Wendy was one of the founder members of HMC back in 2006, and a trustee between 2007 and 2018.
She was an inspiring and committed lawyer who would never say no to a person in need, working tirelessly to ensure that people knew their rights and had access to social justice. She was someone you would want on your side!
When HMC started, Wendy was working at the College of Law and arranged for one of her colleagues to offer our visitors pro bono immigration advice while she gave pro bono housing advice. Thus began HMC’s long history of providing free legal advice to migrants in North London.
In 2009 she joined Hackney Community Law Centre as a housing solicitor and continued to use her extensive knowledge and skills to advocate for HMC visitors and support our first housing and welfare advisors.
Wendy was also a lifelong campaigner for migrants rights. When she retired she went to Calais for several months to support other voluntary lawyers helping migrant children apply to the UK to join close family members.
She always supported HMC campaigns and fundraised for HMC. She enjoyed writing poetry and often donated funds she raised her from her poetry books and her poetry readings to HMC.
As Rayah, HMC’s founder chair reflects
‘Wendy was a real stalwart defender of migrants’ rights and had a deep commitment to HMC and its grassroots approach to supporting migrants. She brought both political activism and a wealth of legal experience and expertise to her work with HMC and helped shape both its ethos and the high quality of advice it aimed to achieve.
I realise as I write this what a big hole she has left with her boundless commitment to improving the lives of migrants she came into contact with.’
Wendy will be much missed.