As a film fan, Matt especially loved working at the BFI. Below is a copy of the tribute published on the BFI intranet by his friend Emma Smart:
Remembering Matt Fletcher
8 November 2023
It is with deep sadness that we share the news that our dear friend and former library colleague Matt Fletcher has died.
Matt had been unwell for much of the past year and was finally diagnosed with a rare and incurable form of cancer at the beginning of October. He passed away with his family by his side on Monday 6th November.
Matt joined the library in January 2018 as Acquisitions Librarian, and soon became an integral part of the team, overseeing the development of the book collection and helping our visitors with enquiries in the reading room. We bonded over a shared love of Star Trek and a penchant for introducing workflows to almost everything we did.
Matt’s team spirit and unwavering support was greatly appreciated as he took on the role of Senior Librarian during Sarah’s maternity leave and helped me shepherd the team through the pandemic and multiple lockdowns. But his crowning achievement during his time with us was his oversight of the accessioning of the Philip French collection, a donation of more than 3,000 books by the late film critic’s family to the BFI. I am still in awe of how Matt approached such a herculean task (his love of workflows really came into their own!) and it’s a comfort to know that each time someone reads one of the books in the Philip French Collection, they will see the collection logo that Matt himself designed stamped inside the front cover. A lasting legacy of his hard work.
Matt left the BFI in April 2021 to take up a post managing an academic law library at City University but as an avid film fan and supporter of BFI Flare, he was never far away from the Southbank. It’s hard to think he will not be there for a screening and a post-work catch-up in the future. The whole team is going to miss his friendship, his compassion and his wickedly dry sense of humour.
Matt didn’t want a funeral and it was also his and his family’s wish for people to know they don’t need to send cards or flowers. If you wish to honour Matt’s memory, please make a donation to his preferred charity Stonewall.
Emma Smart
How Is Matt? 