Schooldays

Andy played Viola in the Nottingham Junior Harmonic orchestra and passed the Royal Schools of Music examinations in 1968 and 1969. He was a member of the cubs, scouts as well as the venture scouts, and was presented with the Queens Scout Award by Prince Phillip on 21 September 1972.

Andy attended Bradford University from September 1973 to July 1977, where he obtained the Degree of Bachelor of Technology with honours in Chemical Engineering.

He worked at BP Chemicals, Scotland from August 1977 to April 1980. He saw an advertisement in the newspaper that South Africa was recruiting chemical engineers in the United Kingdom , and decided to apply. He was interviewed by the South African Scientific Advisor in London , and informed by the then National Institute of Metallurgy (NIM) (now known as Mintek) that he had been offered a 3-year contract to work for them. He landed in S.A. on the 1st May 1980 and started working for NIM on the 4th May 1980.

We met, during his second year, when 2 divisions were combined and the Hydrometallurgy Division was created. After a brief courtship, we were married on the 17th September 1982. When the 3 years contract expired, NIM offered him a permanent position, which was dependent on him obtaining permanent resident status, which he received on 6 May 1983.

Our only son, William, was born on the 30th June 1986.

Andy received a certificate of Naturalisation and became a South African citizen on 11 March 1992. In May 1993, Andy received a Hydrometallurgy Division achievement award for his outstanding contribution to the implementation of information systems for project man-days, equipment control and an Occupational Safety and Health scoring system. On 13 September 2002 he passed the exam and became a certified SAP Technical Consultant

In his private life he always accompanied his son, William, to chess tournaments and in 1999 he was co-opted onto the West Rand Junior Chess Association Committee to do the computers at tournaments. He also drew up and faxed chess notices to all West Rand schools on a regular basis, and organized the printing of training manuals for all league-playing schools. He became a certified Tournament Supervisor on the 1st July 2002. He took over the duties of Committee Secretary in 2003. He made an outstanding contribution to the success of the Spescom Open Tournaments held at Ruimsig from 1999 to 2004, after which he resigned from the WRJCA due to ill health as a result of a high-grade brain tumour removed on the 1st of October 2003.

On the 5th of December 2005 he was diagnosed with a recurrent tumour, which was resected on the 7th December. He contracted meningitis on the 20th December and underwent a debridement of the wound on the 22nd December. On the 3rd January 2006 he was diagnosed with a new extremely aggressive brain tumour which extended into the brain stem. After a valiant fight, this tumour ultimately took his life at 10 minutes past one on the 5th January 2006. He passed away peacefully in the presence of his family. The words of his brain surgeon, Dr Mauritz van den Heever, sums up his fight to the end: “He was one of the most positive and wonderful patients I have ever had”.

I wish to thank the following people for all their help during this difficult time:

All the people who phoned me and sent SMS’s with words of encouragement and comfort during these last weeks as well as those who sent beautiful floral tributes,

My father-in-law who flew out to South Africa to be with us, and whose unfailing support in this time has made a tremendous difference in our lives, filling the void in the interim with his care, understanding and comfort

Dr Johan Nell, my boss, for his understanding and support during the last difficult weeks, as well as the Hydrometallurgy and High Temperature Technology Division staff for their unfailing support and comfort during the last 27 months

The staff of the Wilgeheuwel Hospital ICU, with particular mention of Sisters Janine Viviers, Raylene Brockman and Ria Rabie who were with us at the end, Monique Jacobs that made it possible for me to be in time to comfort Andy in his last moments, Lynn Robertson, Linda Ras, Gerda Geldenhuis, and Purdy Botes, who supported me in my deepest despair.

Dr Mauritz van den Heever, the brilliant brain surgeon who saved Andy’s life on 3 occasions, Dr Izak Bezuidenhout who performed the debridement, Dr Hameed who did the Tracheostomy, Drs Ballantyne and Traub for their assistance, and especially Dr Desmond Shamley, who battled to save Andy during the last weeks and who caught me when I fainted after the news that the tumour had spread into Andy’s brain stem.

Physiotherapists Bell and Rogers, who assisted him in hospital, and Gillian Smith, the MRI radiologist who performed the scans and assisted us through the last 27 months

Sharon Zeelie, Michelle Darlew, Anthea Jacobs and Bilinda Raath at Fedhealth who assisted me during all this time to ensure that any claim errors were rectified quickly, as well as Fedhealth for being there for us in meeting the huge hospital, radiation and chemotherapy bills during the last 27 months

Christa Oosthuizen of the NG Church who did all the arrangements for the funeral, Mariaan Gilburt for the catering arrangements, and especially Dr Nelus Niemandt, who supported us in the Wilgeheuwel ICU on the last day with prayers and great understanding

Roy Stephens and Marthie Burrell of Doves who’s professional and quality assistance with the funeral arrangements will always be remembered and appreciated

Suzette O’Connell, who went through an identical crisis exactly a year ago, whose example in how to deal with this life-changing experience has been a great inspiration to me, especially on the last day in the ICU

And last but not least, my son William, who was a tremendous support for me, even though he is only 19 years old, during this time, with understanding far beyond his age.