Secretariat

Mrs Audrey Mackey

We are very sorry to report the death, on 3 January 2012, of Mrs Audrey Mackey, who was Warden of Weetwood Hall from 1976 to 1981. At that time, Weetwood was one of five halls of residence for female students.

In advance of her appointment as a Warden in her own right, Mrs Mackey, who held a Certificate in Social Studies from the University of Durham, had already demonstrated a considerable talent for the work involved; during the 1960s, she proved a tower of strength in supporting her husband, Dr R D (Bob) Mackey of the Department of Civil Engineering, in his duties as Warden of Grant House at Bodington Hall. Throughout that time, Mrs Mackey gave generously of her own time to the students, dealing patiently and pleasantly with whatever matters they wished to raise with her. The level-headed judgement and good sense she displayed at Bodington found even greater expression during her five years at Weetwood Hall.  She returned to Weetwood for six months in 1985 to cover the leave of absence of the then Warden.

Mrs Mackey also had a substantial career outside the University, including spells as a personnel officer in industry, as a mental health social worker and as Assistant, later Deputy, Organiser of the Leeds Citizens Advice Bureau, where her penetrating and open-minded approach to the wide variety of problems which came before the Bureau won her many plaudits. In 1978, she was appointed as a Justice of the Peace.

Mrs Mackey is survived by her daughter, Sarah.

The funeral will be held at 11.00am on Wednesday 18 January 2012 at Lawnswood Crematorium, Otley Road, LS16, when the flag will be at half-mast on the Parkinson Building.