It was with great shock and greater sadness that I heard yesterday about the sudden and untimely death of our friend and former CAPLE colleague Alison Carmichael. I can remember when Alison first came to the department, she fitted in so well that it was like she had always been there. Alison was an integral part not just of the CAPLE administrative team, but also of the academic and social life of the department and she was one of the people that made CAPLE such a great place to work. Our colleague Cherie Woolmer summed her up perfectly when she described her as “an absolute professional who made time for hilarity.” Alison always had time to smile and laugh, and she kept her own, and everyone else’s, spirits up through the difficult days of the CAPLE review and closure. No matter how difficult things got, Alison was always smiling. And of course she was always, always sparkly and fabulous. It’s hard to believe that she’s gone, but I know that we will all remember her with a smile. My thoughts are with Alison’s family and friends.
Susan, Alison and Sarah
I’m Paul, Susan’s son and met Alison on a number of occasions when I’d pop into the CAPLE office from time to time. She was always a cheery face with a big smile and even though I didn’t know her well at all, it’s still shocking to hear the news. My thoughts are with her family.
Hi Paul, thank you for your lovely comment. I don’t think we ever met, I was based in CAPLE for years, but I was tucked away at the end of the corridor! Alison was one in a million, everyone who met her was touched by her warmth and her great sense of humour. Please pass my sympathies on to Susan, we’re all so shocked that Alison is no longer with us but I know it must be particularly tough for the office team.