The obituary notice of Eleri JONES

Eleri was an amazing teacher and person. She inspired my interest in human biology when I was a student at Colchester Avenue College in Cardiff over 30 years ago and became a friend over the years since. She will be missed .

"I worked with Eleri for many years when I worked full time for the International Baccalaureate and she was Chief Examiner for Design Technology and Chair of the Examining Board of the IB.


She was a powerful lady, head and shoulders above most others I worked with. She was unique in so many ways, in the variety of work she excelled in, brave and principled as witnessed when she campaigned to stop the closure of the Cardiff Office of the IB, saving many jobs.


But quite simply, she was just great fun to be around.


Here's a few stories.


Many years ago we were queuing up at some airport at the check in lines when Eleri took out her digital camera (rare in those days) and started taking photos of the ropes and posts that controlled the queue. She then took out a measuring tape and measured the post heights and the distance between them. Finally she spent the whole waiting time typing feverishly into her laptop. At the boarding area she showed me what she had been doing. She had written a whole IB Diploma programme long answer question on the design of efficient queuing systems and it was all there, with all the photos and beautifully formatted. Most examiners submitted text only and instructions for diagrams and photos. No, she never wasted a minute.


At a restaurant in Cardiff Bay with me and Phil Shakespeare, a fellow Design Technology examiner and great friend of Eleri's, she started questioning the waitress about the preparation and storage of open bottles of water that were on every table. This polite but constant questioning necessitated the presence of the manager and finally the owner. Eleri was on a quest to raise the standards of hospitality in Wales. They never served those bottles again.


There are many such stories. She was a person who brightened all our lives. We shall miss her."


David Jones (former head of maths and science curriculum and assessment in the IB.)

In memory of Eleri

Remembered with thanks of Eleri and Ron’s generous and warm friendship particularly in my first few months of working in Cardiff. Over the next 15 years Eleri and I shared a special professional relationship as we contributed to the evolution of Cardiff Met from its Institute days through shared commitment to research and scholarship. It was not without its moments of disagreement as I, surprisingly, found myself in a protectionist conservative space defending academia against Eleri’s conviction to open its doors to all. But this only strengthened our respect and mutual dependency in creating something special in the corridors of Colchester Avenue. It was a precious moment yesterday when, at her wake, I was able to again share the warmth and love of the colleagues we nurtured in remembering Eleri. Her passion, her laugh and her bloody mindedness!

Always so supportive of us both in our personal and professional lives, Eleri was a legend who touched the lives of so many. She was our friend. She will be sorely missed and we send our love and condolences to Geraint. Gareth and Emma xx

Thinking of you at this time. Sending lots of love xxx

Eleri - a formidable character with a heart of gold. Thank you for your mentoring, your kindness and your friendship. RIP Eleri