Ambitious North East Autism Society development enters phase two
Part of our ongoing Growing Futures appeal, the second phase of development will see several new buildings erected – including a cider mill, a farm shop, and a café.
A tribute to Dawn Malyan
HEARTBROKEN colleagues of Dawn Malyan have paid tribute to her courage, spirit and huge contribution to NEAS after she died from cancer last month.
Dawn joined the charity in 2012 and continued to work remotely after she fell ill, even taking her laptop to hospital when she went in for treatment.
She eventually retired on medical grounds last year. Sadly, she died on 22nd May at the age of 51, leaving her husband, Granville.
Jess Greer, head of HR and Dawn’s line manager for more than a decade, said: “I was lucky to have Dawn as a work colleague and a dear friend. She was kind, hard-working, generous and had a big heart for NEAS, and her presence will be deeply missed.”
John Phillipson, chief executive, said: “Dawn was relentlessly determined and positive. She had incredible spirit and character and was a real inspiration.”
Dawn, from Esh Winning in County Durham, joined NEAS on reception where she made an instant impact with what Jess called her “big smile and bubbly personality.”
Jess added: “She was a great first point of contact for the charity, because the warmth of her character and her compassion came through immediately, even on the phone.”
Dawn, together with fellow receptionist Julie Lowery, then moved to admin, supporting Jess with the CEO’s office and taking particular responsibility for compliance and governance.
Dawn, Jess and Julie called themselves the Three Musketeers, and kept in touch with regular Teams calls until the end.
Julie, who is now transport officer, said: “From the moment I walked through the door at NEAS 12 years ago, Dawn and I instantly clicked and I knew this was where I wanted to be.
“When she was poorly or in the midst of her cancer treatment, she would work when she could.
"If you asked how she was doing it was always ‘I’m OK, how are you?’ even up to two weeks ago. In my eyes she was an inspiration, a true warrior and a fighter until the very end.”
When Dawn lost her hair from the cancer treatment in 2023, she wore outrageous wigs bought from Shein to give Jess and Julie a smile on video calls. She wanted to work as long as she could so she could pay her taxes towards the NHS in gratitude for her treatment.
“She was probably the bravest lady I ever met,” Jess said. “She battled on so positively. I hope she knew how much she was loved.
“To paraphrase Forrest Gump, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.’ I was lucky because I got Dawn as a dear friend and work colleague.”
Dawn’s funeral is on 13th June at the Mountsett Crematorium at Dipton, Country Durham. Instead of flowers, the family has asked for donations to Macmillan Cancer Support.
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