I first met Russ Escritt over 30 years ago when he was a firebrand student leader of an occupation of the University Senate building at Warwick, in a protest over a hike of fees for overseas students. Decades later I bumped into him again as a regular visitor to Bearwood Jazz, where he could often be seen with a variety of cameras in his role as one of the country's finest jazz photographers. He bought the same passion to his photography that he had to his politics back then in his student days.
It is with real regret that I received a message from Richard at Bearwood Jazz this week that Russ has sadly passed away after a long and debilitating illness..
Andy Hamilton's son Graeme paid this tribute…
Heartfelt sadness due to the loss of such a dedicated and loveable chap. It can never be over looked, the immense contribution Russ has given to the Birmingham jazz scene and the part he played using his camera to silently visualise the many emotions and good times. He will be missed as he was loved by all of us and my father always spoke kindly of him. A picture can be worth more than a thousand words! In a way, you will live on always through your Art. Peace…
And here is one of Russ's finest…
The Bearwood Blog 
Russ worked at the Birmingham College of Food (now University College, Birmingham) in the early to mid-1990s as a lecturer, and the current Principal paid tribute to him recently. “He was active in NATFHE (now UCU) and will be remembered as a man of principle who worked tirelessly on behalf of the union. When he left here he went on to be a full-time union official in the East Midlands. We learnt that Russ passed away after a long and courageous battle with Prostate Cancer – he was only in his mid to late 50s, so his death is particularly tragic.”