It is with great sadness that we pass on the news that James’ father, Graham Menzies-Kitchin, died late last week.
Graham was an instrumental force in the initiation and operation of the JMK Trust, attending and encouraging our first informal meeting in the weeks that followed James’ own death and later running most things on a day to day basis for a number of years.
Graham and Clare formed a phenomenal partnership, and threw combined efforts into the Trust. For a number of years we were a cottage industry of sorts. Theirs was the cottage. Graham’s was a good deal of the industry.
Graham was responsible for the first iteration of this very website. He embraced IT, in the operation of the Trust, with an intelligence and passion that was breathtaking. Within a year Graham had developed outstanding spreadsheet, database and IT skills to the point where he was building his own computer from scratch. I know no other who could do as much.
Although no fan of London, he went out of his way to steadfastly support winner’s productions and fundraising events. His work was no less than instrumental in identifying a whole generation of breathtaking theatre directors.
When Clare received her MBE in 2012, Graham accompanied her to the presentation at Buckingham Palace. Although they had long since agreed that only one of them should serve on the board as Trustee, Graham is no less deserving of recognition for his work and support for the JMK Trust.
We extend our sincerest condolences to his wife and our fellow trustee, Clare Menzies-Kitchin, daughter Pepi, and their family and friends at this time.
If there are messages of sympathy that you would like us to pass on please contact jo@jmktrust.org
