Obituary: Jenny Long
Jenny Long, who provided secretarial support to senior managers at Sussex for more than a quarter of a century, died peacefully on 1 November after a short illness.
From September 1986 until she retired 27 years later, Jenny was a secretary and PA in the VC’s and Registrar’s Office.
Before that, Jenny – who was born in Brighton and lived there all her life - had been employed in the Estates department at Brighton Polytechnic (now the University of Brighton).
At Sussex, Jenny provided support to a veritable ‘Who’s Who’ of Pro-Vice-Chancellors including Professor Bob Allison, Professor Fred Bayley, Dr Colin Brooks, Professor Nigel Llewellyn, Professor Rose Luckin, Professor Tony McCaffery, Professor Tony Moore, David Streeter, Professor Mary Stuart, Professor Evelyn Welch and Professor Joanne Wright.
Most recently, before her retirement in September 2013, Jenny had been PA to Professor Clare Mackie, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) and Professor Michael Davies, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research).
Professor Michael Farthing, Vice-Chancellor, said: “Jenny worked closely with a succession of senior managers who were able to rely on her, trusting her loyalty, commitment and discretion.
“There was little about Sussex that Jenny didn’t know and she was a familiar voice and face to staff across campus – especially those who came for meetings in Sussex House.
“Her sudden death has come as a shock to us all, especially as Jenny had only recently retired and had just finished doing up her flat to enjoy.
“But we will remember with fondness her dry wit and – when pressed – her humorous ‘indiscretions’ about the foibles of former colleagues.”
Professor Joanne Wright, former Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) and now Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Queensland, added: “I think about Jenny often and how kind and defensive of her ‘charges’ she was.
“We also shared a great many laughs and I know that life in Sussex House was really important to her and that in many ways she regarded us all as her family.”
Professor Bob Allison, former Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) and now Vice-Chancellor of Loughborough University, said: “Jenny and I worked closely together for a number of years at Sussex.
“Jenny demonstrated a high level of commitment to her work and to the University. She was loyal, hard working and always cheerful.”
Jenny also worked for a number of former senior administrators at Sussex including Sarah Butler, John Farrant, Louise Nadal and Owen Richards.