Melanie Hammond

We have learned, with regret, of the death of Melanie Hammond, a much-loved team member of initially External Relations and subsequently the Business School.

Born in Wellington, Shropshire on 22 November 1967, Melanie studied at Roehampton University and also had a journalism qualification from the University of the Arts, London. Her career took her from Lausanne in Switzerland, as Communications Specialist and Editor at the IMD Business School, to the less glamorous world of Hull City Council where she served as Media Relations Officer. She also worked as Senior Marketing Manager at Elsevier.

Melanie joined UoL in 2014 as Marketing Communications Officer (Research and Enterprise), based in External Relations and working closely with the Research and Enterprise Division. After four years in this role she took up a new post as Research Impact Associate in ULSB in 2018. Just a few months later she was diagnosed with cancer.

Will Green, Melanie’s line manager, said: “Melanie quickly became a well-liked colleague within our school research team for the short period of time she worked with us. Research impact was a role for which she brought real, positive energy and insight, building on her prior professional experience as a journalist and research marketer to tease out the real impact story of academic research. Throughout her illness Melanie was particularly inspiring, demonstrating real strength and courage.”

Melanie, who lived in Market Harborough, recently moved into the LOROS hospice where she passed away on 9 October. Our thoughts are with her teenage children Dan and Daisy, her partner Stephen and her ex-husband Rob, with whom she was still close.

Her funeral at 2.30pm on 23 October will be, due to the current situation, invitation only (no flowers) but it will be transmitted online via this link for those who wish to virtually attend. (Username: Qice6162. Password: 956991)

Please visit melaniehammond.muchloved.com to share memories or leave a donation.