Disability Rights UK are sad to announce the recent passing of a former member of staff, John Stanford.
Tributes for John’s work - He will be sadly missed.
“I was so very sorry to hear about John's death. I was CEO of Radar from 2007 and have known John since then. He made an incalculable contribution to disabled people's opportunities and independence over several decades - in the areas of housing, accessibility and mobility.
We were delighted when, after he retired, he came back to work with us on a more part-time basis.
One of the major projects he worked on was the National Key Scheme - enabling millions of disabled people to use accessible toilets all round the country. He helped set the scheme up way back in the 1970s, and then - with huge commitment - updated the database of where the toilets are, so disabled people could go out confident that there was an accessible toilet they could use.
At Disability Rights UK (the successor organisation to Radar) we continue to draw on John's work every day - for instance, promoting guides to where the toilets can be found, based on his meticulous work to track them down.
We are all so sorry and send our deepest condolences to the family."
Liz Sayce, CEO of Disability Rights UK
“John was one of the pillars of RADAR. He handled work on access and on holidays. He was the editor of the successful annual Holiday Guide that RADAR published. He had a delightful dry sense of humour but brought intellect and integrity to everything he did. I have very fond memories of him. It can be said that he made a positive difference to the lives of many disabled people.”
Sir Bert Massie CBE, DL, former CEO of Radar
John's funeral will be at 3pm on Monday 21 December at the City of London Crematorium (Aldersbrook Rd, Manor Park, London E12 5DQ).
There will be a reception afterwards in the Golden Fleece pub nearby.
John's family have requested that, instead of flowers, donations be made to Disability Rights UK.