Ladies’ pond at Hampstead Heath was closed this week. Inset: Sussie Ahlburg

Published: 8 August, 2013
by PAVAN AMARA and ALICE HUTTON

THE grief-stricken husband of an elite photographer found dead in Hampstead Heath’s ladies’ pond has paid tribute to his “fantastic but modest” wife.

Mother-of-two Sussie Ahlburg, 50, died after going for a swim on Sunday. Police divers were called in after she failed to return home and she was discovered on Monday afternoon.

Her husband Andy Keate told the New Journal: “We miss her already. My children are too young to lose a parent. She was a fantastic mother, she loved our children so much and they love her.

“She was a wonderful woman, but she was also modest and very humble with it. We’re still coming to terms with it and trying to make sense of everything.”

Mr Keate’s comments came after a wave of tributes from the world of art and photography, and those she had photographed.

One colleague described Ms Ahlburg as having the “sweetest soul”, capable of injecting magic into her work and inspiring others.

Detectives remained at the pond with police dogs yesterday (Wednesday). Officers say they are treating the death as unexplained and still want possible witnesses to come forward so they  can  piece  together how the tragedy unfolded.

Ms Ahlburg met Mr Keate when they were students at the Central St Martin’s College of Art. They set up home in Holborn bringing up a son and daughter, now in their early 20s.

She commanded huge respect within her industry and had seen her work published in national newspapers and famous magazines, including Vogue. Ms Ahlburg, who was born in Stockholm, also worked widely with artists and independent craftspeople to help photograph and showcase their work.

Friends remembered as a photographer with “a genuine love” for her work, “a lively, personal touch” whose personality reflected the “authentic simplicity” of her work.

Her love of the visual began at the age of seven when a doctor discovered she was severely shortsighted and prescribed glasses.

Jewellery designer Isabelle Busnel wrote in a blog: “This was a revelation for her. She had spent the first seven years of her life thinking the world was blurry and suddenly discovered what it meant to see the world clearly.”
The photographer worked closely with designers at Holborn’s Cockpit Arts, who said yesterday how they were “shocked and saddened” to hear of her death.

Josie Ballin, who is head of PR and marketing at the Northington Street studio, said Ms Ahlburg’s colleagues were still “trying to make sense of what’s happened”.

She said: “Sussie photographed design and craft pieces for many of the designer-makers here. She had worked with some designers for over 15 years and played an important part in their creative work. She lived nearby, so she would come here often and was very involved with the creative community.

“It is clear that everybody thought a huge amount of her. She had become a friend to some of our designers. In my experience, Sussie was extremely generous, kind-spirited and very creative.”

Designer Karen Henriksen, who worked with Ms Ahlburg for seven years, said: “Sussie created so many wonder­ful and memorable images for me.

“She gave both her time and her creativity generously, and her support and dedica­tion to tiny businesses such as mine was well known throughout London’s designer-maker community.

“Every photo shoot was a joy, thanks to her endless cheerfulness and enthusiasm, and I will miss her enormously.”
She said Ms Ahlburg “lived to enjoy life, not to work through life”.

Ms Henriksen said: “She must have had her ups-and-downs as everyone does, but I never saw her any way but enthusiastic, cheerful and brimming with ideas. If for some reason we had no professional model for a shoot, I knew that Sussie would work perfectly with anyone in front of her.”

Anna Perring, who studied with Sussie at art college, had worked with her since 2008. She met her again through Cockpit Arts and said working with her was “always comfortable”.   
                                                            
“She was the sweetest soul and the most independent of spirits,” said Ms Perring.

“It’s impossible to sum her up. Whether you were having a cup of tea with her, at her Christmas drinks party or working with her she brought her easygoing, comforting nature to whatever she did. She had an exquisite sensibility and an artist’s instinct.

“I feel so lucky to have had her help in building my brand. She was a delight to work with and I shall miss her acutely, though her images will surround me always.”

Sue Hudson, who is artistic manager at Young Classical Artists Trust in Westminster, said the “terrible tragedy had deeply affected” the artists Ms Ahlburg had worked with.

She said: “Her photographs were amazing, but Sussie had a way about her.

She could put our artists at ease, even during very intense times, when they were nervous about an audition perhaps.

She was very natural and very real, she was focused about her work but was also relaxed, and that got people’s trust.

“The young people aren’t so at ease around everyone, but it was as if they were picking something up about her, that they could trust her. She launched many young careers. The word you will hear about her over and over again from everybody, regardless of age, is that she was genuine. She was an expert at bringing the personality out in people.”

A spokesman for the BBC Philharmonic, for which Ms Ahlburg had taken photographs, said: “She was an incredible talent and a warm and generous person.”

A post-mortem examination was scheduled to take place at St Pancras mortuary this week with the opening of an inquest to follow.

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said it was expecting a report from Camden Council and would be working with police on a joint investigation.

The New Journal has reported how lifeguards had to plunge into the mixed ponds on Hampstead Heath to save swimmers on 12 occasions on a Saturday in July as the heatwave brought more than 6,000 people a day to the three bathing ponds.

Heath swimming chief Paul Jeal said of staffing on Sunday: “The lifeguards were in their correct numbers and were on duty and as far as we are aware nothing untoward was reported.”

A report on the Kenwood Ladies’ Pond Association website read: “At present it seems likely this was a sad accident but KLPA committee know no more than can be gleaned from newspapers. The pond has been closed while investigations continue. If you should find it closed please be patient.”

Detective Sergeant Trevor Plumb, from Camden CID, said: “Sussie’s death is being treated as unexplained but we are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen her around the ladies’ pond during Sunday.

“Sussie was wearing a white Speedo swimming hat, blue transparent prescription swimming goggles and dark navy/black tankini.

“She would have travelled to the pond using her folding black Brompton bicycle.”

The City of London Corporation, which manages the Heath, said: “Our thoughts go out to the family and friends who have been affected by this news.”