Jo Adshead, Chief Executive of Link-Ability and now taking over as publisher of Community Living following Rose’s sad death, remembered a dedicated and remarkable person:
‘When the people from Link-Ability and those connected with Community Living Magazine learned of Rose’s death what struck me was that they were deeply moved enough to take the trouble to email me and say some remarkable words.
There were a number of themes and words that were used over and over again. We often hear these platitudes and we have become immune to them as many are very overused.
In Rose’s case what struck me was that they were all true.
People said that she was selfless – and she was – she continued her work on behalf of vulnerable adults until the very end – she was emailing and telephoning and worrying about her campaigning work beyond her really being capable to doing so. This meant even then when was she was so ill she was still not thinking about herself.
They said she was an unstoppable force – she was – no amount of telling her things were under control and she should just look after herself achieved anything. She didn’t stop – she was truly unstoppable and she carried on and on. Rose never took no for an answer.
People said she was strong – she was – she never for one moment gave up on the things that mattered most to her – the rights and good lives of vulnerable others. She seemed to gain her strength to continue even especially when she was so unwell and clearly at the very end of her life. She knew her time was short and finishing her work was important.
Others said she was savvy and knowledgeable – she was I have been known to say more than once that she had forgotten more than what any of us who worked alongside her know about the sector. If you had a difficult problem and you needed advice you always knew to go to Rose.
‘Remarkable… I’ve never known anyone like her’
They said she was dedicated and she was. The cause was what she seemed to live for – it was truly what gave Rose the meaning to her life so consistently and for so long in her life.
They said she was remarkable – she was I’ve certainly never known anyone like her and doubt I ever will again.
They said she was a good listener and she was – she certainly listened and acted upon what was said to her. She listened to me on many an occasion and I was not disappointed with her response, her wise words or even her silence.
People said she was/is a great loss – I would agree – she is but even though she is a loss there is something else that was said too – that she left a legacy – she left so much good behind her and she left the means in which we will all be able to carry on her work.
And that’s because she engaged and captured the imaginations of so many of us including me. She engaged us all from her networks and friendships, people who need support, professionals, parents and family members – all of us with different motivations, skills, knowledges and passions all for different reasons. Her enthusiasm was infectious – you couldn’t say no to her if she asked you to do something even if you wanted to. She demanded of you – to do what you knew to be right. She engaged us not just to campaign or to shine a light on inequality but she left us with clear and tangible ideas, answers and solutions to how we will be stronger together than the sum of our parts, to continue the work that mattered so much. She taught us how inequalities should be and could be put right and how people’s lives can and must be made better.
Rest easily Rose – your work is done.’
Sue Pemberton, Chief Executive of Integrate remembered an indomitable fighter, a selfless woman of will and tenacity… and a passionate disbeliever in sell-by dates.
‘There aren’t enough accolades to describe Rose, an indomitable and determined fighter for the rights of people with Learning Disabilities, a force to be reckoned with and a real hero of the Learning Disability Community, who will be missed.
These are not just the sentiments of people from Integrate, but across the whole sector, from all who knew her.
Colleagues from Local Authorities, Commissioners of Services both of Health and Social Care, who she worked with over the years and may not have always seen eye to eye with, admired her greatly for her push for better lives for people with Learning Disabilities and ensuring they held their rightful place in society. Even in an adversarial role her dedication was recognised.
The values of Integrate are Roses legacy. She was present from the beginning with her determination and beliefs that there could be, indeed there was, something better for people with Learning Disabilities than institutional living – their own homes in ordinary streets, their own front door, the key to their own home and the same life opportunities as other members of the community, playing active roles in their local neighbourhoods.
And , led by Rose, all these things were accomplished for a great many people, not only those supported by Integrate but if there was anything that could be done to help or there was a request from anyone in need, she was always there to help. Always looking for a way ‘to do’ things with her can-do attitude, which she instilled in so many of us who knew and worked with her.
She was a great leader and mentor for many within Integrate and in the sector, ensuring with the sharing of her tremendous knowledge, her links to the university and her Practice Educating of so many Social Work students that her personal values and the values of Social Work were passed down, instilled in many and live on.
‘If Rose wasn’t involved, it wasn’t happening’
Always very involved and leading the way in lots of joint working and partnerships in Preston and the surrounding area, it was once said in the early days of supported living, if Rose wasn’t involved, it wasn’t happening. The development of community groups, People First, the LLDC, the Insight Network, Preston Learning Disability Forum and many other consortiums benefited from input and time from Rose to help get them off the ground and keep them running.
She could also be quite scary and many of us at Integrate will remember sitting in meetings with her, questioning her and she would just put her glasses further down her nose and repeat what she said slower and louder, just in case we didn’t understand. A passionate disbeliever of sell-by dates on food, it was standing practice in the office to check sell by dates on anything Rose had in the fridge or cupboard before consuming it.
Rose had a good sense of humour, a caring nature and an infectious laugh, she cared deeply and passionately for the organisation, the sector and for positive lives for people with Learning Disabilities and she was selfless in her quest, as none of it was for personal gain or recognition, it was because of her beliefs. She will be remembered with admiration for her strength of character and will, her temerity, tenacity and determination, her passing is a great loss to many and she will be sadly missed.
