Our colleague, volunteer and friend, Diane Mason, sadly died on July 3rd 2026. Here is a fuller write up and some reflections on her entire working life..
A few words to describe our wonderful friend and colleague.
Diane made an impact on everyone who met her. First and foremost, Diane made sure no one was left behind. She was driven by doing the right thing, she had integrity. She combined high standards with genuine care, and people trusted her because they knew she would do what was right. That is why, when there was a problem in the business, Diane was often the person called in to put it right. She was trusted with the difficult things because people knew she would get them done.
Diane was a beloved wife to Bob and mum to Melody, Jonathan and Christopher. She was the rock to all who knew her. Friends knew they could rely on her; she brought sunshine and perspective to all situations.
Diane’s life was defined by many professional “seasons,” each connected by a consistent theme: compassion and the drive to do the right thing. From her early days at 17 in the Women’s Royal Army Corps, to her creative entrepreneurship with her own business Comma Crafts and her impactful work at Merit Direct, Oxford House Language School, Sitel Group and Campden Home Nursing,
At the age of 17, Diane joined the Women’s Royal Army Corps. Stationed in West Germany, attached to the Royal Signals, she developed the precision, strength, and camaraderie that she carried with her throughout her life. There she met and fell in love with Bob and they built a wonderful family. During the 1980s, Diane channelled her creativity into founding her own business, Comma Crafts; her customers included Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Sadly, with the recession came the closure of the business.
Not one to be held back, Diane joined Merit Direct, where she helped build The National Lottery Charity Board operation and the first subscription service for The Telegraph. Her career at Sitel took her across the globe. She worked on international projects in Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United States. These global experiences deepened her natural cultural awareness and love for connecting with people from all countries and walks of life.
After redundancy, Diane put this knowledge of different cultures into practice to help people learning English as a second language. Diane retrained as an English Language teacher and often worked alongside her daughter, Melody, at Oxford House in Stratford-upon-Avon. She was a colleague and teacher to hundreds of international students who appreciated her kindness and humour, which shone through her dynamic and engaging lessons. She always went the extra mile, taking the students on trips to broaden their knowledge and experience.
In 2018, she returned to the Sitel Group to help resolve some issues. Later that year, she stepped back from this role to support Bob as he faced cancer. This deeply personal time brought her into contact with the local charity Campden Home Nursing (CHN).
CHN nurses gave hospice care to Bob in their home and the charity gave her and the family great support. Having experienced their care first hand, Diane wanted to give back so she volunteered and fundraised for them. With time, this led to paid part time roles, including her final roles as lead receptionist, and coordinator of both the volunteer gardening group, and the relaxation class.
She also volunteered with the Stratford Lions, calling Bingo at a monthly event and at Christmas dressing as an elf for their supermarket fundraising and much more! She supported the Ukrainians by voluntarily teaching them English, organising suppers, collecting, sorting and packing much-needed medical supplies for the war. Diane leaves a lasting legacy of service in her community.
Diane is an inspiration. She was a sage, a friend, and a light to those around her. Her legacy lives on in the people she encouraged, the teams she strengthened, the standards she set, and the lives she lived. She will be deeply missed.
From Diane’s colleagues and family.
This has been shared with the full support of her family.
