David Alexander was one of the finest professionals I have ever worked with. He strived for the highest standards for the patients and partners he worked with and was never shy of standing his ground when he felt things weren’t being done just right and just so.

I was incredibly moved to see his commitment to the former hostages and family members we asked him to support – always willing to jump on a train, take the journey, make the time.

He was that rare beast in the caring profession – he saw what he was doing as just one in a series of contributions that could help that person to help themselves to get better. Co-dependency was not within his vocabulary – his job was to help people to move forward themselves. To him, empowerment was critical to the recovery process.

As well as the work, I will remember with great fondness and a smile my phone calls with David – me in my flat in SE London, him in his home in northern Scotland, often at night due to his punishing workload during the day. Rarely would a call end without him expressing frustration about his ageing laptop – or an announcement that it was time for a wee dram of the strong stuff.

As I sign off from work cursing my own failing laptop, I’m off home to have a wee dram of the strong stuff in David’s honor.