My father, Stephen Duckworth, who has died aged 85, dedicated much of his life to supporting the provision of social housing, economic justice and local community causes in North Kensington, London. He was a quiet, gentle man, described as “secretly brilliant” and a respected leader by colleagues and friends.
Stephen was best known for his time as finance director of the National Housing Federation, from 1982 to 2002, playing a crucial role in guiding the introduction of private finance to the sector in the late 1980s.
In 2014, he was presented with the Kensington and Chelsea mayor’s award for services to the community, which included his work on social housing. After the Grenfell fire disaster he was part of a successful attempt to persuade the borough to adopt a charter for resident engagement, so that marginalised voices could be heard.
It was typical of his forward thinking that he was part of the Haslemere declaration in the late 60s, which put forward radical ideas to end world poverty. Voluntary board roles included the Association of Charitable Foundations, the Pensions Trust and the Kensington Housing Trust.
Born in Colne, Lancashire, the eldest of the three children of Brenda (nee Stoate) and Edwin Duckworth, who was responsible for sales and administration at the Duckworth jam factory, Stephen was educated at Bootham school in York and studied economics at King’s College, Cambridge, in the late 50s. He spent the holidays delivering jam for the family business.
On moving to London in the 60s, Stephen worked as an accountant for Peat Marwick, for the National Ports Council as an accountant and auditor and as finance director at Paddington Churches Housing Association. In 1964 he joined Notting Hill Methodist Church, which was set up after the race riots to bring the community together. There he used his financial acumen to ensure church assets supported low-income families. More recently, he co-produced a book, The Caribbean Contribution: Stories from Notting Hill Methodist Church, that celebrated local residents of Caribbean heritage.
Stephen married Moira Harvey, a teacher, in 1967; they divorced in the mid 90s, but remained friends. He was an avid collector throughout his life, beginning with stamps and political badges, then focusing on religious Staffordshire pottery. He wrote a key book on the subject, Victorian Staffordshire Pottery Religious Figures: Stories on the Mantelpiece (2017) and later donated his collection to the Potteries Museum in Stoke-on-Trent.
Travelling was another passion and Stephen was always off on adventures around the world. His particular love of Crete and a growing interest in art led him to chart the drawings and paintings that Edward Lear made on his travels through Greece and the surrounding region. Following retirement he became an expert in the field and gave lectures on the subject.
Stephen is survived by his daughters, Anita and me, and his three grandchildren.
