David Scott, Jane Forbes, Ian Downes & Karen Addison share their memories.
After we published the tribute from LIMA UK md Kelvyn Gardener to Helen Bailey (on August 22) – the licensing agent and children’s author – we were contacted by other industry executives, wishing to also share their tributes.
David Scott, md, Rainbow Productions
“My memories of Helen seem to revolve around our lunches later in her licensing career. She was a ‘professional’ luncher which somewhat belied her waif-like like waistline. Helen always said out loud what others were thinking but didn’t dare comment upon. She had a waspish wit and keen eye for the absurd, even though she never did see the incongruity of supporting both Arsenal and Newcastle United at the same time. No lunch with Helen ever passed without fun, gentle sarcasm and much laughter, even in the face of tragedy.
And her life did contain tragedies before the ultimate one of her own untimely death. First she lost a soulmate in the beautiful Karen, her work-mate and close friend at PSL whom many in the industry will still remember and who died tragically young, and then latterly with John Sinfield her husband, who died five years ago in that swimming accident in Barbados. After John’s accident she told me that the moment she met John she knew he would have a profound effect on her life and she was right about that, as she was in in so many things.
She was also very, very kind and one personal memory I have of her was when during (another) lunch I asked her if she would sign one of her books (in the Topaz series) for my young niece whose birthday was coming up. She of course agreed, but before I could buy the book and send it to Helen for her to sign, a large parcel arrived on my desk. It was the whole series of the six Topaz books, each individually inscribed with a personal message to my niece (whose name Helen had procured from me without me realising) and taking her step-by-step through each book in the series. My niece couldn’t comprehend that an author would do this for her and was ecstatic. When I mentioned this to a mutual friend his simple response was: ‘Well, that’s Helen for you, isn’t it?’
Yes, that was Helen.”
Ian Downes, md, Start Licensing
“While I wouldn’t claim to be a close friend of Helen, I did have the opportunity to meet her in a work and social context quite a few times. I always felt that she was a bright, funny and engaging person.
It was clear that she loved the licensing industry and the friends she had made within it. She was good company and in an industry where you rub shoulders with your competitors a good reminder that you can be ‘friendly rivals’.
I think the success she had at PSL and afterwards is a measure of her commercial abilities and the high regard the industry held her in. I know that she will be missed by many in the industry, including myself.”
Jane Forbes, licensing consultant
“I was asked a few months ago what words summed up Helen Bailey for me – out tumbled ‘smart, witty and kind’. I don’t think I’d change that now even with time to think about it.
My first real encounter with Helen was when I had just joined LCI (later 4Kids Entertainment) in 1994; my initial task was to call Helen at PSL and request a summary of Nintendo licensing activity in the UK as LCI has just secured global rights for the brand.
As PSL were about to lose a not inconsequential property, I braced myself for a rather hostile reception. But no, Helen – as I found throughout all the time I knew her – dealt with the handover with nothing but grace and professionalism. I respected her immediately and wasn’t alone. Shortly before John (Sinfield) died, myself and an industry colleague used to meet up with Helen for lunch. These lunches were always filled with large measures of laughter and optimism. Helen was excited – if not a little nervous – as her writing was beginning to prosper.
Easy to be with, conversation was lively, peppered with funny anecdotes such as the necessity for her to wear ‘flats’ as a safety precaution over heels, and her love of London black cabs as a necessity rather than choice over public transport, something which is legendary to those who knew her. I don’t know what she’d think about Uber, but she’d definitely have an opinion!
I read Bad Things Happen in Good Bikinis recently. Spoken from the heart with utter honesty, it’s easy to imagine how this title has helped others bereaved. Helen, you will be missed hugely, but remembered with great affection.”
Karen Addison, md, Karen Addison Associates
“Helen was an amazing woman – a fellow Northerner with a great sense of humour and a zest for life and licensing.
One of the founding members of a women in licensing lunch club, yet another excuse for a cathartic gathering and the odd glass of wine, while discussing the world of licensing.
She was extremely good at her job, super efficient and she and John were an amazing team.
I was always very proud of her secondary career, which again she excelled in.”
