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The TV and Creative Industries were shocked and saddened this week at the sudden passing of our beloved Simon Albury.
Many of you follow me because of my commitment to making the Creative Industries more inclusive for people from underrepresented backgrounds, and this man is one of the reasons I have had the courage to do that.
Simon was a unicorn and a man who was totally unique – the likes of whom I have never met before.
LOOK
You would spot him in a crowd– he was tall, handsome, had pure white hair, and rocked a cream or white suit with red framed spectacles.
His visual brand was recognised and respected, way before influencers on Instagram were creating personal visual brands.
In fact, Something I often teased him about in our early connecting days was ….From a very girly fashionista point of view, I always admired Simons courage when wearing head to toe cream and white suits with a snazzy colourful tie or cravat!!!…. he was a true, confident, effortless, style guru and I loved that about him!
you never got the impression that simon was concerned about spilling coffee on his pristine white suit!
He just rolled like a carefree Don – a Maverick, a trailblazer and a mentor to so many of us.
ENERGY
His energy was endless….i cant even begin to imagine that at aged 80 I will still know and connect and party with the future TV leaders that way he did.
Simon could be a gentle, jovial giant, holding Court with his energy and his booming voice, that had people drawn to his magnetic charm……
Yet he could also be a challenging adversary who would stand up for anyone and hold power and establishment to account.
CONNECTION
I’m sure I won’t be alone in saying this that Simon made so many of us feel like we were his special friend, he connected so many of us to each other, he reached out and commented on our social media posts , called and congratulated you when you were doing well , and invited you to fabulous events.
He was our personal cheerleader! – there are so many examples, but every time I’ve given evidence at the house of lords about the tv industry, he has shared the footage across the industry – and called me to say WELL DONE, and really made me feel valued and seen.
People like Simon who’ve had glittering careers and held positions of high esteem tend not to mix and frolic with the working class and juniors who can do nothing for them.
But Simon turned that stereotype on the head for me.
He was warm and welcoming, and couldn’t do enough to help people get ahead, progress, and connect so many of us.
Simon made so many of us, (hundreds in fact in the creative industries!), feel like we had an elder Yoda figure… a senior who had seen it all , and done it all, and could guide us in times of frustration or confusion.
So much of my contacts book and new friends exist because Simon thought to connect us because he thought we would enjoy each other’s energy.
I also know that he connected people that he thought could be a force for change, and he knew that together we were stronger as a movement – not alone.
COURAGE
Not once did I ever see Simon cower or flinch when he spoke to people from various different worlds- whether that be media, television, film, fashion, poetry,…. anyone from any generation could speak with Simon and he would form a new bond and connection with them…it was mesmerising to see him work a room.
Even outside of Media conversations, where we were holding authority to account to be more inclusive, Simon would go out of his way to invite me to ballet performances once he found out that I had been a ballet dancer in my early days.
LEGACY
I know that Simon would want us all to stay connected and keep his legacy alive by speaking up and standing up for inclusion, justice and diversity when it comes to race!
I know the spirit of his loud booming voice, with its deep base, and operatic timbre, will be something I remember forever and those of us who he impacted will invoke it to continue his work.
I hope that as well as having a huge celebration send off somewhere fabulous like Saint Paul’s cathedral, (because of course he was an MBE and that’s one of the benefits of having an honour!), I know that we will all ensure that there is a living /standing memorial of some sort …dedicated to his life’s work and kindness to others.
I send my heartfelt love, condolences, gratitude, and heartbreak in equal measures to Simons wife PHILLIDA and his son David….we will always hold both of you tight.
Thanks for sharing your husband and dad with us.
Simon – Thanks for being our champion and the best ally we could dream for.
REST IN ETERNAL POWER SIMON ALBURY!
P.S
(Thinking of Simon made me google him, and so much came up that I now want to talk to him about – like this Guardian piece …..what a legend!)