A tribute to John Ramsey

John Ramsey died this month after a heroic battle with cancer. With his passing the volunteering movement has lost one of its brightest, most passionate and trusted colleagues.

John was the embodiment of all that was good about our sector; a fiercely independent spirit, an unbending commitment to social justice, and a profound belief in the capacity of individuals to make a difference to the lives of others.

While he started off in law, he soon found his true vocation, and for the next 20 years he dedicated his working life to volunteering. He had done it all – a stint as a volunteer in Africa, chief executive of Student Volunteering England, trustee of Volunteering England, judge of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and, perhaps the role for which he will be most remembered, senior manager in the Volunteering Team at Age Concern, later Age UK.

It was his contribution to volunteer management and his demand for it to be taking seriously as a profession, that will be John’s most enduring legacy. He was the moving force behind the creation of the Association of Volunteer Managers, and its first chair, and was one of the most articulate and forceful exponents of that all too often overlooked truism, that behind almost all exceptional volunteering experiences lies an exceptional volunteer manager.

He had exceptional gifts himself. He was a great speaker, happy to speak off the cuff without notes, long before it became de rigueur in trendy political circles, and a formidable debater, combining a forensic eye for detail (the product no doubt of that legal training) with an enviable grasp of the bigger picture. He was also a fine writer and has left behind some profound thoughts on the challenges and, of course, opportunities (John was at heart a true optimist) facing our movement. But it was his people skills, and his ability to relate to, and inspire, all that he came into contact with, that was his greatest asset, and which made him such a brilliant volunteer organiser and manager.

And with me there was always another very personal connection; our mutual obsession with Watford Football Club. I remember with great fondness many a conference we were at together, finding a corner where we could share news about the goings on at our beloved Vicarage Road. Transfer deadline day just won’t be the same without being able to gossip with John about who Watford might sign, or more usually who they were going to have to sell to make ends meet.

We talked often about our respective desire to write the next great Nick Hornby-esque novel along the lines of ‘Watford defined (or probably more to the point ruined) my life’.

If I ever get around to writing mine then I will be sure to dedicate it to my dear friend John.

Thanks mate.

He leaves behind his much loved wife, Diane and daughter Heidi, the apple of his eye.