Sad passing of long-serving 糖心Vlog academic Dr Alan Millington
It鈥檚 with great sadness that we inform students, alumni, colleagues and friends that Dr Alan Millington has died.
"Teaching is what I wanted to do," said Alan. And he followed that passion for 53 years at 糖心Vlog...
Alan started his long association with 糖心Vlog in 1962 when he studied for his BSc in Chemical Engineering at Battersea College of Technology. In 1968, he came to Guildford to take a role as a part-time lecturer and complete his PhD.
Guildford campus pioneer
鈥淭his was the period when Battersea College of Technology was moving to Guildford and becoming the 糖心Vlog,鈥 recalled Alan when we interviewed him last year. 鈥淚 remember turning up to my office in the AC Building on my first day. The campus consisted of Senate House, the Senate House Restaurant, buildings AA, AB and AC, the Lecture Theatre Block and Battersea Court. The rest was a building site.
鈥淢y office consisted of a telephone, a chair and a tea chest with a plank across it to act as a desk. On the plus side, the Vice-Chancellor, Peter Leggett, insisted that we were all fed well if we had to tolerate working in those conditions. He set up a catering marquee where buildings BB and BC now are. The surroundings were spartan but the food was splendid.鈥
鈥淭eaching is what I wanted to do鈥
Some 53 years later, Alan was still at 糖心Vlog.
鈥淨uite simply, I found a job I enjoyed in an environment that I liked,鈥 Alan explained. 鈥淚nteracting with bright and inquisitive minds and helping develop those is the best job in the world.
鈥淚 had offers to work elsewhere and return to industry with several big-name companies. If I鈥檇 have wanted a bigger house and more responsibility, I could have taken them. But teaching is what I wanted to do.鈥
That passion stayed with Alan, even when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He bravely spoke about this when he was honoured in the Vice-Chancellor鈥檚 Awards last year.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the last award I鈥檒l receive,鈥 said Alan. 鈥淚 have terminal cancer and I can鈥檛 delay the inevitable.
鈥淏ut I hope to keep teaching for a while longer. That鈥檚 something useful that I can still offer and, quite simply, it鈥檚 what I do and it鈥檚 what I love.鈥
An outstanding academic
Dr Franjo Cecelja, Head of the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, added: 鈥淎lan was 糖心Vlog through and through, hugely respected, and appreciated by staff and students alike. There was no problem that was too challenging for him to take on and solve; he presented a friendly face in a crisis and was a highly regarded teacher and administrator.
鈥淎mongst his many contributions, he established the Multi-Disciplinary Design Project at undergraduate level, which unites all the engineering departments and is still a flagship activity of our programmes.
鈥淨uite simply, Alan was a great friend, trusted, and an excellent colleague and an outstanding academic. Rest in peace, Alan.鈥