Paul Fox
17-02 2021 11:27
wrote:
Reading through others reflections here I was particularly struck by Simon Worte’s comment that Andy was “essentially [a ] private person”. I had to think about that. After all Andy won all the prizes, no team photograph was complete without him, and he was even in that rather strange pipe and drum band that I'd completely forgotten about. He was head boy. How could this very public figure, this serial achiever throughout his life, be said to be private? But I think Simon is spot on. When I look again at this page’s photograph of the good looking man with the enigmatic half smile I see also those warmly appraising eyes and the measured look; it is the look of an interviewer putting a candidate at ease but giving nothing away about himself. I do think Andy was very reserved, but never cold or aloof. I think he thought deeply about things, perhaps too much. I think he was intuitively kind and we all knew it - how else can it be that everyone liked him, and that a man of such obvious talents excited no jealousy or spite. I was not one of Andy’s close friends at school but when a few years ago late at night I needed to call upon his medical expertise and advice, it was provided so quickly and comprehensively that I almost believed he was there waiting for me to get in touch. I saw Andy only rarely, the last time some five or so years ago at the Farnham meet-up when we agreed, as you do, to meet for drink in London and, as is often the case, it never happened. That was a great shame. Andy was a good man and I will miss him.
Paul Fox
17-02 2021 11:27
wrote:
Reading through others reflections here I was particularly struck by Simon Worte’s comment that Andy was “essentially [a ] private person”. I had to think about that. After all Andy won all the prizes, no team photograph was complete without him, and he was even in that rather strange pipe and drum band that I'd completely forgotten about. He was head boy. How could this very public figure, this serial achiever throughout his life, be said to be private? But I think Simon is spot on. When I look again at this page’s photograph of the good looking man with the enigmatic half smile I see also those warmly appraising eyes and the measured look; it is the look of an interviewer putting a candidate at ease but giving nothing away about himself. I do think Andy was very reserved, but never cold or aloof. I think he thought deeply about things, perhaps too much. I think he was intuitively kind and we all knew it - how else can it be that everyone liked him, and that a man of such obvious talents excited no jealousy or spite. I was not one of Andy’s close friends at school but when a few years ago late at night I needed to call upon his medical expertise and advice, it was provided so quickly and comprehensively that I almost believed he was there waiting for me to get in touch. I saw Andy only rarely, the last time some five or so years ago at the Farnham meet-up when we agreed, as you do, to meet for drink in London and, as is often the case, it never happened. That was a great shame. Andy was a good man and I will miss him.
