Vicky Seddon RIP
Vicky Seddon, whose death was recently announced, was for many years the guiding light behind the Sheffield Visual Arts Group whose members were saddened to learn about this devastating loss.
Until 2023, Vicky was the secretary of SVAG and looked after the financial side of things for the group. Vicky could often be seen behind the SVAG table at both the
Heritage Open Days each September and the January Heritage Fair in the Millennium Galleries in January. It was at the latter when I first met her and received an invitation to join SVAG in
2023.
Later that year Vicky announced her intention to retire from SVAG and the committee members took her out to lunch as a thank you gift to mark her years of
service.
Vicky was for many years the only woman on the National Executive of National Association of Teachers in H.E.( now UCU). Vicky joined Charter 88 in 1992. This organisation became Unlock Democracy which Vicky chaired for a decade until 2016. She remained an active member. Vicky was very active in Amnesty Sheffield.
Past and Current Members of SVAG and Sheffield's Arts Community who had known her for many years paid their own tributes:
I am very sorry to hear this news about Vicky Seddon, please pass on my condolences.
D P
Thank you for letting me know..Vicky as founder of SVAG was a successful activist but not an agitator..proactive,encouraging and persuasive with significant rapport
and
passion..plus interest in others..sorely missed.
K D
Oh that’s sad about Vicky. Such a passionate person. What a loss.
P S
A strong woman with a passion for all things fair. Principled and loyal to all she believed in. A pleasure to have been part of my life.
D W
Vicky was a energetic, determined woman, fiercely committed to the causes she championed . She had a successful career in Higher Education as an academic and manager.
Vicky mentored others and was highly supportive of her team members.
She applied the same determination to causes she chose to support and was a founder member of SVAG. Vicky assiduously used her love of the arts and her networking skills to campaign on behalf
of the group and was the driving force behind our study days.
Above all Vicky was a loyal friend, always fair and totally reliable. Vicky loved to bring people together socially and often combined this with fundraising for her chosen charities, mostly notably Assist. She will be much missed.
J B.
Vicky always had a clear idea of what she wanted to achieve and of how it could be achieved. She had the energy, inventiveness, superb organisational skills and good humour to bring her colleagues along with her in her enthusiasm, so that things really did become possible under her guidance. Importantly, she instituted a series of ‘study days’, promoted by the Visual Arts Group, covering such topics as arts funding and street art, when the movers and shakers of Sheffield’s art scene were invited to participate in a day of discussion, innovative ideas and serious networking. She was an indomitable activist for the visual arts in Sheffield, but at the same time an immensely supportive and warm friend. The city will miss her greatly.
L H.
Not every woman of steel worked in the steelworks during the wars. Sheffield has been truly blessed to have had Vicky serving various organisations.
A C
I'm so sorry to hear this sad news, thank you for letting me know. Please share details of the funeral arrangements when you have them, I'd very much like to pay my respects on behalf of colleagues here.
Kim Streets MBE DL Chief Executive , Sheffield Museums Trust
All those who knew Vicky and would like to attend to remember her are welcome at the following two events both of which will be held on SATURDAY 3RD OCTOBER 2026:
There will be a humanist service and cremation at Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium at 10.30 am. The address is Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium, Periwood Lane, Beauchief, Sheffield, S8, OHP
There will be a funeral reception for Vicky, with refreshments provided, at the Norfolk Arms at Ringinglow (where Vicky would attend for jazz) from 12 midday till 4pm. The address is: the Norfolk Arms, 2 Ringinglow Village, Sheffield, S11 7TS.
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