We are sorry to announce that Sue Bailey, Upad's Marketing Manager, died earlier in the week. It's a massive loss to us all at Upad and we send out heartfelt condolences to her family and many friends.
Upad wouldn't be where it is today without Sue's huge contribution over the past two years. We'll miss her intelligence, humour and killer heels so much.
Upad CEO James Davis writes:
"I remember the first phonecall I had with Sue, 2 years ago now. She agreed to write a few blog posts for me. And it wasn’t long after that that she packed her bags in northern France (rammed with 7 inch heels!) and returned to London to join us full time.
Since then, there has never been a task or project Sue hasn’t delivered on. She was a master of technology, words and jumping into any area of the business that needed assistance. The support and guidance she has given to the rest of the team has been immense.
Upad today still has that same ‘start up’ mentality we had when we started 3 years ago. Everyone rolls up their sleeves and gets the job done without hesitation, is uber committed to the success of the business and most importantly, is so passionately involved. Sue was central to creating this environment - every new employee we have taken on, every visitor to our offices – have commented on the buzz that exists at ‘Upad Towers’. Sue did that.
I think she adored Upad, and what the business has achieved to date. Sue has been a key member of the team. Sue was clever, ambitious, driven, committed and loyal member of the team.
It is such a sad loss to lose her in so many ways; the whole team and I will miss her dearly, it has been an utter pleasure to work with her. Sue will always be part of the DNA and success of Upad. Miss you Sue"
Simon Knock, who works with Sue in Upad's marketing team writes:
"To describe Sue as passionate would be doing her an injustice. She put her heart and soul into everything she did and would make it her personal mission to see it done.
She proclaimed herself to be my London mother and took me, as a scruffy shire-ling fresh on the plains of the big smoke, and turned me into a competent marketing professional, capable of stringing a paragraph together without her violating it with red pen. Her wicked sense of humour and insistence that gin was the lifeblood of the world propelled me through each day.
She was a fantastic boss and friend and will be sorely missed. I can only hope to make her proud in what I do from this point on. And Sue, I can assure you I will not swap Word for Excel. Rest in peace Sue Bailey."
We encourage you to share your memories of Sue and post a tribute. We ask that you are sensitive and considerate.
Photo © Sue Bailey
Sue. You showed me what it means to have depth. I'm missing our 50 chats a day, I missing the passionate arguments over minor decisions. You were my sense check, and my filter. Now I have none.
Let's bury the hatchet. Yes, I'll admit that Ancient Norse is a real degree. (man that was hard to write)
Rest in Peace. I'll miss you.
xx
PS - I'm now making copy changes with complete impunity ; )
heartfelt condolences to all the team at Upad and please pass on my regards to her family. Paul.
Sorry to hear about the sad loss of Sue.
[...]Property people will know her as the Marketing Manager for Upad, a job that she adored, in a company that she loved. She was a clever girl, but also had the rare ability to roll up her sleeves, get things done, and had a complete mastery of technology. She wasn't at Upad long, less than 2 years, but as Upad say themselves they wouldn't be where they are today without Sue's huge contribution...they miss her intelligence, humour and killer heels! the true test of any boss, is what their staff say about them when they aren’t listening [...]
How awful, I only knew her for a short while, and she was wonderful, funny, and just a damn nice person.
I'm shocked and saddened.
Nick Tadd
condolences to Sue's family and friends
RIP Sue
I am terribly shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Sue.
Nick and I had the privilege and pleasure of working with her on a number of occasions and she was always great fun to work with, and always 100% committed to whatever she was involved with.
I recall that I last saw her at the Spring Property Investor Show and she was her usual jolly self. She was full of life and joy, and it's hard to believe she has gone.
Our heartfelt condolences to James and his team, and I hope you can extend our condolences to her family as well.
"Life is eternal, and love is immortal, and death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight".- Rossiter Worthington Raymond
I will miss you Sue.
x
Condolences to Sues family and to all friends and colleagues at UPAD. I'd only recently "met" Sue via a couple of phone calls and emails but she immediately struck me as someone who'd go the extra mile in order to help someone out. RIP Sue, "too good in life to be forgotten in death"
Pat Flatley
Sue Bailey – she was a college, confidant, creative inspiration, cigarette/drinking partner and generally my rock. Seriously gonna miss you and your super heels mate. Rest in peace x
Thank you to James, Simon and Mike and others for the lovely memories of the very wonderful Sue Bailey.
I knew Sue for many years, and then saw her in action at Upad. She loved it. She loved the action, excitement and all the people. Sue was all about people.
She was the mother hen, savage businesswoman, arch critic, voice of sanity, social secretary and friend to everyone at Upad Towers.
It's very hard to be all those things in a start up. She was though. Our dear Sue commanded unbelievable respect, whilst also exercising uncommon candour. I'll seek to emulate that in future,
Upad misses you already, Sue. But we will seek to be true to your memory, whilst missing you every day. In fact, and you would demure at the idea, but I think we need t-shirts: "WWSD?" What would Sue do?
Dan x
I hope that Sue was able to pass on her knowledge and experience to assist upad in it's continuance of the excellent and cost effective services provided to landlords who through your good offices have ensured that private landlords are now able to compete equally with letting agents; and providing a cheaper service to tenants.For Sue to leave such a legacy is something that all private landlords I am sure are most appreciative of.
Your services have broken the letting agent stranglehold that effectively held most private landlords to ransome.
Thankyou Sue for all your efforts to make that possible.
I had only known Sue for a very short time but she made a huge impression on me. From her mane of shocking bright red hair, her passionate persuasion & totally professional attitude at all times.
She will sorely be missed.
Mike Mortimore
Sue, it's hard to convey just how much of an influence you have had on my life. Your positive reassurance and constant support will never be forgotten.
I promise I will do all I can to ensure that the faith you had in me, was and continues to be justified.
I miss you.
Love always XX
Just seen this blog on your site and very sad to hear the news - Sue was a lovely friendly person and seemed to be very good at what she did...
Condolences to all at UPAD and all of Sue's family and friends - of which I am sure she had many.
Rest in Peace Sue...
The whole team at Landlord Action are shocked and saddened by the news of Sue’s passing.
I had the pleasure of working with Sue on a couple of projects and always found her attitude and approach refreshing. It was truly a pleasure to work with a professional who was so dedicated and skilled at what she did and I personally learned a lot from her.
My best memories of Sue will be from the property shows where we had a stand next to Upad. Exhibiting next to Upad is always a guarantee that the event will be enjoyable – Sue was a massive part of this. I’ll always remember the image of her sporting the purple wig which was so iconic of her bubbly, outgoing personality.
Our thoughts and condolences are with Sue’s family, friends and colleagues. A personality that big and vibrant will always be missed.
RIP Sue.
xx
I have only just heard this sad news. Considering how few days I spent with Sue she had a real impact on me. A very lovely lady who seemed to balance a great business mind with an excellently absurd sense of humour.
You will be missed greatly and thoughts are with all who were close to you Sue xx
I'm sorry to hear about Sue
too.
She was genuinely helpful to me at all times and, as I found at the show, a very pleasant and fun person to be around.
What a shame. She will be missed. My thoughts are going out to her family and friends
An enormous loss to all those she knew. She will be missed by all without doubt, and was always a pleasure to speak to. Our condolences to her family and colleagues.