David Henderson – 1985-2016
David was born in Essex, England on the 8th of August 1985 and passed away at the age of 31 on the 5th of December 2016 in London. David developed type one diabetes whilst in his second year at Sheffield and regrettably this was the cause of his untimely death.
After leaving the University of Sheffield, David worked for the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST) where he achieved the position of Institute Registrar with responsibility for professional development. A position that he loved. David was a constant advocate of professionalism and competence, and married these attributes with being a kind, gentle, courteous and dependable person who never had a bad word for anybody and who could see the humour in any situation.
In recognition of his work achievements and contribution to IMarEST, David was elected posthumously to the category of ‘Honorary Fellow’ at a ceremony in the Guildhall in London on the 16th of March 2017.
David loved sports of all kinds and was a competent footballer, skier and scuba diver, and a black belt in judo. He was an avid traveller and had recently completed trips to Japan and South Africa. In recognition of David’s spirit as an adventurer with a boundless passion for travelling and taking part in all manner of sports and outdoor pursuits, IMarEST have established an annual award in David’s name which will provide a grant to young people who are able to inspire public interest in the oceans and seas, and to explore how human activity is affecting them.
David leaves behind a brother, Paul, and his mother and father, Anne and John. David’s death is our silent grief but his life is also our beautiful memory. He is greatly missed.
~ John Henderson
The David Henderson Inspiring Journey Grant
Would you like to take a journey that will inspire you and others to think differently about our oceans and seas?
From diving in the Marshall Islands to exploring the Arctic, the annual David Henderson Inspiring Journey Grant aims to inspire public interest in the oceans and seas and to explore how we can ensure the human activity affecting them is conducted safely and sustainably.
For centuries, people have been inspired by tales of the sea – this is an opportunity to write your own tale…
Each year the IMarEST supports the best idea for an original, exciting, and exceptional journey, giving the winner a £5,000 grant. It is important that the project takes you somewhere fresh, different and original. Your journey needs really to matter to you, but also needs to be one that leads you to tell a story in a way that will inspire people to think about the oceans and seas, and perhaps think differently about the sea and how it is used. You will need to be able to tell the story of your journey via blog, vlog or written journal as well as through social media channels and in a final, well-articulated report.
This grant has been established in memory of David Henderson. David Henderson worked for the IMarEST from 2008 until his untimely death in 2016 at the age of 31. David made an immeasurably positive impact on the lives of his colleagues and the Institute’s volunteers and members with whom he worked very closely and tirelessly to support. He worked diligently to support the IMarEST’s professional development activities and the work of the Membership Committee, Professional Affairs and Education Committee (PAEC) and Individual Case Procedures (ICP) Board. This grant honours his desire for discovering the new as well as espousing the preservation of the oceans, something he worked very hard to protect through his role at the Institute.
Further information about the David Henderson Inspiring Journey Grant can be found here.
The Gray Whale Cycle 