We are greatly saddened to announce the untimely death of Tim Woodward, a key member of the team which produces this magazine, who carried responsibility for advertising and links with employers.

Tim was unwell for some time, and was treated in hospital in Exeter on a number of occasions. There were times when he seemed to recover, but the cancer which affected him recurred and his condition deteriorated rapidly over the last two weeks of his life. Tim died on Friday 12th May 2003.

Tim was a man with many qualities and sides to his life, and he continually surprised one with the breadth of his experience and his knowledge. How many of his colleagues knew he had had a career in the merchant navy, for example?

Tim was an entrepreneur. For example, he published football magazines; he had extensive knowledge of the world of social services and developed networks to obtain advertising for his publications (including the Webmag), and on leaving the publishing world, he ran the Post Office in Withycombe Raleigh with Sue, his wife.

And yet at the same time, he was an idealist with strong allegiance to left wing views and a wish to champion the underdog. While he inhabited the world of business, he was well aware of its flaws. He had a strong sense of social injustice, and his interest in publishing in the childcare field reflected his concerns. Earlier in his career, he had worked for several years on Social Work Today, and more recently he played a major role in the publication of Child Care Forum and, latest of all, the Children Webmag. We are glad to have had him as a team member.

Although Tim faced a number of troubles in the course of his life, he always seemed irrepressible, and he managed to maintain a bouncy exterior, exuding irreverent good humour and seeing the inconsistency, pomposity and fallibility of humankind as sources of mirth. His enthusiasm could lift people, even when he himself was under pressure and probably felt far from enthusiastic.

He was also capable of sound realistic judgements. He understood the realities of business, and he was able to see what would work. He was the sort of person one turned to when one needed a wise word and a balanced evaluation. He was able to make quick judgements and see to the heart of issues. Tim had a lot to give, and it is a real loss that he is no longer there, available to share a joke or weigh up a problem.

Tim will be much missed by his friends and colleagues, and by his family, - his wife, Sue, and his two daughters, Rosie and Jessica. Our thoughts are with them.