Mal was known to Lewisham councillors – by reputation and directly – as a well-liked and much respected officer, a highly committed and passionate youth worker and founding member of the Lewisham Young Mayor initiative. I worked with him on several projects over the years and he was always so passionate, full of ideas, totally committed to community development and to ensuring that young people’s voices were heard. He was also up for laugh and a bit of cheery banter when our paths crossed in Laurence House and elsewhere. I will miss him. His colleagues Katy and Jacob, and all the young people involved in Young Mayor’s initiative must be totally devastated by his death; my thoughts are with them as well as with his family. We have to take comfort from knowing that he died peaceful at home with his immediate family by his side, and with the love and respect of so many others.