It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Helen Palin, who died peacefully in the early hours of the morning on 9 May 2023.

Helen joined the charity in 1990 and served at the heart of our service for more than 30 years. She was deeply committed to our service and fulfilled many roles as counsellor, assessor, office worker, trustee, advocate and hands-on fundraiser.

Our chair Laura Noel paid tribute to Helen as a friend and colleague for many years. “Helen has been the backbone of Camden Bereavement Service for many years and she will be sorely missed by us all."

Laura worked as a manager in the NHS in Acute and Mental Health Hospitals; Primary Care and in Commissioning for nearly three decades. She was CEO of a Family Practitioner Committee and a Health Authority in North East London for thirteen years. She subsequently worked as an independent Executive Coach for ten years and as a Counsellor for the Bereavement service which she joined in 2006. Laura became a Trustee for CCIWBS in 2008 and is currently Chair of the Board. Laura has lived in Gospel Oak, Camden for 37 years.

Colin has been a trustee since 2008 and Vice Chair since 2011. He is a civil servant and has led large, complex transformation programs and cross-Government portfolios from a range of departments, including Cabinet Office, Ministry of Justice, Department of Environment, and for three and a half years, across the NHS. 

Bernard is a Chartered Accountant and has been involved with the CCIWBS since 1998 when the Service was incorporated as a registered charity. He was appointed as the first Treasurer and served until 2011. He has worked with a variety of small and large companies and organisations in the United Kingdom and Europe. His view of grieving is that it should never be disregarded and counselling help should be available to all who need it.

Felicia worked as a social worker in local authorities and child guidance before training to be an individual psychotherapist with the British Association of Psychotherapists and a couple psychotherapist at Tavistock Relationships where she was on the staff for many years. She had a particular interest in consulting to individuals groups and institutions and in running courses on staff supervision. 
She has been a trustee since 2014.

Charles joined as a trustee in early 2022. He is an HR Director at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. He has been in the civil service for 20 years and worked across a number of government departments including Cabinet Office, DWP, Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities and National Highways.

Mark was a counsellor at the service for 5 years and joined as a Trustee in 2020. Mark is an existential psychotherapist working in private practice in North London. He has worked in the areas of alcohol addiction, family and fertility (for the Donor Conception Network) as well as bereavement. Mark also has a grounding in providing affordable homes in the third-sector, for those on lower incomes. 

Victoria is a CCIWBS Counsellor and was appointed Treasurer in 2011, having joined the service as a Trustee the same year. She is a Chartered Accountant and her career in the private sector saw her working for large organisations in business strategy; change management and business analysis for computer system design.