Lizzie Vaughan

You don't get to my age without coming into contact with death.  I was a school and university with people who died in their twenties; I lost both my parents and a brother; and have had my own close brush.  I have a dear friend who's currently planning a service for herself that will probably take place in weeks rather than months.

Yet sudden death continues to have the power to shock and make us stand still in our tracks.

As regular followers of this blog will know, the opening of The Games Table in Norwich has made a huge difference to me.  'Hobby time' has moved from a theoretical and on-line activity to one where I regularly get actual games in with real people.  This morning I heard that one of those regular players has unexpectedly died.

I didn't know Lizzie Vaughan as well as I should have - we didn't socialise away from The Table.  That was a shame really as I think we shared a lot of common views and that a night in the pub with her would be interesting (if rather loud!).

Just from casual conversations it was clear that family was very important to her.  She had worked at Aviva (as most of Norwich seems to have at some stage!) and, I believe, the NHS.  She was a union rep.  Most prominently she was a campaigner for Trans Rights, active in Norwich Pride and a member of the Sing With Pride choir.

Lizzie wasn't always the easiest person to play with - she tended to talk over other players and the GM, and always wanted to be centre stage.  But I don't think this was from selfishness.  She was a very big character and tended to dominate.  I'm glad I knew her - and sure she impacted on many peoples lives for the good.  Our games will be different from now on.