The death of Jo Campling earlier this year was a shock, not simply because it was premature despite her recent illness, but also because she has been an enduring and sustained presence for so many of us for so long. Whilst many of those associated with CPH have known Jo as a friend and hugely supportive colleague, we can also say that the shape of CPH would not have achieved the success it has without her. Jo came on board as an adviser and Editorial Chair in 1997, as we were negotiating the contract of the new look international refereed CPH. Her input was paramount in the critical negotiations with publishers and maintenance of the vision of the journal in its new environment. Her guidance, influence and sustained hard work meant that the early years, and the transitions since, have been accomplished appropriately and with the necessary sense of fun. She inspired us with her fierce commitment to the journal and was a constantly wise source of advice. She made us believe in what we could and should achieve. Jo was a joy to work with on this and other projects and her legacy will remain with us and the journal.
Many friends and colleagues were able to meet at Jo's funeral and hear Michael Preston-Shoot's words which are reproduced here, for those that could not.
Robin Bunton and Jane Wills
Co-Editors, Critical Public Health
Shortly before Jo died and when bravely confronting her own mortality, she asked Professor Michael Preston-Shoot if he would speak at any service held for her. Michael is one of Jo's authors and one of her journal editors too. As such, therefore, he was (like so many of us) part of Jo's wider family and community. What follows, is a version of the eulogy given at Jo's funeral in tribute to her.
“I have known Jo, first as a professional colleague and subsequently as a loved and loving friend, for about twenty three years. Jo was instrumental in helping me to obtain my first book contract. She steered me through several other book contracts, sometimes with my partner Suzy who, here today, also became part of Jo's circle. I remember the advice she offered when I first became a Professor on how to manage the frequent requests that come as a result of holding a position reflecting national standing. She invited me to select those opportunities where I could enjoy “jollies”. This I learned involved choosing select hotels, visiting art galleries and concerts, and enjoying good food and wine. We joked over the years about the similarities and differences in our tastes, particularly of art and hotels. We shared precious moments where she recounted how she had persuaded a hotel to upgrade her room and facilities, or where she entrusted Suzy and me to select a hotel of our choice, often with interesting results when we went for history, antiquity and novelty! I recall that she travelled quite a distance to attend my first professorial lecture – just one more example of her commitment to people.
Subsequently, she enthusiastically adopted a journal of which I was and remain Editor, bringing all her experience to enable me to find an international publisher and to transform the standing of the publication. The success of that venture might just facilitate another of Jo's pet projects, the educational trust, to which your donations are invited. I hope that the journal will be able to assist with the sound financial establishment of this trust, to assist students and the users of health and welfare services who have been disadvantaged and discriminated against, to engage in dialogue with educators and practitioners. Here again is an example of Jo's commitment to inclusion and to countering oppression, of her wish to give and her adherence to core ethical principles.
More recently I worked closely with Jo to realise another pet project of hers, the European Journal of Social Work. Here was Jo at her most international, inclusive and expansive. Indeed, I learned of her death at a conference in Munich where, ordinarily, Jo would have been present, talking with people at publishers' stands about books, journals, writing for publication, life and projects. I should not really have been astonished at how many of the hundreds of people there knew Jo, directly or indirectly, and were profoundly shocked and saddened to learn of her death.
My experience is neither unusual nor, indeed, unique. From talking with Jo's partner Rosemary and from myself receiving reflections about Jo from colleagues, the tributes are remarkably similar.
Quite simply Jo was and remains kind, generous and enterprising. She was and remains a wonderful mentor, a caring and loyal friend, and a stimulating, enthusiastic and determined advocate and support. She was and remains a woman of vision and of indefatigable energies.
Jo had and has a mischievous but great sense of humour. She was and remains well grounded, firm, sure and solid. Admirably committed, proud and protective of her authors, journals and friends, with all of whom she could be persistent, dedicated, persuasive – even on occasion, dare I say, bloody-minded, fearsome and adamant. Throughout, however, she was and remains incredibly kind, interested and loving. She really cared about everything and everyone she touched and embraced. She had a wonderful ability to believe in us, to see strength and talent in us, and to help us believe in our own abilities and to bring to fruition our own dreams.
All of us will miss her support and guidance enormously. She could be difficult to disagree with but, frustratingly, was many times proven right. Her contribution to publishing across a variety of academic and professional disciplines has been truly significant. She was international in her vision and her reach, everyone attesting to her helpfulness in enabling them to build career paths, to find their voices, to publish. Her knowledge of and ability to network with publishers, and her experience and her standing all mark her out as truly significant.
Jo was and remains, in the best possible sense, huge. She was and remains gigantic as a friend and as a champion of journals and of authors across disciplines and across publishers. She is someone who really is irreplaceable, someone who will be truly and sorely missed, both by those who had known her for many years and by those who had met her only briefly or who had benefited indirectly from her wisdom. In a very real and meaningful sense, both academic and professional colleagues, and all her circle of friends, including those not yet published or not yet born, will be influenced by Jo, to whose life we pay tribute. That is the measure of her standing and of what she offered and gave to us. Jo cannot be forgotten, such was her spirit and her embrace. We just have to adjust to treasuring all that she gave us in a slightly different way.”