The whole team at SDF were extremely saddened to hear of the recent passing of one of our much-valued peer volunteers, Gary Fairclough.
Gary had been volunteering with Scottish Drugs Forum since 2021, and his passing has left a deep sense of shock and sadness across the organisation. Over the past NEARLY five years, he became an important part of our community, and he was genuinely cared for and respected by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
He brought so much to his volunteering role- approaching everything with warmth, curiosity, and compassion. As part of the research team, Gary was involved in several projects, helping to shape the work and spending time speaking with people who use substances and related services. He had a natural gift for connecting with others, always taking the time to listen, showing patience, kindness, and a quiet understanding that meant a great deal to those he spoke with. Gary’s willingness to learn and be involved stood out to all of us. He embraced every opportunity, whether through training, contributing to the development of e-learning, or attending events and conferences.
More than anything, Gary will be remembered for the way he made people feel- valued, heard, and understood. His presence brought a calmness and sincerity that is hard to put into words, and his loss is deeply felt by all of us. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.
Below are some thoughts and experiences from staff and volunteers who worked with Gary.
“I really can’t emphasise enough how much we valued having Gary on our volunteer team. I always found him to be incredibly insightful, warm and thoughtful and I know everyone else at SDF feels the same.” – Samantha Stewart
“Gary has always been a massive part of the team at SDF and I learned so much from him over the years. He was a kind soul who would go out of his way to support others. He had a warmth and positivity that lit up every room he walked into and he will be deeply missed by us all” – Hannah Sinclair
“It’s been a pleasure of working alongside Gary for the last year and a half, he was an insightful, gentle spirited and deeply compassionate team member who will be dearly missed” – Nicola Abson
“Gary also provided a thoughtful, nuanced, and much-needed perspective on substance-related issues in his work with the e-learning team. His dedication to this work was matched by his generosity to staff and other volunteers alike.” – Eleanor Martin
“Gary was one of our longest serving volunteers, being involved in many projects over the years as well as supporting staff recruitment contributing to interview panels. His impact on the field was significant, having been at the forefront of gathering people’s experiences of treatment and support and contributing to many consultations and lived experience panels. Gary was incredible to work with; he always took the time to share a thoughtful reflection and acknowledge the good he saw around him. It was a real privilege to know him and work alongside him, and he will truly be missed” – Katy MacLeod
All the staff and volunteers at SDF would like to pass on our sincerest condolences and thoughts to Gary’s beloved family and friends at this difficult time.