Rolf Schuursma commemorates Penelope Eckersley

Dear IASA members
 
On Wednesday January 20, 2010, Penelope Eckersley died. Those of us who helped found IASA or joined the small group of pioneers in its early days, vividly remember her and her husband Timothy, IASA’s second President. Tim was instrumental in bringing the organisation out of its infant state into an International Association in its own right. During this period it was Pen who added a special flavour to the many meetings and dinners in their lovely house at 72 Westbourne Park Road. She was a gracious host and a good friend for all of us who frequented ‘72’ in that period, as well as later when Tim was Vice-President and also acted as co-editor of the Phonographic Bulletin. In September 2001, during the IASA Annual Meeting in London, many years after Tim passed away, some of us once more enjoyed Pen’s hospitality for a charming dinner party at ‘72’. With her death this part of IASA’s history has now come to a closure. We fondly remember Pen and Tim and wish their children well.

Messages of sympathy may be sent to Toby Eckersley at Toby.Eckersley@southwark.gov.uk

Rolf Schuursma