Di Burton FCIPR

It is with great sadness that the CIPR shares the news that Di Burton FCIPR, died peacefully at home last Thursday 12th January with her husband, daughter and son at her side. 

Di spent much of her career working in education and was a CIPR trainer for more than 20 years. She worked at 10 Downing Street as a member of the Cabinet Office Communications Review team and directed the MA in Public Communication programme for the Government Communication Network (GCN) at Leeds Trinity University College. Di is listed in Debrett’s People of Today, has been named as Ackrill Media Group Business Personality of the Year, has appeared in PR Week’s Power List and was named as one of Yorkshire’s Top 100 Entrepreneurs. 

Her life will be celebrated on Monday 30th January at 2:30 pm, at All Saints Church, Ripley near Harrogate. 

Former CIPR President, Sarah Pinch FCIPR said; 

"Anyone who met Di was, I believe, always struck by two things her glamour and her zest for life. She was always learning and always discovering, taking herself off to Harvard was just one example of her love of thinking and studying. She saw every day as a new opportunity to learn, to discover something new and broaden her understanding of the world. 

Originally from South Africa, she never lost her ability to speak directly and get to the heart of the matter quickly and clearly, something that made her a much sought after consultant; and perhaps made her feel very at home and welcomed in her adopted home of Yorkshire. 

Di was utterly fascinated by people and I was taught by her at the CIPR, later we were able to collaborate through work and along the way we became dear friends." 

Andy, her husband writes: 

“The service will be a celebration of her life, and it would be nice if people were to dress in smart, colourful outfits (Di always liked to dress up). Although the church will be heated, I recommend something warm as well, given the likely weather. After the service, everyone will be welcome at the Hotel de Ville in the village for a champagne tea. We will push out the boat for Di as she would have wanted us to do.

We would appreciate no flowers, but instead for donations to be made to either Harrogate’s Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre or Yorkshire Air Ambulance.”