Charmian Ledsham

I am deeply sorry to hear of Charmain’s sad death and offer her family my sincerest condolences. In 1985 I followed her as manager of a unit in South Ayrshire and bought her flat!

I was so sorry to hear the sad news about Charmian. We worked together with various service users when I was the Manager of the Instep Project for Enable. I learned a lot from her - she was a great colleague

Charmian was a much valued, trusted and respected colleague. She was a ‘mainstay’ of her organisation, leading the way in promoting social care values and a positive working culture as well as pivotal in creating effective working relations and partnerships with fellow social care organisations. In working with her we benefitted greatly from her knowledge, wisdom and many leadership qualities. She led by example. She was conscientious and thorough, steadfast and reliable, thoughtful and compassionate. I have known her since joining the learning disability service 8 years ago working with her closely on occasion and came to admire her greatly. She was very committed but also very respectful and always accessible and welcoming. The world is a lesser place and she will truly be a great miss to all who knew her. My heart goes out to her family.

I was very shocked and so saddened to hear the news about Charmian. I was in the same post grad social work class as Charmian in 1981, and we were good pals at the time. What a fun, bubbly, caring, friendly young woman she was. Her loss will be irredeemable to Roy and all her family. My deep condolences to them and everyone who loved Charmian.

So shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Charmian. I had the good fortune to work with and get to know her in the early 2000s while seconded. A true professional, knowledgeable, approachable, fun and with an immense passion for the job. My sincere sympathies to Roy and family. I can't begin to imagine their loss.

It was with great sadness and shock that I learnt of Charmain leaving this world for the next. I was working with BOC, when Charmain first arrived to Gattonside. I can vividly recall her passion and commitment to ensuring people with disabilities were central to the decisions about their lives and wanted to ensure that the organisation supported frontline staff to do this. She encouraged me to have courage in my own values and convictions in respect of the rights of people with disabilities. I cherished and valued her encouragement in me then and used it as a sprong board from which to continue with this work. My sincere sympathy to Charmain's family, her friends and her colleagues. She has left this world a better place because of her presence and her work. She is now an angel in heaven gone on to do different work . May her gentle soul rest in peace.

Charmian you will be sadly missed by so many you were an inspiration and such a lovely and caring person whom i had the pleasure of working with for several years . My thoughts go to all your family at this time xx

Such a beautiful person, loved and respected by everyone who knew her. A really moving tribute from her family. She was a tower of strength and an inspiration to everyone around her, a true leader for all of us who worked in learning disability services in the Borders. Heartfelt condolences to Roy and family.