Today I went to the funeral of one of my favourite lecturers, David Kershaw. It was brilliant to see so many people there who had clearly been touched by him.

You see, David was not only clever and knowledgeable but he was also supportive and inspiring. David helped me and looked out for me when I was in the grip of my eating disorder. When I fell into an episode of depression, he was there cheering me on and celebrating my little victories with me. He knew my father died suddenly just before I started university and always liked to make sure I was doing okay, and at certain times of the year when he knew I was more vulnerable than usual, he’d take the time out to listen to me and check on me almost like a surrogate father.
David was always there for any of the students who…