Obituary

Susan Silver: officially, the first President of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives

Lesley Graham writes this tribute to Susan Hood (nee Silver), who was President of the Chartered Institute for the year 2011/2012.

​

Susan was much-loved daughter, sister, mother, wife, grandma and friend. She had a variety of careers during her life and had an entrepreneurial streak, running several businesses over the years. She was quite adventurous, and lived in Israel and in Tenerife for periods of time, making lifelong friends along the way.

She eventually settled on a law career after a stint at the Crown Prosecution Service, in Manchester, as a volunteer. She went on to qualify as a Fellow of the then ILEX, of which she was immensely proud, and was a proactive member of the Manchester Branch, eventually becoming chair before joining CILEx Council in 2002. Susan was elected national President in 2011. ILEX was then awarded the Royal Charter in January 2012, and Susan was, therefore, officially the first President of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.

Following her retirement from Council in 2016, Susan continued to work as an adviser to CILEx Council and a mentor to new Council members.

Susan was very passionate about the law, and a staunch advocate of the CILEx career path. She was also a keen supporter of breast cancer charities, having suffered from the illness herself and, despite a number of health battles throughout her life, she just got on with things and was selfless in so many ways.

Susan and I were the best of friends for 20 years, and I will miss her warmth, humour and kindness, and the many happy hours spent with her and her late husband David.

• Susan Hood (nee Silver) born 29 July 1951, died 3 August 2018.​