Everyone associated with JRRT was very sad to hear of the recent death of Diana Scott, who served on the Board of JRRT from 1995 until 2007. Diana was our Chair from March 2006 until her retirement from the Board in October 2007.
Diana started campaigning against social injustice at the age of 12, and the range of causes which she served with such skill, enthusiasm and commitment, was many and varied. They included campaigns for children, housing, the health service and the regulation of utilities.
Diana was only the third woman ever to be appointed to the JRRT Board and she proved a staunch board member, putting forward her views with great common sense and a depth of knowledge that came from the substantial experience she had built up in so many different areas of public life.
Diana was impossible to categorise; belonging to no political party, and owing no particular allegiance to “left” or “right”; she simply committed to the public good, and operated with a freedom and openness of thought which was refreshing. She modestly referred to herself as a “Jill-of-all-trades and a mistress of none”, but her remarkable achievement was to bring her campaigning skills to so many causes and to show others how they, too, can become empowered.
We were lucky to have Diana as a colleague and we owe her much. She will be sorely missed.