Comments on: Tony van der Kuyl, RIP http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687 The point is not to interpret the world but to change it. Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:58:42 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Neil Stewart http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687&cpage=1#comment-1142 Neil Stewart Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:48:14 +0000 http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687#comment-1142 A fitting tribute for a big man - I am afraid that the news is slow in reaching Malawi but I was shocked and saddened none the less by the news of Tony's passing. To echo other sentiments, Tony would always stop to spend time and share nuggets of information whenever we met which usually resulted in the birth of a new idea or project and was always accompanied with buckets of enthusiasm. A big loss to education. A fitting tribute for a big man – I am afraid that the news is slow in reaching Malawi but I was shocked and saddened none the less by the news of Tony’s passing.
To echo other sentiments, Tony would always stop to spend time and share nuggets of information whenever we met which usually resulted in the birth of a new idea or project and was always accompanied with buckets of enthusiasm.
A big loss to education.

]]> By: John Connell http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687&cpage=1#comment-1141 John Connell Sat, 16 Feb 2008 18:42:17 +0000 http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687#comment-1141 Tam, Thank you. I've simply been able to provide a conduit for all the wonderful memories and lovely displays of affection for the big man, and it has been an honour to do so. I will certainly read your own thoughts on the memorial site. John Tam,
Thank you. I’ve simply been able to provide a conduit for all the wonderful memories and lovely displays of affection for the big man, and it has been an honour to do so.
I will certainly read your own thoughts on the memorial site.
John

]]> By: Tom Corness (Tam) http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687&cpage=1#comment-1140 Tom Corness (Tam) Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:56:25 +0000 http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687#comment-1140 John, this is a wonderful site. I'm Tom Corness, Tony and Marlynn's best man of many years ago; I'll leave a memorial message on the site that Chris opened if you'd like to read it. Just wanted to say well done. Some marvellous comments. John, this is a wonderful site. I’m Tom Corness, Tony and Marlynn’s best man of many years ago; I’ll leave a memorial message on the site that Chris opened if you’d like to read it. Just wanted to say well done. Some marvellous comments.

]]> By: Geoff Elwood http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687&cpage=1#comment-1139 Geoff Elwood Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:48:55 +0000 http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687#comment-1139 I heard the sad news way down here in Tasmania! What a great loss! Tony was indeed a great man, and a good friend! All those education shows and stopover points around the world wont be the same without sharing a pint with Tony! Dont know of anyone who would think of Tony and not smile! He will be missed! I heard the sad news way down here in Tasmania! What a great loss! Tony was indeed a great man, and a good friend!
All those education shows and stopover points around the world wont be the same without sharing a pint with Tony!
Dont know of anyone who would think of Tony and not smile!
He will be missed!

]]> By: John Davitt http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687&cpage=1#comment-1138 John Davitt Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:41:55 +0000 http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687#comment-1138 I have just heard the sad news - what a loss the big man is to us all who knew and worked with him and of course a thousand times more to the family of whom he was so proud. I had the pleasure of spending four weeks working and travelling in deepest Botswana with Tony. On one occasion we slept in a round hut only to be woken every hour on the hour by a religious group in the next field going walkabout with drums and tambourines! It took a few days to see the funny side but we laughed about it many times since! The booming voice , the incisive grasp of the issues and someone who you could trust to watch your back a long way from home -all in one unique robust package - none of these things are possible to replace. Rest in peace Tony I have just heard the sad news – what a loss the big man is to us all who knew and worked with him and of course a thousand times more to the family of whom he was so proud. I had the pleasure of spending four weeks working and travelling in deepest Botswana with Tony. On one occasion we slept in a round hut only to be woken every hour on the hour by a religious group in the next field going walkabout with drums and tambourines! It took a few days to see the funny side but we laughed about it many times since! The booming voice , the incisive grasp of the issues and someone who you could trust to watch your back a long way from home -all in one unique robust package – none of these things are possible to replace. Rest in peace Tony

]]> By: Merlin John http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687&cpage=1#comment-1137 Merlin John Wed, 13 Feb 2008 07:19:11 +0000 http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687#comment-1137 To hear such bad news so late in the day doesn't lessen in any way its impact or the sadness it brings. Working in ICT in education it can be easy to fall for some of the launches and spins that come your way. But not with people like Tony van der Kuyl there to offer an analysis or opinion. Tony's deep passion for life and learning made him the best bullshit meter that anyone like me could wish for - and he was a lot more than that too. He was extremely generous with his insights and it was a pleasure to receive them, always with the honesty and humour that was his trademark. It was effective too, and could bring out those qualities in the people around him, usually accompanied by the sound of laughter. Tony was a remarkable man with a full character and a big heart, and people like him don't come along often enough. To hear such bad news so late in the day doesn’t lessen in any way its impact or the sadness it brings. Working in ICT in education it can be easy to fall for some of the launches and spins that come your way. But not with people like Tony van der Kuyl there to offer an analysis or opinion.
Tony’s deep passion for life and learning made him the best bullshit meter that anyone like me could wish for – and he was a lot more than that too. He was extremely generous with his insights and it was a pleasure to receive them, always with the honesty and humour that was his trademark. It was effective too, and could bring out those qualities in the people around him, usually accompanied by the sound of laughter.
Tony was a remarkable man with a full character and a big heart, and people like him don’t come along often enough.

]]> By: jean and lindsay craig http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687&cpage=1#comment-1136 jean and lindsay craig Tue, 05 Feb 2008 22:58:19 +0000 http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687#comment-1136 A great guy, always a laugh. He will be sorely missed by all his friends. Thinking about the family at this sad time. All our love. Jean and Lindsay. A great guy, always a laugh. He will be sorely missed by all his friends. Thinking about the family at this sad time. All our love. Jean and Lindsay.

]]> By: Bill Lowrie http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687&cpage=1#comment-1135 Bill Lowrie Tue, 05 Feb 2008 20:34:48 +0000 http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687#comment-1135 Having moved away from Broughty Ferry for Uni in 1978 and returning only for the usual family rituals, I tend to pick up the news from my folks back home, sometimes good, sometimes not. The news about Tony certainly was not good. I have happy memories of Toni from my time at the Savies, of his encouragement to play basketball (badly), of his wholehearted approach to life and of his encouragement in my initial career as a teacher. I know that it will be of little comfort to the family left behind but, Toni lives on in the legacy of the lives that he has touched and influenced. Please accept my condolences. Having moved away from Broughty Ferry for Uni in 1978 and returning only for the usual family rituals, I tend to pick up the news from my folks back home, sometimes good, sometimes not. The news about Tony certainly was not good. I have happy memories of Toni from my time at the Savies, of his encouragement to play basketball (badly), of his wholehearted approach to life and of his encouragement in my initial career as a teacher. I know that it will be of little comfort to the family left behind but, Toni lives on in the legacy of the lives that he has touched and influenced. Please accept my condolences.

]]> By: Stephen Heppell http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687&cpage=1#comment-1134 Stephen Heppell Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:56:13 +0000 http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687#comment-1134 Appropriately enough I heard the shock of Tony's death whilst in a conference in Canada - by an email from a colleague in Ireland. That is the joined-up, caring, social, close world Tony helped to build. Like Stuart I'd just assumed he was indestructible. Well, tragically for us all, he wasn't, but the memories he left, the lives he changed, his indefatigable efforts on behalf of learners - in Scotland, everywhere - are indestructible and will live on in the countless memories that he left us all. I don't think I'll ever be able to attend an event without still looking for that confident tall head and booming voice "Eh.. Stephen..!" booming out in greeting before we'd get straight to talking about what needed to be done. And there was much... Very few of us are privileged to leave a foot print as deeply and as clearly on this world as Tony did. He was in every sense a mighty fulcrum, and changed us all. I only hope Heaven is ready. Appropriately enough I heard the shock of Tony’s death whilst in a conference in Canada – by an email from a colleague in Ireland. That is the joined-up, caring, social, close world Tony helped to build. Like Stuart I’d just assumed he was indestructible.

Well, tragically for us all, he wasn’t, but the memories he left, the lives he changed, his indefatigable efforts on behalf of learners – in Scotland, everywhere – are indestructible and will live on in the countless memories that he left us all. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to attend an event without still looking for that confident tall head and booming voice “Eh.. Stephen..!” booming out in greeting before we’d get straight to talking about what needed to be done. And there was much…

Very few of us are privileged to leave a foot print as deeply and as clearly on this world as Tony did. He was in every sense a mighty fulcrum, and changed us all. I only hope Heaven is ready.

]]> By: colin stewart http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687&cpage=1#comment-1133 colin stewart Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:03:34 +0000 http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=687#comment-1133 Dear Marilyn, Chris and Family. My thoughts are with you all. What a great man who had time for everyone and always took time to attend his friends special occasions. The life and soul of a social gathering, long will i remember him from New Year parties in the 80`s at your House on the Forfar Road to his voice and Guitar playing reverberating around my back garden at my 40th Birthday Party. Will always remember him singing \"Love the one your with\" Love and thoughts Shakey Dear Marilyn, Chris and Family.
My thoughts are with you all. What a great man who had time for everyone and always took time to attend his friends special occasions. The life and soul of a social gathering, long will i remember him from New Year parties in the 80`s at your House on the Forfar Road to his voice and Guitar playing reverberating around my back garden at my 40th Birthday Party.
Will always remember him singing \”Love the one your with\”
Love and thoughts
Shakey

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