Friend who gave food for thought

Champion of independent living and creator of the concept of accessible food, David Morris died in early May. His friend Katherine Araniello pays this personal tribute

David Morris was a close friend and someone who I will miss dearly. When David moved to Limehouse close to the Thames in London he often invited people to sing, read poetry and eat the amazing recipes that he concocted and which went by the name of his virtual restaurant project "Red Jesus". David was keen to create food that met everyone's needs combining amazing flavours and accessibility to all: he created fantastic chicken stew, so that I could eat it with minimal effort (I'm not up to chewing). He was open to sharing his recipes and teaching me how to create dishes that were just as accessible. And best of all it was all served with champagne!

"Red Jesus" came from the view that David could see from his apartment, a church with a red figure of Jesus standing erect on the rooftops.

David's apartment was amazing and the panoramic view was incredible - stretching from the O2 Dome to the Millennium Wheel. He had a huge balcony on which people could wheel, an opportunity many disabled people could only dream of experiencing. A level of decadence looking down from the heights not normally afforded to disabled people from a penthouse apartment in the Limehouse skies. I feel that this is significant because it reminded us that we had all come a long way from the segregated institutions that many of us had been forced into through childhood. So to sit on David's balcony or in his apartment was a good feeling and certainly made us feel very much part of the contemporary lifestyle that was so far removed from our earlier years.

David was probably one of the most generous people I know. He did not judge people depending on their status, he loved people and he had time for everyone irrespective of who they were. There were so many networks that David was involved with in his professional and private life. I first met David at a Liberty disability arts Festival and I remember simply saying I think you have the same disability as me - it was from that point onwards that we formed a close friendship. David was someone that I could talk to about anything. His films, my art, Personal Assistance nonsense and SMA stuff such as comparing who could open their mouth the widest!

I felt that I had a very strong bond with David and I'm so glad that I knew him. David had the ability to bring people together and instigate a "can do, will do" approach to any cause he supported. What we shared in common was art and creativity. We also shared an ironic look at the world and these are times which I will truly miss.