The Management School is deeply saddened to report the death of their friend and colleague, Sandra Hughes, who passed away unexpectedly on 17th August following a short illness.
Sandra joined the Management School in 2010 after spending over 25 years in local government. She held a number of roles within the Professional Services Team, eventually becoming the School’s Employability and Placements Officer. Sandra’s support was instrumental in the success of the School’s undergraduate Year in Industry programmes. Working closely with academic colleagues and the Careers and Employability Service, she helped to establish the support that underpinned these courses and had incredible skills when it came to resolving any problems that arose, not least the logistical challenge of organising up to 150 visits to students out on placement in all corners of the UK in each semester!
Sandra also provided tremendous support and encouragement to students on a personal basis: a shoulder to cry on when interviews were unsuccessful, celebrating when dream jobs were secured and, when required, some gentle but effective nagging where students were taking a somewhat too laid-back approach to their search for an internship. She was much-loved by students and nowhere was this more evident than at our summer graduation celebrations where graduates would seek her out to join family line-ups for photographs and to thank her for help.
Sandra was incredibly popular with her colleagues and over the past few days we have shared many stories of her kindness, good humour and warmth. Outside work, Sandra was devoted to her family and our thoughts are with her husband Sean, son Joe, step-son Chris, her sisters and her nephews and nieces at this sad time.
Sandra’s funeral will take place at Springwood Crematorium, Woolton, at 11am on Tuesday, 3 September. Family flowers only, but donations in Sandra’s memory to her favourite charity, the NSPCC, are welcome.