Joseph Footitt

Joseph Footitt, Walport Clinical Lecturer, NHLI, dies tragically.

It is with great sadness that I write to inform you of the tragic death of one of our colleagues, Dr Joseph Footitt who lost his life earlier this month in a road traffic incident.

Many of you will have known Joseph who first came to NHLI in 2007 to undertake a PhD with Seb Johnston, Ian Adcock and Patrick Mallia which he was awarded in February 2012.  Following his PhD, Joseph continued his clinical training within the NHS before returning to NHLI in 2012 as a Walport Clinical Lecturer.

Joseph was an outstanding individual.  Professionally, his death is a tragic loss to respiratory clinical academia, he was an extra-ordinary and extremely talented man. He was a budding clinical academic with a great future ahead of him.  He forged research collaborations with ease throughout the Institute and Imperial and was universally liked, professionally and personally.  Joseph was extremely popular with colleagues, staff, and patients, he was a committed and excellent teacher and a highly talented and industrious researcher.  He was an active member of the NHLI postgraduate research student committee, providing the Institute with a clinical student’s view of research studies and ensuring we provided the best opportunities throughout. 

There are a number of ways that you can remember Joseph by. The British Lung Foundation has set up a tribute page on which you can make donations and leave a message about him:  http://lunguk.tributefunds.com/fund/Dr.+JOSEPH+FOOTITT.

Joseph’s family have set up an email address (Josephmemories@hotmail.co.uk) available for everyone to email.  I join Joseph’s family in inviting everybody who knew him to send their anecdotes and photographs about Joseph. There is no restriction on number or size of contributions.  The grammar and spelling is unimportant as all messages will be edited prior to be included in a special book for Joseph's family to have as a record of how people remembered him.  The stories can be about the daring, caring, amusing, and diligent Joseph. They must only be truthful. Contributors can agree for their name to be included or choose to remain anonymous.  Joseph’s parents welcome as many responses as possible at this sad time when the thoughts and memories of Joseph are upper most in many minds.  They also welcome suggestions which could improve this project.

Joseph’s funeral is confirmed for Saturday 30^th June 2012 at Huntley Church, Huntley, Gloucester, which is the church where Joseph and his wife, Emma, married, followed by the cremation with reception after. Exact timings to follow for those wishing to attend.  All are welcome to attend. Please contact Professor Sebastian Johnston (s.johnston@imperial.ac.uk) if you wish to attend so that he can circulate further timings and let Joseph’s parents know of numbers.

I invite you to take a moment in which to remember Joseph – an extra-ordinary man who will be greatly missed. 

Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this sad time. 

Best wishes,

Kim
 
Kim Fox, MD, FRCP, FESC
Head, National Heart and Lung Institute
Guy Scadding Building
Dovehouse Street
Royal Brompton Campus
London SW3 6LY
 
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7351 8626
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7351 8629
Email: kim.fox@imperial.ac.uk
www.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/people/kim.fox