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July - August 2016
MODERN QUARRYING
3
AROUND THE
INDUSTRY
EDITOR’S
COMMENT
T
his month, I’d like to dedicate my column
to Jenny Warwick, the founder of Crown
Publications who passed away on 2 June,
after a long battle with illness.
She was a phenomenal human being and a
phenomenal publisher who supported me in every
way possible. When I joined Crown some 12 years
back, she welcomed me with open arms and sup-
ported and encouraged every move I made (some
of which were new and strange to the Crown phi-
losophy at the time). She encouraged me in start-
ing up two quarterly magazines – one of which
is
Modern Quarrying
– and she took the financial
risk and jumped in guns blazing. For that, I can
never thank her enough, and I wish that I had. I
was always so proud of her; she was an incredible
mentor, tough when she needed to be, but kind in
every possible way.
She loved life and she loved her Crown family
so much. I always remember trying to dash past
her office before she noticed (she really believed
in an open door policy in every way). And inev-
itably she’d call me back for a chat, or to replace
my chewed off lipstick with a dash of her own!
She always said that whenever one was sad or
stressed, lipstick was the solution; I’ll never forget
that particularly as she loved pink. which was not
my colour.
What an incredible life she led. Born in 1944
in Bedfordview, Jenny attended Jeppe Girls’ High
School from which she matriculated at the age of
16. She then joined Anglo American, where she
was personal secretary to one of the top execu-
tives. She spent a number of years in the London
office of the company. On returning to SA, she
worked with her first husbandWilliam Smith at Star
Schools, helping him run the business and looked
after their two children David and Lee-Ann.
After her divorce, Jenny spent some time at
Braby’s before she joined Avonwold Publishing
where she was a director from 1978-1986. She
left there to form her own B2B publishing com-
pany, Crown Publications, and once her business
was successful, turned her attention to the indus-
try as a whole. She served as a board member on
the Specialist Press Association from 1998-2000,
a board member of the Magazine Publisher’s
Association from 2000-2003 and was chairman of
the Pica Awards (for excellence in magazine pub-
lishing) from 1998-2003.
Jenny was as active in her personal life as she
was in business. She was a founder member of the
Bedfordview Tudor Rose Ladies Club and an active
member of the Housewives League.
From 1997-1995 she served Bedfordview in the
following roles: Town Councillor, Mayor, Deputy
Mayor and Deputy Chairman of the Management
Committee. She also held portfolios in Electrical
Engineering, Library Services, Health, Investments,
Environment, Parks and Recreation. From 1990-
1992 she was part of the negotiating team
involved in the amalgamation of the City Council
of Germiston and the town councils of Kathlehong,
Palm Ridge and Bedfordview; and from 1992-1994,
was a City Councillor on the Germiston Transitional
Council. In 2001, Jenny was awarded the Paul Harris
Award for her contribution to the community.
Jenny really loved life. With her husband John,
she loved laughing, entertaining, good food and
socialising. She was a consummate cook and enter-
tainer and was famous for her voluble dinners;
her recipes and good cheer being legend. She
enjoyed travelling around the world with family
and friends, and particularly enjoyed long week-
ends in the bush with close friends. She adored and
was exceptionally proud of her children and three
grandchildren.
It is impossible to do her dauntless spirit jus-
tice as she truly had energy enough to power a city.
Some people touch our lives briefly, while others
leave a lasting impression and are never forgotten.
Jenny is one of those.
The song is ended
– but the melody lives on
JennyWarwick
24 January 1944 – 2 June 2016
Founder and former publisher of
Crown Publications, Jenny Warwick.