In memoriam: Hazel Clark

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of one of our staff members, Hazel E. Clark, who died suddenly just before the Christmas break.

Hazel's journey with us began in the summer of 1985 when she joined CF Mott as an Earth Science/Geology Technician. She was part of the team that laid the foundations for what would become an extraordinary career.

After four rewarding years at CF Mott, Hazel transitioned with her colleagues to the then Liverpool Polytechnic, where she became a valued member of the School of Natural Sciences. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in her career, one that spanned decades and witnessed the institution's evolution into Liverpool John Moores University.

Throughout her career, Hazel's passion for Earth sciences, geology and the natural world was obvious to all. She loved sharing her knowledge with others, whether guiding students on field trips or inspiring her colleagues. Hazel thrived in the field, collecting samples and exploring geological wonders. She was at her happiest out in the field, collecting samples and exploring the natural world, always eager to teach others and spark their curiosity.

Beyond her technical expertise, Hazel played a pivotal role in our team’s social and professional activities. She was the chief organiser of many events, from professional training days to fun social gatherings.

During the COVID lockdown, Hazel brightened our days with Zoom quizzes for the team and one memorable Easter quiz saw her don a homemade Easter bonnet, crafted specially for the occasion. Hazel also spent a lot of her time and energy organising Technical Training Days for the technical teams. These were a great success and enabled staff to get to know members of other teams whilst learning new things and having fun. Activities ranged from Liverbird walks, learning about coastal defences at New Brighton and an infamous barge trip along the Leeds-Liverpool canal that didn’t go exactly to plan and saw the team stranded ‘at-sea’ for eight hours. Luckily, Hazel had thought ahead to ensure that there was plenty of food and drink available for the duration of the ‘disaster’.    

An enthusiasm for discovery

Beyond her professional life, Hazel was an avid traveller, always planning her next adventure - whether it was to Iceland, Canada, Spain, Scotland and beyond. Her enthusiasm for discovery extended not only to geology but also to exploring the world and she collected friends everywhere she went. She was also an extremely talented crafter and enjoyed knitting, crocheting, sewing and quilting. For this Christmas, she made the team home-made advent calendars, which will be treasured. 

She was also renown for crafting special gifts for colleagues and there are a few who possess a Hazel Clark original such as animal clothing, or baby blankets or a quilted play mat. Hazel was admired for her practical, no-nonsense approach to life and her unwavering reliability. She was a stalwart, a friend, and someone who we all admired and loved. Her kindness and thoughtfulness touched us all in many ways. The gap she leaves in our department is immeasurable and we will struggle to imagine our lives without her.

In the wake of her passing, colleagues from across her entire career, from the immediate team to those across the institution and beyond have reached out to share their memories and their sadness. Hazel’s contributions to the Geological Society were also invaluable and her role in local meetings was integral to the success of the Liverpool branch.

Hazel was loved and respected by all who knew her. Her legacy, built over nearly four decades of dedication, passion, and service, will continue to live on through her colleagues, friends and past students. She will be deeply missed but her memory and influence will remain with us. And with something sparkling, we will toast her name and memory and will keep her in our hearts forever.

Funeral details

Hazel’s funeral will take place on Tuesday 7 January 2025 at 3pm at Springwood Crematorium (Rosemary Chapel). 

The funeral can also be attended remotely, for those unable to attend in person. You can view the service here, using username peco4173 and password 37390.