My brother Colin Mckay, who has died aged 63 after suffering a stroke, was a social worker and a skilled trade union negotiator with a strong sense of justice and equality. He was particularly proud of helping to set up children's advocacy services in Wales.
Colin was born in Liverpool and grew up in the new town of Kirkby. Good at school, he enjoyed fishing on the Leeds and Liverpool canal, where he cultivated a love of nature. He studied English literature and geography at Keele University. In Hackney, east London, in 1971 he joined the Claimants' Union and the Squatters' Union, and was a McKenzie friend – a volunteer who accompanies a litigant to court. In 1974, as a Liverpool Free Press volunteer he helped investigate the scandal surrounding the construction of an artificial ski slope in Kirkby.
Colin and his wife, Karen, had a son, Liam, in 1980. A member of the Socialist Workers party since 1979, Colin campaigned with the Anti-Nazi League in Bristol. During the 1980 riots he was working at the Inkworks community centre in St Paul's, a suburb of Bristol. Qualifying as a social worker, he moved to Runcorn new town in 1984 for a social services post, later specialising in children's services.
In 1990 Caitlin, his daughter with his partner, Vicki, was born. From 2001, he grew vegetables and nurtured livestock in north Wales, and learned Welsh. He became principal officer in Wrexham Children's Services and in 2005 joined the Welsh Assembly Social Services Inspectorate in Cardiff.
In his role as professional adviser to the Welsh assembly on youth justice, children's residential care and children's advocacy, Colin helped to develop government policy. He attended meetings of the Youth Justice Board, working alongside judges, researchers, youth justice workers and prison officers. Fair-minded, he was always prepared to listen to opposing points of view (especially if there was a bottle of wine involved). In 2009 he retired, to serve on industrial tribunals.
He loved horse racing ("It's where all the classes mix") and travelling, especially to France and Spain.
In 2011, he became godfather to Grace, his deceased sister Maureen's granddaughter, and would sing her Spanish revolutionary songs. He also found great happiness with his partner, Sue. She survives him, along with Liam, Caitlin and his stepdaughter, Molly; his granddaughter, Olivia; and his siblings, Michael, me, Kevin, Annette and Patricia. Reported by guardian.co.uk 3 days ago.
Colin was born in Liverpool and grew up in the new town of Kirkby. Good at school, he enjoyed fishing on the Leeds and Liverpool canal, where he cultivated a love of nature. He studied English literature and geography at Keele University. In Hackney, east London, in 1971 he joined the Claimants' Union and the Squatters' Union, and was a McKenzie friend – a volunteer who accompanies a litigant to court. In 1974, as a Liverpool Free Press volunteer he helped investigate the scandal surrounding the construction of an artificial ski slope in Kirkby.
Colin and his wife, Karen, had a son, Liam, in 1980. A member of the Socialist Workers party since 1979, Colin campaigned with the Anti-Nazi League in Bristol. During the 1980 riots he was working at the Inkworks community centre in St Paul's, a suburb of Bristol. Qualifying as a social worker, he moved to Runcorn new town in 1984 for a social services post, later specialising in children's services.
In 1990 Caitlin, his daughter with his partner, Vicki, was born. From 2001, he grew vegetables and nurtured livestock in north Wales, and learned Welsh. He became principal officer in Wrexham Children's Services and in 2005 joined the Welsh Assembly Social Services Inspectorate in Cardiff.
In his role as professional adviser to the Welsh assembly on youth justice, children's residential care and children's advocacy, Colin helped to develop government policy. He attended meetings of the Youth Justice Board, working alongside judges, researchers, youth justice workers and prison officers. Fair-minded, he was always prepared to listen to opposing points of view (especially if there was a bottle of wine involved). In 2009 he retired, to serve on industrial tribunals.
He loved horse racing ("It's where all the classes mix") and travelling, especially to France and Spain.
In 2011, he became godfather to Grace, his deceased sister Maureen's granddaughter, and would sing her Spanish revolutionary songs. He also found great happiness with his partner, Sue. She survives him, along with Liam, Caitlin and his stepdaughter, Molly; his granddaughter, Olivia; and his siblings, Michael, me, Kevin, Annette and Patricia. Reported by guardian.co.uk 3 days ago.