A tribute to our esteemed colleague from the Centre of Research Staff Development, Stephen Franey MBE.
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved colleague, Stephen Franey MBE, who was a Technical Development Manager in the Centre for Research Staff Development.
Stephen joined King's in May 1987, and made an extraordinary contribution as a teaching technician, mentor and advocate for the scientific and technical community, in the 39 years he worked for us.
He trained as a Biomedical Scientist and specialised in Histology, Microscopy, and Immunohistochemistry. He began his career in AstraZeneca and then moved to the NHS before joining King's, where he became Multi-Disciplinary Laboratory Manager, supporting thousands of students each year, and later Technical Staff Development Manager and Lead for the Technician Commitment.
Throughout his career, Stephen was deeply committed to professional recognition for technical staff. He was among the first registered scientists at King's through the Science Council and devoted himself to mentoring and facilitating professional registration workshops, helping colleagues gain confidence, recognition, and career development.
He also served as an Applicant Support Mentor at the Science Council, helping others from across the UK to become chartered and registered scientists and technicians. He was also a Fellow and Vice Chair of the Institute of Anatomical Sciences and a Member of the Royal Society of Biology.
Later, he helped establish the Technician Commitment with the UK Institute for Technical Skills & Strategy, an initiative committed to the visibility, recognition and development of technicians in higher education, and encouraged King's to sign up.
Stephen was known for being the heart of the Technician community at King's, bringing people together with ideas and energising those around him. He wanted teaching to work well for students and academics, and for this to be facilitated by excellent technical help.
His approach to his work and professional community was cited as best practice by the UK Talent Commission. In 2023, Stephen's contributions were recognised with an MBE, a fitting tribute to a career defined by service, leadership, and impact.
Those who worked with Stephen remember him as bright, self-deprecating, and quietly tenacious - someone who combined immense expertise with warmth, kindness, and a gently mischievous sense of humour. His colleagues have shared words with us about Stephen being a "brilliant bloke", who had an "extraordinary positive outlook", and someone who was always there to help with a "big smile and a joke".
Our sincere condolences are with Stephen's family, his wife Karen and their son Ben, and those across King's and more widely who worked closely with him.
