DAVID DOMINIC HURLEY
(17th February 1959 – 23rd October 2020)

EPITAPH

David Hurley sadly passed away during the early hours of October 23rd 2020 following a diagnosis of inoperable stomach and bowel cancer which he learned of some 12 months ago. On learning of his illness, David accepted it very much in the way he dealt with his life in general. That is to say he fully took on board the consequences of both his diagnosis and prognosis but, within those limits, maintained a refreshing optimism for maximising what time he had left in this world rather than, as he put it himself, ‘… simply roll over and die’. Unfortunately, Fate would deliver a further cruel blow and the Covid19 pandemic sadly curtailed many of the things he planned to do. However, even that did not daunt his spirit and he continued to revise his plans to get the most out of the life he had left.

I first met David back in October 1984 when we both enrolled as mature students at Liverpool University. I had seen him in the early philosophy seminars but first met him face-to-face in Blackwell’s Bookshop. His first words to me were ‘You flash Bastard!’ in response to my saying I had read Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason. And with that passing comment a friendship was struck. We moved from the book shop to the Augustus John pub, got pretty drunk drinking beer, playing pool and, from that moment on, never looked back.

To those who know David, it should come as no surprise that I took to him as quickly as I did. It is a fact that he is funny, clever, kind, generous and an absolute master of original one-liners! A mutual friend of ours once said, “All my mates are characters. and have a spark that is missing in others!”. David had both of these qualities (and more) in spades.

It has been a pleasure to have known David and an honour to have been counted among his friends. Like all who have known him, he will be sorely missed.

David, may you rest in peace.