Sad. I've Got the 2-1 Student Blues. We'll Miss You Nigel. Madison Kaplan (2008)

Received Testimonies from Students

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=144354812251781&story_fbid=569150619772196

http://booksbikesfood.com/2013/04/19/hasta-luego-nigel/

Dear everyone, I have just spoken to Catherine Barbour and she told me about Nigel. I am shocked and deeply saddened. Nigel was a wonderful man. He was a brilliant lecturer and an inspiring academic. As an undergraduate, I loved his classes and, when I returned to St Andrews as a postgraduate, Nigel was always encouraging and supportive. I feel extremely privileged to have had the chance to know him and learn so much from him.
It must be a very difficult time for you. My thoughts are with all of you, and with Nigel's family. Un abrazo. Kate Dunn (2008, 2012)

Dear Gustavo, […] an email with news of Nigel's passing away. It has left me shocked and saddened. Speaking as a former student, he was certainly an engaging teacher and his classes were immense fun. And as a PhD advisor he was always full of extremely helpful suggestions and always kept up my often flagging morale. I never met his wife and children, but this must be such a difficult time for them - I really feel for them. It's news such as this that makes you want to make the most of your time... All the best and my regards to Bernard, Sarah (Sánchez) (1997, 2003)

Dear Bernard, I just wanted to get in touch to let you know that I am thinking of you, and all of the Department. The time I have spent in the Department has been a very special period in my life, which I will always remember with great fondness. The warm atmosphere and friendliness in the Department is something that all the students really feel and adore. It is the great staff and relationship between them that make the Department so special. I’m so sorry for the loss of your colleague and friend. Professor Dennis has touched the lives of so many people all over the world, and I feel completely honoured to have spent this time with him. I wrote to his family yesterday, my thoughts are with you all. With love,Jennifer (2006, 2009, 2013)

Sad. I've got the 2-1 student blues. We'll miss you Nigel. Madison Kaplan (2008)

Dear Bernard, I'm so sorry to hear of Nigel's passing, he was a great man and it must be a very tough time for all of you in the Hispanic department. Please accept my deepest condolences. Veronica Norcross

Me enteré ayer por El País del fallecimiento del profesor Dennis. Lo siento mucho, puedo imaginarme que han sido días duros en el departamento.En este enlace puede acceder a la lectura de las cariñosas palabras que le han dedicado en El País. http://cultura.elpais.com/cultura/2013/04/18/actualidad/1366316160_447922.html
Un abrazo fuerte profesor, Clara Cobo (2011)

I wish to express my regret on hearing the news that Prof Dennis passed away earlier this week. I was lucky enough to be taught by him during my time at St Andrews and always enjoyed his classes, his stories and his great sense of humour. My thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this sad time. Best wishes,
Eleanor Gordon (2010)

Very very sad news. My thoughts are with you all in the Spanish Department, he was a much loved lecturer, professor and person. Madeleine McLean (2006)

Hi Bernard, I'm very sad to hear about Nigel! He was one of my most loved lecturers ever at St Andrews! He was in an inspiration to me and many more. Hope you're ok. Kate Barron (2009)

Qué fuerte las noticias que llegan de St Andrews! Ya me habían avisado, pero todavía no me lo acabo de creer. Deduzco de tu mensaje para los hispanistas que la familia quiere pasar su duelo tranquilamente aún así les voy a mandar mi pésame a la dirección indicada. Pero, por favor, manténme informada acerca del memorial service, que me gustaría presentar los respetos a Nigel de algún modo. Muchísimas gracias. Saludos, Daniela Omlor (2012)

Hello Bernard, I hope you're well. So sorry to hear the sad news about Nigel. Do you know if there is a funeral or memorial service I could go to? Angie Fowler (2010)

Hi Bernard, I'm sorry to email you about such a sad subject, but I'm currently in shock as I've just read in El País online that Nigel Dennis has passed away. I can only imagine what his family must be going through right now and I'm sure you're all missing him terribly too. He was an inspirational tutor and a genuinely lovely man and his loss will be felt by a great many people. Moira Frame (2008)

Hi Bernard. I'm not sure whether you remember me. I'm one of many former St Andrews students who has fond memories of being a part of the Spanish department. I was so sorry to hear about the passing of Professor Dennis. He was a brilliant man who made a real difference to me. Without wishing to intrude, please do let me know if there is anything that I and my peers can do to help. Best wishes, Mark Puncher (2002)

I hadn't realised Nigel had passed away - he was a legend! I've very many fond memories of him, lots which include his guitar entertainment at the Cenas. What sad news. Lucy Stuart-Menteth (2008)

Estimada Dra. Partzsch:
Recientemente he tenido noticia de la luctuosa pérdida que supone para su Departamento el fallecimiento del profesor Nigel Dennis. En calidad de directora del mismo, me dirijo a Ud. para hacerle llegar mis condolencias y para que trasmita mi pésame a la comunidad académica de St. Andrews, muy especialmente al Departamento de Español. Asimismo, le ruego haga extensible mi sentimiento de pesar a la familia. Tuve el gusto de conocer al hijo de Nigel -para mí siempre será Nigel- cuando él era estudiante en St. Leonards y yo enseñaba allí mis primeras clases de español.

Recientemente también he perdido a mi padre, así que me imagino el inmenso dolor que ha de estar sintiendo ahora mismo, de ahí que le insista en que si le es posible haga llegar mis condolencias a la familia.
Conocí a Nigel en el curso académico 2004-05, durante mi estancia en St.Andrews como estudiante Erasmus. Con el paso de los años, seguimos en contacto directo, aunque también indirecto gracias al Dr. Tasis Moratinos que fue a la sazón mi compañero en el curso Erasmus. Gracias a Nigel y sus cartas de recomendación, fui admitido a estudios de doctorado en EE.UU. Años después, cuando investigué y publiqué sobre Lorca, se mostró interesado en mis progresos y me hizo llegar material bibliográfico. Con tantos estudiantes, y con tanto trabajo, nunca me olvidó y siempre tuvo tiempo para ayudarme. Esos detalles son los que han hecho de él no solo un gran intelectual, sino un gran profesor y una gran persona. Por todo ello, el dolor de su repentina marcha es agudo y será prolongado.
Le reitero mis condolencias al Departamento y la familia, no sin antes darle las gracias por su tiempo.
Sin otro particular, se despide atentamente, Luis P. Cordero Sánchez (2005)

Bernard I am so sorry to hear that. Hope you and the staff are ok. He was a great teacher and really passionate. Sad to hear of his loss. Iain Newman (2013)

Dear Mr Bentley, I was very sorry to hear about Professor Dennis' passing, it has come as a shock for many Spanish students. The Interpreter had thought of paying tribute to the great Professor that he was. Many thanks, Sunniva Davies-Rommetveit (2013)

Dear Sir, Thank you for letting us know. Very sad news, I really enjoyed Prof. Dennis's lectures and tutorials in 1st year. Certainly one of the professors who made a lasting impression. This must be a loss for the Spanish department too so my best wishes to everybody there and to his family. Tessa Robins

Dear Bernard, Thanks for your message. You've been on my "must write to" list for far too long, only made more pressing by the recent news about Nigel. I was so shocked when I saw Mel's post, although loved the obituary itself. How is everyone in the department doing? It makes me so sad to think of the place without him there. We go off and graduate but then like to imagine you all still there giving the coffee machine its daily workout, teaching the next lucky generation (and perhaps rocking the cena with an electric guitar in Nigel's case). I feel privileged to have been taught by Nigel, with his wealth of knowledge and accompanying anecdotes. For me he was also the man who taught me that what I once referred to in an oral presentation as a "dot dot dot" was in fact called an ellipsis. It was one of those pivotal moments as a first year student when I realised that there was almost certainly a word for everything, that there was a whole level of knowledge out there that I had access to and I was going to have to work jolly hard to learn as much as I could. Whatever is happening to commemorate Nigel I'd be very grateful if you'd keep me up to date in case there is anything I can do to contribute in any way. Jennifer Holmes (2002, 2010)

Dear Bernard and Gustavo, I am one of your former pupils, studying Spanish from September 2002, graduating in June 2007 – my name is Rebecca Horwich. I am not sure if you will remember me or not, I know you will have taught so many pupils over the years! I just wanted to get in touch to say how sorry I am to hear the very sad news about Nigel. I am thinking of you all at this difficult time, I should think the department must feel very strange at the moment and I know it must be difficult to deal with. I have very fond memories of my time in the Spanish department, many of which involve Nigel. We will never forget his enthusiasm and passion for his subject and the way he taught it – he was a truly inspirational teacher and an absolutely wonderful man. He was always someone we could relate to and I think he made every effort to make that the case, he was so approachable and you couldn’t help but feel at ease with him…if not a little in awe of him! We have so many wonderful memories, in particular, we will never forget his guitar playing at the cena! It is such a huge loss to the department and the university and of course, his family and friends. If you get the chance, I would be very grateful if you could pass on my condolences to Nigel’s family. I would also like to take this opportunity to pass my sincere condolences onto you as well, I know your relationship with Nigel greatly surpassed that of a pure colleague and I know it must be very hard to lose such a good friend. It was always clear how fond Nigel was of you and the rest of the department and I am sure he felt very lucky to have such great friends around him during his working life to share his experiences with. I am sure Nigel would have been very grateful for all you have done to ensure he gets the recognition he deserves at the university and I am sure you will all help to keep his memory alive around the department. Thinking of you all, take care. Rebecca Horwich (2007)

Dear Bernard and the Spanish Department, After hearing the sad news about Nigel Dennis, I wanted to send my condolences to you and to the department. I hoped, as I'm sure many did, that the news was not true and I can only imagine the shock that his death must have brought to the school as a whole. I was aware that Nigel was away on sick leave recently, but no doubt nobody expected this. He was a uniquely charismatic tutor and a man who managed to convince even those most unwilling to be convinced! He put a lot of work into my dissertation, as he did with many others, and I know that he will be sorely missed by those who have worked with him. Best wishes, Claire Harrison (2012)

Dear Bernard, I am so very sorry to hear about Nigel and I would be very grateful if you could extend my heartfelt sympathies to the whole department. Given what a close department Spanish is, and the pivotal role that Nigel played in it, I can only imagine how acutely everyone must feel his sudden loss. I sincerely hope that everyone who attended the funeral found at least some comfort in being together to pay their respects to Nigel. I have just read your post on Nigel in the School of Modern Languages magazine and I think that it is a very fitting tribute to his qualities as a teacher, scholar and man. Nigel was an exceptional teacher, witty and instructive, and it is due to his undergraduate teaching on poetry that I began to get interested in Cernuda. He will always be an inspirational figure for me. Kind wishes, Aileen. (1990, 2003, 2007)

Dear Gustavo, This is David Miranda-Barreiro from Bangor University. I should have written to you ages ago, I deeply apologise for that. As you might know, Nigel was the external examiner of my PhD thesis. Although we only met on the day of the Viva and we exchanged few emails, he was extremely kind and generous to me. He supported my thesis for the AHGBI-Spanish Embassy Publication Award and his support was instrumental for receiving this prize. I remember him with great affection.
Unfortunately, I don’t think that I will be able to attend the service at St. Andrews in September, but I would be most grateful if you could pass on my condolences to Nigel’s family. In just one day, he left a lasting impression on me, both as a person and as an academic. He was a truly inspirational man and will be sorely missed. With best wishes, David Miranda-Barreiro