WDP pays tribute to trustee Graham Boal KC

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of one of our Board of Trustees, Graham Boal KC, who died peacefully surrounded by his close family on 30 December.

Graham was an extremely passionate supporter of WDP and our work. He was a hardworking and committed member of our Board, sharing his valuable insight and expertise for almost a decade.

Graham had been the Chairman of the Seventy4 Foundation, a specialist addiction counselling service, and joined the WDP Board when the two organisations merged in 2013. His involvement with the Seventy4 Foundation came about because of his own personal recovery story and lived experience.

Graham was also a barrister for 30 years before serving with distinction as a judge at the Old Bailey until his retirement in 2005.

Among his many accomplishments was the publication of his memoir in 2021 called ‘A Drink at the Bar’, which he dedicated to WDP. He wrote engagingly and with compassion about his life, his work and his struggles with alcohol dependency and depression.

WDP’s Chair Yasmin Batliwala said: “Graham was our colleague but also a dear friend. Despite his recent poor health, he remained firmly and fully committed to our cause, working diligently and passionately behind the scenes as part of our Board to support WDP. He was a remarkable man and will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with Graham’s family and friends at this very sad time.”