(no subject)

[llywela]

Today in work we had a retirement presentation for a very dear colleague. John formally retired at Christmas, but hasn't actually been in work since last summer, when he noticed while driving that he was having some issues with peripheral vision and went to see the optician, who referred him to the hospital, who diagnosed a large and aggressive brain tumour. For John, it was the end of life as he knew it - everything just stopped, because treatment had to be immediate. For everyone here in work...I don't think I've ever seen a workplace so united in shock and upset. It isn't an exaggeration to say that everyone loves John. He's worked here for the best part of 40 years, knows this department and this university inside out, and you won't find a single person with a bad word to say about him. He really is an absolute sweetheart - gentle and placid, supportive of his staff, a calm head in any crisis. The crowd that turned up for his presentation today had to be seen to be believed - even people who themselves retired years ago turned up for it. It was lovely to see him again - looking changed, to be sure, his treatment and surgery have taken a pretty visible toll, but he's in better shape than I expected, and still his sweet, generous, thoughtful old self. I just hope the treatment is successful, because if anyone deserves a long, happy and healthy retirement, it's John.