Helen Katherine Jones – 13th February 1977 to 7th July 2005

Helen grew up in Templand and left Lockerbie Academy with straight “A” s in all her Highers.  Aged only 16 she enrolled for 4 years at Aberdeen University where she gained a First Class Honours Degree in Divinity. After this she took a Gap Year with the Glasgow City Mission working with drug addicts,  prostitutes and the homeless.  During her year she went to Denver USA to a sister organisation on exchange.

She felt called to the Church Of Scotland Ministry,  but feeling she wanted some ‘real life’  experience before seeking selection,  she trained as a Chartered Accountant in 1998 with Price Waterhouse Coopers.  She showed immediate promise as an auditor earning the nick-name “Sherlock Jones” with her ability in sniffing out accountancy errors.  Having worked with some high priority clients she gained exemplary exam results.

In 2002 she moved to London and took up work in the Strategic and Development Department of KPMG.  She relished the new challenges and it was here that she met her boyfriend Clive.  In 2004 she moved on to Phoenix Equity Partners and worked in the Deal Origination Team.  This was work Helen adored and she quickly found her way into the hearts of all this friendly firm.

The only aspect of the Phoenix work she was not keen on was the ‘cold calling’ which surprised us as Helen loved the ‘phone.  Where ever Helen went she gathered up groups of people and organised them.  She was a very supportive friend to have and a great organiser of the fun aspects of life,  keeping people in touch with each other.  Her parties were the stuff of legend as was her sense of humour .

Helen was thoroughly enjoying her rich cultural interests as well as her varied social life and had just bought a flat two weeks before she was killed.  She had recently taken up Golf and Tennis with her normal great determination to succeed.

Her tragic death in the London Bombings has deprived the World of a unique young woman with huge potential,  talent and compassion.  She continues to be greatly missed by all who knew her but she lives on in the hearts of her family and her many many friends.

A scholarship fund has been established in her memory. Information about that can be found on the BBC website here.

Details of the Helen Jones Appeal Fund can be found on the ICAS web site here.