Obituaries E
Eileen Hollingdale
ileen Avis Hollingdale (always known at work as Holly) died peacefully at home in February 2023, aged 87.
A qualified librarian, she worked for the old Brighton Borough Council as Librarian in Charge of Rottingdean Library for many years. In the 1970s and early 80s she moved to become the extremely well-informed and much respected Local History Librarian at Brighton Reference Library. Her local knowledge was second to none and she produced several local history publications including Brighton in Retrospect and Old Brighton: A collection of Prints, Paintings and Drawings as well as making significant contri- butions to others’ local books. On East Sussex County Library
restructuring in the 1980s specialist posts were disbanded and Holly was moved, much against her will to Eastbourne Central Library to work on the general professional team. She subsequently worked at Lewes Library, Albion Street, as Librarian in Charge.
Andrew Hutchinson O
ur colleague Andrew passed away suddenly on 2 March this year, aged 58. After 25 years in the Civil Service, most recently as the Head of Army Libraries, Andrew’s last professional role was as Head of Library Opera- tional Services at the University of Bath, where he made a significant contribution to the University in the eight years he was with us. He was a true professional. Always curious and ready to learn, he was also ready to share and apply his knowledge and experience to improve our services, greatly benefitting our students and staff. He was proud to be a Chartered
Librarian and gave generously of his time for the benefit of our profession, holding voluntary roles both on committees as the Treasurer of CILIP’s K&IM group and as a mentor with CILIP.
Andrew was known for the support he gave all the infor- mation professionals who crossed his path and earlier this year, in celebration of Andrew’s life, the K&IM group made a special one-off award for Career Support and Guidance. This recognised Andrew’s care and concern for his profes- sional colleagues and that the right person giving the right advice and assistance at the right time can have a huge impact on someone’s skills, knowledge and ability to thrive in their chosen role.
48 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
In 2022 in an interview for the K&IM newsletter (What I wish knew: Nicola Scull in conversation with Andrew Hutchinson, K&IM Newsletter August 2022), when Andrew was asked “Is there anything you know now that you wish you had known when you started out?” his reply was: “Work is a journey not to be rushed – and it is okay to enjoy the view as you go. As an introvert it is okay to take my time and reflect. In a group it is important to understand differ- ent people, their personalities, and approaches to ensure that everyone feels a part of the group and can make a comfortable contribution. Work hard to use the talents of all rather than a few.”
Andrew was usually the first of us in the library and the last of us to leave. His day was often spent with people, walking round the library to ensure all was well and in order, catching up with colleagues on the way and pausing to say hello and to check that they were OK too. Colleagues miss Andrew’s cheery personality, his self-deprecating sense of humour, his jokes and his terrible puns.
Kate Robinson
She served on the committee of the Regency Society for several years and also on the Brighton and Hove Blue Plaque Committee (she was still a member of the latter when she died and fellow committee members recall her encyclopaedic local knowledge and her helpfulness). Holly was born and lived all her life in Haywards Heath, and never married. She was quite an unusual person; one might refer to her as ‘a character’. She had several stock phrases: “Bless her heart and cotton socks”, “You could go further and fare worse”. If something was lost she’d say “It will be like Dante’s remains – it will turn up”, or if you couldn’t find a book and she subsequently found it she would say “If it was a bear it would have bitten you.” She often called people “Ducky”.
Holly had high work standards, a speedy bustling walk, curly hair, bright lipsticks and she would glare through, above and from the sides of her glasses - often in exasper- ation. She didn’t suffer fools gladly but if you wanted an honest opinion, you’d ask Holly. She was hard working, loyal and had a lifelong love of books. She leaves no close relatives.
Alison Minns, Roma Leon, Goretti Considine, Sandy Hayden, Delia Fearey, and Gill Stringer
September 2023
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