I first met Mandy when I joined the LJCC, where she was my first ever boss. Mandy brought so much energy, wisdom, passion and humour into everything she did. She taught me so much.
She also told wonderful anecdotes. One anecdote that has stuck with me to this day is a story from her advertising days. She told me that one night she found herself in the office working late, struggling with something, maybe a catalogue or a brochure, when someone very senior came up, and sat down on her desk. He told her something along the lines of “At the end of the day, love, we are just selling plastic flowers….are you having fun? That’s the most important thing”. I think of this anecdote often.
I don’t know if this is a story she was telling for my benefit or for her own, as she always held herself to very high standards. At the same time she also had a lot of humour, wisdom and a practical no-nonsense kind of kindness, which she showed to many people, including myself, in many ways.
I am very glad to have got the chance to know Mandy, and would like to share my deepest condolences with her family. With love, Vera