In 2005 David left Oasis to work at Max Roach Adventure Playground and with the family support team in Lambeth. Throughout this time he helped many young people and gained the respect and friendship of a whole host of colleagues and families.

In 2011 David joined our Inclusive Play project and in 2015 he returned to Oasis full time, as our Project Coordinator.  We worked together closely as senior managers, the two of us sharing ideas, thoughts, successes and difficulties. David brought a quiet confidence and commitment to his work.  He also brought wisdom, creativity and boundless positivity. 

I was always thankful for David’s loyalty and unwavering support. His ‘can do’ attitude was particularly helpful during times of struggle. I had utmost respect for David and his ability to engage with people – colleagues, children, young people, and families. He was genuinely interested in everyone – in an intelligent, caring and empathic way. He nurtured team members and encouraged them to explore their own ideas, interests, and abilities. He helped them to grow, as play workers and as people. David will be remembered by so many in Lambeth. For over 20 years he supported and guided young people, often through very challenging times in their lives, helping them to reach their goals and be the best they could be in an often unequal and unfair world.  

Meesey is a young woman who David worked with at Oasis and her words help to illustrate the impact David made:

“He saw me and recognised my struggle and my damage and how to remedy/fix it. And when he did, he taught me how to do that for others at such a young age. He gave kids a safe space to be themselves, to be kids in a world where we were forced to grow up too fast because some of the things we were going through. What he provided was priceless. Someone to talk to, a guide, letting emotions out in a healthy way. He sheltered us and put us all on the paths we were meant to be on and gave us all the tools we needed to survive and prosper. When we left he would never stop asking about us, still making sure we were ok when we were well into our adulthood.’

Through his work at Oasis, Touretteshero and Max Roach Adventure Playground in Lambeth, David championed the right of all children to play. He was passionate about how it improves lives. He did this by creating joyful inclusive play spaces where all children could flourish. David was a master of play work, skilled at engaging children of all abilities in exciting and challenging activities. He was intuitively responsive and encouraging with an apparent ease which generated deep respect and admiration. He could build meaningful relationships with young people he’d just met, and could instantly hold the attention of big groups of otherwise chaotic and excited children. His skill and knowledge was unsurpassed. I’ve received many thoughts about David from colleagues and friends who have known him over the years. I’d like to share a few with you now:

• He was a healer, and he healed so many of us and always strove to make the world a better place, especially for the young people he worked with.

• He was genuinely ambitious for young people and dedicated to creating the best possible opportunities for all.

• He had genuine and natural talent around children and the kindest, biggest heart. I fondly remember his cheeky smile, infectious happiness and ability to make just about anything fun. What an incredible and special person.

• He inspires me greatly to be a good father and playworker. He is my role model, my inspiration, bringing peace and community to all who cross his path.

• While his passing is a huge loss, I know his wisdom, energy, skill, love and friendship will have a lasting legacy with everyone who knew him.

David loved his work and was great at it, but above and beyond that, we all know how much he loved his family, how proud he was of his children Onyi, Onyeka, Bella and Nathaniel, and how much he adored and respected his wife, Chinasa.

“Legacy” is a very over-used word these days; it seems that everyone and everything has to have one – but with David, it’s true! He’s left behind a very real legacy, which will affect the way we do things at Oasis for many years to come. 

On a personal level, each of us who knew David and worked alongside him, whether things were going well or badly, will remember him with great affection. When all is said and done, however much you like your work, it’s the people that you meet in it that really matter. So colleagues like David are something very special – you don’t come across many of them, and when you do, they leave a lasting impression.

One of David’s favourite sayings, which I’ve been quoting a lot recently, is: ‘Better to light a candle that to complain about being in darkness.’ He told me this was something his father used to say. It’s a good proverb to remember at this difficult and sad time. 

David, we’re really going to miss you.