To give this tribute is a privilege that weighs heavily on my heart; not only because I miss him terribly and have to fight back the tears, but the responsibility I feel to do Tim justice. You have all known and loved him, admired him, and shared his life in different ways; I am sure any one of you could stand here and give a testimony to the greatness of Tim Hauxwell.
I have read some of the uplifting thoughts written in the many cards and letters sent Linda and the family, I found they so often echoed my own experiences and feelings, but express them in a much better way. I will often use your thoughts – so please consider this is our tribute to Tim.
I first met Tim in June 1972 when I joined Heinz Foods. Tim had recently graduated from Oxford having read Theoretical Physics – he always joked that the degree should have been awarded for Football and Pop-concert organising. Tim had a brief spell at Rolls Royce Engines before arriving at Heinz. However by the time I arrived Tim had already established quite a reputation: not only as a very bright guy but also as a key member of the inter-departmental sports teams; and well as being an ace on the putting green. Every lunch time, having eaten our daily diet of Heinz beans and chips, Tim would be out there beating us all. This was my first, but not last, experience of his very competitive nature!
He also became famous for his driving – Tim would come in on many a Monday morning with a big grin on his face and explain that he had yet again broken his record for getting from London to Yorkshire; all in order to watch his beloved Leeds United! I am pretty sure this was before speed limits on motorways! As you can tell these were fun days and we forged a deep and fun-loving friendship that was to last over 30 years. However Tim did have one worry at this time – he said he could not find any, what he described as, 'decent girls'. I explained that I had recently married a very lovely girl myself … who had a sister … Tim had a party … Linda was invited … Tim seized the day and never looked back!
Tim and I left Heinz and pursued our separate careers. But we have often worked together over the intervening years. I have provided consultancy, at Tim’s instigation, to several of the companies where Tim has been employed. I have seen first-hand how he was always the same person, whether he was playing with the kids at home, trying to achieve something at work, or discussing his faith at New Wine. Tim had many qualities that marked him out as a great man: but I think the three greatest were:
- he was always accessible
- he was a man of honour
- he was a man of great integrity.
I have woken many mornings in the last weeks and my thoughts have turned to Tim; but the picture I have seen is not one of a man suffering from the effects of cancer and chemotherapy but a man full of energy with a great broad grin, an infectious and welcoming smile. As one of you so colourfully described it, his smile was ‘like sunshine on a rainy day’. The warmth that he gave out was the same whether it was a chance meeting or as a result of detailed planning. Being a New Wine host was a very good example - as with every task Tim took on – he gave it his all. He made sure that he knew all the children in his care, then introduced them to each other and encouraged friendships.
Tim has been aptly been described as 'Everybody’s Man', he was accessible to all and accessible whenever they needed him. The amazing thing is that he did not share himself – no one ever thought they were only getting a part of him. Tim did not live his life in separate compartments – everyone got all of him. I have never heard any of his family say "dad is always at work" or "he never has time for me".
Tim was always the first to encourage his family, colleagues, friends when they took on a new venture and, despite being very competitive, so much enjoyed others people's success. One of my favourite pictures is of my, then teenage, son Simon heading for the finishing line in the Windsor Half-Marathon; and there half a pace behind is Tim – the pride and pleasure in Tim’s face is obvious. He was obviously extremely encouraging when his own children took up running – sometimes a little too encouraging; Philip and Sarah also got the running bug at school; however it came out just the other day that all three running prodigies were nearly disqualified on more than one occasion, because Tim ran alongside them, shouting words of wisdom for much of the race – unfortunately the officials called it unfair coaching! Running was not only one of Tim’s passions but also a means of dealing with life’s stresses and strains; knowing this he also encouraged friends and colleagues to take up the sport – I can see at least three guys here today that have benefited from Tim’s enthusiasm and therapy.
Lots of us have had the pleasure of Tim’s enthusiasm – not from running perhaps but from him involving us in his work. Ruth loved going on business trips with dad to exciting places like Donnington motor circuit; Jonny remembers Tim arranging work experience and staying with him in some very fine hotels. Another one of Tim’s passions was music – he had an encyclopaedic knowledge of pop-music from the 60’s to the present day – everyone wanted him in their team when we had quizzes.
Tim was lots of fun because he gave his all to every aspect of life. But this ability to give his all was a blessing to people in difficult times as well. He was there with generous actions as well as words when family or friends, colleagues or neighbours were in need. I know Tim provided vital support to a friend going through a difficult divorce; and being an encourager and mentor to another friend when redundancy struck – not just comfort but suggested action plans as well.
Our family remember a very special and generous action following the death of Larry and Linda’s mother. We had cancelled our holiday but Tim decided the whole family needed something special; so he paid for us all to go to Barbados for two weeks of sun and fun. We all have very fond memories of that time together. I am sure there are many other examples of Tim’s generosity in terms of time and money that remain known only to the recipients.
Tim was a man of honour and integrity. He was very brave but never foolish. He loved new challenges but always thought things through and took great care to make the right decisions. Because of this he was always able to be very positive and confident about the actions he proposed. I remember when he became Finance Director at Redland Bricks he inherited a very inadequate mix of staff and poor systems; at the same time he become part of a management team that wanted things to change quickly. By the time Tim moved on from Redland he had built the most vital and enthusiastic team you could imagine.
Tim was not only a team player but also a team builder – he had high expectations of those he worked with but always took time and trouble to make sure everyone knew what those expectations entailed. To my mind Tim was the best kind of leader – he led, but never dominated. Tim made the most of any situation and, as he said of himself, "did nothing by halves". Tim had two periods of being between jobs but he never became despondent or even worried as far as I could tell. He simply made the most of the extra time he had with Linda, the two of them working increasingly together as a team – and increasingly to the benefit of this church.
A tribute to Tim is impossible without a tribute to Philip, Sarah, Ruth and most of all Linda. Tim’s children have been moulded by a great man that they love deeply and respect enormously. The way they have loved their dad, supported their mum and shared their grief with us in these last days has been a very moving experience. Linda and Tim were a team. Tim was great because of Linda’s influence – Linda is great because of Tim. Larry and I would like to thank Linda for sharing Tim with us, particularly in the last few days; for gently guiding the family into the realisation of what was to be; for remaining strong in faith and a shining example to us all through the most distressing time of her life. Tim was so proud of his family – and rightly so.
As someone wrote to Linda – "Tim
always made you feel good about yourself" – that was
exactly how Larry and I felt when we were with him. And now he is
gone it will be different; but we will still think to ourselves
"what would Tim do in this situation?".
What Tim has left us is an indelible memory of a great life, a
life that is a challenge to us all , a life that is an
inspiration to us all.
Thanks Tim.
Frank Harper
29th March 2004