My father, Mervyn Kohler, who has died aged 74, dedicated his career to bringing about changes in society through his work for charities and in politics.
He was born in Edinburgh to Dorie (nee Footer), an infants’ school teacher, and Frank Kohler, who worked at the London Assurance Company. Mervyn was always very proud of his Scottish roots, despite having moved south, to Croydon, as a child. He attended the Trinity school of John Whitgift in Croydon, before going on to Durham University, where he met Liz Johnson, a fellow student. They married in 1970 and had two children. Liz went on to become a deputy headteacher.
