My father, Leslie Durham, who has died aged 87, committed his life to helping others through a career spent at Oxfam, a commitment to peace, and a dedication to his faith and Quaker values.
A keen artist who painted throughout his life, in 1957 he was asked to design and organise the production of Oxfam’s first Christmas cards, to test how useful they would be for raising funds. He said: “Nobody had time to think how successful they would be but it’s amazing to have been at the beginning of something that has ultimately raised millions of pounds to help people overcome poverty and suffering around the world.”
Born in Nelson, Lancashire, to Samuel Durham, an iron turner, and Rose (nee Ladell), Leslie went to the local further education college, where he studied art.
In 1952, after finishing college, he was called up for national service, but applied to be a conscientious objector. This was refused, as was his appeal, and he was sent to Walton jail in Liverpool.
Much later in life, these principles wedded to his stubbornness led Leslie to refuse an MBE honour offered to recognise his career at Oxfam. He never saw what he did as remarkable and he had no desire to think he was better than anyone else, particularly as he did not support the monarchy.
Following several weeks in prison and a year of working in a furniture shop he joined the Friends Ambulance Unit, and did a stint with the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief, which became Oxfam. In the spring of 1956 he went to Greece with the FAU. Stationed for a while in the Greek island of Zakynthos, he decorated an orphanage and painted a large mural.
On his return to the UK he worked at Oxfam’s first shop in Broad Street, Oxford. From there he was offered a paid position with the charity and from 1959 began managing shops across the country until his retirement in 1994.As well as making and selling paintings in aid of Oxfam, he also designed sets for an amateur dramatic group, where he met Anne Davies, who was working as a typist at the publisher Blackwell’s. They married at the Friends Meeting House in Oxford in 1959 and went on to have three children.
Leslie’s design skills and love of art were always part of his life, and his children and grandchildren all had creations on their birthdays, whether a hand-drawn card, a model, or a toy. In 2007, to mark the 50th anniversary of Oxfam Christmas cards, his original 1957 design was reproduced.
Leslie’s other great love was of the British countryside. He was a keen rambler and holidays were under canvas in the Yorkshire Dales, Northumbria, Scottish Highlands and, probably his favourite place, the Lake District.
He is survived by Anne, his children, Jean, Mike and me, and five grandchildren, Maisie, Peter, Matthew, Kate and Lydia.
