Obituaries

Obituaries Carolyne Dollins Carolyne Dollins 1974 2017 Eric Ian Hill John Dennis Hooker A woman with a zest for life and a real passion for tackling rogue traders, mother and trading standards officer Carolyne Dollins has died from an illness, at the tragically young age of 42. Carolyne embarked on a career in trading standards in 1996, enrolling on the Consumer Protection degree course at Manchester Metropolitan University, with a work placement at Wirral Trading Standards. She graduated in 1999 and joined West Yorkshire Trading Standards as a trainee trading standards officer (TSO). There she completed her training and the Diploma in Trading Standards qualification, before enjoying a successful and fruitful career as a TSO. At West Yorkshire, where her principal passion was tackling rogue traders, Carolyne conducted many complex, successful investigations that others had seen as too complicated. Her declarations of its a fraud were well known in the office and unluckily for many defendants her sheer determination secured some very effective prosecutions. In 2012, Carolyne enjoyed a short spell as part of the Yorkshire and Humber Scambuster team, where she soon made her presence felt, becoming involved in yet more successful prosecutions. Back in West Yorkshire, Carolyne had been leading a team of officers dealing with rogue traders and consumer fraud. A keen attendee at CTSI Conference, she was well known throughout the wider trading standards community as a professional and well-liked colleague. Away from work, she enjoyed a very full and active social life in Leeds, with a good circle of close friends. Her many and varied pastimes included Wing Chun kung fu, real ale, music and gardening; she also loved the outdoors and taking off round the country in her caravan. Carolyne took retirement through ill health in April last year and, between bouts of treatment, created some good memories for her young son, Ben. Highlights included visiting Iceland and the MonacoGrand Prix, while staying very much in touch with close friends and colleagues. Sadly, around Christmas time, her health deteriorated and she died on 13 January, leaving Ben, her sister Suzanne, and her parents, who both still live in Carolynes childhood family home on the Wirral. Her funeral was held on 10 February, at the Church of St John The Divine, Frankby, Wirral, with the number of people attending testament to how well-loved and respected she was. As an officer, Carolyne was a one-off with a level of tenacity and determination matched by few. As a great friend to many, she will be fondly remembered for her enthusiasm and zest for life. Her death is a great loss, both for the trading standards community and all her friends and colleagues, past and present at West Yorkshire. Complied from contributions by Carolynes colleagues. To share this page, in the toolbar click on Carolyne Dollins Eric Ian Hill 19402016 Eric Ian Hill John Dennis Hooker Long-serving trading standards professional Eric Ian Hill has died, aged76. He is fondly remembered by former colleagues as a lovely guyof great warmth and kindness, who was at the top of his game and an excellent tutor. Eric was born in Cardiff in March 1940. He joined the weights and measures office in Port Talbot after a stint in the merchant navy, and obtained the institutes testamur certificate in 1962, qualifying as a weights and measures inspector later that year. In 1974, he joined the newly formed Somerset Trading Standards Service, where his specialisms included petroleum, explosives he was instrumental in setting up a new explosives licensing and inspection system and consumer advice, assistance and credit. Hewasalso responsible for processing and presenting the departments prosecutions after obtaining his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1970. Eric later developed and managed Somersets Consumer Advice Service and was a great supporter of the Young Consumer of the Year competition, acting as question master in all the local rounds. He was adirector of Sedgemoor Citizens Advice Bureau from July 1995 until hisretirement in 1996. Eric was also an excellent trainer and lecturer, particularly in the field of civil and criminal law. He lectured on Diploma in Trading Standards and Diploma in Consumer Affairs courses from 1976 until 2001, and wasan examiner for both qualifications. He was also an external and internal moderator at Teesside University, and an external moderator atthe University of Wales. He was greatly admired by his students: He had a brilliant knowledge of law, which he enthusiastically shared; and [He] never seemed to be stumped when posed with tricky legal questions. One former student recalls the question that Eric was famous for Have we or have we not got a contract?, usually accompanied by the jangling of keys in his pocket! When part of his leg had to be amputated because of thrombosis, thisdidnt slow him down and he still taught his classes. Former colleagues say he was a truly honourable man, whose enthusiasm and knowledge was always highly visible and infectious. One remembers him as a fab boss, highly protective of his team, who would give you a straight answer to a question. After the office smoking ban, you could always seek his opinion outside the back door of the offices in South Street. After his retirement in 1996, Eric continued with his love of caravanning, having had his vehicle modified so he could continue towing. He was a close and proud family man, who loved spending time with his four grandchildren. Eric died on 26 November 2016. He will be sadly missed by all his old colleagues and many friends, who pass on their sincere condolences to his wife, Miriam, their daughter, Clare, and sons, Steven and Paul. Compiled by Ian Warwick, with many contributions by friends and former colleagues. Carolyne Dollins John Dennis Hooker 19472016 Eric Ian Hill John Dennis Hooker John Hooker, a dedicated trading standards officer whose commitment to his job was admired by many has died aged 70. John was born in 1947 and joined the Barking Weights and Measures office as a trainee in 1965. He qualified as an inspector in 1969, took up an appointment with the same department, and quickly established himself as an able investigator, as well as a guardian of standards. He joined Havering Trading Standards in 1979 as a principal officer, and became its chief officer in 1989. He was based at Langtons Cottage, which was probably the most beautiful setting for a trading standards office in the whole of London at that time! John became a member of the esteemed North East London Chief Officers Group (NELCOG), which was responsible for enforcing trading standards law in the notorious districts of Havering, Redbridge, Newham, Waltham Forest, and Barking and Dagenham this swathe of east London certainly kept the group on its toes! Many hours were spentplanning raids on dodgy car dealers, counterfeiters and market traders, from the secret meeting rooms deep underground in the NELCOG club in Hornchurch. John was always keen to get the work of trading standards recognised and was instrumental in Havering becoming the first London borough to be accredited by the National Measurement Accreditation Service now the United Kingdom Accreditation Service for its metrology laboratory. Havering, under Johns leadership, also became the proud holder of the governments Charter Mark. Reorganisation of the services within the borough resulted in John increasing his portfolio by heading up the Births, Deaths and Marriages, and Cemeteries and Crematorium services. These presented new challenges, which he handled with great diplomacy and integrity. John took early retirement in 2000, at the age of 53. His peers remember him as a very level-headed man with a great sense of humour, who had time for others and was never seen to lose his cool. He had suffered from ill health for some time, but never let it hinder his interest in his family, his music and his retail therapy (Amazon being a special favourite). John died on 16 December 2016. The celebration of his life took place at South Essex Crematorium on 9 January 2017, when about 130 family members, friends and former colleagues paid their respects. A glass was raised in Johns memory at The Bear, in the village of Stock. Our sincere condolences go to Johns wife, Jenny, his sons, Steven and David, and his two grandchildren. Compiled from contributions by Johns colleagues and family.