In the late 1960s, my aunt, Marie Furness, qualified as a social worker and started as a housemother in Moss Side, Manchester, in what were then called approved schools. Residential social care was to become her passion and her lifelong career. Marie, who has died aged 74, was always clear about the unfairness and inequalities facing “her kids”, always battling to improve their lives to give them the best possible start.
She could not see the point of imprisoning young women who had sometimes only been a bit wild, or were reacting to a history of abuse. They needed support not confinement. She brought a mixture of compassion and hard-headed practicality to her work.
In 1978 Marie took up a senior post with Leicestershire social services as a manager for residential childens’ homes. This was the time in Leicestershire when Frank Beck was sexually abusing children in his care. As Marie and many of her colleagues became aware of what was going on, this was the beginning of a scarring time.
Whistleblowers rarely have it easy, but the knowledge of what was happening to the children drove Marie on. She gave a statement to the police that helped substantiate the case that was eventually brought against Beck. However, Marie’s contempt for the subsequent cover-up about the wider chain of events in Leicestershire and her despair at the damage that was done to that generation of children stayed with her forever. Last year she gave evidence to the Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation.
Marie was born in Liversedge, in the Spen Valley, West Yorkshire, the 10th child of 11 of Tom Furness, a labourer and factory worker, and his wife, Edna, who worked in a mill. After the second world war, during which Tom served in the Black Watch and was seriously injured, Edna decamped to London with a new partner, taking Marie and her younger brother with her, leaving the other nine children behind. In those days this was quite an unusual (and scandalous) event in that quiet corner of working-class West Yorkshire.
Marie grew up in Lambeth, south London, and worked in Soho in the advertising industry in the early 60s. During her frequent trips back north she was regarded as the most exotic and coolest member of our clan.
Her influence and legacy are to be found in the number of members of our large family who work in public service. We are care workers, paramedics, teachers and public administrators.
She was a great collector of music – on vinyl – with her taste ranging from classical through to Amy Winehouse, via Billie Holiday and the Beatles. She was also a great reader, and a keen cribbage and Scrabble player.
Marie is survived by two brothers and a sister.
