Thank you, thank you, thank you dear Tom for being such a shining presence. For seeing the lights of potential in so many, including myself. Thank you for observing this in others so they could see it in themselves. Your bright energy continues to spark thought, growth and change. It lives on never forgotten

A recipe for Tom: A bucket-full of colour Socks, ties, shirts and spirit A tiny spoonfull of shyness A massive shower of warmth A cuppa…always a cuppa A sky-fullness of blue eyes And the cherry on top… A bag of generosity.

I was his student at LMU we often stood outside he main library he would make himself a roll-up cigarette and we spoke about his red Mercedes CE...very nice chap he will be deeply missed i was thinking of him randomly today and googled him and now I'm in shock...stay strong Sandra and keep your shoes on lol

Thank you, Tom (and Sandra) for believing in me. Your contribution to the LD community was inspirational and you will be truly missed.

When I think of Tom, I did not know him closely, but he had an ability to make you feel as you did. His legacy is immense, if I think of how many people's lives he has had an influence. He was mighty and shall be missed.

I met Tom through online meetings where Tom contributed to and supported our little network - as Sandra wrote "He always wanted the best for you" - and this is what always came across for me. Thanks for your support Tom. This kind of person is the best kind.

Well what can I say Tom, it was a real honour and privilege to have known and laughed with you. Whilst I only ever met you via a screen, your lust for life was vivid! I loved chatting about HE with you and Sandra, fighting for real learning (which should be free and open for all) and putting the world to rights using creativity and human nature. I also send much love to you Sandra, I can't imagine what you are going through and wish I could reach through that screen to give you the biggest hug. Tom, you will never be forgotten, long may your influence live on in the creative and collaborative education of the future!!!

I don't know if this will work - but a short while ago the #Take5 blog that Tom and I set up reached its 100th edition - and unbeknownst to us our other blog editor Katharine used that post to gather some thoughts about me and Tom from our Learning Development community. For us it was a moving post that made us cry: https://aldinhe.ac.uk/take5-100-celebrating-the-work-of-sandra-sinfield-and-tom-burns/

Tom, it is with great sadness I write this message. I had the privilege of learning and working with you and the wonderful Sandra; you provided me with valuable insights and helped me to feel welcomed in the HE space. It is clear your legacy extends far and wide. I will always think of you fondly.

I happily made the donation to Centrepoint this afternoon and let it be known that the £120 contribution was in loving memory of our colleague Tom. Please have a look below at the messages from the mentors who donated: Edith Boakye-Smith The vacuum you leave behind is immense. Your inspirational, engaging, and humourous style of teaching and learning will be sorely missed. Mark Lane The sheer number of messages from the university and the wider world bear witness to the huge impact you have had. Along with Sandra you have encouraged so many people to get involved in LD and beyond. I am very grateful for your support with my FHEA and will keep your inspiration and values in mind as I continue my work. Nahid Huda I will be forever grateful for your insights on learning and teaching as well as the generous opportunities you have presented to me in developing my work further. You, along with Sandra, have been so influential on the way I approach my practice. Thank you 🙏 Bernard Aidoo I learnt so much from you Tom as my supervisor and seasoned learning developer . When i think of T&L at LMU i think of you., when i think of ALDinHE i think of you. Thank you for helping develop my practice . Loved your honesty and humour. It took me a while to wrap my head around your absence. You will be dearly missed and thank you for the legacy you left. Jade Benn You and Sandra completely transformed the way I see education. I've never enjoyed learning so much, and I've never felt so clear about the life-changing purpose of educators. You will be remembered so, so fondly Tom.

Unfortunately I only met Tom in May 2024, online, though of course (!) I knew about him and his work together with Sandra. I immediately felt at ease and very happy to discuss ups and downs of practice with the wonderful pair. I was totally heartbroken by the news of his illness and then his passing away. From all the comments it is clear that Tom has left a considerable legacy both professionally and in his family ties. I am glad I go a chance to speak to him at least one in person, so I can cherish that special moment. I send Sandra deepest sympathy and courage to face the next chapter in her life.

Dear Tommy, I met you first, more years ago than I like to think. You and Robbie at the adventure playground in Hainault. Walking up the road with Robby eating tomatoes. The quiet one of you twins at the time but that changed. You grew into a very shining bright person and achievement so very much. Deep thinking, caring, loving and very hard working. I wish I had spent more time with you but so glad you were the best of all friends to Tim and his family. Very much love an enormous respect to you Tommy. An honour to have known you. Very much love jeanxxx

Tommy's Last Dance: Was a beautiful ceremony for a beautiful man. Tommy danced his last dance surrounded by love and admiration that he truly deserved. Love to you Sandra may you find the strength to carry on with Tommys unfinished book and legacy that you shared together xxx Karen

I was sad to learn Tom's passing, he has worked until the end of his life to form amazing teachers and I was in his class, together with Sandra, they formed myself and many others in our journey through education. Thank you, Tom! Sandra, please accept my condolences and be strong, the more painful it is, please remember he did a great job and he would like you to be happy!

Tom, may your vibrant spirit dance in the realm of Eternal Light and may your legacy continue to illuminate and inspire Education at its best

Thank you for your unfiltered contributions whenever we met/spoke. Forever in my thoughts as a key facilitator in my journey. You will be truly missed.

Lighting this candle to keep the flame flickering for Tom here. He will be much missed and was such a gentle giant of my working world (Learning Development). Hugs to Sandra.

Thinking of Tom and all that he has done, with Sandra and so many others to make collaboration joyful, fun, generative and humane. Wishing him a boundless journey .

So sad to learn of Tom's passing; an inspirational colleague - class, compassion and creativity always to the fore with integrity, intelligence and humour. The fond memory of his example with stay with me. With love to Sandra at this difficult time. Chi

My Tommy We are all here because Tom Burns loved us. He loved his friends and family - his colleagues and his students. Thomas William Burns was kind and generous - he always wanted the best for you - he helped people be their best selves. Tommy’s love was infinite Tommy was also the bravest person I know - in being a working class academic who kept his East End accent - his humanity, generosity and communality. Who married me! And in the way he faced the worst news we ever got just two months after our wedding. Tommy and I found each other - we worked together - wrote together - and taught together. Together we discovered that love matters. It’s a fundamental principle - in education - and in life. We all know this. But so many people put love in a box - for special occasions - but with Tommy - he was brave enough to live it - to show it - to offer it. Tommy’s love was infinite. I’m so happy he loved me - and you - and I’m so very sad he has left us: He WAS my north, my south, my east, my west My working week and my Sunday rest. My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song; I thought that HE would last forever: I was wrong.

Dear Sandra I know how tough things must be for you at the moment, so am just sending lots of hugs and love your way. I didn't know Tom was ill - I haven't seen either of you in such a long time. So I'm still trying to process the news. I've just listened again to the LDP podcast which is such a wonderful memory to have, and it's lovely to hear his voice and how his personality shines through. I love the smoking with Fletcher story! I used to love it, back in the day, teaching in the Tower and then walking back towards the Learning Centre, and from a distance seeing Tom, fag in one hand, the other one gesticulating wildly as he was solving the world's problems with a fellow smoker. I'd love it even more when he was on his own, and that meant that I could get to play the role of Fletcher and while away some time listening to him. The number of times I was late for a meeting or my next class because of him... Tom's personality and playfulness and tremendous knowledge and insight lives on in everyone who knew him. When he mentions Digby's words in the podcast about moving sideways from the LDU to staff development, and then subsequently having MORE of an impact on students, I can only agree: He helped me immensely on my CED module, giving me confidence when I felt a bit out of my depth, and then feeding me a light-bulb moment when guiding me towards a more student-centred solution to a particular assessment problem I had. I've just today set up assessment guidance activities on Weblearn for a new level 4 cohort. This is a particular thing I do with all my students now, based on that light-bulb moment during a conversation with Tom. Everyone remembers a good teacher, and he (like you) was one of the best... Love and hugs David x

Like so many colleagues, I feel very fortunate to have known and been supported, encouraged and inspired by Tom and the combined works and wisdom of ‘Burns and Sinfield’. Always so welcoming, affirming, good-humoured and generous in sharing knowledge, time and resources (including the magic cupboard of creative materials!), the impact of which will long live on in the practices of so many of us. Thank you Tom. Sending much love to Sandra.

Tom was one of the first people I got to know when I joined London Met. I felt like an imposter, but Tom made me feel like I belonged. Always there for a friendly chat (often accompanied by biscuits), and the projects we did together with local young people, I'll never forget some of those sessions. Tom also became a great mentor to my husband when he started working in UK HE, helping him find his feet - and new work, which we both appreciated so much. Tom, we will really miss you, Sandra, sending much love

From across the School of Computing and Digital Media, colleagues who have worked with Tom on London Met's PG Cert have been mentioning how they were inspired by Tom's teaching as they developed their own teaching practice. On a personal note, although I've not worked as closely with Tom as I have with Sandra, like colleagues, I've have been influenced by Tom and Sandra's writing, positive energy and philosophy and for me that goes back to early in my career in the late 90s when Sandra was such a great critical friend as external examiner for my Access course at when I taught at Hackney College. I'm sorry not to be able to be present today (21st Nov) but I wish Sandra and colleagues a meaningful day of sharing memories.

Tom was a kind and genuine person, always made me feel like an equal, and encouraged me as a tutor. He was approachable and just so kind to me, always made time to talk to me and when I stated teaching having been his student was encouraging and just so much fun to be around, what a great person!

Tommy… wonderful bloke, heart of gold, wonderfully spontaneous, brimming with flair, passion and humour… oh, and always planning something amazing. Sandra & Tommy, what a fabulous duo! I wish I could be there in Braintree today. I know it’ll be an emotional roller-coaster and a celebration of a love-filled life lived to the max.

Tom Burns and Sandra Sinfield set the Access programme at the London Metropolitan University in the mid 1980's and in the most literal terms gave students that wanted entry into higher education the tools to learn, study and succeed not only at university, but throughout the whole of Life. In the Department of Professional studies in the CELT group Teacher Training that has taught and inspired thousands of students that now teach all over the UK and the world. Tom had sadly passed but his work and influence will remain, insight that has given students deep knowledge, it's practical application and a sense to achieve enabling any subject to be taught across the whole of academia. That's a legacy.

Thank you Tom, for being so totally you all of the time. You had the wonderful gift of not only causing us to us feel better about ourselves, but enabling us to actually be better. I can’t think of you without remembering your smile, and smiling myself (and I will never see a funny animal emoji without thinking of you!). So clever, kind, giving, playful and full of infectious energy; reading these tributes I know I am just one of many educators whose practice you had a huge and lasting impact on. ‘Sandra and Tom’ became almost one word - an amazing team in every way. Keep dancing, both of you.

Tom was a remarkable person who touched the lives of everyone he met. His kindness, strength, creativity and his teachings made a profound impact on all of us. As we bid farewell to Tom, let us carry forward the inspiration and knowledge he brought into our lives. Though he may no longer be with us in body, his spirit will forever echo in our hearts, reminding us to cherish each moment and hold tight to the bonds of his work colleagues and family. Thoughts and sympathies to Sandra and Tom's family

Tommy dear friend, you will always be in our hearts! Thank you for evertything!

Sorry for your lost Sandra, Tom was a really gentleman that made me feel very welcome love and blessings

It’s difficult to put into words the enormousness of someone’s life when so much of it was spent in trying to encourage and support others. Tom’s fixation of sharing knowledge and helping others understand the complexities of knowledge was a true inspiration to me personally and something that I will always be grateful for. Sandra and Tom together were a whirlwind of energy and passion pushing educational concepts above and beyond the normal, encouraging creativity and allowing imagination to run free. Even with all the discussions of educational theories and concepts my mind will always be draw to the sophisticated discussions I shared with Tom about our beloved Chelsea and the wonders of seafood. Forever my nice friend.

Dear Sandra, Family, and Team, I’m so sorry to hear about Tom’s passing. He was one of a kind, and I feel lucky to have known him as a tutor. Tom’s energy, humor, and passion for what he did made such an impact—he was truly larger than life, and his reputation was well-earned. Sandra, you and Tom were the perfect pair—a real dynamic duo. Please know that we are all thinking of you and everyone he touched during this difficult time. He’ll be deeply missed.

A true inspiration, Tom will forever be in the minds of those he worked with and taught. Not a class goes by where I don't make use of his wisdom and teachings. His passion for learning and teaching was unsurpassed, thank you for everything. My thoughts go out to Sandra and the family xx

Associate Professor Tom Burns was a truly amazing human being - a vibrant, generous, smart, creative and compassionate person, and a dedicated, innovative, enthusiastic and inspirational educator, scholar and developer who lived and breathed education for social justice, as an early advocate of empowering and inclusive teaching and learning. It has been an immense privilege, pleasure and joy to work with Tom, and his wonderful professional and life partner Associate Professor Sandra Sinfield, for over 23 years in the service of transformative Educational and Learning Development at London Met, nationally and internationally. Held in great affection and admiration and deeply missed by so many colleagues, students and friends, through his wide-reaching and lasting impact Tom leaves an incredible legacy.

I am deeply saddened to hear of Tom's passing. I did not know Tom personally but I am reminded of one of my first teaching and learning conferences at LMU and a session that Tom and Sandra led. It was different, challenging, thought provoking, vibrant, full of energy, friendly and inclusive. That experience remains with me. My condolences to Tom's loved ones, my thoughts are with you.

Extremely upsetting to hear of your passing Tom! Thank you for always supporting me as your student. You will be greatly missed! Truly wonderful person! May your sweet soul rest in peace. Sending sympathy, prayers and love to all who knew Tom; partner, colleagues, children and family who loved and appreciated his dedication to teaching.

I met Tom as a mentor during the fellowship process at London Met and he was a man full of generosity and spirit. He was incredibly supportive, kind and creative. I won't forget his kindness and passion. A lovely man who helped so many.

Thank you for being a great colleague Tom. In my 20 years in HE, I have not met anyone as inspiring, approachable and generous as you.

Thank you for your support and guidance, Tom. I will always remember your commitment to pedagogy and contribution to my professional development.

I met all the best people in the courtyard and Tom was one of them - wearing his stripy t-shirt and beret. The first time I met Tom I was a little miffed as I thought he was mimicking my accent - we later giggled about this and I promised him that I'd keep on dropping my aitches as an act of disruption and to 'do the East End proud'. The kindest and most generous of souls, Tom has had such an impact on so many colleagues at London Met. He's gentle encouragement, playfulness, modest ego, and brilliant mind were the perfect recipe for guiding and shaping the teaching practice of colleagues and ultimately supporting us to do our best for our students. I'll miss chatting with you, hearing you call us 'lovely people', and the creative emoji email responses. Thank you, Tom for your encouragement and support over the years - we will miss you terribly. Darling Sandra, know that you are much loved by your LMU family xx

Tom was a modest genius. He empowered people like me to believe I could do it! I never saw him without a smile on his face. His glass was definitely always half-full Will miss you so much xxx

So sad to hear this news. Tom Burns helped me not only to teach and learn better but also gave me confidence in believing in the possibilities of reforming and changing education. His compassion and care for non- traditional academics like myself was inspiring. Without his kindness, consideration and the time he took to patiently guide me through my dissertation at London Metropolitan University I never would have made it. I hope to be half the teacher he was. Rest in peace Tom, and sending love and light to Sandra and all his students, colleagues, friends and family.

One of the pleasures of joining London Met was knowing there were so many excllent and dedicated people here - just like Tom who I had admired from afar over the years through his scholarship and blogs. Meeting him was like meeting an admired singer or actor and in real life he was as passionate and charismatic as I imagined he would be. Tom has clearly had a huge impact here and across the sector with Sandra and in doing so you both have ensured great learning experiences for our students. In the end that kind of impact is one of the best we can hope for.

Tom was a truly inspirational person to have met with such a wealth of knowledge, and although I am saddened - I am even more grateful to have been inspired by him and to have shook his hand. I thought of Sea-Fever by By John Masefield: I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by; And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking, And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking. I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying, And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying. I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life, To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife; And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.

Incredibly sad to hear the news about Tom. I worked on study skills books at Sage so was involved in three new editions of Tom and Sandra’s book Essential Study Skills. Tom’s passion for supporting students in their learning development, and deep knowledge of the subject was so clear. I vividly remember him helping create videos to bring their advice to life, and especially his sense of fun and inclusive approach to all students. What an amazing impact he’s made on so many people’s learning journey. Sending deepest condolences to Sandra.

Very sad to hear the news. I only knew Tom very briefly, doing my PG Cert course, and I would lie if I said I didn't feel a bit strange being in his class at first. But with time the 'method behind the madness' became apparent. He came to observe one of my seminars and I remember him offering very important and practical advice - as we sat together in a desk and he made his observations, suddenly all his teachings and insights came into place and I understood how serious he was in his craft and how much I stood to gain from him. In the end, I felt like he taught me the most important lesson: not just to be comfortable about who I am, but to celebrate my uniqueness. Living life on our own terms - it's really the best we can do. So long Tom.

Your work is a great reminder why working in education is meaningful, Tom. Thank you! I'll really miss getting emails from you that continue to remind me.

Such an amazing human being who made every learning experience an adventure. Thank you, Tom, for being my teacher, supervisor, mentor and friend ❤️ I will miss our banter. Your imprint on "Dialogue" will live and burn on in my practice, Professor Burns 🔥

Hi Tom, Hope your journey went well. Keep a seat warm for me. I shouldn't be too long. Look after yourself until I get there. Don't get into any trouble in the meantime. I know what you're like. Love you!

Wonderful Tom, rest in peace knowing you will be remembered

Tom was a truly remarkable, kind, compassionate human being and an eccentric, brilliant genius who helped inspire myself and so many others in their teaching practice. He was my mentor and friend who helped to give me the courage to be myself, to let go and to not be afraid of my more wild, creative side. He helped me feel like I didn't need to hide who I really was and I could embrace my true self and encourage my students to do the same and flourish. Tom, I am heartbroken you are not physically with us anymore but your legacy will live on in the hearts of all who loved you and in the many lives you touched. You have lit a candle in this world and at London Met that will never be put out. My heart goes out to Sandra - I can't even start to imagine the grief you must be going through - we are all standing with you. Thank you Tom for all you did for me and so many others. You will never ever be forgotten.

Tom was a lovely gentleman - kind, respectful and compassionate. I was lucky enough to complete my first SFHEA assessment with him and he gently guided me through the process in such a lovely way. I will always remember his kindness.

Tom, you are going to be so dearly missed. Though short, I enjoyed so much working with you. Your energy, passion and passion was so admirable. I still had so much to learn from you. Love and strength to Sandra x

am deeply saddened to hear of Tom's passing. He was truly one of a kind—an inspiring, generous, and encouraging presence for all of us. Tom’s unique sense of humor and warmth transformed every learning experience into an adventure, leaving a lasting impact on everyone he encountered. He was not only my teacher, supervisor, and mentor but also someone I was fortunate enough to call a friend. His influence will continue to guide my work in Learning and Development and live on through the practices of our colleagues and students. Tom’s legacy is a gift we will carry forward. Thank you Tom

Tom was a very special person, and always had time for people, such as staff, students, but also anyone he would meet in a public space. I recall a very memorable evening out with Tom, and we ended up in Shoreditch bars until early hours. What a great guy. You will be missed by many. Thoughts with Sandra and family.

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