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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Dan Haygarth

'Caring and generous' campaigner to be laid to rest at funeral this week

The funeral of a writer, campaigner and senior member of Liverpool's Jewish community will take place this week.

Dan Kay, 45, worked tirelessly on behalf of families and survivors of the Hillsborough disaster, was a much-loved member of the Liverpool ECHO team and was honorary secretary of Liverpool Old Hebrew Congregation at Princes Road Synagogue. News of his death led to an outpouring of tributes to a man whose compassion, empathy and concern for others touched countless lives in Liverpool and beyond.

Dan's family have invited his friends and colleagues to attend his funeral and a memorial service, which will both take place later this week.

READ MORE: 97 Candles Burn Bright: the 97 victims of the Hillsborough disaster remembered

The funeral will take place at 12pm on Friday (May 12) at Broadgreen Jewish Cemetery. The memorial service will begin at 7.30pm on Sunday (May 14) at Princes Road Synagogue.

Cousin Amos Waldman told the ECHO: "The family of Dan Kay would like to invite his friends and colleagues to say goodbye at his funeral and memorial service. He was the most caring, considerate, kind and generous man. We love him and will miss him dearly."

Dan pioneered digital journalism in the newsroom and helped lead this newspaper's coverage of the Hillsborough legal proceedings. He was more recently a regular contributor to the ECHO's sports team, sharing his deep love of Liverpool FC and its history with readers.

He worked with the late Anne Williams's daughter Sara to co-write With Hope In Her Heart, a powerful account of the late Anne's fight for justice for her son Kevin, 15, and the other Liverpool supporters unlawfully killed at Hillsborough. Throughout his life he was a champion for social justice and those in need.

Steven Waldman, Dan's uncle, led the tributes earlier this week.

Mr Waldman told the ECHO: "I doubt there is a more decent person than Daniel.

"He was a giving, supportive, loving person. He cared for society, he cared for Liverpool Football Club and he had a strong social conscience. He wanted to work with people in need, that was his plan.

"He had the ability to listen to people and provide support. He was a wonderful son, supportive to his mother and father. He gave understanding and support to my mother, his grandmother, Edna Waldman and to his grandfather Jack. He was a totally giving person."

Yesterday (May 9), Wirral South Labour MP Alison McGovern raised a point of order so that Dan's legacy as a Hillsborough justice campaigner would be noted in Hansard, the permanent record of the House of Commons.

Ms McGovern said: "The first debate in this house arising from a public petition was that on the Hillsborough Stadium disaster in 2011 and I'm sorry to tell you that one of the campaigning journalists who made that debate happen, Dan Kay, died this weekend.

"Dan made an extraordinary, pioneering contribution to journalism and he was an incredible support to bereaved families and survivors during the very traumatic second inquest."

People from across the region and beyond have continued to pay tribute to Dan. Social media has been flooded with moving words from those who knew and loved him and the many people who he helped.

A statement from his beloved Liverpool Football Club said: "Everyone at LFC is deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Dan Kay. A much respected journalist who was well known to many at the club, tireless Hillsborough campaigner and lifelong Liverpool fan, our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues."

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