Our friend and colleague Albus (Upsetting content)

Santosha12

I had a very pleasant exchange via DM with Albus in August when he expressed his appreciation at my calm approach to a particularly contentious topic; I recall thinking I need to be more 'Albus like' as his approach was always kind, empathetic and calm and I can learn from him, especially in difficult days or difficult topics.

Only last week we exchanged on the 'Have a grumble' about our recovering from Covid.

Desperately sad at his loss 😪. What a truly humble and thoughtful human being. My thoughts and deepest sympathy are especially with yous at Scope who worked with him, Albus' family and friends and all of Scope members.

Tori_Scope

Albus was a great guy. I regret not having spoken to him more, but he was one of those people you feel connected to having only exchanged a few messages. Which I think is a testament to his openness, good humour, and seemily effortless ability to make others feel welcome. I always looked forward to seeing his pigeon and pet pictures, and loved how excited he was when I mentioned getting my pet rats. I'll think of him whenever I see a pigeon, now. My thoughts are with everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him 💜

Catherine21

Heartbreaking isnt it was such a big part of this forum and had time for us all his fairness kindness really shone through just shows how fragile life is why do all the good ones go if we feel so much warmth towards albus I can only imagine the gaping hole his loved ones are facing he really honestly taught me so much especially how to control myself and think of my actions before hand feel incredibly sad I knew on one Sunday something wasnt right so so sad 😢

DeborahforChange2025

I am very sorry to hear about Albus. Rest in peace

Thinking of everyone who knew Albus during this difficult time.

Everythingzrosie

I’ve not been here very long and @Albus_Scope was so lovely in replying to me and offering support. I’m sending my condolences and thoughts go to those who knew him and of him far longer than I had x

Catherine21

I know I keep saying this im reflecting when I joined scope and it was albus who guided me to be the best version of myself he didnt judge or criticise he was encouraging me to learn how to post articles on the group its not the same without him s

Adrian_Scope

I just wanted to thank everyone that has taken time to share their thoughts and condolences over the loss of our colleague and dear friend @Albus_Scope.

Albus spoke often of his sister, both to the team and here on the community and she's asked me to share this message with you all, to share some updates and answer a few questions that have been asked:

"Hi all, 

It's Albus' sister Abbie here. I suspect you'll have heard about me in between his tales of pigeons, dogs and 3D printing.

I wanted to pass on thanks, on behalf of his family and friends, to you all for being amazing friends and colleagues. He loved working for Scope and was desperate to make a difference in people's lives. Looking at the kind messages on the online community it looks like he really did. 

His passing at just 47 is a massive shock to us all. I hope he will leave a legacy of inspiring everyone to be a little kinder, a little gentler, a little more like him. 

We don't yet have a date for the funeral but we will let people know when we do. We're also thinking about what to do about donations. As he was such an animal lover we suspect it will be something that helps dogs, cats and even pigeons.  

I've attached a photo of Rumi the Pigeon, Albus' last rescue. This was my attempt to see if she wanted to fly free. I opened the window to my bedroom and rather than her leaving I ended up with a second pigeon hopping in. He would undoubtedly have found it hilarious and encouraged the new fella to stay.  

Please do all look after each other."

inaspin

So so sad, he obviously left an impression personally and professionally, and anyone who is kind to animals goes up in my estimations.

Hope in time those closest smile when remembering Albus.

RIP.

durhamjaide2001

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1076138#Comment_1076138

Definitely be happy to donate something in memory of him as he was such a lovely man. He was the one that made me do exercises for a whole month to raise money for Scope

MadMilan2019

I am so sorry Albus of SCOPE died.

I cannot pretend to know him well, but:

• he was genuine in what he said, in his emotional vulnerability, because of the UC and PIP bill.
• he was kind and helpful when my 33 disabilities, prevented me from participating in SCOPE discussion forums,
• he accepted the help offered by me, and others and that takes courage, given distress and disability stigmas, he was courageous, and a good worker.
• he was a good man
• Or was he a she its hard to tell in email, and I do not want to be sexist, having been brought up by a single mother, who was battered by my stepdad.

you are welcome to pass on these and others comments if they consent? And if it might help his friends and relatives.

Zipz

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1076182#Comment_1076182

Are there donations in memory of Albus? I'd be delighted to donate in his memory.

Community_Scope

Hello MadMilan2019,

I appreciate your efforts to be inclusive and mindful. Albus was a wonderful man and a much cherished friend.

I echo a lot of your other comments; he was genuine, kind, helpful and courageous.

Catherine21

So sorry for your loss abbie words can't say how much he helped me he done what no therapy over god 30 years could do he made me become apart of a group he taught me boundaries to think before I post sit back and reflect encouraged me to try to send links and sent videos how do this he had a gift and he shared it with everyone its a great loss for you we all know this if he could reach us online I can only imagine his wonderful presence and aura around everyone my heart goes out to you all it really does greatly missed

Amaya_Ringo

I've only just seen this as I've been away, but that's terrible news. RIP Albus.

Sending my best wishes to all his loved ones :(

MadMilan2019

The best tribute we can make to Albus, and many others like him is:

Yes, we need to express sorrow, and grieve, each in our own way, with compassion for ourselves, and others, to mediate thus

on his life with gratitude,

and determination to continue our work as a union of more powerful than we know,

compassion, of disabled and distressed. mental health service users, survivors and thrivers.

Forhe isgone, we are still here the struggle for equality, human civil and political rights, and less or no stgmas, goes on.

Never give up, please sublimate your grief, joy, fond memories of Albus, and others,

in our movement, for social justice, who have died, and will die, into the quest for more equality, freedom, continued benefit rights.

All of that and more.

Albus would not want us to give up,

was brave, daring, and courageous re expressing his vulnerabilities, and as a man in a sexist society, I know how hard it can be to be emotionally expressive, and kind with it too.

So

- let us grieve;

- be ever stronger, and determined with love, not bitterness,

- in our personal lives boosting our spirit in the face of often brutal stigmas

- and keep Campaigning for more socialism, equality and the valuing of disabled peoples, even in the adversity of a Labour, a Labour (?!) adopting Tory, cruel policies, no matter how hard or easy.

MadMilan2019

Re Catherine21's comment above re Albus, that is indeed a great tribute.

The kind of natural empathy and therapy and solidarity and joy of disabled people who are brothers and sisters, and in betweeners, comrade, deep and great friends, by the harsh experiences of stigmas,

and also the joy of such natural , often wordless, of being together.

So, let us continue to cultivate all the above wise passions to organise support groups, get individual therapy and counselling, wholesome hobbies, e.g. gardening, anything good, and lets keep keeping on in our lobbying for better laws, on welfare, no matter what.

Let us be the best in ourselves,

as Albus was so obviously, even when he felt low, anxious, and down, he kept being so open of heart and true to his purpose and work.

I salute him with folded hands from Buddha's love and compassion.

Keep on trucking.

Stellar

This is awful news. So sorry for your loss here at Scope, and my condolences for Albus's family and friends.

birdwatcher

I've only just seen this post but I am so so sorry to hear this

Catherine21

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1076494#Comment_1076494

He really did you never forget people who really took time to comfort and guide you and genuinely mean it I will say everyday how albus truly made a difference to my life ive been on here everyday for year and a half and was pulled out from a very dark hole and I know he did that for everyone of us on here

MadMilan2019

All the compliments, heart-felt to Albus and his family and friends, but him first, tell me that:

There is no competition in compassion, courage, helpfulness, being a fellow friend and comrade to disabled and distressed people, or in any other wholesome human quality.

This is very important/ imperative.

Because I see so often in the voluntary sector, people playing dark games of manipulation and power, and unskillful ego.

I have sat on 9 governing bodies of disability and mental health charities in the last 32 years, and recently received an award for outstanding achievement in community work, from Voluntary Action, Leeds. I was moved deeply, to tears, in fact. Recognition is one thing but ego and power so losing the aims of compassion in any charity are another.

So, my response to this award is not to frame it and put it on the wall, as a spiritual friend, though not a Buddhist Tim said I should. ''That would be dark ego big headed Tim. I'm not going to throw it way, another extreme, for me; its OK on the shelf with my books and voluntary charity papers.'' That is the healthy middle path of compassion and wisdom. I resigned from 2 of those charities, as darkly manipulative were destroying the aims of the charity, which is both illegal and immoral.

I feel strongly Albus deserves such an award, given the sheer number of compliments and the depth of feeling, and gratitude many people express above.

Thus, I request SCOPE contact the nearest town to its office and Voluntary Action of that town to your head office, or the town that Albus lived in and get a certificate of outstanding achievement in community work, and nominate him for it, even after his death.

And when he is awarded the certificate, post the news on this forum, and tell his friends and family please.

I am going to nominate Terry Simpson for an award of the same title as I got. Terry for 40 years campaigned for better mental healthcare by government, for disabled and distressed peoples human right, as ii many groups local to Leeds and nationally, creating the biggest group for mental health in the UK: the UK Advocacy Network, which it was my pleasure to chair for 2 years.

The point is

real compassion and wisdom is humble, true, deeply kind, soothing of distress, and physical pains, inspiring the best in us all spiritually, and politically.

I feel deeply humbled and moved by the award, and am acutely aware that there are many who also deserve such an award, who deserve recognition of good and great works.

Kindness is king, and queen, is noble and should be fed by gratitude, and passing it on so as to increase, and make the world a better place.

Albus was deeply kind to me, Catherine21, and many others. Albus was a king of compassion, gentle, not macho, wise, nurturing, a friend to many, and could take the nurturing he gave out too, however easy or difficult so he was courageous too. And I'm sure he had a sense of humour and joy, if someone would care to tell us about that.