It is difficult to know where to begin when writing about Linda as she was a such larger than life and deeply respected figure on the North London bench.  As a colleague Linda was a joy to sit with – always clear about what she was doing, thoughtful about defendants and witnesses alike and alive to everyone’s needs.  She was so supportive and encouraging to those of us like me with much less experience than her, incredibly helpful in the advice and guidance she gave as we moved through the various magistrate career milestones.  Like many others I learnt so much from sitting with her in the youth court in particular: her expertise and the respect in which she was held by those working in youth justice well beyond the confines of Highbury was really impressive and possibly not fully appreciated by the wider bench. 

Her period as bench chair was phenomenal and it is hard to imagine anyone who could have led the bench more effectively through Covid than Linda.  She was authoritative about infection control issues, sympathetic towards the myriad individual needs of magistrates and she went above and beyond in making herself available to us all during that difficult time, inspiring confidence and being a listening ear time and time again. 

However, her focus was on more than just the interests of her fellow JPs.  I lead the MIC outreach work at Highbury and so appreciated Linda’s support and energy in helping me head off in new directions.  She came with me to visit mosques, to build new connections and relationships, and unfailingly said yes whenever I asked her to speak at events: I am so touched that the collection in her memory was made for MIC work and we need to think how best to honour that memory. 

Over and above all those wonderful ways in which she left her mark I will miss her most for her distinctive and infectious laugh, huge sense of fun and wonderful empathy – she was a truly lovely person who scattered sunshine wherever she went.