In Memory of
Dr. Andy Johnson
Dr. Andy Johnson, a Principal Academic in the Psychology Department at Bournemouth University, sadly passed away on 11th September following a period of illness.
Andy was a much-respected colleague who was immensely popular amongst staff and students from BU and beyond. He completed his PhD in Experimental Psychology at Cardiff University in 2007, and worked at Coventry University as a lecturer before joining BU in 2012. Andy’s research examined modularity in short-term memory, where he made considerable theoretical contributions to the field and enjoyed many external collaborations. Andy was also Conference Secretary for the Experimental Psychology Society, and was instrumental in organising a meeting of the Society at BU in 2019.
Beyond his professional contributions it is difficult to put into words just how valued Andy was by everyone who knew him. As a colleague, he was always the person to lighten the room with a joke, and he was renowned for his sense of humour. At the same time, he was the first person to step up and support anyone who needed him, and the time and effort he spent with any student who crossed his path was nothing short of exemplary. His passion and dedication to his work, compassion for those around him, and his gentleness and generosity were just some of the qualities that Andy exuded to all. The Department of Psychology are honoured to have had Andy as a colleague, and for many it was an even greater privilege to call him a friend.
We have created this book so that colleagues, students and friends can share their thoughts and memories about Andy. This will then be printed and given to his family on behalf of us all. Thank you for your contributions.
Book Owner: Sarah Bate
Book Size:Â 200 Messages
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Taiyba Jabin
I am completely shocked and lost for words having just learned of the passing of this wonderful man! I was an undergrad 3rd year student of Andy’s at cov university! He helped me beyond belief! He dedicated so much time and effort and just paid so much attention to my work as well as the work of everyone else. So attentive and approachable. Never known an academic like him. I went on to secure a First Class degree so he made huge impact to my studies! Hence why randomly sat on this Saturday evening, googling Dr Andy Johnson to be completely shocked and devastated. My heart hurts for his wife, and now a mother myself, my heart completely hurts for your children. My deepest condolences to you all. Much love and peace Taiyba x …
Natalie Mestry
Andy was an all-round wonderful person. Generous, supportive, and very funny. He was a brilliant academic with such great ideas, yet so modest about his contributions. He always took the time to check in with people, congratulate them, and thank them. We are in a video together where he says he really enjoys his job, that he thought it is a privilege to work in a university and to work with students. That really stuck with me. It was also a privilege to have Andy as our colleague. He has made a lasting impact on the lives of so many people. He is so deeply missed, and always will be. Here is a picture of Andy finally getting time to relax at the end of the EPS Conference he organised in Bournemouth (July 2019). I am very sorry for your loss. Natalie x…
Katherine Appleton
Andy will certainly be missed by the Psychology Department at Bournemouth. He was a great colleague – considerate, kind and thoughtful, and an unrivaled champion of the students. I think many students unwittingly benefitted from Andy’s presence at an exam board or teaching meeting. I will miss our impromptu cycle rides following a chance meeting on the ferry, and I already miss the safety net I used to have should my car break down or similar. My thoughts go out to Andy’s family with love and sympathy. …
Jacqui Taylor
Andy had the most amazing dry sense of humour, which I enjoyed both in personal interactions and in reading his off-the-wall staff emails and announcements to students:) He was such a patient academic with students and also very generous with his time …I remember how much he contributed to the hosting with me of the Wessex Branch Undergraduate Psychology Conference, which needed a lot of extra voluntary work on top of our busy work loads. He showed through this and many other examples how much extra he would contribute to help students enjoy their University experience. I’ll miss his unique wit and chilled nature, which is such a loss for the whole academic community. I send my sincere condolences from Australia to his family and friends. Jacqui xx…
Julie Kirkby
Andy was a truely outstanding colleague. I first encountered him during his interview talk at BU, and I distinctly recall feeling relieved that I wasn’t in contention for a job at BU if candidates of Andy’s calibre were the norm. Fortunately, Andy, being an exceptional candidate, was swiftly recruited into the department, and ever since, he has been held in high regard by both colleagues and students alike. Andy demonstarted considerable dedication to his work, showcased high intelligence, generosity, and earned respect not only within the university but also in the broader field of psychology. His sense of human was a constant souce of joy, especially evident in his emails that became a lifeline for us all during lockdown. Dispite Andy’s superior abilities, he never made others feel inferior, always fostering a possitive and inclusive enviroment. His absence will be keenly felt by everyone in the department. I’m truely sorry for your loss, and I hope that the memories of Andy’s contributions and the positive experiences shared will provide some comfort in time. Julie …
Laura Renshaw-Vuillier
I am a bit lost for words because Andy was one of a kind and it is difficult to comprehend he is not physically amongst us anymore. I did not even know Andy that well because our path only crossed a few times but I remember his humour, joviality, kindness and smile. He was always putting so much work – and FUN!- into making new students feel welcome, and I remember admiring his ability to be so comfortable amongst students. He did not even seem to be trying hard, he was just lucky to be that kind of person! And I believe he helped me realise that I could be the lecturer I wanted to be and not necessarily a serious one (even though I definitely don’t have his gift for funny jokes!). I cannot imagine the pain you are going through, but I hope you will see with these messages how he touched so many lives. Alex and Arabella: your dad was such a special person and loved talking about you, and even though he left this world way too early, I hope these messages show you how very special he was to everyone who knew him. He really…
Doug Hardman
I first met Andy when I joined Bournemouth University as a new lecturer. It quickly became clear to me that my idea of what being a good lecturer entails was way off the mark. Andy showed me that being professional was just a small part of the role. You could also be kind, empathic, supportive, funny, interested in students’ lives, and more helpful than one could imagine. As I got to know Andy, I realised that all these attributes were not just ones that he embodied in his teaching but were who he was as a person. It really is difficult to put his loss into words. He impacted so many people’s lives in such a positive way and that is a legacy anyone in any walk of life would be proud of….
Sarah Collard
Andy was such a fun individual who would brighten the room up. I didn’t know him that well, but when I took up his previous post as Level 4 tutor, I was amazed at how he had always did the role so well with ease! Thank you Andy for helping me when I first started and you will always be remembered for bringing joy and life to any occasion. …
Ellen Seiss
I guess I will reiterate what many colleagues said already. We will miss Andy dearly. I personally will miss his humour. warms and care for students and colleagues alike, and his incredible sense of fairness. He kept me in check with this and I am ever so thankful for it. What he also will be remembered for is his (often not seen) support for colleagues and the underdogs. Receiving some of this support messages when I doubted myself really meant a lot to me. For me, he was (he is!) a great role model of how to be a great academic and person all around. It is not always the professors and famous people who impress us, in Andy’s case it was the colleage next door. I would like to send my condolences to the family and friends. I cannot imagine your pain but I do hope that our words will help a bit. …
Sarah Parris (Bate)
Andy was one of those academics that you rarely meet. He was without doubt a brilliant researcher, and he was always challenging existing thought and learning new techniques and approaches. But he was also heavily invested in teaching and supporting students and colleagues – many of whom have written tributes on this page. But there are so many more students who will never know how they benefitted from Andy’s input – the one thing that I always remember is how he went out of his way in examination boards to support borderline students and got them over the line to the next degree classification. He did this for so many of the hundreds of students that we assess each year, regardless of whether he knew them or not. What else stays with me about Andy? Definitely his love of Converse trainers, his frequent walks down the corridor to refill his cup of tea (I think the Princess Diana mug has already been mentioned), and his interest in politics and current events. The jokes! And the numerous conversations – whether it was to moan and groan, have a laugh, or simply to take a break, he was happy to be…
Jan Wiener
Andy was a truly unique colleague. I loved his humour, his dedication to teaching and his students, and I do miss those casual conversations we used to have – yes, about work and research – but also about politics and all the other absurdities of daily life. While Andy’s sarcasm was unmatched, his decency and love for people always shone through, leaving a lasting positive impact on all of us around him. It was an honour to have known you, Andy. I cannot believe you are no longer with us….
Xun He
It took a long time for me to gather my strength to write this farewell message to Andy. Despite Andy having been ill for some time, it was still very hard for anyone to hear the terrible message. The farewell came way too soon… I still remember the day I first discussed with Andy ten years ago when I just joined BU. I was to start teaching in his unit and needed to cover some contents I was not familiar with. I still vividly remember the way we sat by his desk and how he helped me making decisions about my lecture topics. I also remember these days when we discussed research and admin work in our small AMD research group; it felt like a family for me and I so much enjoyed discussing all the “family business” with Andy. Andy helped me finding myself and what I wanted for the group’s future during the uncertain perdiod of the group (I was solely focusing on other people’s thoughts on this matter). Over these years, I always admired his great humour, his willingness to help anytime, his enthusiasm towards our students, his keen judgement, and his modest personality. I was…
Chang Hong Liu
I was very lucky to have Andy as a colleague for nearly ten years. He was truly a bright star in the department. I felt his shining personality every time I had a chance to work with him. I admired his integrity, his outstanding sense of empathy, and his intelligence. He will be forever missed. Chang…
Julie (GT)
Such a wonderful colleague, I miss Andy’s calming and witty presence in the department. So often his emails would make me laugh out loud; his way with words was always able to make a difficult situation seem so much better or brighten up a dull day. I remember his humility when he was so right about something, saying “even a broken clock is right twice a day”! Such a pleasure to have worked with Andy, I just wish there’d been more time to get to know him better….
Andrew I Meso
AJA toast to my friend, now gone, never ever to be forgotten. He left before I could truly imagine the hole that would remain.In reason, I could feel the day coming but it floored me on arrival.Suddenly, that chat, that wild joke became the last words, the last smile!The postponed visit became the tomorrow that was never to be. More time? I wanted more time with my friend, but alas it was not to be had. A toast to the valuable gift of the time I had with my friend. A toast to my friend, my other brother from another mother.The one with a heart of gold. The one with the cheeky wit with no limits.The one who was brave, who stood with his people when gorillas attacked.The one they respected, as they came to hear his words on this or that.The one who was humbly wise, crafting idea-masterpieces in time for tea.The one who showed us all how we could be, like an accidental influencer. A toast to my brother and if they ask, I will always say he was a good man. A toast to my friend, whose passing drew tears from the faces of rocks.As a…
