Last week, Chris Hewitt, one of the Students’ Union trustees passed away at his home at the age of 50 years. Chris’s impact on the University and his extensive credentials as an academic can be found on the University’s news pages: In Memoriam: Professor Chris Hewitt; https://www2.aston.ac.uk/news/?professor-chris-hewitt
As a trustee for the students’ union Chris was pragmatic and brought some refreshing common sense to the meetings, offering to support the officers when needed but also to hold the SU account, making sure we stuck to our charitable aims.
His appointment to the board was on the recommendation of the University and his involvement with the students’ union helped develop new partnerships and relationships with the University that ultimately allowed the SU to secure increased funding (that in turn has allowed us to deliver more services to students) and to secure the investment in the new students’ union building. One of his last engagements with the SU was at the opening ceremony and we are devastated he will not be around to see and experience the amazing impact we hope the building will have on students at Aston.
Chris can be seen right in the middle, standing at the back; this was part of the signing of the new lease agreement and Memorandum of Understanding between the University and Students Union on 1st May 2019.
Chris will be missed by the Trustee Board and all at the Students’ Union and we send our thoughts to his family at this difficult time.