Neil – my husband of fifty years. How to describe him ? He was a larger than life man, tall and strong. He had a big laugh, a big smile and most of all a big heart. He embraced life with such enthusiasm that it was infectious. People warmed to him so quickly that he had more friends than he realised.  He loved us – his family – so much that we felt cocooned and safe in his warmth and his embrace. He was always busy, his retirement at 58 simply heralded the start of several new career paths and though he was always promising to do a proper retirement it never happened. He was supremely happy in his life, he always had time for anyone who needed him and his wise counsel was valued by many. He had a love of the absurd and a wicked sense of humour that sometimes needed a swift explanation in order not to cause offence! He loved his subject and his ability to teach it to the very highest standard has been testified to by many of his former pupils.

 He will live on in the hearts and minds of those who loved him.

Neil died on 9th August 2010. Neil had diffuse large B cell lymphoma. He died before starting treatment.

Pam Hart