PEOPLE Obituaries Diana Saulsbury D I
iana was born 21 November 1946 and died peacefully in her sleep 21 December 2025
Diana was born in Acton and her family moved to Ruislip where she attended primary school. She attended Manor secondary school. Diana attended Sussex University as a mature student and had a very successful career in librarianship becoming Lecturer, Librarian and Director of Open Learning at Bedford College. She was working at the University of Bedford library prior to her retirement. Diana lived in Bedford for 30 years which was convenient for work and also close to
her partner and soulmate of 30 years, Tom, who was an American physics lecturer.
Diana was vibrant, forthright, colourful and generous and had a great sense of humour and an infectious laugh. Diana was elegant and known for wearing bright colours and always a colourful scarf and designer handbag. She lived life to the full,
Ian Ireland
an Barry Ireland was born in Hull on 15 April 1948. He died suddenly in Venice on 12 October 2025. Ian was a bright boy who gained a free scholarship to Hymers College in Hull and later, after completing his A-levels, decided to make a career in librarianship. His first post was as a trainee librarian at Huddersfield Public Library.
After gaining his Chartership, he became branch librarian at Cudworth Library. While still employed at Cudworth, he was asked to take on oversight of the branch library in Grimethorpe, home of the famous brass band. This was during the time of the 1973-74 miners’ strike and Grimethorpe at that time was famous for less salubrious activities. Ian had many tales to tell about his time there. In 1974, Local Government reorganisation led to WRCC being disbanded and Cudworth and Grimethorpe became part of the new Barnsley Metropolitan Borough, where Ian was to spend the rest of his career in librarianship. His first post was as Science and Technology Librarian and he also became a key member of Barnsley and District Information Service (BARDIS) which produced an indexing service for local businesses. As his career progressed, he became successively Central Librarian, Dispersed Services Librarian and Chief Librarian in 1993. Ian was a forward-looking librarian and as Chief, he had an inclusive management style, which allowed staff to flourish and develop their own skills and ideas. He had regular management meetings which kept staff informed and he also worked on a staff manual which included a training plan adopted by the Library Association. Before the days of the Summer Reading
Scheme, Ian was particularly keen to institute a programme of children’s activities and entertainments during the summer holidays, supported by grant applications. Ian retired in 1998 but later returned to work in the Voluntary Sector. He worked for MIND, later becoming a board member, and then for South Yorkshire Key Fund. Finally, he became deputy CEO for Voluntary Action Barnsley (VAB). After retiring for a second and final time, he remained on the board of VAB and was also secretary of the Tasker Trust, a photographic archive of Barnsley.
Ian had wide interests including mountain walking, theatre, and music of all kinds. He played bridge and online chess and also played many sports. He had a lifelong lover for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Hull City FC. He loved to travel and explore new places, particularly enjoying cruises. He was a member of Rotary for over 30 years, serving as Chairman of his club twice. In later life, he and his wife, Sheila, moved to the Lake District where they enjoyed making a new life and serving with a new Rotary Club. Ian is very sadly missed by Sheila and by his children, Paul, Alison and Meredith and his grandson Casper. He will be remembered by many for his warmth, humour and lively sense of fun.
Obituary by former Deputy, Jennifer Anderson, with help from other former colleagues.
reveling in the arts and music scene all her life and, of course, surrounded by books. She kept the theatre programme from all the performances she had attended and her independent spirit shone through from an early age illustrated by her being a lifelong Arsenal fan despite her family supporting Spurs. Diana remained close to her brother, Fred, all her life and was a supportive, generous and thoughtful aunt to her nieces and nephews. She touched the lives of everyone she met and will be greatly missed.
She suffered a stroke 10 years ago and was looked after by her partner Tom until his sudden death on his birthday three years ago. Two years ago she moved to Ponsandane Care home in Penzance to be near to her family. She was loved by the team there and will be sadly missed. Diana was a feisty person who took no nonsense and was popular with all who knew her. Her humanist cremation was on 16 January 2026 at Treswithian Downs Crematorium.
Submitted on behalf of her family.
For obituary submissions and guidance please email
rob.green@
cilip.org.uk. February-March 2026 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL 45
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