Stephen Duckworth obituary
My father, Stephen Duckworth, who has died aged 85, dedicated much of his life to supporting the provision of social housing, economic justice and local community causes in North Kensington, London.He was a quiet, gentle man, described as “secretly brilliant” and a respected leader by colleagues and friends.Stephen was best known for his time as finance director of the National Housing Federation, from 1982 to 2002, playing a crucial role in guiding the introduction of private finance to the sector in the late 1980s.In 2014, he was presented with the Kensington and Chelsea mayor’s award for services to the community, which included his work on social housing.After the Grenfell fire disaster he was part of a successful attempt to persuade the borough to adopt a charter for resident engagement, so that marginalised voices could be heard.
It was typical of his forward thinking that he was part of the Haslemere declaration in the late 60s, which put forward radical ideas to end world poverty.Voluntary board roles included the Association of Charitable Foundations, the Pensions Trust and the Kensington Housing Trust.Born in Colne, Lancashire, the eldest of the three children of Brenda (nee Stoate) and Edwin Duckworth, who was responsible for sales and administration at the Duckworth jam factory, Stephen was educated at Bootham school in York and studied economics at King’s College, Cambridge, in the late 50s.He spent the holidays delivering jam for the family business.On moving to London in the 60s, Stephen worked as an accountant for Peat Marwick, for the National Ports Council as an accountant and auditor and as finance director at Paddington Churches Housing Association.
In 1964 he joined Notting Hill Methodist Church, which was set up after the race riots to bring the community together.There he used his financial acumen to ensure church assets supported low-income families.More recently, he co-produced a book, The Caribbean Contribution: Stories from Notting Hill Methodist Church, that celebrated local residents of Caribbean heritage.Stephen married Moira Harvey, a teacher, in 1967; they divorced in the mid 90s, but remained friends.He was an avid collector throughout his life, beginning with stamps and political badges, then focusing on religious Staffordshire pottery.
He wrote a key book on the subject, Victorian Staffordshire Pottery Religious Figures: Stories on the Mantelpiece (2017) and later donated his collection to the Potteries Museum in Stoke-on-Trent,Travelling was another passion and Stephen was always off on adventures around the world,His particular love of Crete and a growing interest in art led him to chart the drawings and paintings that Edward Lear made on his travels through Greece and the surrounding region,Following retirement he became an expert in the field and gave lectures on the subject,Stephen is survived by his daughters, Anita and me, and his three grandchildren.
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A prison officer has been sentenced to 15 months after having sex with an inmate at a London jail.Linda De Sousa Abreu, 30, of Fulham, south-west London, was charged after a video of the activity was shared on social media.A police investigation was launched after officers were made aware of a video filmed inside HMP Wandsworth. In the footage, an inmate off-camera can be heard saying: “This is how we live at Wandsworth, bruv.”De Sousa Abreu appeared at Isleworth crown court on Monday, where she was sentenced to 15 months in prison
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Record numbers of children in England jailed many miles from their families
Vulnerable children are being jailed many miles from their families at record levels, a Guardian investigation has found, prompting warnings that the government is breaking the law.The proportion of young people being detained in young offender institutions (YOIs) more than 100 miles from their home has doubled over the last decade to 15% – the highest since its peak at the height of the Covid pandemic.More than one in 10 of the young people in custody in England are being held at least 75 miles from their families, the highest since the Ministry of Justice began publishing the figures in April 2015.The closure of youth custody centres has resulted in fewer children being held close to their families. Charities and experts say having children in custody close to their families lessens their likelihood of reoffending
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Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a respiratory disease that causes flu or cold-like symptoms, but can increase risks or lead to more serious complications like bronchitis or pneumonia, particularly among the elderly, young children, and immunocompromised people.The disease is in the same family as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and has been around since at least 2001 when it was first identified in the Netherlands. Its outbreaks are concentrated during colder seasons.Cases have been surging in northern China, particularly among children, according to local authorities. The country’s centre for disease control (CDC) has warned people to take precautions with health and hygiene, but has also pushed back against online claims of overwhelmed hospitals and fears of another Covid-like pandemic
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