In loving memory of Owen Pegg (1982 to 2021)

Tributes to a much loved and respected colleague

Owen PeggIt is our sad duty to announce the death of Owen Pegg – the IT Workstream Lead Buyer and much valued member of the LYPFT Procurement Team.

We heard the news that Owen had died suddenly and unexpectedly on 10th September 2021.  Since learning of his death his close colleagues have been supported to come to terms with this sad passing.

Owen, aged 39, joined the Trust in January 2015 as a Junior Buyer, where his aptitude and ability was quickly recognised and he was promoted to his current role, becoming a key member of the Procurement Team. He was reliable and always willing to support the department’s goals and volunteer when tasks needed doing that were outside the scope of his role.

Owen was known for his incredibly professional, proactive, likeable and “can do” nature.  He was a key source of support to the junior buyers in the team and would often spend time advising on how best to process request and offer advice when required.

Owen was recently recognised for his outstanding contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic and the additional work he did to support colleagues during this time.

Owen was extremely respected and valued by friends, team members and the people he supported throughout the Trust, and our partners in Leeds Community Healthcare. His attitude and approach were a real testament to him, and everyone regarded him as a pleasure to work with, someone who solved problems and made the complexities and challenges of procurement easy.  He will be sorely missed as a friend and colleague.

Outside of work Owen was a talented musician.  Music was his life and his passion. He played electric guitar, composed and produced songs and soundtracks including commissioned works.

Over the years he played in a number of bands, most recently ‘Hundred-Year-Old Man’ who toured frequently across Europe.  For further details, see the tributes on the band’s Facebook page.

If you work for the Trust and need help, please talk to somebody. There’s more information on our website about what help we offer as a Trust.

For anyone else, there’s information on our website here about urgent mental health support in Leeds and York.

Arrangements for Owen’s funeral and memorial are in preparation and details will be made available once we know them.  The family has asked that instead of flowers they would welcome donations, details of which will be provided soon alongside the funeral arrangements.

Tributes to Owen

Tributes from colleagues and friends have been posted on this page below. If you would like to submit a tribute to Owen, please email the Trust’s Communications Team at communications.lypft@nhs.net.

 

“Professionally Owen was everything you could want in a work colleague he was the type of person that you could trust with a project, he would do the research and always take on board advice and ultimately deliver what was required. He will be a hard act to follow.

On a personal level I often got caught up after work (making me late home) discussing Movies and obscure television programmes with Owen, we had a mutual appreciation of Deadpool and the whole superhero genre. Owen was very well read on the subject.

I will miss our chats and I will think of Owen every time I take a trip to the cinema.”

Darren Wilson, Head of Procurement

 

“I had the privilege of working closely with Owen over many years. From the beginning I admired his intelligence, honesty and the high standards that he expected of himself. These are just a few of the qualities that made him such a vital and respected part of our team. Owen’s integrity and desire to learn that he brought to every aspect of his role are values we should all aspire to.

I’ll miss him greatly as a colleague. But more than that I’ll miss him as somebody I can chat to about music across our desks, making my days go that bit quicker. That’s how I’ll remember Owen.”

Graham Tait, Contracts Manager

 

“Owen was a nice guy who had a great sense of humour.

Growing up in the same city and same district half a mile apart, but at different times we could swap stories on the same places where we lived. A great line in conversation on any subject and an encyclopaedic musical trivia knowledge Always resulted in interesting discussions”.

Mike Owers, Deputy Head of Procurement

 

“Owen was quite simply excellent at his job, and he leaves a big gap which is testament to his ability and attitude towards his work. I was fortunate to work with him on a weekly basis over the last few years and he was one of the best.  He had a great sense of humour and always went about his work with a sense of pride.  Owen was always willing to step forward and if he said he was going to do something you knew it would be done.

I can’t believe he is no longer with us, and I will really miss him. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”

Bill Fawcett, Chief Information Officer

 

“It was a shock and great sadness to hear the passing away of Owen.  I had worked with Owen on IT Procurement for many years, and he was my go-man, to resolve anything supplier related.  He always approached this with enthusiasm and a willingness to assist and go the extra mile.  I always knew that ringing Owen, he would have a solution to resolve the issue I had been struggling with.  As a colleague and a work friend he will be very much missed.  I send out my kindest thoughts to his close friends and family at this time of loss.”

Russell Hornshaw, Head of IT Service Delivery

 

“I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Owen for a number of years, as the procurements under his lead often had elements that overlapped my area in Information Governance / Data Protection. Owen was very much the consummate professional, and it made my life easier knowing that the guidance I had given him on the “must do” aspects of IG compliance were something he only needed telling once, and then he picked it up and ran with it. He was a well-informed and often entertaining member of any project board that needed his support and expertise, and I for one will miss him being across the table or at the other end of a video call. So long Owen… We’re gonna miss you mate.”

Carl Starbuck, Head of Information Governance

 

“Shocked and saddened by the news of Owen’s passing. Since starting to work for the Trust, Owen was always there to help with any procurement issues and nothing was ever too much trouble for him, he had such passion for his work. On a personal note, I will miss our chats about our extreme tastes in music and life in general. Owen, you will be sorely missed by so many, and I for one, will never forget you.”

Den Linnie

 

“Owen was the epitome of hard work and professionalism. He was and outstanding individual and a person I held in very high regard.  He was devoted to the Trust and delivered in all aspects.  He will be sorely missed both as a colleague but more importantly on a personal level.  Rest in Peace now Owen.”

Andy Gleadall, ICT Network Support Manager

 

“I’m saddened to hear of Owens passing, he was always a hardworking and conscientious colleague. He had a real passion for music and was an accomplished guitarist, doing what he loved with his band for many years. He brought joy to many through his music, and he will be missed by all that knew him.”

Ryan Hopkins, Database Specialist

 

“Having known Owen from working with him at LYPFT, I am very upset to hear this sad news. It was clear that Owen had a passion for music and created a name for himself within the industry for being a great guy. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time. Owen will be greatly missed”.

Rachel Tyler, Procurement Support Officer

 

“Owen was one of the most approachable, likeable and professional guys I’ve ever met, nothing was ever too much, he always had a smile and a hearty greeting, he will be missed.”

Andrew Davies, Procurement Manager, Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust.

 

“Owen was a higher performer and will be dearly missed.  Everyone always spoke extremely highly of him and the service he provided, positioning him as a role model for providing procurement support across the Trust and our partners.”

Keith Rowley, Managing Director

 

“We usually chatted about music, strangely enough our interest in steam punk!!”

Paul Flint, Logistics Manager

 

“Cannot quite believe the news, it came as a total shock, I have worked with Owen for several years.  It is a sad day, but my thoughts are with his family and loved ones and work colleagues.  He made an impact on so many people in such a good way, he will forever live on in our memories, he will never be forgotten by me”

Julie Pickering, Business Support Officer, North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative

 

“We are all shocked and saddened at the news that Owen is no longer with us. He was always helpful, responsive and reliable and he will be missed. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.”

The Thrive by Design (mHabitat) Team

 

“I was extremely saddened to hear the news of Owen’s passing. Owen represented everything you would hope to find in a colleague; professionalism, intelligence, a willingness to help others and a great sense of humour. In the small number of projects on which I worked with Owen, I was always struck by his integrity and thoughtfulness. He will be greatly missed by those closest to him and my thoughts and prayers are with his family and those who knew him best.”

Andrew McNichol, Workforce Information Manager

 

“Owen was always my go-to in the procurement team – he always gave the assurance that no matter how complicated, fiddly or unusual your request was, he’d find a way to get it done, and done within the regs. He always came across as professional, calm, competent, but with a little bit of a twinkle of dry humour in his eye. I can’t imagine how difficult this is for friends, close colleagues and family and my thoughts are with them. A profound loss.”

Ian Andrews, Technical Director, NHS North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative

“Owen is remembered fondly by colleagues here at CPC. He joined our team for only a short period, but during that time he made many friends. He settled in really well, and quickly become a trusted and valued member of our team, working hard and impressing everyone with his knowledge and intelligence. Most of all he was everything you want in a colleague, approachable, helpful, supportive, with good ideas and insights, and always friendly even when sometimes dealing with challenging situations. Those positive relationships with CPC colleagues, established during his short time as part of our team, stood the test of time and continued to thrive once Owen had returned back to the team in Leeds. He will be sorely missed, and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this terrible time.”

Stephen Sercombe, Procurement Director

“I’m still in shock about the sad news of Owen’s passing. I’ve worked closely with Owen over the last few years and he was always happy to help no matter what the request or query. He was excellent at his job and always worked to a high standard. I got to know Owen on a personal level as well as professional and all I can say is that he will be really missed. My prayers and thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.”

Zeshan Khan, ICT Mobile Communication Analyst

“I was really shocked and saddened to hear the news of the passing of Owen. His approach was always professional. He was extremely helpful with any question or query I had and I could always rely on him to get things resolved. I shall remember him as an exceptional member of staff who went the extra mile; he will be very much missed. My thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends at this sad time.”

Cath Hill, Associate Director for Corporate Governance

“I was very privileged to work with Owen since he started as a Junior Buyer and more recently as IT Workstream Lead. His desire to learn, interest and professionalism was clearly visible from the start. He grasped things quickly in particular many aspects of IT, networks and security technologies which at times pleasantly surprised me, evidently showing he’d done his research beforehand. We would chat on a weekly and at times on a daily basis and can honestly say it was a pleasure working with him. He has left a big hole to fill……. his commitment to work and his passion for music shone through the regular conversations we had. I will miss you Owen and our humorous chats dearly”

“My thoughts are with his family and friends at this very difficult time.”

Hergy Galsinh, Head of Network Services and Cyber Security

I worked with Owen across a few different roles. Owen was a great guy with a fantastic sense of humour and brilliant at his job. He was always extremely helpful and a pleasure to work with. My thoughts are with his friends and family. Such a sad loss.

Annie Morris, North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative

I had the pleasure of working alongside Owen as his IT Partner for the last few months and he was an absolute joy to work with. He made my life easy and was always honest and upfront about anything we were working on. Owen was always a pleasure to speak to, even when he was working at home in his PJs with the kettle whistling in the background. I know he will be hugely missed within his team and I just wish I was able to work with him for a bit longer. My thoughts are with his family and friends.

Keleigh Pitcher, Public Sector Account Manager – Healthcare, Bechtle UK 

Owen was such an amazing person to work with, even though it was only for a short period of time. He was so kind and helpful whenever anybody needed help. Myself and all of us in Tower 11 are thinking of Owen’s family and friends and we are sending our love through this difficult time.

Fran Adams, Procurement Support Officer, NHS North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative