Tim Johns was a lecturer at the University of Birmingham.
He died in April this year and his colleagues arranged a
memorial gathering in September.

Duke Ellington was playing,
A passion we could share;
From far and wide your colleagues came –
Everyone was there.

Former students spoke with awe -
Your intellect was rare -
Remembered your untidy desk.
The living were all there.

There were some tears, much laughter,
And we were all aware,
Although we heard your voice on tape,
One person wasn’t there.

We went to see the bench we’d bought
In a sudden shower of rain
And  knew that you were just not there
And would not be again.