Friends pay tribute to former Union President after tragic death
Edward Tomlinson, ex OUCA and Union President
A recent President of the Oxford Union has died tragically after suffering a sudden seizure whilst on a gap year in Lebanon. Edward Tomlinson, 24, was studying Arabic in Beirut when he died in his sleep on April 5. His parents had flown to Beirut to enjoy a holiday with their son but were met at the airport by embassy officials who told them that Edward had died just hours earlier. Edward was described as “fit, strong and sporty”, and was not suffering from any illness or medical condition.
Eddie, as he was known to his friends, left Oxford last year with a 2:1 in Classics from St John’s College. He was President of the Union in Hilary Term 2004, and President of the Oxford University Conservative Association in Hilary 2003 - one of the first people since William Hague to hold both positions. His father, Dr Howard Tomlinson, 58, who recently retired as headmaster of Hereford Cathedral School where Eddie had been a pupil, paid a moving tribute to his son.
“Edward was such a wonderful boy. He touched the lives of so many people and had a large circle of friends.” His mother, Dr Heather Tomlinson, 57, added: “More than anything else, Ed was fun, gentle, caring and loved by all.” As President of the Union, Eddie’s passion and considerable talent for debating informed his term in office.
He went on three tours of the United States as part of the Oxford debating team and was the only incumbent President in recent years to win an inter-university debating title. Richard Tydeman, close friend and assistant to Eddie during his Presidency, said, “Eddie’s involvement in the pretty stressful game of Union elections was not driven by ambition or selfimportance, but by a real love of the institution. Having that job is a privilege, and Eddie never forgot it.
Current Union President David Powell added,“Eddie was hugely admired as a President. He wanted his term of office to be remembered more than anything else as one with student debating at its core.” Eddie also made an effort to take advantage of all the available opportunities in college and University life. He was a member of the Authentics cricket team • the University second XI • and played rugby for the University Freshers’ XV. He was also a chapel warden for St John’s.
On his return from Lebanon, Eddie would have taken up the Astbury Scholarship at the Middle Temple, with the hope of becoming a barrister. Sir Michael Scholar, President of St John’s, added his voice to those praising Eddie’s character and commitment, which have included Francis Maude, Chairman of the Conservative Party. “Ed was a highly respected and well-loved member of this College.
His sense of humour, his dedication to his academic work, to the Union, to College, to his friends, to his support of our Chapel, his friendship to so many of us, all this made him such a special person here.” As his friends and family, including sisters Clare and Sarah, and brother Michael, come to terms with the shock of his death, those who knew him remember his talents, generosity of spirit and unfaltering, and much remarked upon, sense of humour.
Tom Goodhead, a close friend and regular debating partner, described Eddie as “the crème de la crème”, and “someone who was a model for us all”. Former girlfriend Laura Poots said of the reaction to his death: “What has struck me from the messages I’ve received is how he always made people smile and walk away happy. I think that’s what we’ll miss the most.” Close friend Jon Mcdonagh added: “It is remarkable that somebody who achieved so much was never tempted to smugness.
There was nothing mean or small about Eddie • he had honesty, generosity and an affable charisma which overfilled his impressive stature. He was a giant of a friend.” The funeral will take place at midday on Saturday 22 April, in Hereford Cathedral.
20th Apr 2006