I will always be grateful to Nick Howen for his help during 2001, in the months after the death of my sister in a massacre in Central Africa, when I was urgently seeking answers – and action – from the UK Foreign Office. Although he surely had many other pressing concerns, Nick was enormously generous with his time in answering my questions and giving advice as I took my first, somewhat amateurish, steps in lobbying and campaigning. This advice has stood me in good stead and proved invaluable over the years as I have become more involved in the human rights movement at a wider level.
I will remember too how welcoming Nick and his family were when I and my then girlfriend (now my wife) were living in Bangkok as volunteers with Amnesty Thailand. I will continue to take inspiration from Nick’s commitment, determination and generosity.
Richard Wilson, London