My mum, Sue Bailey, who has died aged 73, was a research fellow in the school of social work at the University of East Anglia for more than 20 years.
Sue spent almost all her working life at UEA, initially as a researcher in the school of economics before being persuaded by Prof June Thoburn to join the school of social work. There, she was involved in a number of important projects and initiatives including the tri-boroughs care proceedings pilot in London, seeking to improve decision-making in court and reduce delays for children.
For many years she was a vital member of the UEA team undertaking the triennial serious case reviews for the Department for Education, to which she brought kindness and academic rigour. Colleagues have told how she wore her knowledge lightly, and shared it generously. She retired in 2016.
Away from work and family, Sue had two passions: Norwich City football club and music. She was a season-ticket holder at Carrow Road from 1994, and a keen choral singer. She spoke with pride of having sung, in her younger days, with the Aldeburgh festival singers under the baton of Benjamin Britten.
Born in Epsom, Surrey, Sue was the youngest child of Geoffrey Wiseman, a cost accountant, and Audrey (nee Day), a bank clerk. She passed the 11-plus before attending Rosebery grammar school for girls. On leaving school she initially defied her teachers’ advice to attend university and undertook a secretarial course at Kingston College of Further Education, before moving to Norwich to study social sciences at UEA. It was there she met my dad, David Bailey – they married in 1971, the year Sue graduated, and went on to have three children.
When she initially experienced some health difficulties in 2019, Sue’s aims were to see Norwich City get promoted and to celebrate her 70th birthday and golden wedding anniversary. She met all three milestones, and more (indeed, she saw two Norwich City promotions, swiftly followed by two relegations). When her symptoms returned earlier this year she told me her wish, this time, was to live to see a Labour government elected. Sadly, she had a very aggressive brain tumour, and died only six weeks later.
Sue is survived by David, their children, Clare, Robert and me, and grandchildren, Beatrice and George, and her brother, John, and sister, Gill.