Joff McGill, Head of the Voluntary Services Team, Sense

"Jessica seemed to have so much energy, enthusiasm and good will for others. She had that way of making you feel as if your contribution to Sense was really making a difference and she provided genuine support to what deafblind people, families and staff were trying to achieve. More than anything I remember her always turning up, evenings and weekends, to far flung parts of the UK to attend branch meetings and to support families in what they were trying to achieve.

There are then two stories I recall: the first was at the offices in London, waiting for a Sense Holiday to start on a Saturday morning - Jessica turned up with Rodney to wish everyone luck and one of the parents lent over to Gemma and me and asked if that was Mr and Mrs Sense; the second was visiting a holiday - Jessica came with Peter and towards the end of a hot summer's day the whole holiday group were the garden and a massive water fight broke out, with Jessica taking a full and active part. She eventually left, but as she drove up the hill her clutch gave way and she rolled back down, only to join the water fight again as she waited for the AA. The Holiday Leader couldn't quite believe that this really was the Chairman of Sense.

She was an inspiration, well in fact she will stay an inspiration to me and I am sure others at Sense, but I will miss her loads."