UCLAN Tribute

Lee 

It is a very particular and special privilege to have been invited to say a few words about Jess and the very wonderful way in which she contributed to my own life and the life of my colleagues and students at the Grenfell-Baines Institute of Architecture.
Jessica's own time and journey with us may have been brief but for myself and colleagues and students it was a source of joy and inspiration and in so many ways Jess represented and personified many of the things that we are trying to do and the school of architecture that we are trying to be.


Jessica came to us having had a difficult experience at a previous university where even though her own confidence and love for architecture had been affected she still believed that she belonged and that her dream of becoming an architect was a dream still worth pursuing. Even during that initial first meeting I was enthused by the desire and passion that she was showing to continue on a path to becoming an architect even after what she’d been through; seeking a fresh opportunity and another chance.  We will never turn anyone away from our door who clearly wants to try, wants to be good and wants to be the very very best version of themselves that they can possibly be. I sensed all of those things in Jessica as soon as I met her and was so so pleased to see how committed she was and how good her own work became and how her ability developed in her short time with us.

All through her first year with us, when she moved directly into our second year, the feedback that I got from her tutors, Cameron, Georgie and David was always so positive and enthusiastic and she produced beautiful, interesting and confident work. Not only did she demonstrate her abilities as an architect she also acted as a leader to others, becoming the class representative, communicating the concerns and needs of her fellow students to myself and colleagues in a way that was always mature and sensitive.

She had started her final year so well and positively and was clearly looked up to, admired and loved by the other students. She was always willing to lead and set a good example and others were willing to follow. It was not only her fellow students that she offered her support to either, my colleague Urun spoke movingly when we found out about her passing about how Jess had helped her set up her room into the lecture layout when she needed help before class and how she would feel a sense of delight when she caught a glimpse of the constant spark of happiness in Jess’ eyes. We obviously meet a lot of students and I couldn’t agree more with Urun’s own assertion that Jess was one of the most special people that we have ever had the pleasure of teaching. 


We are so so pleased to have been a small part of her life and feel blessed and lucky that we all got to spend time together doing something she loved and was passionate about. It is clearly devastating to not have the opportunity to experience more of Jessica and the person she would continue to become but it is a comforting truth to know that she was someone that truly lived her life, and lived it with love, generosity, desire and an inspiring sense of hope and purpose that enriched the lives of all those that had the pleasure of knowing her.