Like most of us who write about sporting triumphs and disasters, I am often given to hyperbole and a Leicester Ladies loss can take on Greek tragedy proportions. It is a salutary experience when life does throw up something genuinely sad that puts things into perspective. That happened for me last week when I heard of the death of Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport’s Marketing and Communications lead, Monica Gibbs (pictured). She was a lady whose name will be familiar to many who work in sport but, because she was not one for the limelight, others will know of her work but not of Monica herself.

My desk was next to hers in our SportPark office at Loughborough University, but we had all hardly moved in and started to enjoy working together when her cancer returned and she went on sick leave; we hoped, to successfully battle it again. Sadly, that was not to be and she lost the fight last Thursday morning, aged just 42. She leaves behind her, a devoted husband and two lovely children, as well as her parents and other family members, but she also leaves a tremendous legacy in the work that she has been doing in Leicestershire over the years. People from across the county have been contacting LRS with messages of sympathy and remembrance, which show just what a difference Monica made through her excellent work and how she will be sorely missed.

Knowing that I wanted to use this blog to offer a tribute to Monica, colleagues at LRS, John Byrne and Noel Haines, have provided their thoughts on behalf of the team.

John said: “Monica was a passionate and committed worker whose approach to her role as the LRS Marketing and Communications lead was always practical and pragmatic. In Monica, we had someone who was always prepared to pick up the ball and run with it. I can’t think of a single instance when she did not deliver on a target or work area. She always managed to juggle a whole host of competing priorities with a smile and an infectious sense of fun, and in all my time working with her she never failed to deliver.

“We miss her sense of fun, we miss her standing up for females in the general office banter, we miss her quest for deals and value for money. Her commitment, passion, enthusiasm and energy are all sorely missed. She genuinely loved her work developing sport and physical activity across Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland. Above all we miss her as a friend and trusted sounding board.”

Noel added: “Monica will be sorely missed by myself, the LRS team and the wider sports development community of Leicestershire. She was a tremendously committed, dedicated and loyal team player, who always delivered on her promises. She had a great sense of humour and was a consistent bubbly presence, that everyone enjoyed working with. Monica was always enthusiastic and passionate about her role and even when there were challenges such as organising the Youth Games (which she did brilliantly) she employed great tenacity and innovation to overcome the issues. She found time to support everyone that needed her help. She was particularly helpful to new members of staff and often took them under her wing. We will all miss her greatly.”

Monica’s great commitment to the Youth Games (2009 event pictured above) is something that many will remember her for. There are thousands of youngsters in Leicester, the county and Rutland, who will not know that much of the organisation of their fantastic day of sport at Loughborough University was down to Monica. Her hard work and attention to detail made it a success and it was typical of her that she was happy to work in the background. I am sure that the effort of the kids and their smiles at the closing ceremony proved ample reward for Monica.

Others, who remember her work fondly, are the Melton Sports Forum, for whom spokesperson, Hazel McSweeney, said: “Monica was always a happy smiling person and worked over and above her call of duty. She came to Melton to cover maternity leave as Sports Development lead and did a sterling job, easily slotting into her role. She helped to develop the Melton Sports Forum further during her time with us; a lovely lady who will be sadly missed.”

If your work benefited from Monica’s special touch and you would like to add a tribute I will make sure that they get to her husband, Andy.

Monica’s funeral takes place in Hinckley, on Friday. Donations can be made to LOROS in her memory.