June Diamond, a dedicated teacher in secondary, adult and higher education in Yorkshire, has died at the age of 76. She was best known for her role as deputy director of The Basement, a pioneering adult education centre in Leeds that offered counselling and practical support to long-term unemployed people. Later, she lectured in education at Leeds University.
Early Life and Teaching Career
Born in Leicester, June was the daughter of Jean (née Donaldson) and Francis Hurst, who managed the family's textiles business. After attending Leicester girls' grammar school, she earned a degree in English literature and American studies from the University of East Anglia, followed by teacher training in York.
Her teaching career began at a secondary school in Sutton, south London, where she met fellow teacher Neil Diamond. They married in 1974 and had three children: James, Isobel, and the author of this obituary. When the family relocated to Leeds in 1980, June continued teaching, transitioning into adult education as a tutor at various colleges across Leeds and West Yorkshire in the mid-1980s.
Work at The Basement and Further Education
After training as a counsellor, June became deputy director of The Basement in 1987. The centre provided drop-in services, advice on accessing education, training, and social services, job searches, and emotional support to unemployed individuals. Her work there was instrumental in helping many people rebuild their lives.
In 1992, she moved to Park Lane Further Education College in Leeds, where she lectured and was active in the Natfhe trade union. During this period, she also pursued part-time postgraduate study, completing a research dissertation on the growing influence of feminist critical theory.
Later Career and Retirement
In the 2000s, June spent the final phase of her career as a lecturer in teacher training and counselling skills at Leeds University, retiring in 2016. Colleagues and students valued her for being non-judgmental, open-minded, and a wonderful listener. A longtime Labour party member, she was an enthusiastic campaigner during elections.
In retirement, June volunteered for Community Accord, a mediation service in Bradford, and became chair of the West Yorkshire branch of the Victorian Society. With fellow members, she led historical walking tours of Leeds and Bradford suburbs, researching local buildings and residents' lives. She adored Headingley, where she lived for nearly 50 years.
Personal Life and Legacy
June traveled extensively in South America and Europe in her later years. She also nurtured her love of opera and the arts, singing in a local choir. Her marriage ended in divorce in the late 1980s. She is survived by her children and two grandchildren, Jacob and Joseph.
