logo
Stuart Farrimond obituary

Stuart Farrimond obituary

The Guardian7 days ago
My husband, Stuart Farrimond, who has died aged 43 of a brain tumour, was a bestselling science author, educator and broadcaster with an extraordinary gift for making science feel human and accessible.
In 2008, a year after Stu and I married, our lives were turned upside down by his diagnosis. He was unshakeably positive and always focused on making the most of the cards he had been dealt. Rather than retreating in the face of a life-limiting cancer diagnosis, he poured his energy into reinvention.
He redirected his career from clinical medicine into science education and communication, and thrived. Through his writing and media work, Dr Stu became a familiar name in the world of popular science. He made countless appearances on national television and his books, including The Science of Cooking (2017), The Science of Spice (2018) and The Science of Living (2021), are now in more than a million homes around the world. Yet he remained humble and grounded in his quiet faith.
After founding his own science magazine project, Guru, in 2011, which received Wellcome Trust funding and brought together some of the top science minds from around the world, Stu contributed regularly to news outlets, including the BBC, New Scientist and the Guardian.
His true gift was in making a connection. Whether giving a talk or simply chatting to friends over a coffee, Stu had an uncanny ability to spot the person at the edge of the room – the one who felt left out – and draw them in. He had a genuine interest in other people.
Born in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Stu was the son of Maree, a community pharmacist, and Bob Farrimond, who worked for Britannic Insurance, and a younger brother to Laura. The family moved to Nottingham when he was a baby, and then to Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire when he was eight. When he was 15, they relocated to Jersey, where Stu completed his GCSEs and A-levels at Hautlieu school. He went on to study medicine at the University of Nottingham.
Stu and I met while he was still at Nottingham, and I was working as a nursery nurse in Birmingham, and we married in 2007. He completed his training at Musgrove Park hospital in Taunton before being accepted on to the GP training programme at the Royal United hospital in Bath, and we settled in Trowbridge, Wiltshire.
At home, he was a quiet and caring soul, doing the morning crossword, tending the garden, walking our dog, Winston, and always, always making me laugh.
He is survived by me, Maree and Bob, and Laura.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

How do I donate blood? NHS call for donors with rare blood types
How do I donate blood? NHS call for donors with rare blood types

The Independent

time25 minutes ago

  • The Independent

How do I donate blood? NHS call for donors with rare blood types

An initiative to help individuals with rare blood types secure a "precision-matched" donation to avoid the risk of severe reactions has been launched by the NHS. Scientists have embarked on a large-scale research project, DNA -testing the blood of 77,000 donors to date. Blood collected from these rare donors will be frozen, creating a vital reserve for others with the same specific blood type. Crucially, this stored blood will also be available to the donor themselves, should they ever require a transfusion. The reserve of rare blood donors will help avoid severe transfusion reactions, where the body sees the transfused blood as 'foreign' and rejects it. People who are particularly at risk of these reactions are those who regularly receive blood donations, including those with sickle cell disorder and thalassaemia. It comes after the NHS raised the alarm over low blood stocks last month. The NHS said it needed 200,000 more regular blood donors to sustain a safe and sufficient supply. Low blood stocks in 2024 prompted an "amber alert', but blood stocks have remained low ever since. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is now urging more people to donate to avoid a "red alert", which is a critical situation where public safety is threatened. It described the past year as "challenging" for blood stocks, noting that just under 800,000 people are supporting the entire blood supply in England. How do I donate blood? The whole process of giving blood takes just one hour. When arriving at a blood donation centre, you are asked to complete a safety check to make sure you can give blood. You will be given 500ml of fluid to drink – drinking this will help the body maintain blood pressure, prevent dizziness and help the body replenish the donated blood. Then, to ensure it is safe to donate blood, medics will confirm your identity and information during a health check. In some cases, a registered nurse will follow it up. A drop of blood from your finger is then checked for iron levels. If these levels are too low, the appointment will be rescheduled. Those able to donate will be seated in the waiting area before being called to a donation chair. Here, a cuff will be placed on your arm to maintain a small amount of pressure during the donation before a suitable vein is found and the area is cleaned. Then, a needle will be inserted into your arm to collect your blood into a blood bag, which has your unique donor number on it. A scale weighs the blood and stops when you have donated 470ml - that's just under a pint. The needle is then removed from your arm, and a dressing is applied. The NHS says the process of giving blood should not hurt and should only take about 10 minutes. Who can donate blood? Although more donors are needed, some health, travel and lifestyle reasons may stop you from donating blood. Donors need to be fit and well, aged between 17 and 65, weigh between 7 stone 12 Ibs (50kg) and 25 stone (158kg) and have suitable veins. However, you can't donate blood if you have cancer, some heart conditions, have tested positive for HIV or are a hepatitis B or C carrier. If you have received blood platelets, plasma or any other blood products after January 1980, or if you have injected non-prescribed drugs including body-building and injectable tanning agents, you also cannot donate. If you've had anal sex with a new partner in the last three months, you may have to postpone your donation. If you feel unwell, are pregnant or have had a baby in the last six months, have had a tattoo or piercing, or have recently travelled to certain countries outside the UK, you may also have to wait before you can donate blood. Where can I donate blood? There are thousands of blood donation venues across England, some are permanent and others are pop-ups. Church halls, sports centres, mosques, football stadiums and hotels are all used as pop-up venues. To check where your closest one is, visit the Give Blood website. You will need to book an appointment ahead of your donation, which can be done online as soon as you have signed up as a blood donor. What type of blood is needed? There is a 'critical' need for more donors who have the so-called universal blood type, O negative blood, which is needed for treatment in emergencies. The NHS said there is also a need for more Black donors, who are more likely to have specific blood types which can help treat people with sickle cell disease.

Urgent warning over fatal lung disease spread through contaminated water in taps, showers, hosepipes and hot tubs
Urgent warning over fatal lung disease spread through contaminated water in taps, showers, hosepipes and hot tubs

The Sun

time26 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Urgent warning over fatal lung disease spread through contaminated water in taps, showers, hosepipes and hot tubs

BRITS are being urged to take precautions against a potentially deadly lung infection that spreads more during the summer months. Legionnaires' disease is caused by bacteria found in water supplies that haven't been used much, such as taps, showers, hosepipes, and hot tubs. 4 4 4 'This is because warm, stagnant water is the perfect breeding ground for Legionella bacteria,' Professor Franklin Joseph, a consultant physician, told Sun Health. 'And unfortunately, that's exactly what happens in summer," he added. He said: 'Air conditioning units, garden hoses, sprinkler systems, and even hotel showers that haven't been used for a while can all pose a risk when temperatures rise.' In the UK, there are around 300 to 500 reported cases each year, with about half linked to travel abroad, according to uRisk Safety Services, a water testing company. Last month, Donna Jobling, 57, was left in a coma, fighting for her life after catching the bug while on an all-inclusive holiday in Greece. The infection spreads when people breathe in tiny droplets of contaminated water. 'That could be from a misting fan, a spa pool, or an air-con system that hasn't been cleaned properly," Dr Frank, who is also head of Dr Frank's Clinic, said. It's often linked to hotels, gyms and even office buildings,' he added. You can't catch Legionnaires' disease by drinking infected water or from another person. Once the bacteria is inhaled, it can take up to 10 days for symptoms to appear, and they often resemble a bad case of flu at first. Dad-of-two placed into coma after Turkey holiday as chef, 55, 'caught rare disease from dirty 4-star hotel' After a couple of days, these symptoms progress to pneumonia, a dangerous lung infection. "The bacteria inflame the lungs, making it hard to breathe and get enough oxygen into the body," Dr Frank explained. "In vulnerable people. like the elderly, smokers or those with weak immune systems, it can trigger respiratory failure, sepsis and even death if not caught in time," he added. "Even healthy people can become dangerously ill if treatment is delayed.' In the US — which collects extensive data on Legionnaires' disease — over 95 per cent of diagnosed cases in 2014 and 2015 resulted in hospitalisation, according to the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC). And while the disease is treatable with antibiotics, about one in eight died from their infection, the health body said. The best way to prevent illness this summer is to keep water systems clean with regular flushing, especially after they've been unused for a while. "If you've been away, run taps and showers for a few minutes before using them," Dr Frank said. "Clean out air-con filters and garden hoses, and avoid using misting fans or hot tubs in places that look poorly maintained. "If something smells musty or 'off', trust your instincts and steer clear. "Prevention is always better than cure with Legionnaires."

I've gone from a size 18 to an 8 in 9 months on Mounjaro & still losing weight, I was sick for weeks but it was worth it
I've gone from a size 18 to an 8 in 9 months on Mounjaro & still losing weight, I was sick for weeks but it was worth it

The Sun

time26 minutes ago

  • The Sun

I've gone from a size 18 to an 8 in 9 months on Mounjaro & still losing weight, I was sick for weeks but it was worth it

A WOMAN who has managed to shift over six stone thanks to Mounjaro has shared the side effects she suffered. Sophie Barrella took to social media to share her incredible transformation, and people were stunned by the results. 2 2 The mum said she started her weight loss journey nine months ago and had already shed 6.5 stone. She started her journey at 15.7st and a size 18, and in less than a year has gone down to a size 8. In the image, the mum could be seen with her partner and child before losing weight. She wore a one-sleeve dress and was turned to the side and looked obviously larger. But now, in the pictures of her weight loss, the mum wore a tight fitting pink dress to show off her new body and beamed at the camera. She captioned the post: "9 months later and I'm down 6 and a half stone! "Finished June 2025 at current 9 stone 3 and still loosing! Size 8. "Worth every penny and side effect I suffered!!" In the comments of the Facebook post, Sophie shared just some of the side effects she suffered from. She wrote: "I found I had headaches from 5mg, then the nausea crept in. Then from 7.5 and 10mg I have had constant grumbling in my stomach, so badly it wakes me up every single night for the next 4 days after injecting and I would have sickness 3-4 times a night. I've lost nearly 6 stone in 9 months on fat jabs - trolls call me 'lazy' & say it's the 'easy way out' but I don't care "Could only sleep on my back because when I was on my side the gas in my stomach would gurgle so loudly and caused me a lot of pain, but again, only 4 days after injecting! Then I would be okay until jab day. "Was honestly worth it all. If you're thinking about it, just go for it! Will change your life." The post was shared on the Facebook group, Mounjaro Ozempic Wegovy weight loss support, where those on the weight loss jabs come together to support each other. Many were quick to congratulate Sophie on her weight loss. One person wrote: "How have you not managed to have excess skin. You look amazing." "Well done fantastic achievement," penned a third. What to do if you lose too much weight too quickly whilst on Mounjaro IF you're losing too much weight too quickly while on Mounjaro, it's important to take action to avoid potential health risks like muscle loss, malnutrition, dehydration, and fatigue. Here's what you can do: Evaluate Your Caloric Intake Mounjaro reduces appetite, which can make it easy to eat too little. If you're losing weight too fast (more than two to three lbs per week after the initial adjustment period), try: Tracking your food intake to ensure you're eating enough calories (apps like MyFitnessPal can help). Increasing protein intake to preserve muscle mass (aim for 0.6–1g per pound of body weight). Adding healthy fats and complex carbs (e.g., avocados, nuts, whole grains) for balanced energy. Adjust Your Dosage (With Doctor's Approval) If your weight loss is too rapid or causing side effects, your doctor may: Pause dose increases or lower your dosage. Adjust your treatment plan to stabilise your weight loss. Strength Training & Exercise To prevent muscle loss: Incorporate resistance training at least two to three times per week. Stay active with low-impact exercises like walking or yoga. Hydrate & Manage Electrolytes Drink enough water (Mounjaro can reduce thirst). Electrolytes matter - Consider adding magnesium, sodium, and potassium if you feel weak or fatigued. Monitor for Malnutrition & Deficiencies Rapid weight loss can cause vitamin/mineral deficiencies (especially B12, iron, and electrolytes). If you experience: Fatigue, hair loss, or dizziness, ask your doctor about supplements. Consider Further Medical Guidance If your weight loss is excessive or causing health concerns, speak with your healthcare provider. They might adjust your dosage, diet, or exercise plan to help stabilise your weight loss. Meanwhile a fourth said: "You look stunning!" "You look amazing,' claimed a fifth

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store