The Leprosy Mission England and Wales (TLMEW) has expressed its sorrow over the sudden death of National Director Rupert Haydock.

Mr Haydock, 52, was taken ill on the morning of Wednesday 1 September whilst at a Leprosy Mission supporters' meeting at St Andrews Church, Langley Mill, Nottingham.

Leprosy Mission team members who were with him at the time say that Mr Haydock collapsed in the church and did not regain consciousness. He was then taken by paramedics to Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham.

Mr Haydock was greatly respected in the voluntary sector having been National Director of The Leprosy Mission England and Wales from November 2007. He had an extensive career in non-governmental organisations and the government and private sectors and worked in a wide range of areas including agriculture, health and social services, governance economic development and community, rural and institutional capacity development.

He also spent seven years living overseas with his family whilst working as an economist for the Overseas Development Administration (now the department for international development - DFID) in the Falkland Islands and in community and organisational development with Tearfund UK in Burkina Faso.
He leaves behind a wife, two daughters, a son and a son-in-law.

Keith Nicholson, acting National Director for TLMEW, says, ‘"The staff and trustees are naturally shocked at this untimely death.

"Mr Haydock was greatly respected, indeed loved, by his colleagues, family and all those who had the privilege of working with him. He was a wonderful and inspirational man.

"We are comforted by our shared faith as we are a Christian organisation and our prayers are with his family at this sad time.

"He will also be greatly missed and mourned by The Leprosy Mission globally and all who ever met him."