miss your warm personality and kindness, Sarah. You will always be part of the CPC family….
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Ed Mayo
Very sad news, my condolences to her family and friends. A much respected and pragmatic colleague, it was a pleasure to have known Sarah….
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Dan Rogers
A terrible loss. Sarah brought people together. She cared deeply about people, and about making a difference. Whether giving her time and support to colleagues, guiding with her tremendous experience, or sharing her wonderful sense of humour, Sarah was a joy to work with. She will be greatly missed….
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Julie Austin
Sarah was someone the saying they ‘broke the mould making her’ is true. She was a joy to work with, always smiling and looking on the bright side. Sarah will be missed. My condolences to her friends and family…
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Tracy Savill
I feel privileged to have had you in my team, Sarah. You were an exceptional colleague who was truly brilliant at managing bids and proposals. And you were so much more than that… a lovely, generous, engaging human being. Our conversations invariably brought sunshine to my day. What a terrible loss to our world. I miss you. Tracy …
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Shani Souter
Dear Sarah, We’ve not spoken for some years, probably 12. We were quite close when we worked together in the noughties and you lived in Luton; you were the first person I’d drive to for a Friday night or when a relationship went wrong. We spent time with your friends in Sheffield and went on your brother’s now wife hen do together. We were friends. You supported me in my creative tangents as you support everyone in theirs. You had an unwavering energy, clarity and warmth. And despite there being 12 years difference, I never felt that. You cross genres, times, expectations, emotion and people mountains and are loved by all to whom you bestow your energy. Farewell, Lady Sarah Jane Waller. Much love to you. Shani xx…
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Isaac Sserwanja
You don’t have to have worked with Sarah to appreciate her. She was that approachable and likable. Her sense of humour, attitude and wide-ranging life experience made her a delightful lunch conversationalist in Milton Keynes. Always with time to help. To talk. To crack jokes – actually, it was almost always because we had to get back to work that the banter would stop. Paused until next time. I reminisce these moments with a heavy heart but thankful that we crossed paths. Thank you for leaving us a beautiful legacy….
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Marie Alenas
Dear Sarah, I only had the pleasure of having you in my life for three months, but in this short time you made a huge impact on me. I loved our conversations about work and life and I always left them with a smile on my face. Your energy, drive and thirst for life and adventure really was contagious. You were always generous with your time, good advice and life experiences and it was a real joy to speak to you almost daily. In our last conversation on that Friday afternoon, I thanked you for your sterling work and then I sent you a heart on Teams. I’m so glad I did, so you knew how much I appreciated you as a colleague and person. You will be forever missed. Rest in peace, lovely Sarah….
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Luciano Falco
Sarah, still cannot believe you are not here with us. That you would often regale us of stories of being on the River Ouse makes it all the more incomprehensible. Genuine, self-deprecating, a lover of life, trusted confidante, perennial winner of the Bid Team’s Culture League, dedicated (perhaps even to a fault, dare i say it). But that’s what you got when Sarah was involved – the whole of her. We laughed together, we even cried together. I wish you knew how respected you are, how loved. But as is often the case, it takes a tragedy like this to get people talking, sharing memories. Unfortunately, by that time it’s too late to recount them with the central character of those experiences – you. Your absence will be felt sorely – everyone deserves to know that of themselves; the fact this is more than you will know just breaks my heart. TTFN…
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Patrizia Franco
I met Sarah when she joined CPC. We had in common a career in academia before joining the Catapult and we bonded instantly when we met in the Milton Keynes office. I am lucky to have had the privilege to work alongside Sarah in many CRD bids. I am grateful for her support. She had a light touch, but she was always there to have a chat and give a shoulder to lean on. Her warm smile and positive attitude always kept me going during long working hours and now I watch that empty desk with disbelief and astonishment. We make so many choices and plans, but life struck us in the most unexpected ways. It is difficult coming to terms that we will not bump into each other during coffee breaks, and you will never get to have the new hair colour we were chatting about just before Easter. Mt deepest condolences to her family and friends for this great and unexpected loss. RIP, dear Sarah. Patrizia…
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Sarah Gale
Darling Sarah, I am really sad to write this and it has taken a long time to be able to put pen to paper, maybe because I still can’t fully comprehend and digest what has happened. I miss you so very much. From the day I was introduced to you, I knew you would be a special friend in my life. I remember your beautiful, warm smile and how excited I was to hear about all your life stories. You were equally as interested in mine (although I think yours were more exciting!). We soon found out that we share a love for cooking, went to the same Uni, and worked out that we’d probably partied the same “parties” in the 90’s. I loved your company, you always make a grey day seem brighter. Whether it was just a team chat at the end of a busy day, a long-walk, shopping trip (my last one with you I will never forget – you were so elated that they had your favourite trainers/pumps that you brought three pairs!), pub lunch or just being with you in the office, I always looked forward to time with you. We’d laugh together, cry…
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Phil Moorcroft
Dear Sarah, You always used to joke that you weren’t allowed to speak to me because I was too busy….but I always looked forward to talking with you. You always made working on bids together so much fun. I won’t forget the fun and laughs we had on the Route Aware bid, despite some long hours. You always brought fun, energy and vibrancy into the room and I would always leave any conversation or time spent with you with a smile on my face. The energy and values with which you approached life is an inspiration. You made such an impact on me and I’m sure many others. You will be missed but I’m grateful for, and I thank you for, all the fun and laughs. Phil xx…
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Jack Bebbington
Sarah, I still cannot believe you have been taken from this world so soon. It only feels like yesterday we were talking about plans for the year and comparing holiday stories, little did I know that would be our last interaction. The sadness felt by the entire business really speaks volumes as to the amount of people whose lives you have impacted, even through the smallest of interactions. Your energy, humour and kindness is second to none and you are missed deeply, by all of us. Deepest condolences to all of your family, friends and loved ones. RIP, Jack B x…
