LOCAL newspapers are a stepping-stone for many journalists: they come, they learn, and they move on. But not everyone wants a career.
Some, like Joan Lombard, have had one (as a reporter in Birkenhead) and raised a family.
For many people that would have been more than enough – not for Joan.
She joined Southside when we were based in Dundrum Castle. She was testing the waters with the occasional advertising feature, a public meeting now and again.
Before anyone really knew it, she was a regular contributor, then a member of staff – it was a natural process.
The bane of her life was computers – they had just begun appearing in newspaper offices – and she could not make head nor tail of them; nor did she want to.
No matter how simple the programme was, she found a way to crash it, and the computer, and sometimes all of the computers in the office! In fairness, she put her hands up every time for every computer crime.
Joan loved arguing, particularly with photographer Andy McGlynn – the two could always be relied upon to brighten up a slow afternoon in the office with their constant bickering over such monumental issues as who had eaten the last biscuit.
It was always in fun, and it was always fun to be there.
She was a thinking Catholic; she knew her own mind but was open-minded and non-judgemental (at least until she got onto her soapbox – she put her case well on the Late Late Show several times)
Joan was unflappable until someone really got up her nose – the only time she walked away from an advertising feature was when a businessman ignored her pointedly and repeatedly for an hour before telling her that his time was valuable.
She told him in no uncertain terms that her time was just as valuable – that was one piece that never got written.
For more than a decade we were a tight-knit team but when Southside moved offices, first to Rathfarnham and then to Santry, Joan decided that she had done enough.
We stayed in touch and until Andy McGlynn passed away there was an annual get-together for coffee, Christmas presents and memories, often in Bewley’s, Stillorgan.
Joan Lombard was a close friend and a great colleague – she will be remembered fondly by all who knew her.
Joan passed away peacefully at home on Monday, February 22.
She was cremated at the Victorian Chapel, Mount Jerome, Harold’s Cross, following a service at the Church of St Thérése, Mount Merrion.
She is survived by husband Paddy, children John, Annette, Julie and Greg, grandchildren Angie and Jake, sister Margaret and brother Martin.