Crystal Dickinson was engaged with QARN in its early days, from 2009. As a founder member of Yarls Wood Befrienders, and their first Chair 2001-2004 she had a great concern for the women held in detention in the centre, and demonstrated her concern in very practical ways. One reminisced on how she had brought her much needed and appreciated toiletries every week.
Crystal also supported QARNs advocacy work and gave evidence from her own experience for QARNs submissions to parliamentary committees. She had a wide ranging interest in asylum and migration issues. She sometimes wrote think pieces for discussion.
She was a stalwart activist, participating in protests and demonstrations, wearing a hoodie with QARN insignia and carrying a board she had designed herself. When COVID arrived and in-person meetings were no longer possible Crystal wrote that she would set aside a particular day and time and invited Friends to join her in holding one another in the light in those dark days.
Crystal will be remembered with affection for her thought-provoking, quirky and direct input, and she will be missed by so many for her warmth and humanity, and her steadfast commitment over many years.
We can smile when we follow her example – as she signed off an email – cfhiL (cross fingers and hold in Light). We now hold Crystal and her family in the Light
Crystal at the Chelmsford Court during the trial of the Stanstead 15: