Lana Newton (1958-2024)

We are very sad to announce the death of our dear friend and colleague Lana Newton, Digital Portfolio Administrator in Digital Technology Services (DTS), at the University of Reading.

Lana had been unwell over a number of months but had improved to the point where she returned to work just after Easter.  However, a recent short illness resulted in her being admitted to hospital where she sadly passed away surrounded by her closest friend and family.

Lana was a much-treasured member of the Digital Portfolio team, and much loved by colleagues in DTS and beyond. She started working at the University in September 2016, excelling in various business change and project management office administration roles.

A master of organising meetings, tracking papers and minute taking, Lana was always on hand to provide reliable and accurate meeting records and actions to a number of high profile University committees, including the Design Authority Group (now Technical Design Authority) and the various DTS senior management team meetings.

Lana was a woman of many talents, particularly sporting. At school she won track and field championships at local schools (Reading), county (Berkshire), all England and nationally.

In her early career, she excelled as an international top-class athlete who represented Great Britain in field events, notably shot put. Her 1977 under 20s women’s shot put record of 15.01 meters at Reading Athletics Club is still held by Lana to this day.

Lana’s sporting role model was the great Geoff Capes who coached her for a number of years at Crystal Palace Athletics Club, which became her second home before she decided to retire in her early twenties to pursue other goals.

Lana was thoughtful, good-humoured and caring and we are all proud to have known and worked with her. Her key to sporting success was to ’try lots of different things, enjoy yourself, have fun, train hard and believe in yourself’ - a great philosophy for us all to live up to and one to warmly remember her by.

Support is available from the University for those affected by this news.

Colleagues can find information on the University’s wellbeing webpages, including on our Employee Assistance Programme. Support is also available from a range of charities, including Cruse Bereavement Support.