Deborah Bone


Deborah Louise Bone was a British mental health nurse who created the Brainbox, co-created Step2 and who became the subject of the Pulp song "Disco 2000", written by her close friend Jarvis Cocker.

Early years

Bone was born in Sheffield, England, where her mother was friends with the mother of Jarvis Cocker, later a founder member of Pulp. When Bone was 10, her family moved to Letchworth, but she and Cocker remained friends.
At the age of 16, she began volunteering at Fairfield Hospital in Stotfold.
She was the subject of Cocker's song "Disco 2000", released in 1995, in which he sang:
Cocker performed the song at her 50th birthday party.

Career

Bone qualified as a mental health nurse, eventually working for Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust as a service manager for early intervention and adolescent mental health service. While there, she set up their 'Step2 health' service as well as the Brainbox, which was created as a way to assist young people dealing with stress.
It was announced in the 2015 New Year's honours list that she had been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for "her services to children’s mental health".

Death

Bone was affected by the bone marrow cancer multiple myeloma. She died at home on 30 December 2014, just eleven days short of her 52nd birthday in 2015 and the day her MBE was announced, and was survived by her husband Colin and two daughters..