Yesterday it was a memorable day for many as four key staff in the Library and IT Service retired with a combined service in excess of 100 years. A number of people were unable to be present as they were running services, or involved in an internal exam. There were also people away on annual leave. Very unusually for me I wrote up a few words about Sara and provided some exhibits - they are reproduced here.
I realise that I am now standing between you and the Titus Salt so will attempt to be brief.
So how do you celebrate an illustrious career spanning over 30 years? We may think that times are difficult at the moment – global war on terrorism, banking crisis, millions of unemployed, Higher Education in funding crisis BUT cast yourself back to the start of Sara’s career – the 3 day week, 25% annual inflation, 1970’s pop music. Clearly it was a good foundation for a career in the
Over the last few months many colleagues have provided artifacts, anecdotes and stories to try and shed some light on this journey. I only have time for three pieces of evidence so as not to delay you further.
Our first exhibit therefore is this photo of a Department meeting in those early days – a meeting held in the newly constructed amphitheatre – and depicting topless men and women in bikinis. Could we get away with that today? Surely those were more enlightened times?
Then there was the move to the JB Priestley Library and Computer Centre – with the two entrances and the clear separation of the computing and library disciplines. Halcyon days for some no doubt. This was a very controversial move – partly because the building had originally been constructed as a multi-storey staff car park but the money had run out. During the build two contractors went bust and the anticipated duck pond to rival the
So my second exhibit is this picture of Sara’s home for the last thirty years and in particular those memories of the three month Summer break when the University’s mainframe computer (it only had one computer) was transported from Richmond Building to its new home in the bowels of the building and the only thing that could be done was playing pool, drinking in the new bar and enjoying the view. How times have changed!
The third and final exhibit, is this month’s Which magazine – independent expert advice for the thrifty among us (thank you Jill, Andy and others for the copy) – and perhaps most appropriately it is an article on loyalty cards. The title is also highly appropriate “Holidays are the Best Reward” and the feature article is about a certain Sara Eyre and devoted husband Howard. The article describes a two week holiday in
Finally, Sara’s friends have put together two final pieces of advice. The first is an NVQ level one in Retirement and Incompetence from the IT training team. We would like to present this to Sara and highlight that it covers the following areas:
- Best practice for causing maximum disruption during normal activities
- Maintaining frustration levels in others
- Developing your own retirement activities and
- Enjoying a long , happy and healthy retirement
- Any optional units are left open for the individual to decide on if they can be bothered.
The second piece of advice is an end of year school report. It covers a number of areas including Art and Design, Geography, Music, Physical Education and ICT. I would like to read from the General comments section at the end:
Sara shows an excellent ability to lead and be part of a team. She is an excellent all round student who should be awarded the prize of early retirement in a year of exceptional students. It is rare that four prizes are handed out in the same year but indeed this is an exceptional cohort. Sara should be highly commended for her part in the Institution’s activities over a long and distinguished career. She will be sadly missed but everyone wishes her all the best for the future.
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