Hi, I’m Lance and I feel privileged that I was lucky enough to meet, work with and know Gech, who was one of life’s most amazing people. She illuminated all of our lives with her kindness and compassion…..and illuminated every room with her amazingly colourful clothing.
 
I knew Gech for 14 years, working together at North Middlesex Hospital in the early 2010s and then at The Princess Alexandra Hospital for the last 6 years.
 
There are so many ways that I could describe what a truly amazing person Gech was, but I have had the privilege to seeand hear so many messages and reflections from colleaguesthat she worked with over the years that I thought I would start by sharing just a few of these:
 
• Kind, Caring and Selfless
• Articulate, warm, cheerful and always genuine
• Humble, thoughtful and with a deep understanding of all things people
• Passionate, compassionate and always had time for everyone
• Generous, considerate and dedicated
• She brought laughter and sunlight into even the darkest corners
• A life force who always stuck to her principles
• Just lovely and simply fabulous
• An amazing woman
• Stylish and elegant
• The best dressed woman in the hospital
• Beautiful in every way
 
Lovely words and qualities from so many people that we will all recognise.
 
Personally, I’d also add ‘slow walker’. Gech was a very, very slow walker…..it used to take me twice as long to get to the car park if I left work at the same time as Gech than if I left on my own; 
I think because she was weighed down by always carrying 2or 3 bags, of which at least one would be full of some of those amazing shoes that she used to wear. You could always tell what day Gech had ahead of her, by the height of her heels.
 
Professionally, Gech was a true professional; she was highly talented, and she was a well-respected, dedicated and excellent chief people officer; known and adored widely across the NHS. Gech was about to take up the Chief People Officer role for the Royal Free Group, a role that I know she was extremely, and quite rightly, proud of securing and very excited by the opportunity to work in one of the country’s most prestigious group of hospitals.
 
Gech cared about people. She had time for everyone. Shenever said no to mentoring someone or supporting a colleague in their career. She had an ability to make everyone feel seen and to feel valued. Gech stayed in touch with and maintained friendships with so many colleagues she had worked with over the years, as well as guiding countless colleagues to be the best they can be in their lives and their careers; always in her usual caring and compassionate way.
 
Gech was the definition of values driven, always living by her values; a role model to all of us in how to be consistent and true to yourself. 
As a proud black woman, Gech was also a huge role model to many colleagues from all professions and all grades and she gave people hope that they could replicate her achievements. Some might have seen this as a burden, but Gech carried itlightly, letting her actions lead the way. She was unerringly passionate about equality and diversity, women’s rights and staff experiences. As a result, we have, at PAHT, some of the most progressive staff networks in the NHS, across all protected characteristics and some of the best staff rest facilities I have ever seen.
 
Gech’s values, her very strong sense of right, and her passion for inclusion, meant that she was never short of an opinion;and often a very strong opinion. She always had the courage to speak her mind,always from a genuinely good place, always respectfully and always with a clear purpose.
 
Gech was also a reflector. She was always thinking, then thinking again and then over thinking, especially about big issues or decisions. This was because it was so important for her to be true to herself and to be confident that she had made the right decision. I used to joke with Gech about the fact that 99% of the time, her over thinking and reflection would result in the exact same outcome as her initial thought or gut instinct; that’s because Gech always had great judgement. 
 
To me, as with all who Gech came in to contact with, she wasan astonishing support, both personally and professionally.Gech kept me on track, challenged my thinking, told me things I didn’t want to hear and kept me safe. She always gave great counsel to me and always gave great counsel to everyone she spoke to.
 
I will fondly remember:
• the huge hedgehog mug of half-drunk peppermint tea that was always on her desk; very specifically Taylor’s organic peppermint tea.
I will also fondly remember:
• Gech’s daily deliberation about what to have for lunch from the restaurant, almost always changing something from the menu and, then more often than not, subsequently regretting her choices.
And I will fondly remember:
• Gech’s almost pathological dislike of bananas, and the very, very clear rules about not having any within her sight – I have seen many colleagues make that mistake once, but no-one ever made that mistake twice!
 
And I will never forget that big, beautiful, beaming smile of hers and that infectious laugh.
 
Most of all however I will remember Gech as:
• One of the kindest and most caring people that I have had the privilege of knowing and
• The best colleague that I have ever worked with
 
Gech was truly one of life’s most amazing people.