Paying our Respects to Emma Barker
We are all deeply saddened at the news that Emma Barker, a MMath 4th year student, has died.
Many of you will have known Emma as a bright, promising, vibrant and dedicated member of the community here in Maths, and her loss will be keenly felt by all.
We know this is extremely distressing and unexpected news. Please don’t hesitate to contact the wellbeing support services team via the wellbeing portal (for students) or the wellbeing hub (for staff), or by calling 024 7657 5570 if you need support. Staff can also contact the Employee Assistance Programme and bereavement support from the Chaplaincy is also available to all.
Condolence Book
Please use the space below to share memories of Emma and messages of condolence to one another and her family. Your entries will be collated and published weekly, including your name, on this page, on the right hand side and will eventually be printed and gifted to Emma's family.
Students can access support via the Wellbeing portal or on 024 76 575570, ext. 75570, and staff can access support via the Staff Wellbeing Hub and the Employee Assistance Programme. The Chaplaincy are also able to provide bereavement support to those of any faith.
Memories and Messages Shared
I was Emma's supervisor when she was in second year. She was a pleasure to teach; her passion and enthusiasm for maths was admirable. She would always ask insightful questions and submitted some of the neatest, most detailed assignments that I have ever seen. She was very intelligent, and it was great to see her develop as a mathematician throughout the time that I knew her. In addition to all of this, she was a lovely person, and it was a privilege to have known her. I am incredibly shocked and saddened to find out about her passing, and my thoughts are with all of her family and friends.
Anna Skorobogatova
I was Emma's tutor during her first two years at Warwick. It was always a pleasure to have Emma in my office (which was brightened by her beautiful hair). It was lovely to see her enthusiasm for mathematics grow, which led her to switch to the 4 year degree. I was deeply saddened to hear of her passing, and my thoughts are with her family and friends.
Diane Maclagan
I was Emma's supervisor for her Year 4 Project on p-adic groups. Her enthusiasm and good humour made our virtual meetings always enjoyable. It was exciting to watch her growing in independence as a mathematician, asking and answering her own questions. I was shocked and saddened to hear of her passing. My thoughts are with her family and friends.
Martin Orr
I had the privilege of having Emma as a supervisee when she was in her first year. She was a bright student, always asking good questions and completing her assignments with impeccable attention to detail. She brought a great atmosphere to the supervision sessions and it would not have been the same without her. I am deeply saddened to hear of her passing. My thoughts are with her friends and family in this distressing time.
Emma and I were fortunately placed in the same supervision group in our first year of university. I say fortunately since I am certain I wouldn’t have reached the end of my degree without the support of my friends in that group. For me every day felt like a challenge, but this definitely wasn’t the case for Emma. She had an incredible positivity that always had a profound effect on everyone – quite literally lighting up a room! No assignment was ever too difficult for her, it was always just an interesting challenge! When I would complain about the high work load or the number of modules, she’d tell me to think of all the learning opportunities and help me through. That’s another thing about Emma that will stay with me: she was incredibly willing to help anyone! She never felt the need to be secretive about her assignment answers, it was always a collaboration and she would give her time to help someone understand something. My fondest memory is only small, and silly really, but it was going into a lecture together and saying to her “I’ll sit by you if you sit by me” and laughing together. She was intelligent, dedicated, vibrant, positive and supportive. I send my condolences to her family, she was a really special person who will never understand the impact she had on my life.
Oli Greaves
I was Emma's tutor for the last year and a half. She was bright, lively and always smiling. The news of her passing came as a complete shock. My deepest condolences to Emma's family, friends and all the people that have been lucky to know her.
Damiano Testa
I have fond memories of Emma from when she attended my Analysis class. She was clearly very bright and she had a warm confidence about her as well as a great sense of humour. I'm very saddened to hear the news of her passing, she seemed to have such a promising life ahead of her and her death is a loss keenly felt by the department. My thoughts are with her family and friends, and especially with Tom.
Andrew Brendon-Penn
I never knew Emma personally, but I knew who she was. When I was in first year and always anxious that I might have walked into the wrong lecture, I always used to pick her hair out of a crowd to reassure myself I was in the right place. That's not really much, but when I heard about her passing it affected me more than one would expect. It occurred to me that she'd never have realised the role- however small- she played in the lives of even people she'd never spoken to. Having also experienced the loss of a close friend during my time here, I've found thoughts of her passing and what I know those close to her are going through, hard to shake. Even so, I don't really know what to say, but that my deepest thoughts and condolences are with her friends and family. I'm truly sorry for your loss, and I hope you're able to find peace.
Elliot Vincent
I never had the pleasure of knowing Emma personally, although given all the wonderful messages about her, she certainly made a huge positive impact on all of her students and everyone that knew her. My deepest sympathies go out to her family and friends. She will be dearly missed.
Robin Visser
Emma was my supervisor for the first term. She made the supervisions an enjoyable and non-threatening experience and she always put so much effort into commenting on my assignments, making sure I didn't forget a definition here or a symbol there. She really did help me to understand what Maths at University is really like and for this I am very grateful.
Will Fuller
I only knew Emma in passing, and regret not getting to know her better. She was charming and full of light, and seemed like such a fun person to be around. My thoughts are with her friends and family, as I can't imagine how hard this must be for them.
Antoinette Clare
As one of Emma's first year supervisees I only knew her for a short while, but in that time she made a remarkable difference. Having someone to talk to about both maths and anything else about life at university was a massive help in such a strange new point in our lives. She was always warm, welcoming and ready to offer up advice. My deepest sympathies are with her family, friends and all the other people who may not have known Emma well but whose lives were none the less brightened by meeting her.
Heidi Omar
Emma was my supervisor at uni. She was really kind, and went all-out to help me when I was stuck on something (which was a lot of the time). If it weren’t for Emma, I probably would have failed my January exams. She was a genuinely nice person, and will be missed greatly.
Sam Fancett
I count myself lucky to have spent my time at university in the company of great friends. From day one of year one, Emma was among them. I remember vividly my first meeting Emma in our Cryfield kitchen. I remember raising my eyebrows at seeing her rainbow-coloured hair -- not something one often sees where I'm from. But, soon after, Emma's disarming smile and quick wit simply made me smile. Emma was one of those rare individuals who, as if without knowing, exude warmth, sincerity, and compassion. I lived with Emma, in my first, second, and final year, along with Tom, Ish, Matt, Xhorxh, Big D, Joe, Jacob, Chloe, and Laura. Together, as a group, as a family, we cooked and ate our meals, went on nights out, and experienced the highs and lows of student life. Remove one of them and my years at Warwick would have been much the poorer. As for Emma, who else but her could have teased my grandiosity, pulled apart my BS with the kind of no-nonsense punch that I could not but love, or understood the huge changes in my personal life and arrested my anxieties with simple kindness. Only Emma. But, though Emma had this biting sense of humour, and though she was conscientious and brilliant beyond belief, what always struck me most was her innate goodness. That's what I'll remember. This is a bad letter. I still feel too sad to write a good one. I can only hope to show that Emma mattered to me. She mattered a great deal, and I shall miss her dearly. For such immeasurable loss, perhaps time is the only medicine. All the same, my thoughts and most profound sympathies are with Emma's family.
Adam England
I did not Emma personally but I knew she was a special person. Rest in Peace.
Dmitriy Rumynin
I only spoke to you once or twice but I always saw you around and you seemed like a great person, who rocked her hairstyle. You, your family and your friends will be in my thoughts.
Md Mirza
I only knew Emma for a few months, but in that time she was a helpful, kind and inspiring mentor to many of us. She was never too busy for anyone and carried a confidence and charisma that was truly reassuring. She will be missed dearly by all those who had the privilege of knowing her. To the family I want extend the upmost condolences from all the first years who have been lucky enough to work with Emma, she was truly inspirational.
Jacques Foex
Our supervisions were always fun and engaging with Emma. She tried to make them interesting as well as useful. Her feedback can be seen through my work today as it has been significantly shaped by her advice. During my first few weeks at university I was having a difficult time but after speaking to Emma I was leaving feeling reassured and more confident about the rest of the year. My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Emma, may she rest in peace.
Paul Francis
Emma was an engaged student in my class and I am saddened by the news of her passing. My deepest sympathies go out to the family and her friends, and I'm wishing you comfort and peace in these times.
Martin Lotz