Salomons Institute has recently said a very sad farewell to two long-serving senior members of the staff team as they start their retirement.

Linda Hammond, Admissions Director, joined Salomons in 2003, initially as a Clinical Tutor before assuming responsibility for admissions onto the Salomons doctorate in 2006 and setting up its national and international fee-paying process in 2013.  Linda contributed to the Group Relations and psychodynamic approaches on the programme; her work will be a strong foundation going forward.

Louise Goodbody, Clinical Director, joined Salomons last century (1999)! Louise has been instrumental in developing the Institute’s approach to ‘Widening Access’ to the profession of Clinical Psychology; now becoming a key programme of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.  She has been leading on Diversity teaching and workshops for trainees for years and has brought a strong Systemic Approach to the programme.  Another strong foundation the programme will thrive on.

The two retirees were presented with lead crystal vases, as well as a bespoke book filled with photos and messages as a reminder of many happy times spent with trainees and staff at the Institute over the years. Donations were also made to their selected charities at their request: Greenpeace (Linda) and Medecins Sans Frontieres (Louise).

The staff team joined Linda and Louise in a farewell Zoom call, with much laughter as well as tears, and all agreed they would be very sadly missed, both personally and professionally.  We wish them both a long and happy retirement.