Janet Lusk

Janet Theodora Lusk (27 April 1924 – 20 June 1994) was a Scottish social worker who was a pioneer of social care in Scotland, Director of the Guild of Service (1962 – 1984) and the first female Convener of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (1984 – 1990).

Early life Janet Lusk was born in Oxford on 27 April 1924. She was the fifth and youngest child of Mary Theodora Colville and her husband, Reverend David Colville Lusk (1881–1960). Her father was ordained in the United Free Church, and at the time of her birth, was the Chaplain to the Presbyterian members of the University of Oxford. One of her siblings was Rev Dr Mary Irene Levison (1923–2011). Her family relocated to Edinburgh when her father became minister at West Coates Church. She attended St Leonard's School, St Andrews until 1942, and then joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service. After the war she studied French and Spanish at the University of Edinburgh, followed in 1956 with a post-graduate qualification in child care from the University of Birmingham.

On retiring she was appointed Convener of Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, the first woman to hold the position. She continued in the role until 1990.

Later life The family grave in Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh where Janet Lusk and her sister Mary Levison are interred. In the 1970 Birthday Honours, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to child care.

Lusk died in Edinburgh on 20 June 1994 following a car accident. She left a bequest to St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh, where she had been an Elder. Her bequest was used to restore the church's 19th century pipe organ.