Rahul Patel

Dear Jayne and Croydon UNISON,
I was deeply shocked and upset to hear the news of Malcolm's death.
I want to especially pass my condolences to Jane, Malcolm's family and friends.
I got to know Malcolm when he became branch secretary of Croydon UNISON. I did not get to know much of his other life except as a fellow Chelsea supporter.
For me, Malcolm was one of the best branch secretaries in London UNISON. It would be a cliché to say that he fought tirelessly for his trade union members and justice but this was seriously true.
He was a extremely approachable, sympathetic, compassionate, warm and tender person and always humorous in difficult and dire circumstances.
Malcolm was a socialist and he stuck to his socialist principals not only in talk but also in deed.
Malcolm and I most recently worked together in the campaign to thwart the BNP establishing in Croydon and he came up trumps in contacting people when we at late notice had to mobilise against the BNP demonstration.
Malcolm was a committed anti-racist and over the years when I got to know him, as a fellow branch secretary, we discussed at length how to effectively to challenge racism and also sort the best ways to put this into action.
I will miss Malcolm terribly. With the rest of the trade union and socialist movement in Croydon I wish to salute Malcolm as one of the best.
Rahul Patel
ex-Branch Secretary Westminster UNISON
Lambeth Socialist Workers Party