Dear Danny, I’m so sad that you’re gone. You were such a special person. I never even knew about the drummer until years later and it’s amazing seeing the photos friends are sharing now of you in that time. I remember you in a shirt and tie! From the times we worked together at DFID over the years. From policy division, to African Heads and then Geneva. At the World Health Assembly in Geneva last week I was thinking of you again and half expecting you to pop up with your grin. I’ll always think of you with that grin. We will all miss you. And your family the most. May you now rest in peace. Gwen …

Although we have not been in touch for many years, Danny is someone I think of often and I am so sorry to hear of his passing. Love to all those who are closest to him. I will forever be grateful to Danny for taking a chance on me and giving me my first job at Christian Aid. He was great to work with and every day I learned something new whilst having a lot of fun. Thank you Danny for teaching me it is OK to say no (no matter what the value of the gift) if the terms do not meet the ultimate goal. Thank you for leading the way on creative partnerships. Thank you for demonstrating how integrity enhances fundraising rather than constrains it.  It was no surprise to hear about all the amazing things Danny did after leaving CA. What a legacy he has left! I stuck around and continue to build upon the work he started, forging partnerships with principals. …

Dear Louise,  Rose, Jem and Elijah,    I first met Danny in DFID shortly after he joined; it must have been around 2007. He was leading a team working on private sector engagement. I was working for Minister Shriti Vadera at the time. This minister was rather formidable: she was fiercely intelligent and had high ambitions for the department- but not everyone enjoyed her working style, short deadlines and very high expectations. But she loved Danny and had endless meetings with him and his team as she knew that he “got it”: he had the mettle to cope with the pace and the demands, the good humour to deal with the spikes, the clarity of vision and purpose, the technical skills to deliver concrete results that made such a big difference to people’s lives, and the ability to protect and support his team.    When I look back at the generation of dfid folks of roughly the same age that grew together professionally and met up every so often between postings, Danny stands out. We all thought the world of him, his gentle but effective ways, his warmth. He was the epitomy of a kind man, with glitter in…

The day we found out that Danny died, this picture came up as a Facebook memory. Six years ago to the day, Louise, Danny, Jem, Rose and Elijah stayed with us for the weekend. The tragedy that a mere six years later we have lost Danny, so vibrant, warm and loving, is great. Matt and I are grief-stricken and thinking of Danny all the time. The photo was taken after a lovely walk in the Peak District, part of a lovely weekend, our two families together, after Danny and Louise’s return from Africa and shortly before they embarked on their next adventure, to Geneva. I remember it vividly because Danny and Louise were always great company.  When I first met Danny 25 years ago, it was at a party at my house. He came as Louise’s new partner, knowing none of Louise’s friends but braved meeting all of us (her university friends) in one go. Daunting for anyone but Danny took it all in his stride. He won us over within minutes. I remember asides with different members of our friendship group, all saying how great he was. For me, from that first meeting, he was my friend too….

I went to Knowles Hill Comprehensive School, Newton Abbot with Danny in the 80’s. It was a typical comprehensive, nothing special, if anything maybe a bit rough round the edges and my memories are of always being wet, in underheated class rooms traipsing through mud to classes. Danny stood out even then, as someone who seemed to have it all together. Above all my recollection was he was kind. Although he was ginger and had a mum teaching at the school (and therefore was that bit more ‘middle class’ than the rest of us) he never seemed to attract negative attention and got on with just about everybody. He was incredibly intelligent but humble with it, even at that age. Although I only just found out about his receiving an OBE, I am not suprised, if anybody from our school was ever going to (it was a big ‘if’ as well), it would be him. Good on yer Danny. I feel deeply sad you are no longer here…proud to have called you a friend. He was absolutley the best of us.  …

I was so sorry to hear the news of Danny’s passing. As everyone has said, he was a very special person. I worked with him in Ghana where he was an inspirational colleague and manager. He was smart, approachable and brought the best out in people. He loved his music, entertaining us all with the band, and he and Louise frequently opened their house to us. He will be missed by all those who knew him but his memory and influence will live on. …

I first worked with Danny 18 years ago as we were both in the AIDS team at DFID, he was and remained calm, compassionate, grounded and always had his eye on the bigger picture of impact and the greater good. It was a  privilege to work with him again many times, including our last trip to Ethiopia working on disease prevention with WHO Africa Region. As his roles got ‘larger’ and his impact touched more and more people’s lives he continued to really understand what needed to be done to improve health and well-being on the planet. Whilst doing that he remained clear, approachable and always supportive. He made a stressful situation easier to handle. He was an inspiration, lots of people wanted to work with him, were motivated by him and were inspired by him. Truly a life very very well lived. So sorry that you lost him so soon, Anne xxx…

Dear Danny, I always admired you at DFID and, far too briefly, WHO. You made an impression in my first days at DFID, effortlessly and hilariously joining practical and philosophical dots between our work and the wider world in the pub, and whenever our paths crossed I was struck by your warmth, insights, and drive to do the right thing. My thoughts are with your family, wishing you all kindness and strength….

I met Danny when we worked at Christian Aid and I was struck by his kindness, friendliness and sense of humour. I was heartbroken to hear he had passed away. Danny, his family and all his friends are in my thoughts and prayers.  With all my love, Catherine x   …

Louise, Elijah, Rose and Gem, I worked with Danny in various roles in DFID over the years. He touched so many people’s lives and left them all better. The world, and we, were so incredibly lucky that he graced us with his presence. He combined an incredible level of commitment and policy ambition with an amazing informality and care for people, which put people at their ease and won them over and earned incredible loyalty. So, I think of him as a gentle giant. Not a literal giant, but a metaphorical one, in his life, all for the better, using his stature to make the world a better place, but now tragically leaving this enormous hole and casting this huge shadow. I am so so sorry for you and the family. I don’t know you, but I bet that anybody married to, or the offspring of, Danny Graymore will find a way to keep going and be strong. Loads and loads of love. Keith…

Dear friend, so sad to know you went. I am sure you will be ready to restart our talks where we left them once I reach you where you are now. Hugs to you and your family….

(This is a repost of my message to the Graymore family on Facebook. More photos are on the original post here)   On Sunday, the world lost a soul so decent, a husband and father so devoted, a public servant so dedicated, and a friend so dear that I’m struggling to understand or accept the devastating news about Danny Graymore.   That someone who did so much good on this planet, who anchored with Louise such a remarkable family (one that my kids asked on multiple occasions to join), and who brought such unbridled joy and energy into all of our lives can be taken so cruelly by cancer at 52 is beyond comprehension.   I want to share Danny with those who didn’t know him, but I don’t feel adequate to capture the true measure of his life and development work in text. Thankfully Louise, who is such a gifted writer even in this moment of unspeakable loss, did so already. I’ll simply add a few cherished memories and photos…   …Danny, Louise and the Graymore clan as perfectly wonderful hosts to a myriad of gatherings at their Kampala, Uganda home. Photo from 2014 of Danny the Dad lighting…

Dear Danny, It was a pleasure to spend time in your company and to hear your thoughts on the world while you listened intently to those around you, whatever they had to say. I see that reflected in many of the tributes I read about you, from many different spheres of life.  To us, you were Dad to the friends of our children and you and Louise became our friends through them, to others you were so much more.  We will remember your presence, your smile and your wonderful company with all of our love.   …