Barbara Ballard obituary
My sister, Barbara Ballard, who died aged 77, dedicated her life to understanding the causes of poverty and improving people’s lives.
From the late 1980s until 2007 she worked for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) in York, coordinating social research with its focus on improving government policy for disadvantaged groups.
This was a productive time for JRF, with its investigations into the widening inequalities in income and the labour market, its studies of life on low pay and its work on family policy.
Barbara is remembered for helping her fellow social researchers: she was especially supportive of junior colleagues and was keen to ensure that the voices of grassroots organisations were heard.
Born in south London, Barbara was the elder of two daughters of Doris (nee Payne), a domestic servant and shop assistant, and Leonard Whitting, a leading seaman in the Royal Navy. He died when Barbara was seven and our mother brought us up on her own. Barbara attended James Allen’s girls’ school in Dulwich, excelling in all subjects. She kept in touch with some schoolfriends for the rest of her life.
Barbara left school at 18. Her first job, at the Meteorological Office, was followed by work in market research and then on population censuses, for the Office of Population of Census and Surveys and the Census Office for the Bahamas.
On returning to Britain, she studied anthropology at the University of Kent followed by a master’s with a dissertation on women’s oppression. Barbara became a research officer in the social science branch at the Department of Employment before joining JRF.
After retirement Barbara supported various voluntary organisations. She worked for the Workers’ Educational Association (now WEA) in Poppleton, York, became vice-chair of York Housing Association, helped the York Minster Lions and an allotment society; she was also an active member of Unison’s retired members’ group.
Barbara also found time for travel, listening to live music, going to the cinema, making gooseberry jam and watching sport.
Her 1964 marriage to Michael Ballard ended in divorce. She is survived by Allan Roberts, her partner for more than 30 years, and me.
