‌This tribute has been written with the kind help of Derek Sellar, Patricia Davidson and Christine Carr, Stephen’s colleagues in the School of Life Sciences.

Image of the late Stephen HendersonStephen Henderson, who died on Friday 20 January 2017 at the age of 50, was a technician and driver in the School of Life Sciences who began working at the University in 2001.

Originally employed as a handyman, Stephen’s role evolved to reflect his many talents as he developed a wide range of technical skills and established himself as the ‘go-to guy’ for logistics among the School’s widely dispersed technical and laboratory staff. 

His professionalism, initiative and ability to solve problems were of the first order. The way in which he went about his work, his attitude and his manners, were what made him a special person.

A gentle giant

Stephen was a gentle giant of a man. He was kind and considerate, friendly and approachable. He was a well-known face around campus, and, in turn, appeared to know every member of staff by name. Never one to stand on ceremony, whether talking to a first-year student or a professor, Stephen treated everybody he met with the same warmth and respect.

Although quiet, Stephen shared his sense of humour with colleagues, he was always good company and never at a loss for something say. He was well read, loved to share his knowledge of local history, and was always up for a laugh, a discussion or a debate about current affairs or politics. Stephen was a keen and skilled photographer, who also had a real passion for cycling. His family intend to donate his treasured bikes to charity on his behalf. He was also private person, with many hidden interests —few knew that he spoke Spanish fluently, and even fewer were lucky enough hear him in action.

Road trips

Much of Stephen’s work involved driving. His ability to navigate around campus and find destinations even loosely associated with the University were the stuff of legend. He travelled far and wide, day and night, whatever the weather, with loads ranging from the delicate to the bizarre  - boxes of frogs or cows’ livers were not unheard of. His road trips ‘doon the watter’ with busloads of students to Largs or Millport were always hugely popular. He was a great travelling companion, people loved his company, and whatever the cargo, it got there safely.

An irreplaceable part of our team

Both professionally and personally, Stephen could not have been more highly regarded among his colleagues. He was a rare breed, and his many skills and talents cannot be adequately captured by a job title alone. As a member of staff, his willingness to go above-and-beyond to help others and get things done was a real inspiration, and a foundation of our day-to-day life at the University. Yet, it is as a person, and as a friend, that Stephen’s influence will be missed the most.     

First published: 13 February 2017

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