The David Minett Memorial Fund

David Minett: husband, dad, granddad, brother, uncle and friend, sadly lost his life on 23 February 2021. A maths teacher who was passionate about helping all of his students to pass, he was still teaching privately, until the start of lockdown in March 2020, aged 81. 

He had been ill for a while since contracting Lymes Disease on one of his many cycle rides around Europe. However, his love for travel and education, as well as football (Southend Utd being his team) and telling EXTREMELY bad jokes, is very much a part of what he will be remembered for, although who can forget  his obsession with using up old windows to build yet more sheds and his fear of not having enough logs to last 10 winters?

He was an incredible man who made lifelong friends wherever he went, and thus always had a place to stay throughout the world! He was loved by everyone and had the most infectious smile. His music repertoire was rather limited to whistling 'Oh When the Saints’ and the theme to ‘Match of the Day’ - which after 50 years, became a little tiring, but now, how we miss it. And if he ever suggested a ‘short cut’- just go the long way round- believe us it will be quicker! 

His grandaughter, Nicole  was born with a serious  genetic condition Neurofibromatosis Type 1  (NF1) and his daughter Vanessa set up a charity Childhood Tumour Trust  - to support children, young people and their families affected by NF1. 

The David Minett  Memorial fund will be used to issue awards to young people affected by NF1 who  wanted to travel to enhance their education such as volunteering for   Family First an organisation  in Ghana supporting children with special needs which we have links with,  attending  a Young Advocacy Programme  in Austria  or supporting a placement year abroad.   This award will be available every year so that his name can live on and we  can continue his legacy of helping young people with NF1 to travel and learn.