I first knew you as my volunteer manager when I started volunteering for DUK. I never thought then that I would have the pleasure of working with you as a colleague. From my first day as a staff member, you were welcoming and helpful, making a nervous newbie feel part of the team very quickly. Whenever I wasn’t sure what to do about an issue, I’d think to myself, “I’ll speak to Shaleen, she’ll have a solution”, and that was always the case. Maybe there was a magic ingredient in the cup of tea you’d always make before settling down for a chat, but it was probably your immense wisdom that found the answer. Together, we’d try to make sense of a crazy world, but, although we invariably failed in this quest, the world always seemed a better place after talking to you. I’ve always thought myself very lucky to be part of such a great team, and you were a significant part of why the team is such a pleasure to work in.

Someone once wrote “Only the good die young”, well, never was that more appropriate than now. The office will never feel the same without you, nor will our team. Indeed, the world can never be the same without your smile and kind spirit. Even Liverpool winning doesn’t bother me as much now. 😊