Goodbye to an Unsung Hero

I doubt that many people in the third sector today will have heard of Bob Addison. He didn’t receive any awards; he never made the New Year’s honours list, he wasn’t widely feted for his achievements.

And that’s a shame, because if you work for a major charity then there’s a good chance that some of your income is directly attributable to his work.

Back at the start of the 21st century fundraising underwent a revolution with the explosion of face to face donor acquisition, and Bob managed one of the largest operations in the country. His fierce determination, commitment to the causes he represented, combined with an eye for talent, enabled him to quickly rise to the top, and under his guidance face to face teams raised millions of pounds for some of the most disadvantaged people in society.

In an era where acquisition is getting harder by the day, some of the numbers are staggering, with charities getting close to 50,000 new regular donors a year thanks in no small part to teams that Bob managed. He always led from the front and preferred to be out there visiting teams, observing, listening and supporting rather than sitting behind a desk. And even when the pressure was on for results he always maintained the highest standards, believing (correctly as it turned out) that if fundraisers behaved appropriately and took an approach that was respectful it would pay off in the long run.

That’s all in the past now, face to face has been in decline for many years, and its reputation is sadly in tatters. Bob Addison left the sector 10 years ago and moved on with his life. Sadly that life has ended far too soon and he passed away recently after a short illness.

I hope that a few of you remember him, I certainly shall. I will remember the man who gave me my first real break (not to mention my second and third), and mentored me as I learned to lead. And I’ll remember the boss who made us all work hard, but equally encouraged us to play even harder and enjoy and see the value in both. For a while we had what felt like the best team in the world and it was a joy to be a part of it. And I’ll remember a friend who looked out for me when things were tough and supported me when I needed it the most. But mostly I’ll remember the laughter.

Thanks Bob, and goodbye.