Deborah was a much loved sister and aunt and a true and loyal friend. She was someone who would tell you what you needed to know, was honest through and through and always had your best interest at heart. What you saw was what you got. Her family and friends enjoyed so many fun times together and shared an awful lot of laughter. She was principled and honourable and you could trust her with your life. Before she retired, Deborah was Chief Personnel Officer of Shepherd Engineering Services Ltd (SES); a company to which she devoted almost all her working life. A much loved and respected member of the senior management team, she was involved in the recruitment and training of staff at all levels from apprentices to directors.

Her outgoing personality and mischievous sense of humour belied her fierce dedication to her job, and she did not suffer fools gladly. Woe betide any apprentice who thought he could dodge college classes or fail to report to site on time. Her long-running cancer was treated at St James's University Hospital, Leeds and at York Teaching Hospital, and she took full advantage of periods of remission to enjoy life to the full; travelling to America with her family and to South Africa, and spending time with all her friends in York.

Deborah's final days were spent at the home of her sister, Rachel, and she was cared for with great compassion and dignity by the Hospice@Home nurses from St Leonard's. It is so hard to accept that she isn't with us anymore, she is gone far too soon.