We are deeply saddened to announce that our friend and colleague Deborah Parker, who was the editor of our journal, passed away unexpectedly in February. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family.

The memorial service will take place at 4pm on 27 March 2025 at Peterborough Cremation. There will also be a gathering afterwards at Deborah’s favourite cafe: The Willow Café & Function Rooms Central Park, Park Crescent, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. PE1 4DX

The family is raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support, please consider donating on Deborah’s tribute page.

The AGS office is deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of Deborah, particularly given her recent progress in recovering from cancer. Merely a week prior to this tragic development, we held a meeting where Deborah celebrated her triumph over cancer and expressed her anticipation for attending upcoming shows and maybe even wearing a pink wig.

Upon joining the AGS team, Deborah faced some initial challenges. However, through her diligent efforts, she ultimately made significant contributions to the quality of the journals published by AGS and, just as importantly, their appeal to the wider public. The most recent biannual journal received favourable feedback from Society members, and Deborah was commended through numerous emails praising her work on the Autumn/Winter biannual journal.

While Deborah did not seek attention or prefer to be at the centre of activities, she earned the respect of many colleagues. Her approach was instrumental in securing contributions from notable writers for the journal, including her friend, Roy Lancaster. Furthermore, Deborah effectively promoted AGS in other publications, often achieving mentions in articles without prior notice. She was an unsung champion of the AGS.

Remembrance tree
Deborah’s friends have requested permission to plant a tree in her memory within the garden at the AGS office. I believe this would be a fitting tribute to someone who contributed significantly to the Society, which she was proud to represent.
Deborah is a hard act to follow. Given her dedication and expertise finding someone to succeed her presents a considerable challenge for the Society’s Trustees.

We will all miss Deborah, and we hope that she has found peace.