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Jan Parkinson was full of life, vitality and conviction. She lit up the lives of family, close friends and professional colleagues. Her premature passing, caused by the ravages of cancer, has deprived us all of a true and gracious friend. She was ready to achieve so much more, but now we must live on with fond memories and in the light of a shining example. This true woman of the north never forgot her roots and early values. Brought up in a loving family in Lancashire, she was close to her parents until the end and still returned to her hometown for the hair styling that was so important to her. She was by no means parochial – she went to University in Bangor and spoke several languages – but believed deeply in the importance of respecting community, cultural identity and genuine relationships in public life. Jan spent most of her working life in the health service and then local government in the North East. In the beginning it was not the easiest of environments for a female senior manager and human relations professional but she made her mark through her leadership, consistency and totally straightforward manner. As a director at Gateshead MBC, she gained the respect of leading councillors, the legendary Sir Les Elton, trade unions - indeed, all those who crossed her path. This part of her career culminated in a very popular and effective term as president of her national professional organisation. This national exposure came at a time when the Local Government Association (LGA) wanted to reform radically its national employers' function. The then Employers Organisation, largely unreformed since the 1940s, had lost political credibility and the confidence of the sector, largely as a result of the fire service dispute and, more significantly, the pensions reforms in the early 2000s. Although this was not all fair on those who went before, Jan came in to lead a new organisation, Local Government Employers (LGE), which was closer to the LGA and crucially closer to the sector. Forming an all female management with Sarah Messenger and Helen Newman, the massive improvement was recognised by government, councils and the trade unions. As her line manager, I never received complaints from her lead members - they formed a real team with full respect for each others' roles. In six years, a major transformation had taken place and most of the credit must go to her. LGE was in many ways the model for the new integrated LGA, formed in 2011. Jan's job was completed with outstanding success and she moved on to new challenges. Sadly, further achievements were cut short by the illness that she fought so bravely. Jan told her friends that she would accept no sorrow and mawkishness – she still wanted to live life to the full. I will never forget a trip last summer to the restaurant at the top of the Shard. She looked a million dollars, as usual, admittedly wearing someone else's hair, and enjoyed every minute. We were there a long time and I was treated to one of the most intimate, insightful and wise series of observations, about ourselves, life and the universe in which it has ever been my privilege to participate. It takes some believing that this wonderful woman is not with us now. Jan would only want us to grieve for so long. She would want us to celebrate instead and give thanks for the life of this wonderful woman. She may have been slight in stature but she was smart in every respect – you could always rely on her and know where you were with her. That was not always comfortable but I would not have missed for the world what she stood for and the way she conducted herself. Truly, she is an inspiration to us all. John Ransford is a former chief executive of the Local Government Association

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Obituary: Jan Parkinson

By John Ransford | 07 January 2014

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