Two pieces of sad news unfortunately

Paul Senior

Anyone who has been around Probation in the last four decades will probably have met or heard Paul Senior, Emeritus Professor at Sheffield Hall University, and a former presenter of the Bill McWilliams Memorial Lecture, who sadly passed away on 22nd June. As many colleagues will know, Paul had been ill for a very long time. 

His close friend, Tony Grapes has written: "Paul died in the Doncaster Hospice. His children, Joe and Hannah were with him.  This marked the end of the long and courageous battle against prostate cancer.  He has been an influential figure in UK probation for over 40 years.  Initially a probation officer, in Doncaster, in the 1970s, he soon became Training Officer in the South Yorkshire Probation Service before moving full-time to Sheffield Hallam University, where he worked as Professor of Probation Studies until 2017.  He remained Emeritus Professor there.  He delivered the Bill McWilliams lecture in 2015.  He was the author of many probation-related research studies, hosted innovations like the ‘Moments' series and the CJ Portal Lectures, trained thousands of probation officers, through several reincarnations of the probation qualification arrangements and stood, often alone and dogged, against the TR re-organisation/outsourcing debacle.  A quick-thinking, sharp-witted academic, Paul was a fierce debater, larger-than-life character and generous friend.  He will be sadly missed on the conference circuit where his ability to rove across seminars, plenaries and workshop, and capture the key themes in an off-the-cuff final summary set the standard."

Condolences can be sent via Tony at 50 Bannerdale Road, Sheffield, S7 2DP

Nick Jones

We also heard tha Nick Jones, a long-time friend of Napo has sadly sadly pased away. His sudden death a week ago was a shock to those of us who had worked with him through the former NNC and later in his former role as Senior Employee Relations Lead for the NPS trade unions.

Here is another touching tribute from his colleague Francis Stuart: "It is with great sadness and regret that I must make you aware of the death this last weekend of our much loved and valued colleague Nick Jones. Nick will be known to many colleagues in HMPPS for his dedication and work over many years in the world of probation and as a key member of the former HMPPS HR Directorate Employee Relations team. He was known for his kindness, wonderful sense of humour, fun and charm. He retired from the service in the Summer of 2018 and his send-off was typically one where the venue was packed with colleagues from nearly 40 years of Civil Service, all with a unique tale about Nick to tell. Typically, on his last day of service, Nick attended for work in his flip-flops and Bermuda shirt and shorts, a big grin on his face, ready for the adventures to come. He loved travel and during the last year was able to add a few more exotic trips to his life’s itinery with his partner Richard. Tragically, Nick died suddenly in Dubai whilst on route on another trip abroad to visit friends. Our thoughts and heart-felt condolencies are with his family and Richard. The Employee Relations team will be very happy to forward any messages that colleagues of Nick wish to send to Richard and his family. We will make staff aware of any funeral arrangements once these are known. Please remember Nick, Richard and Nick’s family in your thoughts and prayers."