More years ago than it’s comfortable to count, I witnessed the following conversation between Dave Williams and another VCSE leader:
"Oh Dave, all you ever talk about is carers."
"Too bloody right I do!" came the reply.
Dave Williams, who passed away earlier this week, was Chief Officer at Manchester Carers Forum for almost 25 years. He was such a strong and consistent advocate for carers that if I even hear the word “carer”, my brain immediately starts to think “What would Dave say now?”. Whatever I understand about being a carer is recorded in my memory in the sound of his voice.
In all that time he struck an exemplary balance: being a visible leader himself while ensuring other carers are also seen and heard. Dave cultivated relationships with colleagues across the public, private and voluntary sectors locally and nationally. He steered the course of Manchester Carers Forum through many changes in fortune and managed always to keep it as a strong voice within Manchester.
Actually, of course, he didn’t ‘only’ talk about carers: he was passionate about improving public services, equalities, the importance of mental health, the role of education in improving practice and for the valuable work of the voluntary sector. He built partnerships, influenced policy and decisions *and* delivered support for local people, including but by no means limited to carers.
And, somehow, he did all this whilst also being a carer for his husband Martin.
That’s authentic and inspiring leadership.
Another conversation with Dave also comes to mind. During a Christmas party one year we turned to sharing favourite movies. I was surprised (to the extent that I’m afraid I actually laughed) when Dave said his was “Somewhere in Time”, a 1980 film with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour which is, to my mind, a syrupy fantasy romance involving travelling back in time by willpower. Sweet, yes but oh so terribly silly. Actually I’ve since learned it’s become a cult movie with an international fan club. But Dave told me he took something very personal from it. The story is based around the idea that there are people who are meant to be together and that no matter what barriers there are, they will find a way. That, he said, was how he and Martin felt about their lives together. Martin died earlier this year. And now Dave has gone too.
Dave Williams was a colleague in Manchester’s voluntary sector. He was a neighbour in Swan Buildings for a few years. He served on the Board of Trustees at Macc and was Co-Chair for several years so, for a while, he was also my boss. He was a mentor and a friend.
We’ll have to keep supporting and talking about carers on his behalf.
Mike Wild
Chief Executive
November 2025