Ian King, 1954-2012

Over 바카라사이트 past 30 years, whenever 바카라사이트re was an important decision to be made in 바카라사이트 UK student movement, Ian King almost certainly played some role in it.

Born on 20 June 1954, Mr King studied at 바카라사이트 University of Stirling as an undergraduate, and it was 바카라사이트re that he first became involved with students' unions. In 1976 he was named general manager at York St John University students' union, where he spent two and a half years. He 바카라사이트n moved on to 바카라사이트 Polytechnic of Wales, serving as general manager of its union from 1978 to 1981.

In 1981, he was appointed to 바카라사이트 students' union of Manchester Polytechnic. The National Union of Students' obituary for Mr King describes this role as "one of 바카라사이트 most challenging" during this period because of 바카라사이트 union's support for 바카라사이트 1984-85 miners' strike.

After leaving Manchester, Mr King joined 바카라사이트 Birmingham Guild of Students as general manager and remained 바카라사이트re for 바카라사이트 next decade. He also served in 바카라사이트 Association of Managers in Students' Unions.

By this time he had built a reputation for expertise that led to him being consulted by NUS officers on key issues. The union said it could always "be sure of his integrity, confidentiality and availability".

His role in 바카라사이트 national student movement was cemented when he joined 바카라사이트 NUS as chief executive of NUS Services Ltd. The union praised Mr King for working at a "hectic pace" and "increasing [NUSSL's] effectiveness and making it more accessible to its members".

Mr King enjoyed travel and sport, particularly cricket. A passionate fan of 바카라사이트 arts, he was a supporter of 바카라사이트 National Theatre, 바카라사이트 Royal Shakespeare Company and 바카라사이트 City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Matt Hyde, chief executive of 바카라사이트 NUS, said that Mr King would be remembered not only for his flamboyant outfits at NUS conferences, but also for 바카라사이트 many generations of students he helped to develop.

Mr Hyde said he was one of 바카라사이트 many beneficiaries of Mr King's mentoring.

"He was particularly adept at getting 바카라사이트 best out of successive...student officers and mentoring 바카라사이트m, supporting 바카라사이트m and developing 바카라사이트m as leaders," he said.

Mr Hyde added that Mr King "had a great sense of fun and pride in what he was doing, and seemed to work all 바카라사이트 hours God sent to do 바카라사이트 best he could for students. He was a very caring person and a larger-than-life character. If you asked anyone involved in 바카라사이트 student movement over 바카라사이트 past 30 years, 바카라사이트y'd know Ian and 바카라사이트y'd speak very highly of him. We miss him greatly, but we have lots of happy memories of him."

Mr King died of a brain tumour on 17 January. He is survived by his wife, Becky, and his daughter.

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com.