Dr Amanda Hopkins
We are immensely sad to announce that our dear colleague, Amanda Hopkins, died on Tuesday 19 July 2022, after a period of illness.
Amanda was a Senior Teaching Fellow in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures. She was originally a medievalist who took a BA in English and European Literature at Warwick and did postgraduate study in Medieval Studies at the University of Bristol. She was highly respected in her field and had several excellent publications in this area, including a critical edition and translation of Melion and Biclarel: Two Old French Werewolf Lays (Liverpool Online Series, 2005) and two edited volumes, Sexual Culture in the Literature of Medieval Britain (Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 2014) and The Erotic in the Literature of Medieval Britain (D. S. Brewer, 2007).
Amanda taught across the departments of English and Comparative Literary Studies and French Studies at Warwick from the early 2000s until 2022. She also taught on the Academic Writing Programme, acted as Academic Lead for Study Skills in the SMLC and worked on several collaborative Student as Researcher projects. She was an outstanding teacher who was nominated countless times by students for Teaching Excellence awards, and she received three WATE commendations.
Amanda was an absolute live wire and her enthusiasm for her subject was absorbed by her students. She was a great facilitator and treated all her classes as workshops where students were expected to work hard and to get stuck into the texts they were studying. As well as being a brilliant teacher, Amanda was also a true intellectual and an artist with many talents. 
Outside of her academic work, she was a singer-songwriter who wrote and recorded three albums of music and who performed live regularly on the Coventry music scene.
Our librarian, Kate Courage, commented that Amanda’s “whole-hearted dedication to the students and their academic and personal development was remarkable and she was adored (and probably a just little bit feared, too!) by the students she supported.” Like Kate, many colleagues loved Amanda’s willingness to step up and let colleagues know what would most help the students in relation to teaching, support, reading lists and so on.
Students have been quick to let us know how instrumental Amanda was in their university training at all levels, from first-year undergraduates to final-year PhDs. Her endless enthusiasm for scansion was commented on by several colleagues, including Dr Liam Lewis, a former student who commends Amanda’s skill as a mentor: she was, he writes, “the best of teachers--strong willed, deeply committed to her subjects, willing to drive forward and chair a debate, down-to-earth, and sincere. Her students continued to engage with her online years after finishing their studies, and she maintained strong relationships with those that she had taught--a true testament to her intellectual and sociable powers.”
Amanda kept in touch with countless students: it was at the request of one of them, Fr Ryan Service, that Emma Mason (Head of ECLS) visited Amanda in her final week where she was keen to discuss the current syllabi for the Medieval, Epic, and Arthuriana courses. She was a brilliant scholar, gifted teacher, exceptional musician, and most importantly of all, a wonderful friend to many in English and French: countless colleagues have reported on her warmth during their first days as newcomers to the department, days made happier and easier due to Amanda’s charm and exuberance. She will be deeply missed by all of us and leaves an extraordinary legacy of committed scholars in her field and students who will always remember her charisma and passion.
Amanda’s was a life filled to the brim with energy, creativity, and curious engagement with the world. She embraced life fully and joyfully because she so loved these things, and she had so much more to give. She was diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer in 2020 and underwent major surgery and chemotherapy during the pandemic. She was admitted to the Coventry Myton hospice for palliative care in July 2022 and died just a few days later.
Pur remembrance a tuz dis mais.
(Made for remembrance for evermore.)
From Marie de France, ‘Bisclavret
Amanda was sent many wonderful and moving messages of gratitude from her students in the last weeks of her life. We would like to share them here:
I wanted to write you a message to thank you for everything. I absolutely LOVED your Modern French Thinkers class. Wednesday mornings, 9-11am, arriving in that fishbowl classroom to discuss Rousseau, De Beauvoir, Barthes (my fave)...leaving the room not really knowing what was true anymore because it's all a construct dammit! I loved it. The content was so interesting, and your teaching style suited me down to a T. You had a way of taking horrific, oh-my-jesus-christ-how-will-I-ever-understand-this concepts, and guiding us through them, sometimes leading us, sometimes pushing us in it with little more than a compass and a good luck, and telling us to figure it out for ourselves.
Thank you again, Amanda. Thank you so much.
I just wanted to write to you to say a massive thank you. Our little chats, be it after Study Skills, in Humanities Café, or even just in the corridors, will always be amongst my fondest memories of my time at Warwick. Your dedication to higher education and to us as students has been nothing short of remarkable, and I count myself lucky to have been able to attend your classes. I still refer back to your materials from the Study Skills modules even now, when a friend of mine asks me for some advice, or if I simply need a reminder. Your vivacity, your razor-sharp wit, and your strength of mind are truly infectious, and would always pick me up if I were feeling low. I'm just sorry that we never got to properly say goodbye at the end of my degree. I'll be raising a large glass of wine in your honour tonight, and thinking back on happy times. SMLC won't be the same without you.
"I'll never forget Amanda. She took me under her wing when I was a new member of the administrative staff in the Department of English and Comparative Literary Studies back in 2004, fresh out of university myself and lacking in experience and confidence. She was so supportive and caring and saw me as a person, and not just a body behind a reception desk. Her commitment to her students and their progression and well-being was outstanding. She would put their needs before her own and would go beyond the extra mile for them. What an amazing woman she was. Her memory will live on for ever."
Helen Knight 04/08/2022
I feel very lucky to have seen Amanda in her last week: that fiery spark that made her so beloved with students and such a charismatic academic was still present amidst the suffering. Her distinctive eye-roll and humorous relationship to academia was especially immediate. Like many colleagues, I remember meeting Amanda in my early days at Warwick and finding her distinctively enthusiastic approach to her role refreshing and welcoming. I always thought of Amanda as a senior colleague, and greatly respected her work and electric style of teaching. My own students introduced me to Amanda's music, eager to tell me about my rockstar colleague. If students could elect Warwick's leaders, they would certainly have chosen Amanda. I'll miss her scholarly verve and learning from her in shared supervisions and vivas. I send heartfelt condolences to her closest friends and family.
Emma Mason 05/08/2022
I remember Amanda as "Kit" we first met in the early 2000's through Jack and Ed, 2 Warwick students who were running (albeit in an amateur fashion) a record label which released some of our songs. We became friends and began gigging in Coventry and one memorable gig in Rugby. Kit was so generous in making sure I knew of opportunities to play and would always suggest my name whenever she had a gig herself. I remember on a few occasions us both playing on the stage in the Piazza during the day at an organised event and then us both going back to our day jobs at the Uni. I will always remember those days with great fondness and will miss that crazy presence approaching me somewhere on campus and never knowing what exciting chat we would have that day. I hope you have your guitar with you Kit and your playing merry havoc somewhere!
Michael Keenan AKA L.A. rat 05/08/2022
I am very sad to learn that Amanda has died. She was a good friend in my first years in Bristol and she had an inspiring energy as well as a great, irreverent sense of humour and boundless optimism. RIP.
Anon 06/08/2022
From the moment I met Amanda, I was blown away by how deeply passionate she was as a teacher. When she spoke, her whole body spoke, pacing, gesturing and at times jumping through the room. She was loud, vivid, brilliant. I was both intimidated and inspired by her sheer energy and wit. As a student I hugely benefited from being pushed, motivated and challenged by her (It also didn't hurt that she was really funny!). Amanda's memory will always be an integral part to what made my time as an exchange student at Warwick something special. I wish I could have thanked her accordingly for the impact which she had left on me.
Anon 07/08/2022
Amanda was always so witty, had such a fantastic sense of humour but above all I will always remember Amanda as someone who gave 100% to her students, such passion. RIP Amanda, you have left a huge void.
Elaine Robinson 08/08/2022
I've known Amanda only for a short while but noticed her from the very beginning of my time at Warwick : her energy, her dedication, her enthusiasm... As a new colleague, I must admit that I was a bit impressed but she was always nice with me and always took the time to chat a bit! Tu vas nous manquer Amanda.
Anon 13/08/2022
I was only taught very briefly by Dr Hopkins but I will remember it fondly forever. It was a series of lectures providing an introduction to Chaucer and it all felt very daunting at first. Immediately however Dr Hopkins' enthusiasm burst through and put us all at ease. She could explain such complicated concepts and issues with such candour and in a way that was genuinely very fun. I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to be taught by her and so sorry for the generations of students to follow who will miss out on the experience.
Anon 14/08/2022
We miss Amanda's lively and enthusiastic presence in the French department, and I am saddened that her illness progressed too quickly for her to visit the wonderful new Faculty of Arts building. She was a true scholar and an artist. At her funeral I was moved to hear about all the wonderful things she had done. She was committed to her students and a loyal and helpful colleague who cannot be replaced, but who will be remembered fondly.
Susannah Wilson 17/11/2022
Amanda was the best of us. Amanda was an inspiration to me for over 15 years, showing us how to be rigorous but fair. Amanda always had a smile and a good laugh and was perhaps the sharpest teacher and colleague I have ever worked with. I will miss Amanda dearly. She had a human touch and I will never forget the kindness she showed me when I needed it. We will all miss you Amanda.
David Lees 17/11/2022
Amanda is much missed. She worked tirelessly for her students and was such a supportive colleague. I really enjoyed the chats we used to have when she popped her head round my office door. The French section is less bright as a result of her passing.
Katherine Astbury 20/11/2022
I am extremely sorry not to be there to honour such an irrepressible but kind and generous colleague and will be thinking of Amanda and the mark she made on so many students' and colleagues' lives, often.
Mary Harrod 22/11/2022
Amanda, you were a source of wit and wisdom, courage and radiance. I will never forget our conversations: special exchanges by the photocopier or through an open window that, however fleeting, always brought inspiration and a good laugh. And the time we found we had the same boots: mine were dark red, but yours were purple the colour you brought us is sadly missed.
Jessica 25/11/2022
My memories of studying PPE at Warwick (2010-2014) are mostly a haze, but Amanda's 'Approaches to Reading in English and French' module - which I took as a first-year outside option - is hard to forget. Those Thursday afternoons I spent translating French poetry and romping through all manner of English and French poets, from John Donne to Joachim du Bellay, were a happy break from the pressures of everything else I was doing on my degree. I am fortunate that Amanda and I stayed friends since that time: she was kind enough to help me with job applications, postgraduate personal statements and English teacher training assessments among other things. Above all, Amanda kept me in touch with my literary side, as she sent me her thoughtful discussion questions on Shakespeare's /Hamlet/ and Homer's epic poems. Amanda was also a tireless advocate for good English style, as best exemplified by her colourful blog on English-language mangles (to which I contributed a fair few entries). When some graduate colleagues and I were debating whether to put 'pandemic-imposed hiatus' or 'pandemically-imposed hiatus' in a call for papers, I smiled to myself, "What would Amanda think?" I can almost imagine her now wincing: "'Pandemically' is not an adverb!" (She would be very pleased to know that we settled on 'pandemic-imposed' in the end.) Amanda used to tease me that I, a wayward PPE graduate, should have been an English lit student. Maybe one day I will actually take her up on that; if I do, her boundless knowledge, her terrific teaching and her verve will always be on my mind. Rest well, lion dormant; thanks, Amanda, for everything.
Gah-Kai Leung 26/11/2022
I will remember Amanda as a scholar and editor of medieval texts, as well as a dynamic teacher and colleague. This was not a side of her career that many people at Warwick knew about, but it was an important part of the connection between us. Her work was listed on bibliographies for undergraduate modules I taught and she was always generous in her mentoring of more advanced students of medieval literature. We had many a nerdy conversation in our offices about Old French literature - particularly the werewolf stories she so loved.
Emma Campbell 28/11/2022
Thankyou for being such a positive aspect of my time at Warwick, especially during my first year when we had our study sessions with you. You were so witty and engaging and made us all feel so welcome. Whatever you taught us you did it with such passion and enthusiasm, and I keep with me to this day some of your anti-procrastination tips (which were very funny). You helped make first year much less scary and your class was a highlight of the week. Thankyou for being such a positive influence in our lives.
Maddy 30/11/2022
With her unique mix of down-to-earth humour and severity, Amanda made classes for beady-eyed first years all about serious study. Yet, she had the fantastic ability to reach students at their level, to treat them as serious thinkers, and to push them intellectually at exactly the right moments. Amanda was an important part of my academic training, from poetry scansion in Year 1 to co-supervising my MA thesis on animals in the medieval bestiary. She was a big part of life at Warwick, and it will be a loss to everyone that she is no longer there. It will always be a point of sadness that we didn't get the chance to properly re-connect after my PhD, but I hope she knew just how important she had been over the years. Thank you Amanda, for all the time, energy, scrutiny, books, and coffee you gave. You taught me to think deeply, to stick to my ideals, and to always read the boring introductions to old editions of medieval texts! For who knows what they may find there?
Liam Lewis 30/11/2022
Amanda was simply and amazing colleague, and touched everyone she met. We were much richer for having her in the SMLC.
Alison Menezes 02/12/2022
I haven't known you for a long time but I will always remember your positive and enthusiastic ways. Thank you for your nice words to the new and insecure colleague I was. Thank you for your jokes during our long staff meetings. Thank you for all the help you have given to students and the positive energy to your colleagues. You are missed.
Agathe Zobenbuller 02/12/2022
I got to know Amanda particularly well during first lockdown at the virtual 'coffee and cake' calls, she ran with Margaux. These chats were such a wonderful support and Amanda had great stories to tell and advice to give. I always think very fondly of my conversations with her.
Sophie Hurst 02/12/2022
Amanda was a kind, warm-hearted woman, who I was lucky enough to learn from and have discussions with over shared interests. I hope she is at peace now and that we can remember her at Warwick for her dedication and all the hard work she did for us.
Ellen Bell 02/12/2022
Amanda was always very fond of cats, despite being allergic to them, which was a great source of sadness and frustration. She made up for it by buying the sort of thing which only cat owners get excited about. When I got my two cats, I had made a step in the right direction, I was now part of the crazy cat lady club, and her last Christmas gift to me is a photo frame with two cats on it.
Margaux Wiskin 02/12/2022
Amanda, you were a cheerful and practical, down-to-earth colleague, with a passion for teaching. You deeply cared about giving students the skills they would need to succeed in their assessment tasks. In your own inimitable, laconic way, you have given them skills that will be useful to them beyond their three or four years at Warwick. You told me how you kept writing to the MHRA to ask them difficult questions about how to reference this or that kind of publication, just as their style guide was being revised. I can't consult that Style Guide now without remembering this!
Ingrid De Smet 02/12/2022
I am so saddened to hear of Amanda's passing. She taught me in First Year and I will always remember how funny and engaging she was. Prayers and love to her family x
Luisa 03/12/2022
Thank you Amanda, I only had one module with you, Approaches to Reading in English and French in first year, but I remember it to this day! Your enthusiasm, knowledge and encouragement helped make approaching poems really seem possible rather than daunting, and your explanations of scansion and pronunciation in English and French poetry were truly enlightening. Thank you again.
Clare Crossfield 03/12/2022
Amanda's incredible energy, dedication to teaching, good humour and smile always lit up the room at our meetings. We will miss her sorely.
Mila Milani 04/12/2022
Other colleagues knew her much better than I but I will miss having good-natured arguments with Amanda: about the more recondite features of MHRA style, the length of the Warwick teaching hour and more besides. I appreciated very much her precision, eye for detail and tenacity in these discussions.
Oliver 05/12/2022
I had several emails six years ago about one of her personal tutees who learned Chinese then. I was really impressed with her immense kindness and directness in helping students. From the couple of Education committee meetings I attended, I was struck by her sharp thinking and jokes. I wish I had a chance to see her teach which I had heard a lot about - engaging and energising. I believe that her genuine and distinctive personality influenced a lot more people than she thought.
Zhiyan Gyo 05/12/2022
We didn't have the opportunity to interact much, but you were always so helpful whenever I approached you to discuss additional language skills training for our MA students. I will always remember you as the very enthusiastic colleague that you were, Amanda. Wherever you are, I am so grateful that our paths crossed.
Olga Castro 05/12/2022
One of my favourite people to work for, I will always remember your impish sense of humour and your quirky style. You are much missed.
David Goodchild 05/12/2022
Very strong positive memories of this colleague, creative, friendly, and funny, who should not have left so soon. God bless.
Michael Gardiner 06/12/2022
Amanda was a wonderful colleague from my earliest time at Warwick, a gifted, energetic and inspirational teacher and scholar who was immensely popular with the students throughout her career. She provided a friendly face and a wicked and irreverent sense of humour in the English department at that time. She will be much missed and I am grateful to have known her.
Liz Barry 06/12/2022
Amanda was funny, truthful and kind. She had a genuine passion for everything she taught and expected the same of her students. In my first year at Warwick, I was struggling with my mental health and didn't manage to complete a task in time for a seminar. I was very nervous and fully expected to be told off for being unprepared. I explained that I had been feeling very anxious lately and was experiencing panic attacks. Amanda was instantly sympathetic and made the time to talk to me about managing workload and mindfulness techniques. She was open about her own mental health struggles and acknowledged the impact it can have on a heavy workload. Over the years, Amanda became a mentor and friend. In my final year, I ended up taking a module she was teaching simply because her own passion inspired an interest in the topic. Amanda was endlessly curious about the world around her. In one seminar, I remember her asking a student about a slogan on his t-shirt and discovering that it was linked to a skateboarding group. She smiled, turned to the class and said, "See? Always learning!" Amanda was unlike any university teacher I have ever met, before or since. She was a truly genuine, open person and my time at Warwick would not have been the same without her.
Natasha Amos 06/12/2022
I remember reading an interview with Amanda for a teaching award she won at Warwick. When asked what her recipe for the 'perfect inspiring teacher' would be, she mentioned a 'workable balance of compassion and hardheadedness'. I can think of no better way to describe Amanda's rockstar teaching. Years out of Warwick, I know that those in our cohort who were taught by Amanda carry pieces of her within us.
Sam Colman 06/12/2022
In very fond memory of passionate discussions about everything from Epic literature to cheese and sheep, and of equally epic lunches at Lambs in Stratford. I shall miss them, and the generous, exuberant, fierce, funny friend with whom I shared them.
Sarah Poynting 07/12/2022
I always enjoyed chatting with Amanda when she used to pop into our office. She was so warm and friendly and vivacious! And really welcoming when I first joined the English department, which I appreciated so much. I can't be there person today, but I will think of her during the memorial.
Rachel Oelman 07/12/2022
Amanda was the woman in black leathers who arrived with a roar on her motorbike to teach Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Her helmet propped beside her feet: an abiding memory, juxtaposed to chin propped on hand as she transported students into medieval England. She knew: 'the forme to the fynessment foldeth full selden' and she was always curious to see what would happen next. Students adored her. And colleagues respected her. Her final journey was awesome.
Carol Rutter 07/12/2022