Death of Claire Sussman
This blog entry updates the class members on the sad news of Claire Sussman’s death communicated by e-mail (to those for whom we have up to date e-mail addresses – please see below) last month.
Claire was reported missing from her base in Chester on 27th February 2008. Her body was recovered a few days later on 6th March from the River Mersey. As soon as we learnt of this tragedy, on 12th March 2008 Hazel Hall sent out initial e-mails to class members, and to staff at the University of Birmingham, with a follow-up on 16th March 2008. Responses to these communications were incorporated into a letter of condolence to Claire’s family sent by Hazel on behalf of the year group. The University of Chester (Claire’s employer) kindly passed the letter on to Claire’s mother. In her reply, Claire’s mother expressed how the family has been touched by the knowledge that we have been thinking of, and grieving for, Claire. As yet, the funeral has not taken place.
Zoe Gordon (nee Fletcher) has been working on putting together a book of photos and stories about Claire to give to her family. Included in this will be text from the messages that were sent to Hazel in response to the two e-mails mentioned above. Thanks to everyone who has made a contribution to date. If anyone has anything further to contribute, please e-mail Hazel so that she can pass details on to Zoe.
There are plans for a memorial service for Claire. If you would like to be informed of the details of this, please let Hazel know.
Class members may also be interested to see the memorial web site for Claire created by her step-sister Sara Conlin. This can be found at:
http://clairesussman.remembered-forever.org/
Request for contact details
We do not have current e-mail addresses for the following members of the year group. If your name is listed below, or you have the contact details for anyone listed, please could you let Hazel know?
- Mary Ainsworth
- Kathryn Bowler
- Camilla Child
- Jennie Dawson
- Sue Donoghue
- Barry Ellis
- Julian Garforth
- Sally Ann Hall
- Karen Hendry
- Quintin Lever
- Susan Longley
- Diane Manifold
- Val Matthews
- Graham Metcalf
- Linda Olding
- Sue Olszowska
- Priscilla Rathbone
- Joanne Richardson
- Joanne Louise Sim
- Melanie Wheeler
posted by Hazel Hall at 9:16 pm
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