I was shocked and saddened to hear about David’s passing. I first met David when we worked at Staffordshire University thirty years ago and over the years we met up many times at conferences and meetings and in the last four years as members of a Board of Governors. He was a kind and generous man and his contribution to Higher Education was immense. I feel very fortunate to have known him and I will miss his knowledge, insight, wisdom, humour and wit.