It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Malcolm John Moran-Ellis (Ellis), a man who was gentle, kind, and profoundly loved by his friends and family. Malcolm lived a life marked by his love of music, a passion for teaching, and his unique sense of humour.

To his children – Matthew, Rebecca, and Sam – he was a warm, kind and loving dad, whose guidance as a father underpinned his gift of friendship to us as we reached adulthood. His kindness and generosity were never a performance; it was the quiet, steady rhythm of his presence. He modelled resilience, empathy and integrity throughout our childhood, and the people we are today is a testament to his influence.

Known to his large circle of friends as a gentle giant, he will be remembered for his love of his dog Poppy, the easy camaraderie found in his many circles, and the warmth he brought to every room.

He was a passionate and cherished teacher and maths tutor, remembered by the countless students he taught through the years for his sense of humour, patience and exceptional kindness, and for the awkward, yet hilarious, delight of bumping into him at the pub years later. He was a proud amateur musician, bravely stepping onto open mic stages with his saxophone to play everything from the blues to pop – a talent he also showcased for various friends and family at their celebrations.

We will fondly remember his garden performances which adorned various summer BBQs at Baden Road, joined by his band mates, and revelling later in his joyous laugh around the firepit late into the evenings.

He was the king of the dad joke – always ready with a terrible pun, followed by his deep laughter at his own joke, which will have tickled him more than anyone else in the room. He had a passion for making apple crumble and would often pick his own apples from the garden – not forgetting the time when he was found hanging onto a branch of the tree by his fingertips after the ladder fell whilst he was pruning said tree. And who can forget him riding his huge bicycle, adjusted for his 6’ 6” height, his impressive juggling skills, and his enthusiastic giant bubble-making!

He will be forever remembered for his truly excellent tuna pasta bake (an achievement that still doesn’t excuse his consistently terrible roast potatoes) and his love for camping, dog walking and enjoying a cold beer on a summers evening sitting on the veranda.

Malcolm embraced life with passion and enthusiasm and spent much of his time surrounded by the company of a wide-ranging circle of friends he gathered throughout his life – from neighbours to colleagues, lifelong friends to fellow dog walkers.

He is survived by his children, Matthew, Rebecca, and Sam, and his grandchildren, Lennon, Evelyn, Lyla and Jaxson.

We celebrate the dad, the grandad, the teacher, the friend, and the musician who we loved unconditionally. We choose to remember him for the man he was – kind, generous, and deeply loved by his family. His legacy lives on in the memories we hold and the lives he touched, and we will continue to honour him with the respect he deserves.

Our thoughts are extended with deep respect to all those who truly cared for him.

(On behalf of Matthew, Rebecca and Sam)