Max

I was so gutted to hear the news about Max; it's incomprehensible, not least because he was one of the most lively, vibrant people I have ever been fortunate enough to know. I could never have imagined that this could happen and am devastated that he will not have the chance to do all the wonderful things he could have done given longer on this Earth.

I know I'm not supposed to have favourites in this job but, as everyone who knew him will vouch for, Max stood out from the crowd. His emails always made me smile - usually full of excuses for not doing this or that, but always with a humorous charm that made it impossible to get angry with him. He talked fanatically about football and Spanish culture and joked about his ongoing quest to find a Spanish girlfriend to help improve his language skills!

Max should have been in Costa Rica the night he died. He had originally planned go there for the second half of his Year Abroad, but all the 'if only's in the world won't bring him back. I was (selfishly) glad when he told me he would be extending his stay in Cadiz for the whole year because it meant that he'd be there to show me around when I went out to visit next month. He was clearly having the time of his life there and I was so looking forward to hearing all about what he'd been up to, seeing that smile again and the way his eyes lit up wih enthusiasm when he talked. My visit to Cadiz certainly won't be the same without Max.

I can't even begin to imagine what his close friends and family must be going through at the moment; my thoughts are with you all. Max was a truly amazing guy and will be missed greatly, even by those of us whose lives I'm sure he didn't realise he touched so deeply.

Lucy

Year Abroad Secretary
School of Modern Languages
Newcastle University