ITI WRG Pays Tribute to Anna George

Anna George
9 August 1960 – 4 February 2026

Anna Swoboda, as she was first known, joined the Western Regional Group (WRG) one year after I had joined its fledgling committee in 1988. Born in Bexleyheath, southeast London, Anna grew up near Gravesend, Kent, and attended the University of Sussex in Brighton. After running the regional office of a translation company in Bristol, she turned freelance, translating from Danish, Dutch, French, German and Italian. In 1991, she became WRG’s Secretary and then joint coordinator. Following the sudden death of her husband James (‘Jim’) George in 2005, she raised their sons, Harry and Michael, whilst continuing to translate and act as WRG coordinator, a role she carried out with great skill and dedication until 2016. Anna not only steered us through the technological changes in the profession, but also organised social events that ensured translators no longer felt isolated. She was also an enthusiastic participant in the ITI Walking Weekends. Anna was a most supportive colleague and her presence will be greatly missed in the Western Group.

Aletta Stevens MITI

Anna was one of the first people I got to know when I moved to Bristol over 20 years ago. She warmly welcomed me not only to the WRG, but also to her home where she hosted the WRG’s AGM in her cheerful, friendly way. I also had the pleasure of working with her on a translation project.

Anna was the coordinator of the WRG for 25 years and continued to be a supportive member of this group subsequently.

Here is a photo from the WRG’s visit to a wind farm. Anna is in the centre with her irrepressible smile, undaunted by the appropriately windy weather.

In the photo below, Anna is at the head of the table for our 2023 Christmas meal at Harbour House in Bristol:

Despite living with an intestinal condition, her positive resolve meant she continued to work and attend meet-ups. She also volunteered in her local area of Lockleaze and Horfield, and for Horfield Young People’s Club at Horfield Parish Church.

Anna became a great friend and I really appreciated her coming to listen to my choir performances. My most recent memory is a long bus ride on our return from a WRG lunch in Wells when we chatted about work and so many other things. Anna was a wonderful champion of languages and of her fellow linguists. She is, already, greatly missed.

Alison Hindley MITI

Anna was one of the first practising translators I met after joining ITI’s WRG as a fledgling translator in 2006. That was also the year I dipped my toe into the world of patent translation. Anna provided me with a glossary of patent terms, encouraging me to give it a go.

Anna was the point of contact between the WRG, the ITI office and various organisations, including universities. I have many positive memories of events organised under her stewardship, including a revision workshop, a work-life balance event and countless social gatherings.

After handing over the reins at a send-off with cake and bubbly on 23 January 2016, Anna remained a familiar face at ITI events. Her upbeat nature shone through in everything she did. She always was good company and her curiosity never dimmed. Only early last year, we spent several hours together in her office as she got to grips with Trados Studio.

In a recent email, Anna hinted at how much she was looking forward to retirement the following year after what had ‘for the most part been a very satisfying, rewarding and stimulating career’. She expressed her dismay at the upheaval the translation sector is undergoing due to AI.

Despite her ongoing health condition, Anna soldiered on with resilience, which is why the news of her passing came as a shock. She will be sorely missed in the WRG and will be remembered for her warm-heartedness, her dedication to the ITI community and her commitment to helping others.

Elisabeth Hippe-Heisler MITI