It is with huge sadness that we hear of the death of OCF’s treasured Patron Jane Wates OBE earlier this week. Jane has been a fundamental part of OCF’s success over 25 years.
Jane was a trustee of Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF) from 1998 to 2018, but had already been heavily involved as one of the foundation’s earliest donors and a member of the founding steering group in 1995.
Since then she has continued to provide unerring support for OCF’s work, setting up the Jane Wates Patron Fund and becoming a passionate supporter of our Growing Minds partnership.
She was also a longstanding supporter of Berkshire Community Foundation, dedicating a significant amount of time and energy to supporting those less fortunate than her in the communities surrounding her home town of Henley-on-Thames. We will share further tributes to Jane alongside our colleagues in Berkshire shortly.
A private funeral will be held at Shiplake on Tuesday 11th August. There will be a service of thanksgiving at a later date. Jane’s family have asked that donations are made, if desired, to the Oxfordshire or Berkshire Community Foundations c/o Tomalin and Son, 38 Reading Road, Henley-on-Thames RG9 1AG.