Emotions ran high as many from the greeting card community came together to celebrate the life of Lynn Tait at a special industry Memorial Event last Friday afternoon.
The afternoon celebration saw a stream of wonderful tributes from publishers, retailers and trade suppliers who each highlighted the many amazing qualities and achievements of Lynn Tait, the well-loved card publisher, retailer and Ladder Club founder, who sadly passed away on June 1.
Organised by PG’s Jakki Brown, the event was open to all who wanted to share what lessons they had learned from Lynn.
As Miles Robinson, partner of House of Cards said: “I’ve met lots and lots of people in this industry and I can say without a doubt that Lynn was one of the most passionate, selfless, kind, caring and hard working of them all… Lynn made a difference to not only those with The Ladder Club, but the industry as a whole. She had an incredible ability to join people together, inspire them, get them helping each other without even realising the wider effect she was having.”
Among others who spoke were Wendy Jones-Blackett, Jeremy Bacon of The Sherwood Press, Hannah Dale of Wrendale Designs, Debbie Wigglesworth of The Paper Library, Jessica Hogarth of Jessica Hogarth Designs, Eloise Hall of Eloise Hall and Belinda Morris of 1790. A recording from revered landscape photographer Charlie Waite set the bittersweet tone of the immense sense of loss of this very special individual, whose legacy lives on in so many ways.
In addition to those there in person, PG’s Warren Lomax, Gale Astley, Jakki Brown and the GCA’s Sharon Little delivered tributes from Paper Salad’s Karen Wilson and Claire Williams; Lorraine Bradley from Rush Designs, Sarah Kelleher; Henri Davies from Scribbler, Catherine Pain, Midlands’ agent Ian Bradley and Sabina Savio from Savio who were unable to be there in person, largely due to the massive train disruption.
As agent Ian Bradley summed up: “Lynn was a person who would give her heart and soul to help people along their way. The term ‘Carpe Diem’ (Lynn’s motto) can be used far too loosely a lot of the time. I have yet to come across anyone who practised what they preached when using this phrase in the same way that Lynn did. So, if you ever truly want to ‘seize the day’, then just remember how Lynn did it…God bless this lady.”
