My friend Sarah Caton, who has died aged 51 of lung cancer, led the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, and its predecessor, for 19 years. A fearless and influential leader, she was a tireless advocate for children’s rights and children’s services, and although her work was unseen by the public, it was quite literally life changing.
Born Sarah Brierley in Oldham, she attended Crompton House school, where she became head girl. A keen reader, she was the first in her family to go on to higher education, studying English literature at Oxford Polytechnic (now Oxford Brookes University) and graduating in 1993. She was elected as president of the student union before becoming head of student recruitment at her alma mater.
