It is with great sadness that Kent Equality Cohesion Council announces the passing of its Chair Dev Sharma MBE following a short illness.

Dev worked tirelessly in the community since the 1970’s promoting community cohesion and assisting victims of racial harassment. This work led him in helping to establish the Dartford and District Racial Equality Council in 1990 working with like-minded members from the local community including the Chair Darshan Singh Sandhu MBE.

His vision and dedication then led to the expansion of this work beyond Dartford and the establishment of the North West Kent Racial Equality Council in 1999, further amplifying his lifelong commitment to justice and fairness. An organisation he continued to lead until his retirement in 2010.

In the period prior to the publication of the Macpherson Report in 1999, work around equality and diversity was incredibly rare with limited funding and overall lack of visibility in the charity sector. In this respect, Dev was a trailblazer, championing partnership working between the public sector and the community sector and seeking opportunities to bring communities together to celebrate what unites rather than divides. Dev established long term partnerships with Dartford Borough Council, Kent County Council, Gravesham Borough Council and Kent Police which still remain strong today.

In 2006, Dev’s extraordinary contributions to the community were recognized when he was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen. Even after retiring in 2010, his legacy continued to inspire those dedicated to promoting equality and understanding.

Dev’s service extended beyond racial equality. As an active member of Lions Club International, he demonstrated an unwavering dedication to humanitarian causes, embodying the spirit of selfless service and leadership.

Following his retirement in 2010 he was elected Chair of the newly formed Kent Equality Cohesion Council, a role he performed with great distinction against the backdrop of raising community tensions and challenging economic outlook.

Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL “I am deeply saddened by the passing of not just a colleague and mentor, but also my dear friend. I had the great pleasure of working closely with Dev since 1999 and learnt so much from him over the years. He was an inspirational leader and someone who was always willing to help others. I am incredibly grateful that, even after his retirement, Dev remained on hand to guide me through countless challenges and was with me during all the successes. Dev Sharma MBE leaves behind a profound legacy of compassion, advocacy and service. He will be deeply missed, but his contributions will continue to shape the communities he so passionately served in North Kent and the Kent Equality Cohesion Council that he led for so many years. I will miss his guidance and friendship.”