In Memory of Murray Benham
... with tributes from The Guardian and the World Development Movement ...
... with tributes from The Guardian and the World Development Movement ...
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Murray Benham, Angeline Burke, Frances Presley, Roy Appleby
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Solomon Hughes
The Guardian
26 May 2009
The Guardian
26 May 2009
The last picture I have of my friend Murray Benham, who has died of a stroke aged 43, shows him dressed as a human globe on the G20 demos in April. Shortly afterwards he stepped down after four years as head of campaigns at the World Development Movement. At the WDM he fought for global justice and against neoliberalism, mixing public relations and grassroots mobilisation with the odd stunt where necessary - globes and all.
Murray grew up in Romford, Essex. His father was an architect and his mother a dance teacher. He struggled at Chase Cross comprehensive until he joined the Labour party. Discussions with members of the Labour left helped change him from troubled teenager to star pupil, winning a place at Dundee University, where he joined the Labour club. It was an era of battles against the poll tax and the BNP. He graduated in 1991 in philosophy and politics.
In the 1990s Murray built a career around his campaigning skills. He worked for the British Diabetic Association (1996-98), Breakthrough Breast Cancer (1998-2000) and the Stroke Association (1999-2000).
He then became chief campaigner for the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales. Shortly afterwards the government decided to abolish these councils, silencing criticism of its NHS market reforms. Murray helped the ACHCEW's fightback, talking to journalists and organising dog-suited demonstrators to make the case for health watchdogs.
The CHCs were abolished, but the Health Minister, Lord Hunt, conceded that Murray's campaign had affected him. After a spell as head of policy at the crime and mental health charity Revolving Doors (2003-04), Murray joined the WDM.
He was a warm host, an amateur DJ, an organiser of poker schools and a man who triggered spontaneous philosophical debates between his many friends. He is survived by his mother Jessie, father Roy and brother Martin.
Murray grew up in Romford, Essex. His father was an architect and his mother a dance teacher. He struggled at Chase Cross comprehensive until he joined the Labour party. Discussions with members of the Labour left helped change him from troubled teenager to star pupil, winning a place at Dundee University, where he joined the Labour club. It was an era of battles against the poll tax and the BNP. He graduated in 1991 in philosophy and politics.
In the 1990s Murray built a career around his campaigning skills. He worked for the British Diabetic Association (1996-98), Breakthrough Breast Cancer (1998-2000) and the Stroke Association (1999-2000).
He then became chief campaigner for the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales. Shortly afterwards the government decided to abolish these councils, silencing criticism of its NHS market reforms. Murray helped the ACHCEW's fightback, talking to journalists and organising dog-suited demonstrators to make the case for health watchdogs.
The CHCs were abolished, but the Health Minister, Lord Hunt, conceded that Murray's campaign had affected him. After a spell as head of policy at the crime and mental health charity Revolving Doors (2003-04), Murray joined the WDM.
He was a warm host, an amateur DJ, an organiser of poker schools and a man who triggered spontaneous philosophical debates between his many friends. He is survived by his mother Jessie, father Roy and brother Martin.
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Mass Lobby of Parliament 14th February 2000
Benedict Southworth
Director, World Development Movement
4 May 2009
The campaigning community is mourning the loss of Murray Benham who was WDM’s Head of Campaigns and Networks until April 2009, and passed away suddenly and tragically last week from a massive stroke.
Murray was a classic campaigner: outspoken, fearless, brave, and bright. He was in the great and proud tradition of working class men whose inherent sense of injustice leads them to dedicate their lives to the collective not the individual. He believed strongly that socialism was the best model to bring about equality, and was more than happy to bend your ear about this for hours over a pint. On top of being an enormously passionate advocate for social justice, Murray had also worked extensively in Media & Communications in his working life.
Having joined WDM in 2005 on a short term contract, he quickly found his ideals were well matched to our work and ended up staying for 4 years. During this time he oversaw the adaptation of our campaigns due to changes in media, social organising, and world leaders He also diversified the way WDM communicates with our supporters and the wider public by introducing the idea of cutting back on ‘development / policy’ speak, and using 10 words to describe something rather than our usual verbose style. In his last few months with us, Murray was one of the driving forces behind two principal and hugely successful events in the campaigning calendar, 6 Billion Ways (www.6billionways.org.uk) and Put People First (www.putpeoplefirst.org.uk).
Murray accepted with good humour the irony that having spent his youth proudly supporting the striking miners he spent his time at WDM trying to stop a new generation of coal fired power stations.
As a colleague in the Management Team, Murray was supportive, challenging, able to input from a cross team perspective and not afraid to ask the difficult questions. He was quick to see the humour in situations and didn’t mind the occasional jibe on his behalf. One thing he wasn’t fond of was financial management. We won’t forget his boundless enthusiasm for these types of meetings, where often the promise of a pub visit afterwards was required to sweeten the deal.
Murray is not the only loss we have suffered this year at WDM. In the last few months we have lost one of our founder members and a much loved stalwart of our Manchester group. These losses remind us of the long term commitment to our cause by supporters and staff; and that we must keep our voices strong in the fight against inequality and injustice to uphold their legacy.
A quote I know Murray would appreciate:
"There will always be a happy hour for those with money jobs and power,
They’ll never realise the hurt they cause to men they treat like dirt."
From Coal not Dole by Chumbawamba
Everyone at WDM extends their deepest sympathies to Murray’s family and friends during this difficult time. He will be sorely missed by all of us.
Director, World Development Movement
4 May 2009
The campaigning community is mourning the loss of Murray Benham who was WDM’s Head of Campaigns and Networks until April 2009, and passed away suddenly and tragically last week from a massive stroke.
Murray was a classic campaigner: outspoken, fearless, brave, and bright. He was in the great and proud tradition of working class men whose inherent sense of injustice leads them to dedicate their lives to the collective not the individual. He believed strongly that socialism was the best model to bring about equality, and was more than happy to bend your ear about this for hours over a pint. On top of being an enormously passionate advocate for social justice, Murray had also worked extensively in Media & Communications in his working life.
Having joined WDM in 2005 on a short term contract, he quickly found his ideals were well matched to our work and ended up staying for 4 years. During this time he oversaw the adaptation of our campaigns due to changes in media, social organising, and world leaders He also diversified the way WDM communicates with our supporters and the wider public by introducing the idea of cutting back on ‘development / policy’ speak, and using 10 words to describe something rather than our usual verbose style. In his last few months with us, Murray was one of the driving forces behind two principal and hugely successful events in the campaigning calendar, 6 Billion Ways (www.6billionways.org.uk) and Put People First (www.putpeoplefirst.org.uk).
Murray accepted with good humour the irony that having spent his youth proudly supporting the striking miners he spent his time at WDM trying to stop a new generation of coal fired power stations.
As a colleague in the Management Team, Murray was supportive, challenging, able to input from a cross team perspective and not afraid to ask the difficult questions. He was quick to see the humour in situations and didn’t mind the occasional jibe on his behalf. One thing he wasn’t fond of was financial management. We won’t forget his boundless enthusiasm for these types of meetings, where often the promise of a pub visit afterwards was required to sweeten the deal.
Murray is not the only loss we have suffered this year at WDM. In the last few months we have lost one of our founder members and a much loved stalwart of our Manchester group. These losses remind us of the long term commitment to our cause by supporters and staff; and that we must keep our voices strong in the fight against inequality and injustice to uphold their legacy.
A quote I know Murray would appreciate:
"There will always be a happy hour for those with money jobs and power,
They’ll never realise the hurt they cause to men they treat like dirt."
From Coal not Dole by Chumbawamba
Everyone at WDM extends their deepest sympathies to Murray’s family and friends during this difficult time. He will be sorely missed by all of us.
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