Some Thoughts from Friends, Colleagues and Students from the University of Bedfordshire, London Churchill College and Birkbeck College...……. I have been left overwhelmed by the expressions of sadness from Tim’s former colleagues in the Business Faculty that have been made since we heard the news. Tim has clearly touched many people by his incredible professionalism but more so as a wonderful kind, supportive person. Perhaps I can share just a small number of the tributes paid to him. ‘Tim was a good man – not a phrase I use lightly. He was kind and everybody liked him ‘ ‘He was a nice guy and good pal ‘ ‘Wonderful times – terrific salesperson for the project, recruiting hundreds of SME ‘ ‘He made the Flying Faculty a Team ‘ ‘He was a real pleasure to work with – always very supportive, approaching issues with humour and therefore making me feel positive, always patient and generally very caring and good human being ‘ ‘He was patient and really helpful - Had many good times in Oman – one of the good guys ‘ I have worked in higher education for over 30 years and I cannot recall any comparable set of extensively and so warmly worded spontaneous tributes. Tim made a massive impact and made a real difference for the University and we remember him with great warmth and gratitude. ---------- We travelled together to far flung places. We conspired together to get airline upgrades and ate fantastic meals in local restaurants so while the work was hard there were compensations. Once Tim had overdosed on authentic food and he cleared out my Imodium supply before he could face a meeting we had to attend. Tim was a lovely colleague and a much-respected manager. ---------- I worked with Tim on the MBA programme at Bedfordshire for many years and shared an office with him for quite a while. He was always so kind and fair and good company too. ---------- Tim was an exceptionally kind person. He was always very generous, patient, considerate and very easy going. He was an absolute pleasure to work with. Many colleagues have expressed their sadness and fond memories of Tim. I was very fortunate to know Tim. He will be missed sorely. ---------- I first met Tim in 2013. I was one of six "Professors in Management Practice" who Tim had to "co-ordinate" in carrying out some very vague duties. We had plenty of laughs there – including at our unfortunate acronym (PiMP). Tim would gently and patiently try to explain how things worked in academia, probably rolling his eyes skywards when we were not looking. I gradually got to know Tim - he seemed very shy and reserved at first - and I learned how proud he was of Joe and Bella. The UoB Profs (as we jokingly called ourselves) started having occasional dinners together and the last time I saw Tim was at one of these in a slightly dodgy French restaurant in Bloomsbury on 4 March. He was going to see his consultant the next day and was obviously worried; nevertheless, he took the time as we walked to St Pancras station afterwards to ask how my house sale was progressing... that was Tim. I feel privileged to have known Tim. He was one of the good guys. ---------- Being new to academia, Tim took me under his wing when I joined the University in 2013 and showed me and the other newly joined ‘Profs’ the ‘ropes’ at Bedford. He had a quiet, knowledgeable way about him - ALWAYs backed up with a glint of humour/ mischief in his eye..:)..we regarded him as the ‘7th’ ‘Prof..:) I know Tim was highly respected by many people at the Uni and he will be sorely missed. ---------- It came to me as a shock to know that Tim is no more. He was one of the most kind, humble colleague and friend I have had in my 25 years of career. It feels like yesterday, when we met for the first time in 2002 for my interview in Bedfordshire University. I was privileged to have him as my manager. During the 10 years that we worked together, we also grew as friends. We talked about our families, holidays, politics and many other things. I remember Tim placed Joe with me for a work experience when he was in high-school and asked me to give him a bit of tough time, so that he would know what it is to be in the work environment. Although I did not see his family, I knew his family through our little chats. He often told me how he loves to go for runs with Bella. A few years back he showed me Joe’s picture, I couldn’t believe my eyes he had turned into a tall muscular man. In fact Tim said to me he is going to pretend that Joe is his bodyguard on one of the holidays to feel like celebrities. I will never be able to forget the support he provided to me as a friend and manager when my 2 year old was unwell and hospitalised. I still remember the day I handed him my resignation letter I was in tears and said, ‘I can’t do this job, it must be my fault that I am not giving him enough time.’ And all he did is kept my resignation letter in his drawer and said, ‘Don’t worry, you can take as many days off you wish, leave early, come late till the time things settle at your end. I am sure it is just a phase of your life and it will pass. I will keep your resignation letter for a few more weeks and that way you will give chance to yourself for a change in your situation and decision.’ With God’s grace, my son got better and I am still working at university of Bedfordshire. We all walk the same path to the same destination, only at different times. If there were choice and an option to choose your afterlife friends Tim surely would make it in my list. I am sure he rests in peace. ---------- I had the pleasure of working with Tim during his many years of dedicated service leading our digital media provision at Birkbeck. Tim will be sorely missed by all who have been fortunate enough to have had the experience of being his colleague. ---------- I just wanted to pass on my personal condolences on behalf of the Department of Film, Media and Culture Studies at Birkbeck. Tim was such a great colleague and friend, and leaves a huge footprint on our department that will benefit students for many years to come. We will sorely miss his breezy presence in corridors and meetings as much as I know his students will deeply miss his charismatic teaching style and tirelessly supportive mentoring. He blazed trails not only in his particular subject area, but for all of us seeking to enhance and enrich our teaching at postgraduate level. Above all, Tim cared deeply about his students and his dedication, integrity and passion will remain a shining example to us all. We are very grateful to have known him and learned from him and we are thinking of you and his closest loved ones, especially on this day of his funeral. We very much look forward to participating in the larger planned memorial event. ---------- You said that he was “Gentle and amusing” during his last days and I think those words sum him up very well. Tim was very popular, and he will be greatly missed. ---------- Tim was an esteemed colleague as well as a personal friend. He will be sorely missed by all involved at the College, he brought qualities of wisdom and leadership, which will be hard to replace. He was responsible for improving the student experience by increased engagement and opportunity, which allowed us to develop into the vibrant learning institute we are today. He was a source of quiet wisdom and just a lovely person. ---------- Tim was such a good person and I am very sad he will be greatly missed ---------- I was always glad to see him and respected the actions taken in respect of promoting students' interests and serving the College. ---------- He was a very warm and welcoming person to me and we enjoyed some nice conversations together. I noted that he was always very knowledgeable and committed to all the students and staff. ---------- He always came across as friendly, approachable and knowledgeable. May his soul rest in peace. ---------- Tim was one of my favourite people. I'll never forget the time we worked together. He was able to effortlessly make everyone else have a good time. He'll never be forgotten. Tim was a kind-hearted, generous person. As a recipient of his kindness and generosity, we will miss him greatly. ---------- He was a good man and colleague. He will be very missed at the college. ---------- I was very much shocked and saddened to hear his untimely departure from this world. But we will carry on his legacy and he will be very much alive in our thoughts and in the history of the College. ---------- May the soul of ‘Tim’ be at peace. ---------- Tim and I became friends nearly 20 years ago. I remember his company in Delhi and Muscat as well as Nairobi. He was stimulating and enjoyable company with exotic tales of his time with the British Council in Libya, as well as being effective in bringing overseas work to the University. Tim was a charming and insightful person; he will be missed. ---------- He was a lovely caring man. ---------- He was a great colleague and a good person. ---------- Whilst we only met in the context of the LCC College Oversight Board meetings, I quickly came to recognise the high level of commitment, and the great enthusiasm and creativity he brought to his role as Head of Student Engagement. There is no doubt that his contribution to the work of the College in this area has been first class, and we shall all miss him greatly. ---------- Tim was with us in some of the College's most testing days and he was working hard for the Student Engagement department even a couple of weeks ago. He will be missed and our thoughts and prayers are with his family in these difficult times. Verily we belong to God's nature, and verily to God's nature we return. ---------- We lost an amazing colleague, a humble gentleman. ---------- We have shared an office for a significant time and have a lot of fond memories and discussions that we enjoyed. I personally found him to be a good colleague and a good person overall. It is difficult to comprehend the right words of gratitude at this moment. ---------- It was lovely working with Tim. He was a great team player. ---------- Tim was such a highly valuable and respected colleague. He was always more focused on the good of the college and the department than on his own benefit. He made many great contributions to the Department of Hospitality Management and he helped this course to move forward in numerous ways. His work here will not soon be forgotten. Tim was an extraordinary person with high perspectives who is known by all of our colleagues. I feel privileged to have a colleague like Tim, who is humble and has a down to earth character. He will be greatly missed. ---------- He was a wonderful person who will be sorely missed. ---------- Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun. I am deeply shocked. He was a great mentor and manager. He will be missed by all from LCC. ---------- I was working very closely with Tim at LCC as part of the work based learning team. He was always so calm and thoughtful with the well being of others coming first. We worked closely during the time of his illness and I found him to be so courageous in the way that he handled his illness. But I have very fond memories of working with him and the best will be the memory of the last Christmas that we spent together with the WBL team, as well as the student engagement team, we went out to Christmas lunch wearing silly paper hats and pulling crackers but a really happy time. We have a WhatsApp group which we put together when we started working from home which we called Tim's crew and that's what we were. ---------- I had the pleasure of working closely with Tim for the last 3 years at London Churchill College in the Student Engagement team. Tim was a kind-hearted and humble gentleman, always smiling with a great sense of humour. I was very sad to hear the news of his passing. He will be greatly missed. My condolences to his family. ---------- I had only known Tim for one year, through working in London Churchill College. In this short space of time, he made an excellent impression on me. He was a true gentleman, very polite and respectful of others, and always with a smile on his face. I still can't believe he is no longer with us. I spoke to him only a few days before he passed away. ---------- I met Tim as a colleague at LCC but by the time I left I realised that he was a true friend. I admired his work ethic which included my respect for his dedication, integrity, professionalism and energy which was fed by a positive ‘can do’ and supportive attitude. Tim contributed greatly to our operations and he was always happy to indulge me in any discussions over detail that I needed and he was always able to placate and reassure me over my uncertainties. Tim was a people person and a fellow member of Senior Management that I genuinely felt able to confide in whether over a coffee at our local café or in private. He listened, showed empathy, offered solutions and respected confidentiality. I was not directly a member of Tim's team but I certainly benefited from his mentoring and I know just how well liked he was by his team members. Tim informed me of his illness shortly before I left LCC and although he put on his indomitable positive spin on it, I was under no misgivings over the seriousness of it. He told me of the treatment he was going through and that he wanted to keep fit and continue working as much as possible. Before I left, he told me I could provide his details for reference purposes. Sadly I was not able to take him up on this but I knew he was a friend. As has already been said, Tim really was a ‘good guy’. I second that and he will be sorely missed. I extend my deepest sympathies to you and the family. ---------- As well as valuing critical thinking and intellectual development, Tim had a keen sense of what students needed to be successful outside of academia. He was a kind and generous mentor for countless Birkbeck graduates. ---------- I was very sorry to hear about Tim's passing away and wanted to express my condolences. He was always so encouraging and supportive to me during my studies at Birkbeck and gave me confidence to succeed in the programme. ---------- I'm very grateful to have been taught by Tim over the last two years. One of his traits that I admire most is how he connected and supported a diverse range of students with broad experiences, interests and projects always with good humour and often a wry smile. I personally appreciated his pragmatic calmness and sage advice including a Skype call just last month. ---------- He seemed so enthusiastic and energetic when conducting a class and even if supervising someone else taking it, you felt his presence. He really seemed passionate about his students throwing themselves into the course, not just to learn the mechanics but also to launch themselves into new challenges and opportunities. He made the class exciting and despite some of the complexities of the subject, you felt as if he you would gain access to new wonderful worlds. ---------- I was a long-time colleague of Tim’s at Birkbeck. In that capacity I cannot say I knew him ‘well’, but what I can absolutely say is how much I liked and respected him. I wanted to register that, and the positive impact he had on his colleagues. Like Tim, I am an Associate Lecturer at Birkbeck and come out of an industry background (in my case public sector arts curation and management) and also work freelance. I first encountered Tim when I was drafted in to do some support work for the Foundation Degree in Media and Business Applications, on which he was teaching at the time. That was back in the days of Birkbeck’s Centre for Lifelong Learning, and I had been a colleague since, to what has now evolved into the Department of Film, Media and Cultural Studies in the School of Arts. It took me quite a while to realise that behind Tim’s air of reserve was a dry sense of humour. I began to particularly enjoy seeing a wry smile appear on his face in response to the sometimes more arcane aspects of academia, which frankly also bewildered me on my move into academic life, and he was very good at cutting through the bureaucracy to what really mattered. What was immediately apparent, and remained ever the case, was that he cared passionately about his students, and about delivering effective, useful, studies for them – areas that are close to my heart. My last memory of Tim is sitting opposite him at a Department meeting where he was talking enthusiastically about future plans for digital provision, very characteristic of him, when privately he must have been going through a great deal. It has been lovely to read the anecdotes and see the pictures. I have learnt a great deal that I did not know about Tim, but at the same time all of it seems very fitting with my impression of him.