Alison Ward (24 Mar 1960 - 24 Mar 2026)

We are really thankful to have known Alison. She worked with and helped DERMAN between 2011-2022. Alison was always kind, polite and professional with a passion for helping charities and those in need. We will miss her presence. May she rest in peace. You will be in our thoughts.

Alison was wonderful and kind. We got on so well from the minute we met.Alison was held in high regard at Citizens Advice and I would not have stayed in my role if it was not for her help and kindness. We often spent training time talking about her beautiful family, she adored her grandchildren and sent me photos when the twins were born. We chatted about Tim and how proud she was of his work and I really looked forward to our training sessions where occasionally we would take a look at the accounts ! She was an amazing lady and my heart goes out to her family as they have to cope with this loss.

We are so sorry for your loss; Alison was a lovely neighbour and will be missed by our street x

I’m so very sorry for your loss. Alison was a truly beautiful soul and an absolute pleasure to work with. She supported us in preparing our accounts with such humility, always taking the time to help us understand, and doing so with warmth and a lovely sense of humour. Thinking of you all at this difficult time.

So saddened to hear this news of Alison's passing. Her playful spirit and open energy was infectious - she supported me and my colleague professionally through some challenging times and was always such a champion, full of passion, knowledge and laughter. My thoughts are with her family, who I knew she loved so much.

Alison will be sadly missed. Sincere condolences

How lucky we were to have Nanny Ali, her love was truly felt in everything she did for us as a family. We miss her very much. I remember when Oliver was little, she would wrap him up in a blanket and rock him to sleep, feed him fresh, healthy dinners and teach him all about the plants in her greenhouse. He has grown up with a love for gardening and curiosity about the world thanks to Alison’s talkative nature and her stories. As my mother in law, I loved her like a second mum. She always had the time for a chat on the phone, as I’d call to ask for advice with the children or life choices. She supported me with all the worries of being a new mum, she was kind, patient and unjudging. She was positive when I was low and would say “this too shall pass”. Alison was generous and always thought of things that the children would like to do, taking us on visits to fun, interesting places and signing Ollie up to tennis lessons. We were all very spoilt on birthdays and at Christmas. Alison was generous in other ways, helping with the garden when we moved house, giving me veggies from the allotment and delivering nutritious food when I was in hospital after having the twins. She taught me so much about plants and about being a mum, I loved hearing her stories of when Alex and Charlotte were little as well as stories from her life. She always had a story to tell.
Your passing has left a hole in our lives that can never be filled, but our hearts are full of memories and stories that I will remind the children of in years to come.

In memory of Alison, with love & best wishes from all at Pleshey Forge Ltd xxx

Rest in peace Alison. You were taken too soon x

I was so very sorry to hear the news. Alison was an absolute diamond. I brought her in to help us when I worked at The Forgiveness Project and she helped turn our books around but she was so much more than our Independent Examiner. She was always so generous and encouraging of me and the team and helped us with so many issues. She had such integrity, working with those causes she really believed in. And she would help us throughout the year, not just for the IE. She was incredibly funny, knowledgeable and cared deeply about the world. We spent as much time talking about plants as numbers. She was so vocal in her love for you Tim and all your family. She was so proud of you and the public art projects you created. She was such an optimistic and happy person and even after her diagnosis seemed so resilient and determined to beat the cancer. I moved on from The Forgiveness Project a few years ago but she made a great impression on me about how to make a life worth living. Reading through this page is testament to how much love she inspired in all who met her. I am now working down in the Forest of Dean and unable to attend in person but will absolutely join online. I am so sorry again Tim for your loss. Sending my condolences and warmest wishes to you and your family at this very difficult time. Rachel x

Fondly remembered from Urban Runners, by the Peters family

Childhood Memories of Alison by Mark Doran – Cousin

I do remember it was a treat to go and visit Alison, Gillian and Slate family, despite we were only half a mile between us it wasn't a regular thing. We'd run around the back garden and get into trouble (well that was probably me), and blame Alison of course. I remember Evan telling me a couple of stories from later years, and I do remember piggy backing or carrying her over my shoulder.

Childhood Memories of Alison by Susan Manifold – School Friend

I first encountered Alison and Gillian at their cousin Susan's who lived around the corner from myself. They made an impression on me. Especially Alison with her short dark hair. I seem to recall that they were both dressed the same although not twins.

Then at Reddish Vale, Alison and I were in the top set S1. Although in different Tutor groups.
Comprehensive schools were streamed in 1970's.

Alison was very clever. There didn't seem to be a subject she didn't excel at. When we did tests Alison was always the highest out of a hundred. Usually over 95%! She even understood Algebra and Calculus for goodness sake!!!! She even excelled at Art. I thought I was pretty good at Art. Getting A- and B+ but Alison used get A+.

I remember one lesson we had to draw mushrooms. I felt pretty pleased with what I had done. Definitely mushrooms. Until I saw Alison's. You could have picked them up and eaten them!!!! So realistic
I got to know Alison more in 6th form. Alison Lesley and I would sit every day on certain chairs in the common room. Our spot!!

Alison was the coolest though. Her hair and fashion sense. Herself. Clever, beautiful, stylish but never big headed!!! I remember her hair styles. She was a model at a hairdressers and would come in with really cool and up to the minute styles. (Mine I cut myself!! What was I thinking.) I believe Alison had her photos taken and her head and hair for all to see on the salon wall.

Her sense of style was great. I remember shopping on the local market for my clothes. Alison looked in her Dad’s wardrobe and wore his shirts and ties with aplomb!! Her style all her own.
Lots of memories keep popping into my head.

To know someone through school, marriage, children. Sometimes it was only a Christmas card with the yearly news. Meeting only every now and then. Lately, many messages on WhatsApp. About Grandchildren and Gardens and everything in-between. Asking about her treatment but talking about other things because there was more to Alison than her cancer The last 3 years of cancer shouldn't define a person's whole life before. Definitely not a person like Alison.

Good night and God Bless Alison. Rest easy old friend.

Childhood Memories of Alison by Evan Doran – Cousin
I have many memories of Mark and I and Alison and Gillian as kids, especially from when we lived in North Reddish. One memory that comes to mind when I think of Alison was coming home from the pictures after seeing 'Ring of Bright Water'. Alison and Gillian had started crying during the movie and bawled all the way home, with Mark and I a bit bewildered but used to the Slate girls by then.

Childhood Memories of Alison by Lesley Watts (nee Cowell) – School Friend

During a school holiday in the early 1970’s Mrs Slate, Pat, took Alison, Gillian myself and one of Gillian’s friends on a trip to Salford museum. Now I am older I realise that Mrs Slate was leagues ahead of the other playground Mums in her ideas and lifestyle. The museum had a mock up Victorian street, complete with house and shops. It was so interesting and atmospheric I’d never seen anything like it. A brass plaque on one shop front bore the inscription ‘Mrs Driver - Bleeder with Leeches’.

Mrs Slate probably explained what this involved. Oh my word that shocked and frightened us, the image of fat, wriggling blood sucking black leeches stuck in our young minds forever. During a conversation with Alison decades later, we got on the subject of Mrs Driver, her leeches and the incredulity that we still remembered it nearly 50 years on.

I have fond memories of staying for tea at Alison’s childhood home on Ilkley Crescent. Mr Slate, Ernie’s elderly aunt, Auntie Lucy, lived with them at this time. Pat was such a small lady who had a huge personality, Ernie was so tall, they were all so loud. Us Cowell’s were a quiet bunch in comparison. I remember Pat wearing Ernie’s socks over her tights to keep her feet warm. There was no central heating in those days. She used to smoke little cheroot type cigars. After the meal there was no arguments about who was washing and who was drying. Each family member washed and dried whatever pots and cutlery they had used. Pat washed the pans too. I was so impressed with this system! Later we would go and play dressing up in the Anderson shelter in the back garden. Pat washed a great devotee of church jumble sales so we had lots to choose from. Pat invited my Mum along to a jumble sale and showed her the ropes. Alison, Gillian and myself absolutely loved the jumbles of later years. The charity shops. On a trip to Betty’s in Walthamstow I remember Alison buying a white wrought iron plant trough. I don’t know how we all fit into the car to get home. Pat was definitely the inspiration for our bargain hunting. Their close knit family, the love and guidance, great parenting and happy childhoods made Alison and Gillian the most remarkable women they became.

I hope you enjoy reading my memories of my oldest friend.

My Best Friend at RVS
So glad we were in touch again .
Soo many memories of our school days together

We had so many laughs Alison trawling around London working with so many great charities

An inspiring, lovely, comical and wonderful colleague to spend the last few years of my career working with

Sincere condolences to you Tim and your family. Thinking of you all at this sad time. Pete