• WE write to pay tribute to our friend and comrade Ruairi McAleese, who has died, aged 40, after a short illness.

Ruairi was a nice and gentle person, a stalwart of the Labour Party, a community activist, and an accomplished civil servant, working as a lawyer in the Treasury.

For members of Camden Town with Primrose Hill Labour branch, Ruairi was a pillar of our organisation, whose role and contribution went far beyond his formal role of treasurer of the branch for many years.

He was always the first person to welcome new members with a smile, and was equally supportive of long-standing members with his historical knowledge, his humour and his generous nature.

Though politically restricted in campaigning, he was always ready to open his house as the committee room at any election and helped collecting data and organising the activities on polling day.

It is thanks to his experience and efforts that in 2014 Labour managed to return three councillors in the ward. And we are personally grateful to him for his support, advice, and friendship.

Ruairi was passionate about equality, and was committed to make Camden a better place; he was a school governor at Torriano primary, a director of Kentish Town Community Centre and was involved in many LGBT groups and campaigns.

But this simple list cannot really reflect the passion and commitment that he put in making a difference for the people of Camden and in promoting a fairer society.

Many members of the local community have expressed to us in the last few days their shock and sadness for this terrible loss.

Camden has lost a great community activist; we have lost an adviser, a comrade, and a very good friend. We would like to send our sincere condolences to his family and to his partner Andrew.

CLLR PAT CALLAGHAN,
CLLR RICHARD COTTON,
CLLR LAZZARO PIETRAGNOLI
Labour, Camden Town with Primrose Hill ward