Andrew Popp of the University of Liverpool has written the following appreciation:
Francesca . . . was amongst the most talented of her generation of business and economic historians. Having taken her PhD at the London School of Economics Francesca went on to obtain a post in the Department of History at the University of Birmingham. She published many books,chapters, and articles on a range of subjects, from European banking to industrial districts, trade associations, social capital, and the British and American jewellery industries. Most recently she had been working with Dr Lucy Newton of the University of Reading on the production, marketing, and consumption of household goods in Britain. Her work always displayed the highest qualities of historical scholarship; rigorous, clear-sighted and elegantly written.For more of Andrew's eulogy, please see the EBHA Facebook site. It is also posted on a memorial blog set up by the Association of Business Historians. In addition, a site has been created where donations may be made to Cancer Research UK in honor of Francesca. The Department of History at the University of Birmingham has posted a memorial notice as well.
Francesca also always showed great collegiality, serving for many years on the Council of the Economic History Society and on its Executive Committee as Chair of the Women’s Committee. She was responsible for organizing the annual conference of the Economic History Association in 2002 and of the Association of Business Historians in 2008. . . . In so many ways her passing will be a great loss to the international business and economic history communities.