I read this on Facebook not very long ago:
I am saddened by Mark's death. I only met him for the first time a little over a year ago. He heard me give a talk on Zoom during the first lockdown and suggested I should be making Youtube videos. And that is exactly what we then began to do. My video channel exists because of Mark. I know it's been quiet for the last couple of weeks because of the pressure of other work, but it was his idea and I am really pleased we did it.
It was surprising fun to work together, which was a mutual feeling we both expressed. We were different characters from different backgrounds, but mutual respect was there from the start and quite simply I learned a lot from Mark, and much enjoyed his company.
Last November he told me one morning he was not feeling well. I have been married to a doctor for more than two decades. The result is that on occasion I get an awkward feeling when someone says they may not be well. I called my wife and relayed what Mark had said. She told me to make sure he got to hospital as soon as possible. He did. He had a septic liver, and needed very urgent treatment. I will always be grateful that I had that awkward feeling: his GP had told him to wait to go until he had been able to have a Covid test, and that could literally have been fatal.
The trouble was Mark was found to have cancer. He was angry for a few days. We talked quite a lot about that. Then he got on with the rest of life, including marrying Alison in Ely Cathedral, for whom he also did video work.
I last saw Mark a few weeks after he married. It was clear he was quite unwell. The spirit was all still there. The happy husband, the proud dad, the guy who loved his community and did a lot for it. But it was going to come to an end, and sadly it now has.
I am pleased to have known, to have worked with, to have learned from, and have just got on with Mark. I hope he rests in peace. My condolences to Alison and his daughters in particular. He left all of us far too soon.
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That is sad to hear Richard. The phrase ‘the good die young’ springs to mind.
Condolences to you and all of Mark’s friends and family. If it is any consolation, he clearly lived well and made a difference.
Cancer caused 28% of deaths in England and Wales in 2019 – 150,000 out of 530,000. More than half of them were aged 75 or older.
(About the same number died since March 2020 due to coronavirus, and about 75% of them were aged 75 or older. Just for comparison, in 2019, influenza or rather pneumonia killed 1,200.)
Andrew
Thanks
Mark was 50
That makes it harder
I realised this afternoon what could summarise my sentiment: my life was better with Mark in it, and it’s not as good as it was without him
Richard
I’m not sure how I came across you…..I think it was Slugger & Sean Danaher in 2014 … you have given me an education that I would’ve never had got anywhere else, even after getting a degree from Northern Ireland. I have introduced you to ( without your consent!) some of my friends…who, like me, won’t start their day before finding out what it is you have to say. I am very saddened by the death of your colleague and friend.
Thanks Michael
Mark was intrigued by the community around this site
Condolences to his family and friends.
He has left an indelible marker here with your collaboration.
Which will be built upon and inspire many.
He was younger than me.
Thank you for sharing this with us. I wondered how this had played out after you had hinted at it a while back.
You have done him justice, that’s for sure.
The videos are great.