In Memoriam…Janet Bloomfield, 1953 – 2007
April 5, 2007 at 3:01 pm 30 comments
In Memoriam…
Janet Bloomfield, 1953 – 2007
In 2005, Professor Sir Joseph Rotblat asked, “Are we going to base our world on a culture of peace or on a culture of violence?” in his message to the 7th Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
That message was carried by the Atomic Mirror, for which Janet acted as UK Director until her untimely death on April 2, 2007.
Janet Bloomfield knew the answer to that question and dedicated herself to working with likeminded global citizens who were equally committed to ridding the world of nuclear weapons.
Janet’s accomplishments are numerous…they include:
- Activism in the anti-nuclear movement since 1981.
- Chairing the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (1993 to 1996) and producing the highly influential “Blueprint for a Nuclear Weapon Free World.”
- Convenor of the Abolition 2000 Working Group, beloved founding mother of Abolition 2000, and a member of the Global Council of Abolition 2000 the global network to eliminate nuclear weapons.
- Consultant and Vice-President (1994 -1997) to the Geneva based International Peace Bureau, a Nobel Peace Prize winning network of non-aligned peace organizations in 44 countries, which nominated Joseph Rotblat for the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize.
- Organizing and leading the Atomic Mirror Pilgrimage 1996 around nuclear and sacred sites of England, Scotland and Wales, which was filmed and made into a documentary called “Sacred Fire”.
- Senior consultant on UK Security Policy to the Oxford Research Group.
She leaves behind husband Richard Bloomfield, two children – Lucy and Robin – and countless friends and admirers across the globe.
On April 30th, thousands will begin to convene in Vienna for the 2007 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty prep com meetings. Janet’s absence will be sorely felt. The anti-nuclear movement lost a valued member on April 2. Janet’s family and friends will stop to mourn, to remember, and to celebrate her legacy. That legacy has and will continue to inspire countless citizens to pick up where Janet left off.
For those of us who also know the answer to Joseph Rotblat’s question, we know what Janet would want us to do…. persevere in our common efforts to make the culture of peace a reality for the sake of our children and their children.
Rest in peace Janet, your mission is in good hands.
Entry filed under: Movement News.
Abolition 2000 Blog 
1.
Anthony Salloum | April 5, 2007 at 3:12 pm
I am truely sorry I will not have an opportunity to meet Janet. I have heard so much of her work.
My sympathy to her family, her friends, and to the movement on the loss of one of its founding mothers.
2.
Steven Staples | April 5, 2007 at 3:15 pm
From Jackie Cabasso:
Dear friends — It is with the heaviest of hearts that I’m writing with the terrible news that our beloved colleague and Atomic Mirror “founding mother” Janet Bloomfield has died, quite suddenly, just a few hours ago. I received this awful news from Janet’s Atomic Mirror partner, Pamela Meidell. Janet was giving a talk near Wales on Saturday night. She was taken into hospital with a pain in her side that turned out to be a kidney infection. Once admitted, she had a heart attack and her lungs filled with fluid. She never recovered from surgery. Her husband, Richard, was with her. Her daughter Lucie and son Robin had visited her earlier. This news comes as a terrible shock to me, as I’m sure it will to you. It’ is also an enormous loss to all of us who knew and loved Janet, and to the movement in which she was such a pillar. Janet was a
unique “force” of nature. Pamela is in close touch with Richard. I will pass along information about plans for memorial services as I find out. In the meantime, please hold Pamela, Richard, Lucy and Robin in your hearts. You may wish to write to Pamela at pamela@atomicmirror.org. You can send cards or sunflowers to Richard, Lucie and Robin Bloomfield at 25 Farmadine, Saffron Walden, CB-11 3 HR, England 01 – 79 – 951-6189). Trite as it sounds, this reminds us how precious and fragile life is. Let us strive to be kind to each other as we persevere in our common mission. — Love, Jackie
3.
Steven Staples | April 5, 2007 at 3:17 pm
From Felicty Hill:
Jackie is right; Janet was a force of nature, and someone with humour,
spark, and a huge heart and brain, an inspiring person, an asset in our
peace community.
I will always remember us doing the Sex Pistols in Nagasaki at a Karaoke
bar, and her warm encouraging emails which came my way regularly, most
recently on the ICAN campaign.
I will also always remember what she said at the Truth Commission
organised by Kathleen who is with me in Melbourne, when she predicted
that we would not be united nations but united people on this planet.
Take a read on page 30 here:
Click to access truthcommission.pdf
Janet is with us and egging us on. Lets get together and remember her
in Vienna at the NPT to tell stories and honour our great friend, also
by rededicating ourselves to a world liberated from the nuclear chain to
which she devoted much of her life force.
Flick
4.
Steven Staples | April 6, 2007 at 1:10 am
From John Hallam
This is indeed a shock – Janet was always present to me via email, and was most supportive of my feeble efforts to save the world.
Somebody mentioned the fragility of life, and the need to be kind to each other. I think that is absolutely right.
Still shocked,
John Hallam
5.
Steven Staples | April 6, 2007 at 1:11 am
From John Burroughs:
Janet is a model – a friendly, ordinary person, fun to be with – a friend; and an extraordinary person, a superb advocate, who like nobody else I can think of combined poetic/visionary, emotional, practical, and intellectual. – John
6.
Steven Staples | April 6, 2007 at 1:11 am
From Jean-Marie:
Dear Pamela,
I cannot believe this sudden and awful news. How can that happen? This is a tragic loss for Janet’s family and for you, Pamela. You were so much linked that you seemed to be two sisters. You will need much courage to pursue your work at the Atomic Mirror without her.
I remember her in our international meetings, Geneva, New York, Vancouver… and so active and effective for campaigning “Abolition Now!”… I have difficulty to speak about her at past time. We all miss her. A terrible loss.
Please, Pamela, share my deepest condolences with Richard, Lucy and Robin.
Jean-Marie
7.
Steven Staples | April 6, 2007 at 1:12 am
From Steve Leeper:
Dear Colin,
Thank you very much. As a newcomer to disarmament, I was immediately aware of and benefited enormously from Janet’s presence, but I didn’t know much about her other than my own experiences with her, which were always quite present- or future-oriented. I find I am very glad to know more and I really wish she hadn’t left so early. She was a great help to Mayors for Peace.
In mourning,
Steve
8.
Steven Staples | April 6, 2007 at 1:13 am
From Colin Archer:
Dear all
Those who knew Janet may be interested to know that there is a fairly detailed biography here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Bloomfield
Janet Bloomfield (born Janet Hood in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England in 1953) is a peace and disarmament campaigner who was chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) from 1993 to 1996.
Bloomfield was educated at Abbeydale Grange School Sheffield and Sussex University, where she obtained a BA(Hons)degree in Geography. She has been married since 1976 to Richard Bloomfield. She has two children – Lucy, born in 1980 and Robin, born in 1982. She currently lives in Saffron Walden, Essex.
Bloomfield was the Chair of CND, the largest peace and disarmament organisation in Europe from 1993 – 1996. During this time she developed CND’s campaign around the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which included the production of the highly influential “Blueprint for a Nuclear Weapon Free World. She has been active in the anti-nuclear movement since 1981. She worked in all aspects on CND. She was a local group secretary, national council and executive, regional worker in the West Midlands in the mid 1980s. She was the National Vice-Chair for two years before being elected Chair in 1993. Currently serves as an honorary Vice-President of CND. She was a consultant (Vice-President 1994 -1997) to the Geneva based International Peace Bureau, a Nobel Peace Prize winning network of non-aligned peace organisations in 44 countries, which nominated Joseph Rotblat for the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize. She was a member of the Global Council of Abolition 2000, the global network to eliminate nuclear weapons. She was the Convenor of the Abolition Now Campaign Working Group of Abolition 2000.
Bloomfield travelled extensively abroad engaged in peace movement activities on many occasions in Europe, North America, the Far East and the Pacific. She made frequent appearances on radio and TV. She has extensive experience of public speaking and writing for peace movement and other publications. She is listed as an expert speaker on the UN Department of Disarmament Affairs database.
Bloomfield organised the successful campaign to stop arms trade shows being held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham in 1991. She organised and led the Atomic Mirror Pilgrimage 1996 around nuclear and sacred sites of England, Scotland and Wales. This was filmed and made into a documentary called “Sacred Fire”.
Since 1997 Bloomfield has worked as a freelance consultant and writer on nuclear and related issues. She has worked with The Body Shop, Charter 88, Campaign Against the Arms Trade, the Forum for UN Renewal and the Nuclear Free Local Authorities UK. She is currently a senior consultant on UK Security Policy to the Oxford Research Group (ORG). She is also the Project leader for ORG’s dialogue with decision makers skills training programme.
Her main work at the moment is as the British Coordinator of the Atomic Mirror. The purpose of the Atomic Mirror is to create a nuclear-free world, using the sacred and creative arts to transform our understanding of human security from a reliance on nuclear weapons to a sustainable relationship with all life. The Atomic Mirror works with activists, artists, and indigenous peoples from nuclear sites, developing initiatives and joint activities to reveal the secrets of the Nuclear Age, inspire people to take action, and abolish nuclear weapons and power. Past and current projects include: Atomic Mirror Pilgrimages to sacred and nuclear sites in the US, Japan, and Britain; performances on nuclear issues in over 10 cities around the world; the production of films and educational videos such as the ten-minute video “And the Fence Came Tumbling Down” about the transformation of Greenham Common; an ongoing fund to bring nuclear downwinders to testify at international events, such as NPT Prepcoms, Abolition 2000 meetings, International Court of Justice hearings, Hague Appeal for Peace; local, national, and international advocacy for nuclear abolition, including the production of the annual Abolition 2000 Report Card every year since 1996.The Atomic Mirror is a founding member of Abolition 2000. It has official NGO status with the UN Department of Public Information. The Atomic Mirror is a founding member of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Awareness Programme.
Bloomfield’s leisure interests include family and friends, gardening, travel, music, reading, birdwatching.
Bloomfield was the Chair of Governors of the Grange Farm Primary School, Coventry from 1988-1992. She was a member of the Board of Governors of Friends School, Saffron Walden from 2003-2005. She is a Charter 88 signatory and a Fellow of the British-American Project. She joined the Green Party in 1996. She is a member of Thaxted Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). She is currently a member of the Peace Campaigning and Networking Group of the Quaker Peace and Social Witness.
——————–
Best wishesFrom: (Mr) Colin Archer, Secretary-GeneralInternational Peace Bureau41 rue de Zurich, 1201 Geneva, Switzerland.Tel: +41-22-731-6429, Fax: 738-9419Email: mailbox@ipb.orgWeb: http://www.ipb.org
The International Peace Bureau is dedicated to the vision of a World Without War.
We are a Nobel Peace Laureate (1910) and over the years 13 of our officers have
been recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Our 280 member organisations in 70 countries, and individual members, form a global
network bringing together expertise and campaigning experience in a common cause.
Our current main programme centres on Sustainable Disarmament for Sustainable Development.
We welcome your participation.
IPB needs your support! To make an online donation go to http://www.ipb.org/web/seccion.php?tipus=Support-Donations
__._,_.___
9.
Steven Staples | April 6, 2007 at 1:14 am
From Rob Green:
From Rob Green:
Kate and I were deeply shocked to learn of Janet’s sudden and untimely death.
Janet and I really got to know each other when she was Chair of CND, and I was chairing World Court Project UK. She was wonderfully affirming and supportive, and a great strength to me as I was finding my feet in the anti-nuclear and peace movements.
I deeply admired Janet’s courage, commitment and enthusiasm when she fronted up in daunting media debates. As the first ‘mum’ to lead CND, her motherly qualities offered a uniquely effective aspect to her campaigning, and helped her connect with a wide range of women.
She had a delightfully open, smiling presence; and her sense of fun and love of pop/folk music balanced, rounded and lightened her work. Yet she could also be truly Quakerish in her gentle but unwavering devotion to the Society of Friends.
When I made my first pilgrimage to Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1995, Janet was there to affirm and support me.
I will also never forget her inspired leadership with Pamela Meidell of the British Atomic Mirror Pilgrimage in April 1996. We have just watched “Sacred Fire” again, that fine film by Kia Miller of Janet and Pamela’s extraordinary achievement. Kate recalls that Jo Vallentine in Perth was so inspired by the film that she organised a similar pilgrimage around Australia.
Kate also remembers with affection her work in IPB with Janet as fellow Vice-Presidents when they both had young children; and she was particularly grateful for Janet’s enthusiastic endorsement of the WCP.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Commander Robert D Green, Royal Navy (Ret’d)
Disarmament & Security Centre
PO Box 8390
Christchurch
Aotearoa/New Zealand
Tel: (+64) 3 348 1353
Email: rob@disarmsecure.org
Website: http://www.disarmsecure.org
A Specialist Branch of the New Zealand Peace Foundation
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
__._,_.___
10.
Steven Staples | April 6, 2007 at 1:15 am
From David Krieger,
When I think of Janet, I think of her ready and embracing smile, and the intensity of her commitment to ridding the world of nuclear weapons and creating a more decent human future. She has done great work on this planet and touched many people. Both her work and her essence remain with us, and should be treasured. She was a woman of light, and her light continues to shine, as do the fields of sunflowers that she nurtured by her daily efforts. We must continue to care for the existence of such beauty, for the paramount cause we have shared with her and for each other.
David
David Krieger
President
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
PMB 121, 1187 Coast Village Road, Suite 1
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
http://www.wagingpeace.org
http://www.nuclearfiles.org
11.
Steven Staples | April 6, 2007 at 1:16 am
From Arielle Denis et Pierre Villard:
Dear friends,
It is with the profound sadness that we learn the terrible news of the disappearance of Janet Bloomfield, our sister of action for peace and disarmament.
We send our sincere condolences to her husband Richard, her daughter Lucie and son Robin, and we insure them of all our support
We also think of Pamela who loses a big friend, to our friends of the CND and Atomic Mirror, as well as to the abolitionists and pacifists of the whole world who were able to appreciate the dedication and the sincerity of the commitment of Janet for the peace.
We shall have to remember us her action during the next assembly of Abolition 2000 in Vienna.
Very sincerely,
Arielle Denis and Pierre Villard
co-chairman of Le Mouvement de la Paix (France)
——————————————————————————–
Chers amis,
C’est avec une profonde tristesse que nous apprenons la terrible nouvelle de la disparition de Janet Bloomfield, notre soeur d’action pour la paix et le désarmement.
Nous adressons nos sincères condoléances à son mari Richard, ses enfants Lucie et Robin et les assurons de tout notre soutien.
Nous pensons également à Pamela qui perd une grande amie, à nos amis de la CND et d’Atomic Mirror, ainsi qu’aux abolitionnistes et pacifistes du monde entier qui ont pu apprécier le dévouement et la sincérité de l’engagement de Janet pour la paix.
Nous aurons à nous se souvenir de son action lors de la prochaine assemblée d’Abolition 2000 à Vienne.
Très sincèrement,
Arielle Denis et Pierre Villard
co-président du Mouvement de la Paix
__._,_.___
12.
Lisa Clark | April 6, 2007 at 1:16 am
Dear Jackie, Dear All,
what dreadfully sad news. I am looking forward to seeing you all again
in Vienna, and Janet was of course one of the friends I had made at 2005
RevCon whom I was most looking forward to seeing again. Let us find the
proper way to remember her at the PrepCom.
In peace,
Lisa
13.
Diane Perlman | April 6, 2007 at 3:14 am
Also in shock, I am reflecting on my memories of Janet. Only in the last few years we developed a warm friendship, and created a little gorup we called WITS – Wisdom Intuition Tank Synergy , brainstorming about creative strategies. She was very encouraging and supportive my efforts to integrate the psychological dimensions ointo our work. I have fond memories of talsk in the garden and her raising my cultural awareness of my American consciousness.
I want to affirm Jackie’s message about fragility and John Hallam’s message about being kind to each other. There are relatively few of us doing this work, and each one of us is precious and has a specific contribution to the challenge we are taking on. Perhaps in Janet’s memory we could not only work that much harder, but more creatively and supportively.
My sympathies to Richard, Lucie and Robin.
(here is the message I sent to Pamela when I received the news)
Pamela, I am so sorry to learn about Janet’s death, and immediately thought of you. Although a great loss for all of us, I can only try to imagine the depth of the loss for you, as it is rare to find such a soulmate in one’s life’s path. We have lost one of our great WITS. Of course I have so many memories of Janet, and with the two of you, and appreciate insights I’ve gottten from her. I recently lost a very close friend who died in a fire, and the experience of mourning a deep friend was very different than other kinds of losses.
At least you were blessed to have had such a creative partnership for the time you did, and can be nourished by the memory of Janet and what you created together.
My heart goes out to you, and I wish you inner peace and healing, and use of this loss for all of us do the work in honor of Janet’s memory.
With much love, Diane
14.
Dominique Lalanne | April 6, 2007 at 8:52 am
Janet was happyness and struggle. The had in mind the new world we have to build.
We miss you, Janet.
Dominique Lalanne
Chair of Abolition of Nuclear Weapons/Stop Essais
15.
Xanthe Hall | April 6, 2007 at 9:21 am
Dear Janet,
If you can still surf on the web in another dimension, then I am sure you will still be checking the Abolition 2000 web site to see what we’re up to. Then you’ll read how much you were loved, my soul sister. But surely you will feel it anyway, without the internet. The strength of our collective feeling cannot be lost on you, wherever you are.
I wil go to visit your husband and your children and your other soul sister, Pamela, in the next few days. And there we will speak of our love for you and how we shall miss you terribly, but will carry on working for our common goal, as you would have wished.
Much love,
Xanthe
16.
Kate Hudson | April 6, 2007 at 1:21 pm
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament mourns the tragic loss of Janet Bloomfield, Chair of CND from 1993 to 1996. Janet was currently serving as a Vice-President of our organisation.
Janet made an outstanding contribution to the leadership of CND, through her commitment, dedication, wise judgement and humanity. Her creativity and enthusiasm were an inspiration and we will miss her enormously.
We pay tribute to her role in the global movement and her key role in the development of Abolition 2000, and her achievements through Atomic Mirror.
Janet will be missed in every spehere of her life and work, and our hearts go out to her loved ones. We join with all who knew her, across the world, in redoubling our efforts to achieve her goal – the global abolition of nuclear weapons. This is the greatest tribute we can pay to a remarkable and inspiring woman.
In peace,
Kate Hudson
Chair
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
17.
Ramu and Lalita Ramdas | April 6, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Dear Pamela and other friends and comrades in our common struggle,
We are both deeply deeply shocked to hear this tragic news. For many of us – Janet was a dear and familiar figure over the email circuits – some of has had met and interacted with her on a couple of occasions.
To you Richard and your family our hearts and thoughts go out as you deal with your personal grief.
To you Pamela – we want to wish you strength and courage to take forward the work and the challenge without Janet’s physical presence – but are equally sure that her spirit and her commitment will continue to drive you and that others will come forward to take her place alongside you.
In grief and solidarity,
Ramu and Lalita Ramdas
18.
Kathleen Sullivan | April 6, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Dear colleagues,
I’m finding it difficult to acknowledge our loss. Janet. Bright. Brave.
Bold. Plutonium sister.
One day after a meeting in Oxford, and after a session at a pub in
Paddington we boarded a train bound for Barking…
We laughed and knew that in order to be in this movement, and stay
‘committed’ you really do have to be
barking… you have to be mad. Janet’s wit and intellect met her heart.
She loved well and out loud.
I love Janet Bloomfield.
We should set up something somewhere to acknowledge her life long work for
nuclear abolition. I do not have a single
good idea right now because I cannot yet accept that she has been taken
from us. Too quick, too soon.
Kathleen Sullivan
Brooklyn, New York
19.
Pamela Meidell | April 7, 2007 at 10:45 pm
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your continuing letters and messages of love and support. Please find an updated home page with the most recent details about arrangements for Janet’s funeral, and memorial meetings in England and California. We will also be updating a new web page: http://www.janetbloomfield.com as we can.
With love,
Pamela
Pamela S. Meidell
Director
Atomic Mirror
P.O. Box 220
Port Hueneme CA 93044
tel: 805 985 5073
fax: 805 856 0341
pamela@atomicmirror.org
http://www.atomicmirror.org
Atomic Mirror
Reflecting and Transforming Our Nuclear World through the Arts Since 1994
(A Project of the EarthWays Foundation)
Official UN NGO Status
20.
Alice Slater | April 8, 2007 at 1:13 pm
A great light has gone out in our world. My deepest sympathy to Richard, Lucie and Robin. I was privileged to know Janet for the past ten years in our abolition network and will greatly miss her humor, her brilliance, her persisitence and commitment to building a world at peace.
21.
Pamela Meidell | April 10, 2007 at 1:51 am
Dear Abolition Global Council beloved colleagues,
Thank you for your many messages, which are bringing comfort to the
Bloomfield family and to the immediate circle of close friends here in
Saffron Walden, Janet’s home town in England. Thank you to the
Abolition 2000 office in Canada for providing a place for people to
post messages and reflections. They are deeply appreciated and deeply
helpful.
I post below the message on the front page of the Atomic Mirror
website, http://www.atomicmirror.org, which is the most recent information.
Please see the P.S. at the end for our current thinking on dates.
We know we are being held in the extended web of life and love and in
the hearts of everyone who knew and loved Janet.
With much love,
Pamela
6 April 2007
Dear Friends,
We are all in deep shock and mourning at the sudden death of Janet
Bloomfield, our beloved UK Director and Celtic guiding spirit of the
Atomic Mirror, on Monday, 2 April 2007 in Hereford, England. The
Atomic Mirror is in mourning.
We ask you to “hold in the Light,” in the words and spirit of the
Quaker tradition, her husband, Richard, her children, Lucie and Robin,
and all those in an ever expanding circle who loved her.
Janet loved the whole world, and the outpouring of phone calls,
letters, emails, messages that keep coming in from all over England,
Australia, Sweden, France, Austria, Geneva, California, New York,
India, Japan, Florida and many other places show us that the whole
world loved her back.
Thank you to everyone for your love and support, your prayers, your
heartfelt messages. Please bear with us as we struggle to make the
necessary plans after Janet’s sudden and tragic death. We will tell
these plans to you as they emerge, so that we can share together our
grief at her death and celebrate our joy in her life.
We invite you to check back here for details about the funeral and
memorial services. The funeral is planned for the third week of April
at the Quaker Meeting House in Saffron Walden, Janet’s home. In the
Quaker tradition, a memorial meeting will take place within three
months time, which will celebrate and honor Janet’s life in all its
aspects. We are also planning to hold a ceremony in California
sometime in the summer.
We are creating a separate website to honor Janet. Janet’s son, Robin,
our gifted webmaster, is working on it, and we will announce it here
as soon as it is up.
Please continue to send your cards to Richard, Lucie and Robin
Bloomfield at 25 Farmadine, Saffron Walden, England CB11 3HR. The
phone here is +44 179 951 6189. Please send any emails to Pamela at
pmeidell@gmail.com. We appreciate more than we can ever express your
walking with us through this time of great shock and grief.
With love,
Pamela Meidell
Director
In Saffron Walden
Monika Szymurska
Assistant Director
In Oxnard
P.S. The funeral will likely take place on Wednesday, April 18, or
Thursday, April 19. The Memorial service in England that is
mentioned below will likely takee place on Saturday, May 12 or
Saturday, May 19. We are trying to arrange it so that people in Vienna
for the NPT may stay on to attend the Memorial service.
22.
Claire Poyner | April 11, 2007 at 10:53 am
What can I say? Words are not sufficient.
I was very shocked and upset when I was told Janet had died, and can’t believe we won’t see her again.
I will miss her.
Love and sympathies to Richard, Robin and Lucie.
Claire
xx
23.
Pamela Meidell | April 11, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Dear Global Council Friends,
We hope that many of you who will be attending the NPT Prep Comm in Vienna may be able to come to Janet’s Memorial Meeting, celebrating her life, on Saturday 12 May 2007. We have chosen this date with you in mind.
With my love,
Pamela
Wednesday, 11 April 2007
Dear Friends,
Firstly, may we say a deep thank you for all the messages of love and support that we have received. We’re sure that you’ll understand that we would like to respond to them all, but have been coping with the many facets that accompany such a sudden death.
As the Easter holidays are now over, we have been able to finalise the arrangements for Janet’s funeral. It will be held on Thursday, 19 April in Saffron Walden.
There will be a Funeral Meeting for Worship in the manner of Friends (Quakers) at 2.30 pm in Saffron Walden Friends Meeting House. All who wish to attend are welcome. The funeral will be followed by the burial at Brinkley Woodland Cemetery, attended by family and close friends. Flowers are being arranged by the Friends Meeting.
It is the tradition of Friends to hold a Memorial Meeting a few weeks after the Funeral as “Testimony to the Grace of God in the Life of Our Friend, Janet Bloomfield.” We are arranging such a Memorial Meeting for Janet to celebrate and give thanks for her loving and generous life. We are planning for it to take place on the afternoon of Saturday 12 May 2007 in Saffron Walden. This Meeting will also be an opportunity for any of you who are unable to attend the funeral to pay your respects. (Another memorial ceremony for Janet will take place in California in the summer.)
It would be really helpful, although by no means necessary, if you could let us know if you are coming to either the funeral or the Memorial Meeting or both. Please let us know by sending an email to rsvp@atomicmirror.org If you have questions about practical arrangements, please phone Helen Gibbs at the Saffron Walden Friends Meeting House on +44 (0) 1799 521832.
We will be organizing the website, http://www.janetbloomfield.com to become a tribute to Janet’s life and work, and to allow all who wish to contribute to it. In the meantime, we will post practical details there. We will also be arranging a fund for contributions to support some special aspects of the work that Janet was so committed to.
We invite you to pass this message on to anyone you know, and who we may have forgotten. We deeply appreciate your support, both near and far, as we walk through this landscape of grief and mourning.
Yours sincerely,
Richard Bloomfield
Lucie Bloomfield
Robin Bloomfield
Pamela Meidell
Pamela S. Meidell
Director
Atomic Mirror
P.O. Box 220
Port Hueneme CA 93044
tel: 805 985 5073
fax: 805 856 0341
pamela@atomicmirror.org
http://www.atomicmirror.org
Atomic Mirror
Reflecting and Transforming Our Nuclear World through the Arts Since 1994
(A Project of the EarthWays Foundation)
Official UN NGO Status
24.
Frances Long | April 12, 2007 at 4:31 am
Dear Richard, Lucy and Robin
such sad, sad news from Saffron Walden. Vib and I send our heartfelt sympathies to you and from me personally to Pamela who has lost a soul sister. Janet’s light still shines – she was a woman of true vision, with hope, faith and much love given freely into a sometmes dark world. I also feel her legacy and desire would be for us to redouble efforts to work for peace and nuclear disarmament.
To all who are grieving from the passing of Janet I hold you all in a shared light. She was a remarkable woman.
Love from Frances and Vib
Melbourne, Australia
25.
Debbie Grisdale | April 13, 2007 at 2:31 pm
mailed to Janet’s family:
April 11, 2007
Dear Richard, Lucie and Robin
On behalf of the Board of Physicians for Global Survival (Canada), I would like to convey our heartfelt condolences on the loss of Janet. Such an untimely and sudden death is difficult to understand and accept. Please know that we are thinking of you, the rest of her family and her friends. The world is diminished by her passing.
I first met Janet in 1997 at the UN at an NPT prepcom. Since then I have remained in touch and seen her at other international peace and disarmament events – the most recent being the World Peace Forum last June in Vancouver. Her wonderful hugs were special. Her insights and her commitment to making the world a better place were inspiring. She did indeed make the world a better place.
Yours sincerely
Debbie Grisdale
Executive Director
Cc: Dale Dewar M.D., President
26.
Stewart Kemp | April 16, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Please record my profound sadness at the loss of Janet who helped me enormously with the development of Mayors for Peace work here in the UK.
Stewart Kemp
Secretary, UK Mayors for Peace Working Group &
Secretary, Nuclear Free Local Authorities
27.
Robin Bloomfield | April 16, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Dear friends around the world,
We have lost our dear Janet, who was loved by so many people, for so many reasons, in so many places. As we prepare for her Funeral on Thursday 19 April, and Memorial Meeting on Saturday 12 May, both in Saffron Walden, England, we know that many people will not be able to physically be with us. We have set up a website, http://www.janetbloomfield.com as a way for people to offer a memory, a moment, an image of Janet and any wishes and feelings you would like to share. We are all in grief and mourning and each other’s words and support are valuable and important.
With our love,
Richard, Lucie, Robin, Pamela
Thank you to Abolition 2000 for starting this process while we were incapable of taking such a step.
28.
Elisabeth McElderry | April 18, 2007 at 10:43 pm
Janet accomplished so much, and she seemed always to be there, and will go on inspiring us.
I hope this calm soft April weather and birds singing can bring some comfort to her family and friends, and I send you my deepest sympathy.
Elisabeth
Medact
29.
Leslie Merical | February 26, 2011 at 12:30 am
Dearest friends, the loss of Janet was huge. It rocked our friend Pamela to her core, as well as Janet’s husband Richard and her children Lucie & Robin. I wanted to update anyone who’s interested, that Pamela has not recovered from this loss, and indeed, has been struggling with her place in the universe without Janet. Please send your thoughts and prayers in her direction – she could use them. Kindest regards, with love for both Janet & Pamela, Leslie Merical
30.
shopping | October 19, 2014 at 10:15 am
After three hundred years of trading, this remarkable
departmental store offers some of the best products that are
quite appealing to the modern day’s shopper. Out of those who did their
research first, 75 percent of them found that spending time on a retailer’s website first was helpful.
I write about this in my book Authentic Style: A practical guide to loving how you look every day.