OBITUARY

It was with great sadness that we learned of the recent death of Sue Wilkinson MBE FCLIP, former Chair of CILIP Prison Libraries Group.

Some of you will have met Sue at our training events over the years and have your own memories of her.

My memories go back to when we both joined the Prison Libraries Group committee many years ago.  After a brief time Sue became Editor of what was then the Prison Libraries Group Newsletter.  She volunteered for this role because the other vacancy was for Treasurer and as she said many times “I don’t do sums”.  Under her editorship the Newsletter became the more professional looking Prison Libraries Journal, with 3 issues a year being sent to members and all prison libraries.  The final print copy was published in 2012 and it then reverted back to a Newsletter published online.  She remained the Editor until 2018.

Sue took on the role of Chair in 2008 and resigned in March 2021.  Although it was totally understandable that she stepped down when she did I do believe that having Sue’s steady hand as Chair has enabled the committee to continue its work over the years. Sue could always be relied on to further the cause of prison libraries when dealing with HMPS, NOMS, MOJ or whatever incarnation it was at the time, with great tact and diplomacy.

Sue was involved in wider CILIP activities and was a member of CILIP Council for a number of years and later on the CILIP Policy Committee.  She was very proud to be awarded her Fellowship in 2007 and saw enough value in this to revalidate.

In 1985 Sue became prison librarian at HMP Birmingham. At the time she was the first librarian to be appointed to work in a prison full time.  Sue was passionate about reader development and she made sure prison libraries were involved with projects run by the Reading Agency and Opening the Book. She was invited to 10 Downing Street for the launch of the National Year of Reading in 2008.  She finally hung up her keys that year when she was appointed Reader Development Officer at Birmingham City Libraries, later renamed as Events and Engagement Manager as the role expanded following the opening of the new Library of Birmingham.  Sue retired from this post in 2015 but continued to work as a freelance Reading and Library Consultant, retaining her role as a judge on the Dagger in the Library Award and the West Midlands Poet Laureate.

Sue was awarded a well-deserved MBE for services to reading and literacy in 2008 and received her medal at Buckingham Palace from the Queen.  I was honoured to be invited along as one of her guests on this memorable day.

Sue had a great gift with words and could be relied on to respond to numerous reports regarding prison libraries.  She contributed a chapter to “British Librarianship & Information Work 2011-2015”edited by J. H Bowman.

Sue had a great sense of humour and it was so much fun working with her, although she knew when it was time to get down to business.

She was, and will remain, a great inspiration for prison library staff and her loss will be felt in the wider profession.

Tracy Coombes, Treasurer CILIP PrLG