Hypatia Chairwoman, Veronica Janas, remembered by Melissa Hardie...

Amongst Veronica’s many philanthropic and community activities, she always made valuable thinking time and many other contributions to first the founding, and then the continuation of the Hypatia Trust.  With headquarters in Penzance, Cornwall, UK, the Trust is an educational charity that encourages and supports women and girls in achieving the highest goals that they wish to set – in arts, crafts, health and community activities.

Veronica’s great skills as both a manager and organisational developer meant that shortly after meeting the book collector, Melissa Hardie-Budden at a Women’s Network Regional Meeting in the 1980s, she suggested a lunchtime meeting between Melissa and husband Philip together with Ludwig at a Somerset pub.  Based on their shared interests in reading, learning and futures for young women – Veronica and Melissa each have two daughters making their way in the world - they proceeded to build up ideas for a positive community-based forum.  This would follow in the footsteps of the 4th century philosopher, Hypatia of Alexandria – so important for her scientific, humanitarian and egalitarian teachings.

When a Trustee board was set up in 1996 and charity registration effected, Veronica became the first Chairman of the Trust. She was present when the first Hypatia Collection was gifted to Exeter University. She and daughter Nic also accompanied the Buddens to Washington state where we visited Elspeth Pope and her wonderful residential retreat, Hypatia in the Woods, named in tribute to our own. Her natural good sense, her wry sense of humour, and her strong belief in the objectives we have followed throughout, have kept us on track throughout her long tenure.  We even had hopes that she would be able to retire within shouting distance of us here in Cornwall.  Her talents as a textile artist are legendary.  But above all else she was a friend in a million.

Veronica's funeral will be held in Bathealton Friday 29th July. 

From Left to right:  Nicola Janas, Veronica Janas, Elspeth Pope, Melissa Hardie on a group visit to Hypatia-in-the-Woods, 1998, a residential retreat for women artists on Puget Sound, Washington, planning forward for our transatlantic partnership.