It is with deep sorrow that the society announce the death of Joan Leach MBE, Hon sec and founder of the Gaskell Society, local historian and noted Knutsford celebrity, on 30th September 2010.
On the 29th September, Joan had celebrated the Elizabeth Gaskell bicentenary at Brook St Chapel in Knutsford and on the next day passed away suddenly, but peacefully.
She will be greatly missed by all her friends and colleagues.
The Gaskell Society Committee
President
Alan Shelston
Honorary Research Fellow at the John Rylands University Library
Until his retirement he was Senior Lecturer in English Literature at the University of Manchester. He has edited a number of Gaskell's work for paperback editions, including Life of Charlotte Brontë, Ruth, Mary Barton and a 'Norton Student Edition' of North and South. With John Chapple he is the joint editor of Further Letters of Mrs Gaskell (MUP, 2000). He was the first editor of The Gaskell Society Journal, to which he has contributed several articles. His current work involves a study of Elizabeth Gaskell's connections, personal, literary and publishing, with the USA.
Vice President
Francesco Marroni
Professor of English "G. S Annunzio" University, Pescara, Italy, where he is Director of the Centro Studi Vittoriani e Edoardiani.
Author of books on George Eliot, Charlotte Bronte, Henry James and Elizabeth Gaskell. He is a distinguished writer of short fiction in his own country, and has published several volumes of his stories.
Vice President
Jenny Uglow
Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Editorial Director Chatto and Windus
Author Elizabeth Gaskell a Habit of Stories, Hogarth, Cultural Babbage, The Lunar Men; BBC Classic Serial historical consultant. Reviews for radio TLS, Sunday Times and Guardian
Chairwoman
Ann O'Brien
Vice Chairwoman
Elizabeth Williams
Retired Further Education teacher, organiser and regular speaker at Knutsford meetings
Acting Treasurer
Alan Parker
Secretary
Pam Griffiths
Membership Secretary
Christine Lingard
Minutes Secretary
Post vacant
Committee Members
Janet Allan MBE
Janet Kennerley
Philip Morey
Judith Rees
Helen Smith
Ann Waddington
Mary Clark
Web Editor
Catherine Westwood
Journal Editor
Louise Lee
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