26 February 2017
We’ve recently lost a wonderful member of the Green family with the unexpected death of Jeff Workman who some of you may have known.
I write this from a personal perspective to give you a glimpse of the man I knew and shall remember.
I met Jeff in 2010 at local Amnesty International meetings and he seemed almost introverted on occasion, over the next few years I struggled to get more than a few words of small talk from him despite seeing him several times a week at the gym as well as in town.
And in December 2014 that all changed. He came to a meeting encouraged, like so many others that month, to look at the Green’s policies and he summed this up in words I still use “for the first time I felt like I found a home”. Jeff was, from that moment, a trusted friend and an important part of the Green family, the sarcastic uncle as one person put it.
Jeff helped people, that was part of his essence, and it was always “[his] pleasure” to do so. As well as campaigning for human rights, animal welfare, and environmental issues he also paid forward his business success. A caring colleague rather than the boss; lending money to great projects and micro-businesses across the world and, when asked why, his response was simply “why wouldn’t I?” And, of course, he worked so hard for the Green Party, my campaigns, in particular, saw him out almost every day, regardless of how bad the weather, knocking on doors and winning over people with his charm, intellect, and razor wit.
A lot of people will miss Jeff and, though he seemed oblivious to it, he had a profound effect on the lives of so many he met.
Knowing him inspired me to do better, do more, and be happy and, as with all who knew him, that will live on in me.
Vipul Patel and others at B&NES Green Party
for the first time I felt like I found a home
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