David Morris, a LOCOG staff member, friend and colleague in the Diversity & Inclusion team passed away at the weekend. We are all still shocked and saddened by his death. Dave was an outstanding individual in every sense.
He was a wonderful team member and raised us all up.
He was brilliant and challenging. Can we do better? Can we go further? Can we truly push past our personal best?
He was a lifelong advocate of greater inclusion for everyone. To be in a meeting with Dave was to learn.
To learn that inclusion didn’t just mean ramps for disabled people and additional milestones on a planning sheet. Rather, that inclusion, real inclusion, meant creating environments that worked for all people.
That to do so was not only moral, but practical.
That a straight, white man, who wouldn’t even know what Diversity & Inclusion meant, would also be included, because no-one was excluded.
To know that parents with buggies could benefit from accessible walkways.
To know that elderly people who would never consider themselves disabled could benefit from thoughtfully placed seating.
To know that whoever you were, our thinking would account for you and our sincere desire would be to include you.
David, 51, a lifelong champion of disability rights and inclusion for all, was External Access and Inclusion Coordinator in LOCOG’s Diversity and Inclusion team. He had been on secondment from the Greater London Authority since last year. He led on our external access and inclusion work and was committed to ensuring all of our clients had a great experience at Games-time. In particular, he pioneered the "Paralympic Inclusive Environment" which garnered widespread support across LOCOG and beyond.David was a regular blogger on the London 2012 website and he would have approved of this attempted blog now.
WH Auden said “you owe it to all of us to get on with what you’re good at”. It was one of Dave’s favourite quotes and he lived it to the fullest.
David was hugely inspirational - he challenged us all and made a big impact on me, on LOCOG and on London 2012.
Our resolve is stronger as a result of his passing.
We must ensure his legacy.
Very hard to find the right words except to say that Dave will be missed by so many of us. He taught me about the importance of not being afraid to challenge rhetoric and piecemeal progress when such high levels of prejudice and inaccessibility remain. In his memory we could all do more to deliver the work we shared and which we now continue without him. Frances McAndrew
David set up and Chaired the GLA family's Disability Network. As others have stated, he was an inspiration and a true leader in terms of getting disability onto the mainstream agenda. His role with LOCOG was probably one of the best opportunities for him to show everyone - particularly the critics - just how much could be done if people were committed to something more than just lip service.
His integrity in highlighting the embarrassment of the UK's historic involvement in Eugenics long before Adolf Hitler thought it was a good idea too made some people highly uncomfortable with his direct approach to dealing with such deeply worrying issues. Not stating such things would be a sell out denial that didn't suit David's way of doing things however. For those who knew him best, this quality was absolutely respected.
David's musical, art, film and photographic work were all other impassioned aspects of his hectic but fruitful life.
I shall miss him terribly and I know many other public service workers, artists and disability activists who will share that immense sense of loss.
Tim Hoy
Communications and Recruitment Officer GLA Disability Network
Chair Disability Working Group - London Fire Brigade
UK Secretary - International Register of Firefighters with Diabetes
Like everyone else I am stunned by the suddenness of Dave’s departure, such a shock, and what a loss to us all. Dave has been a real inspiration and help to those of us working to promote inclusive design in London. He was challenging and dynamic and when the world’s apathy or my own personal doubts intervened his ‘yes you can’ approach would galvanise me into action and enthusiasm again. I shall miss him hugely, but won’t stop doing my best to make London more accessible - that’s the least I can do as a thank you for his support , commitment and hard work to make London a better place for us all. Julie Fleck