Tributes to colourful social worker, activist and musician

One of BASW and the Social Workers Union’s most colourful and loved members, Angi Naylor, has passed away, aged 70.

A passionate and outspoken campaigner for social justice, Angi had been at the forefront of activism within the two organisations for decades.

She joined BASW as a student in 1989 and was an executive member of SWU from its inception in 2011 until retiring last year after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Throughout her social work career, Angi was strongly motivated by a desire to speak out for those facing oppression and injustice, often using music and her trustee guitar to communicate.

Writing in PSW five years ago, she explained she was drawn into working with older adults after reading about the treatment of elderly people in care homes: “I was not happy what I saw about residential care. I titled my dissertation ‘Beds, residential care for older people’. 

“My argument was how dare we refer to residential care for older people as a name for an object we slept in and not for the people who lived in the building.”

Her humanity and sense of fun is illustrated in an anecdote from that same article in which she described working with an elderly stroke survivor: “I was outside with him and suddenly the heavens opened and it was raining cats and dogs. I said, ‘Come on, we need to get you under cover.’ He just looked at me and this big grin came over his face and he wagged his finger. He said, ‘You go.’ I went under the overhang and I said to him: ‘When was the last time you got wet? I know the answer, it was before your stroke,’ and he nodded. 

“Since his stroke he had been covered in cotton wool and not allowed to make those decisions. So we stood there and we laughed and we laughed.”

Angi was fiercely opposed to profiteering in social care, proclaiming anyone referring to care as an “industry” would “get a mouthful from me”.

She was also an active campaigner against poverty and inequality.

In 2017 she joined BASW’s 100-mile Boot Out Austerity walk from Birmingham to Liverpool to draw attention to the devastating impact of austerity.

Angi quickly became the heartbeat of the group, recalls Guy Shennan, BASW’s then chair who led the walk.

“I travelled up to Cheshire to do a recce mission to help work out the route for the Boot Out Austerity march and ended up one evening in a pub in Northwich where I bumped into Angi with her partner Maureen.

“I explained to them what I was doing up there, and Angi signed up on the spot. And from that moment onwards it was destined to be the vibrant, fun, powerful and effective protest that it became. Angi was Boot Out Austerity’s heart and soul. 

“She wrote the Boot Out Austerity Chant for it, which we sang together all the way. Angi had a song for every occasion.

“When we had been looked after, with food or drink, out would come Angi’s guitar, and she would lead us in singing, ‘When I needed a neighbour, were you there, were you there? And the creed and the colour, and the name won't matter, were you there?’

“RIP, amazing, incomparable Angi Naylor. A true neighbour, who was always there.”

Friend and SWU general secretary John McGowan remembers meeting Angi for the first time when they were both involved in the creation of the union.

“At that time, I was going, ‘Who is this person?’ You could really feel her energy. Angi was a great mentor for me over the years and as a mentor really built up my skills. She has acted as Austerity Action Group chair and SWU vice chair and brought her experience of being active in so many of our campaigns.

“Angi was such a great person to have as a friend and support at SWU. She was always gracious with her time and was a natural at making people feel relaxed and was such an entertainer.”

She was also a strong advocate for social workers. Speaking to PSW five years ago she said: “Doctors get big salaries, why don’t social workers get that salary? Why don’t we sell ourselves? A doctor will say I did that hip, I did that heart transplant. We don’t say I saved that child from going into care or helped that parent.”

BASW chair Julia Ross paid tribute to Angi’s contribution to the profession: “Angi was a longstanding BASW and SWU member whose unwavering dedication in campaigning against austerity and poverty was matched only by her commitment in supporting her fellow social workers.

“A wise woman who led with intelligence and compassion, Angi was a welcome sight at BASW and SWU events, while her thoughtful contributions in debates clearly showed her decades of experience of social work, as well as the lives of people who use social services.

“Many staff members at BASW called upon Angi for her deep knowledge of social services and how it has changed over the years.

“Angi will be sorely missed by everyone at BASW, SWU and the wider social work community.”

Angi’s funeral takes place on 14 October at 11.30am at the Hemel Hempstead Crematorium, Bedmond Road HH HP3. It will be followed by a celebration of her life at the Kings Langley Community Centre at The Nap, Kings Langley WD4 8ET.