The obituary notice of BLACKMAN

I had the great good fortune to be taught by Janet Blackman while I was an undergraduate at Hull University. She was a first-rate teacher - I still have my notes from her lectures on the 'Social Consequences of Industrialisation' from the very first I attended on 11 October 1972. Janet was also a brilliant mentor - her consistently kindly, perceptive and wise advice helped me enormously. Finally she was an unfailing source of encouragement, motivation and inspiration.

Thank you Janet for all that you gave me, my fellow students and so many others outside the University. May you rest in very well-earned peace after a life of hard work and selfless leadership.

Janet was one of "the stage army of the good", a progressive academic who worked conscientiously for her students while devoting many hours to such worthwhile causes as the UNA.

Soon after arriving in Hull in 1963 as an economics student, I was drawn to the tiny economic history section of the department - Janet, the formidable John Saville, Tom Kemp. By the time I graduated this group had grown by the addition of David Rubinstein, Mike Brown, Neil Buxton and Donald Woodward, along with the marvellous Joyce Bellamy's research assistance. Janet paid a great part in the expansion of postgraduate work, in what were, as she noted in an appreciation of the career of one of the first postgrads, Philip Cottrell ("Guardian", 5 February 2014), "heady days". When I was fortunate enough to be offered a post at Sheffield University, where Janet had been a research fellow, I am sure my application was greatly helped by having her as a referee.

The sadness of her death is tempered by knowing that hers was a full life, well-lived.

I first met Janet Blackman when I was a raw first year undergraduate student at Sheffield University in late 1962. At the time Janet was a Lecturer - it must have been in Economic History - and in the following year moved to the University of Hull. I can't remember how the original contact occurred, but I had been in a UNA Youth Group in Kingston, Surrey and wished to maintain my interest in the UN. Throughout my three years as a student in Sheffield we maintained contact - through my involvement in the UN Student Association, participating in UNA conferences both national and in Yorkshire, and occasionally visiting Hull with mutual friends - John Rankin in particular. Interests shared included the Freedom from Hunger Campaign, Amnesty International, Anti-Apartheid and others.
Janet was a great inspiration in stimulating my career interest in the development of 'poor countries' and indirectly - and perhaps even directly - influenced my decision to go to Uganda in 1965 after graduation to do a 2-year Masters degree in 'African Studies'. After the completion of the 2 years I stayed on as a Lecturer in Economics at what became Makerere University for 4 1/2 years - and my career developed from there - now in retirement in Glasgow and still doing part-time teaching and writing.
Throughout my life since first meeting Janet she was a 'beacon' - and I kept in touch as much as possible. The last time I met her was in a waiting room at Kings Cross station - unexpectedly - in the late 2000s but the conversation was as enthralling as ever before I had to rush off to catch my train.
I will always remember her thankfully - one of life's truly 'unforgettable' people - a 'gem'.

with fond memories it is with sadness that I hear of this great lady and friends passing. She has been a role model for many, always giving. Enjoyed the beauty in life of music and the arts. She will be so sadly missed. Rest now, you always worked so hard. Victoria, Darren and family, in Canada .