We have all been greatly saddened to learn of the death of Rosemary Thorp at the age of 85.
Many will remember her for her sense of humour and the keen interest she showed in everyone she met.
Rosemary became involved with Malvern Welcomes two years after its inception. She quickly took a strong leadership role, starting by undertaking a thoughtful and thorough review of all our policies and procedures. With her formidable intellect, Rosemary challenged us with highly pertinent and incisive questions, guiding the ethos of our charity,
Her insistence that we should always work to the highest possible standards was balanced with her care and consideration for the volunteers and for each of the individuals we support. She always listened carefully and was very receptive to the ideas and thoughts of others, making everyone feel valued. We all greatly benefited from the considerable expertise in governance that she had gained through her work with other charities, including as Chair of Trustees for Oxfam and also from her various Oxford University positions as a Fellow of St Anthony’s College, Director of the Latin America Centre, Head of the Department of International Development.
Despite being beset with multiple health issues at the time she became involved with Malvern Welcomes, her energy and commitment never diminished. It was a mark of her thoroughness and dedication that, when she stepped down from Malvern Welcomes for health reasons, she handed over a carefully preserved and very detailed set of notes.
We send our condolences to her husband Tim. We appreciated the generous support that he gave her as she devoted countless hours to her work with Malvern Welcomes. There was always a warm and generous welcome in their home where meetings were often held. They were renowned for their hospitality and many of us have precious memories of lively and stimulating conversations over bowls of soup and cups of coffee.
On a personal note, it was a huge privilege to have had the opportunity to work so closely with her.
Rosemary was a remarkable and inspirational woman who will long be remembered for her generosity and her wisdom.
Ruth Forecast, Malvern Welcomes Volunteer
