It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Malcolm Brynin, Reader in the Institute for Social and Economic Research, who died Friday 26 June 2020.
Malcolm was an active member of Essex UCU for a decade or more, well liked and respected by colleagues on the branch committee and throughout the university community. He served at various times as our casework coordinator, as a caseworker himself, and from time to time, as a picket organiser. His thoughtful insights and patient steadiness were much valued in dealing with difficult issues and questions of how to support a member in need.
In recent years Malcolm played a leading role in UCU’s work to hold management to account in its many restructurings and resultant redundancies. He worked selflessly to resist redundancies by pointing out the logical flaws, personal politics, uncaringness, and loss of expertise he perceived in these processes. He was always willing to draft a well-informed document or briefing or letter to senior management about ill-considered job losses. His wisdom, kindness, and generosity were appreciated by every member of UCU lucky enough to know him.
Malcolm has been taken from us before his time. His friends and comrades on the UCU committee will miss his wise and humble presence. Rest in Peace, Malcolm.
*updated info 7.7.20*: Malcolm’s funeral takes place at 12:30 on Thursday (9 July). Donations are to Malcolm’s favoured beneficiary, Manorlands Hospice, by following this link . A memorial event to celebrate Malcolm’s life will take place when this is possible, where the service will involve the delightful assemblage of music and words that Malcolm had planned for it. Members of the University community will be informed about this in due course.
Feel free to post any condolences in our UCU comments section below this page.
ISER have their own tribute page and tributes on twitter :https://www.iser.essex.ac.uk/2020/06/29/tributes-to-dr-malcolm-brynin
The university also has their own page: https://remembr.com/malcolm.brynin
Sincerely, Essex UCU Branch Committee