The October 2013 issue of this Journal conveyed the news of the death of our Editor-in-Chief in the form of an immediate but warm and personal tribute by her close friend, Diana Mansour. We now publish a selection of the commissioned and spontaneous tributes to Anne that the Journal has received. These will, we hope, stand as a lasting memorial to our friend and colleague. With these appreciations of Anne, we also extend our commiserations for his sudden and completely unexpected loss to her husband, the journalist Lester Venter.

Anne became Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care in 2003. Her professional life, which combined running frontline sexual and reproductive health clinics at the Margaret Pyke Centre in London with innovative research into the prevention of cervical cancer with Cancer Research UK, made her the ideal person for this role. Her international reputation led to her being called upon to lecture widely. This gave her great opportunities for networking, resulting in her commissioning Journal articles from numerous British and world authorities and in the enhancement of our international Advisory Board. The quarterly meetings of the Journal's Editorial Board were conducted by Anne with tact and insight, so that we all felt part of the Journal family and deeply involved in a project that saw a remarkable increase in the Journal’s quality and international recognition during her editorship. One of our Associate Editors summed up Anne’s role so perfectly: she was our colleague, mentor and friend. We will all treasure fond memories of her.

David Horwell

Acting Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care