Tribute to Alan McCarthy, 1955 - 2025

I was lucky enough to be interviewed by Alan for the microbiology degree at Liverpool in 1996 after leaving the Royal Navy. Unfortunately for him he then struggled to shake me off until 2009 as he acted as personal tutor, PhD supervisor and then PI. They certainly broke the mould when they made Alan and I am so privileged to have worked for him over that period. He aptly named me the Nike Swoosh in 2005, tipping his glasses forward with the ‘just do it’ catchphrase as I procrastinated over completing my PhD thesis. He was a complete balance of unbelievable intellect, care, wit and empathy and he made it all look so easy and seamless. He continued to support and offer advice over the years as I established my own research group to which I will be forever grateful. I have missed our daily chats, jokes and time in his group, the lab social events at his house from summer croquet to Halloween and fireworks, just blissful. My sincere condolences to Alans family and friends, such a loss. - Darren Smith