In Memorium Shelagh Snell 1930-2025
It is with grateful thanks and sadness that we mark the passing of a wonderful colleague, Friend and Fellow of ESB and former Trustee. I asked her friends and colleagues to join me in sharing some of their thoughts of Shelagh and I offer them here to demonstrate the breadth of impact and connection she had with and for so many.
Shelagh was a legend! Someone who made an outstanding contribution, not only to the English Speaking Board, but to all the various people and places where she lived and worked over the years.
I was fortunate enough to know her for over 60 years; but well before that she began her Teacher Training in Derby. She initially worked in the docklands in Liverpool, teaching poor children in a deprived area where there was extreme poverty, extreme cold and poor living conditions. I remember being amazed to learn that these children had to be sewn tightly into their clothes. This was to provide insulation and keep them warm; also prevent infection from lice. Sometimes paper and goose fat were even added to layers of clothes to ensure warmth.
Shelagh later moved with her husband Jim, an architect, to Pershore in Worcestershire and later to their lovely home in St. George’s Square, Worcester. She inspired candidates of all ages from pre- Kindergarten to Retirement age and beyond. Her wonderful sense of humour was always present – something that captivated us all, young and old. She examined the whole range of Schools syllabuses, plus those for Colleges of FE; also Seminaries e.g. Allen Hall, London where young men were in training for the Ministry, using the Readers and Leaders in Places of Worship syllabus. While at Worcester Technical College, she taught Communication Skills to Building students and Catering students plus other sectors. She was passionate about this work, keen to pass on better communication skills to these young people to help them forge careers, and it was now that she began to publish her text books on the subject, a series of very successful text books followed.
In both written communication and in the field she showed calm wisdom, tact, warmth and integrity. She was also renowned for her wonderful wit and skilled story-telling and a great talent for friendship. She kept us all happy!!
She will be remembered by all with huge respect, admiration and love for many years to come.
Jeannie Martin, Friend and Colleague
Brilliant, bawdy and benevolent, that was Shelagh. The first time I met her was outside the Globe Theatre for an ESB Conference. She greeted me in that beautifully modulated, carrying voice as if we had been friends for ever – the years would make sure that was true – then promptly cornered me into taking over from her as newsletter editor. She had endless anecdotes and completely unexpected raunchy jokes, as well as a piercing wit and a wicked line in mimicry. Her flawless slide into all and any accents got her in trouble once with a Welshman who complained to ESB about her ‘cultural appropriation’. Combine those with an invaluable total recall over so many years of ESB’s growth and development – Shelagh was unique. What a loss.
Lesley Cook former CEO of ESB
There will be many people at ESB who knew Shelagh longer than I did but I remember first being aware of this very knowledgeable leader at training when I was a new assessor in 2009. She was so willing to share her enthusiasm and experience with all and I learned so much from her.
I was very lucky to be invited to join a lunch group of ESB assessors who live in my area and Shelagh was one of the founder members. Shelagh was undoubtedly the leading light in the group with her sparkling wit and her, at times, outrageous jokes. She told wonderful anecdotes and had us roaring with laughter.
Shelagh made a big impact on all who met her and I shall certainly cherish the happy memories I have of time spent with her.
Sheila Hendy
For me as CEO of ESB for nearly a decade, Shelagh forms a pantheon of former Trustees whom we have lost, along with Richard Ellis and Avril Newman that embodied the phrase “only connect” which was central to the founding philosophy of Christabel Burniston MBE and Jocelyn Bell. I only had the privilege of knowing Shelagh personally for five years and whenever she called me she expressed her gratitude for me taking her call in my busy role. Yet it was I who was grateful to her for showing such continued passion, open mindedness, friendship and interest in the evolution and progress of the organisation she held so dear.
She also showed love and friendship as she would often ask after my father, who sadly too passed away this year as well as her constant concern for our President Merriel Halsall-Williams. I have always known that to lead ESB was to stand on the shoulders of giants, Shelagh was undoubtedly talented, quick witted, engaging and purposeful and for a huge part of her life ESB benefitted from her gifts of teaching, writing, assessing and mentorship.
Thank you Shelagh, may you rest in peace.
Tina Renshaw
Former Chief Executive of ESB International