In Memoriam Graham Marchant OBE

Remembering Graham…

Graham enthusiastically followed every arts and education project I worked on over the 16 years of our friendship. Each moment spent with Graham was a happy moment. We discussed anything and everything with a shared outlook on the challenges that life presents, not just to us as individuals, but to society. Few people would know that Graham could have been as good a physicist as he was an arts administrator. It was during one of our many discussions that Graham revealed that he might like to write his autobiography, as many friends had asked him about his work in setting up Opera North. It was a privilege to transcribe his fascinating story, which he managed to complete before his voice became too weak.

Graham suffered many setbacks over the years. I watched him pull back from the brink a number of times - always with courage and quiet determination. He never complained about his illness, and he did his best to fight it with the willpower of a gladiator and an uncanny way of turning insecurities – his own or others – into strengths. Over the years, Graham demonstrated that keeping a positive, open mind makes everything in life so much more interesting and fun. We practiced tai chi to help his balance, and we went for walks locally, or ventured to the opera.

Even when Graham was extremely frail and wheelchair-bound, he would make the enormous effort if it was something he really wanted to see. He even attended my last event at the Japanese Embassy on 20 December 2024, and seemed well – in some respects stronger than he had been in previous years. But his last battle was one too many. Andrew messaged from the hospital on 27 December 2024 saying Graham was extremely frail, and the doctors had done everything they could for him. My first instinct was to rush to see Graham. He was still conscious and on oxygen. He tried to speak, but I could not understand his last words of wisdom – though I expect they were for others and not himself, such was his constant kindness. The next day it was difficult to know how much Graham was aware of his surroundings, but I went back to the hospital and spent a little time with him and then left him with Andrew, the love of his life, for them to spend what was to be the last hour and a half of their life together.

Few people could touch your soul with intellectual engagement, love, friendship and kindness like Graham. From day one of our friendship until the day of his death Graham always gave me, as he did so many others, the love and friendship that only a true friend can give. It will take time to accept Graham’s passing - he will always be part of who I have become. ’Death can be as heavy as Mount Tai or as light as a feather…’

Jannette Cheong