The obituary notice of Alexander Winstan (Alex) STEDMON

In memory of Alex Stedmon and with gratitude for his life.

In memory of Alex Stedmon and with gratitude for his life.

I have no photos to share but I have a vivid image in my mind of a 'young' bright-eyed student coming to share thoughts and ideas about his studies with imagination and insight. He had true joy for intellectual discovery. I knew he would go on to make an important mark. More than that I was delighted to be able to share a sustained friendship and some scholarly cooperation for many years after his time at Harlech. He is sorely missed but will never be forgotten.

Alex's contribution to improving motorcycle safety and understanding human behaviour on our roads has left a lasting legacy that will continue to save lives for years to come.

For me, however, Alex was much more than a distinguished academic. He was a dear friend.

Alex was one of the kindest, gentlest and most thoughtful people I have ever had the privilege to know. He combined intellectual brilliance with genuine humility, always willing to listen, encourage and support others. He made people feel valued, whether they were colleagues, students or friends.

In remembering him I am drawn to the words of Robert Burns:

An honest man here lies at rest,
The friend of man, the friend of truth,
The friend of age, and guide of youth:
Few hearts like his, with virtue warm'd,
Few heads with knowledge so inform'd;
If there's another world, he lives in bliss;
If there is none, he made the best of this.

Few people embodied those words more completely than Alex. His integrity, warmth, generosity and quiet wisdom touched countless lives.

I will miss our conversations, his friendship and his unfailing kindness tremendously.

My thoughts are with Donna, his family, friends, colleagues and all those whose lives he enriched.

My best mate, best man, godparent to my boys.

We shared so much over the years as we made our journeys through life, so many precious moments and memories made.

You weren’t meant to finish your journey so soon, but did so with such humility and strength.

Rest up my friend.

Andy

Alex, my dear friend, you have left a huge void. The depth of loss represents how special you were to so many. I cannot believe we can no longer catch up over lunch or simply chatting as we rambled.
We shared so many things and I have lost someone that helped me be a better person. That gave me reassurance and steadied my ship. As hard as it is now, the pain of your loss is worth it.
Rest easy pal as I think of you walking across a windswept beach with Chutzpah by your side.
Dale x