Shocked and saddened to hear that our friend @caroleknitter died last week, just a few days after her husband Dennis had died after a long illness with lung cancer. Carole was an active tenant with @SohaHousing and she will be much missed by all who came into her orbit.

I first met Carole @TraffordHallTrg when we needed a guest speaker to talk about Scrutiny. Her name was recommended and she agreed to come. She was completely different from who I imagined. Carole was quietly spoken but determined and with a twinkle in her eye. We became friends.

Her father was a farm worker, & she grew up in tied accommodation. We used to run lots of ASB training courses and Carole would say, "we didn't dare misbehave or dad would lose his job and our home."

I wrote about Carole when #DispossessionFilm was released https://www.dropbox.com/s/tgpuwq4ogwlg2zd/Dispossession%20Blog.docx?dl=0
Her reply made me cry and I seem to have something in my eye now

Carole worked at the @BBCArchive & was Health & Safety Rep IIRC, she met her husband Dennis walking across a bus garage, & when her council opted for Stock transfer she went to meeting and eventually ended up Chair of the Board #HousingDay https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/comment/comment/caroles-story-45448

The story about @GregClarkMP is typical of Carole's style. He spoke @placeshapers conference and she asked to meet him saying "as I've got my diary here" He laughed but on the way out she was there again and his diary secretary slipped her the email address. She got 5 minutes ...

But once in his office, the meeting continued and continued and was only ended by a division bell. She told me she wanted him to think of her and her colleagues and not the stereotypes when he came to vote on the Housing And Planning Bill.

as well as helping to build a superb organisation in @SohaHousing with tenants at the heart of the culture, Carole worked on the issue of stigma with @2BenefitSociety including the guide to fair reporting with @RachelBroady https://seetheperson.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Benefit-to-Society-Fair-Press-Guide.pdf

I think I last saw Carole at @HouseofCommons for the launch of #SeeThePerson when Dominic Raab was #UKHousing Minister. It was my first ever visit but Carole was a regular! As part of their scrutiny training, and with tenants of @phoenixtogether they watched #SelectCommittees

This is just typical of Carole's approach, thoughtfulness and knowledge of where she came from and how important good #SocialHousing and housing management is @martinhilditch @Alison_Inman

I'm sharing a lot because she meant a lot to me and to many others. Our friend @AngelaHarding13 let me know yesterday and I promised to remember what a hero Carole was. We shared a love of #TDF and #RedKites - which used to visit her garden regularly.

Rest In Power @caroleknitter Our Mutual Friend