In memoriam: Maria Idowu

It is with the deepest sadness that we announce the death of our friend and colleague, Maria Idowu.

Maria joined the Society as Finance & Business Manager at the beginning of 2014, armed with a degree in Business and Accountancy from the University of Brighton and several years’ experience in charity finance.  She faced the challenge of following in the footsteps of Roo Mitcheson, who was well-known to many members, but rapidly made the job her own, and set about a transformation of the Society’s financial systems and processes.  She was a much-loved and highly-regarded member of the staff team, and we will miss her calm professionalism, no-nonsense attitude, sense of humour, friendliness and smile.  The pictures below show her at her usual desk, and enjoying an evening event with our EES Scholars in 2015, the smile much in evidence.

Maria was due to go on maternity leave on January 15th, in preparation for the birth of her second child.  Unfortunately, she was taken ill on January 7th and passed away on the 10th. Our thoughts are with Maria’s family and friends at this sad time.

In keeping with ancient Egyptian tradition, we wish “A thousand of bread, a thousand of ‘teas with two sugars’, and all good and pure things for the soul of Maria, Overseer of the Treasury, true of voice”.