Julian signing out

Lucy and Julian enjoying a moment at Action Factory

It is now becoming wider knowledge that Julian Dunn will be taking voluntary redundancy and leaving Action Factory at the end of this year, after over 26 years committed work. Lucy, Nicole, Kerry and myself are steeling ourselves for life at Action Factory without Julian Dunn. Never mind all the hard work he puts in, who will pick out pertinent stories from the Guardian and keep us up to date! Who will turn the lights out after us and collect all the pots for washing up!

Seriously though, Julian has been a tour de force and been involved in communities, the local voluntary networks and many schemes and projects over the last 26+ years, he has touched many people's lives and landscapes. He is one of the stalwarts of the community arts scene, trailblazing the use of art to bring together disparate groups of people and bring a new postiivism to individuals who have been disadvantaged by circumstance.

We are currently collating feedback from contacts he has made during his time in Blackburn with the intention of creating some sort of tribute to him. Please help us by sending in comments, observations or messages to jwindley@actionfactory.org. There are only weeks to go so don't delay, please get your contributions to us by Wednesday 7th December 2011. 

Did you work with us in the past? did you have work experience or volunteer? Did you commission a project? Were you one of the participants in a project? If so, we would love to hear from you.

Julian, surprisingly, does not want a big do to celebrate the end of his tenure at Action Factory, maybe we should not listen to his pleas for a quiet departure. However, his last day in Action Factory is 23rd December 2011, and you are welcome to pop in and pass on your good wishes.

As you all know, Julian is irreplaceable! And we have no plans to replace him, his work will be shared out amongst the team. He does promise to help us out and his association with Action Factory may continue on a voluntary basis.