Obituary: Andrew Longworth, Curatorial Assistant at Guildford Museum

Published on: 5 Nov, 2018
Updated on: 8 Nov, 2018

By Catriona Wilson, collections manager, Guildford Heritage Services

Myself and colleagues of Guildford Heritage Service were shocked and saddened to learn of the death of our curatorial assistant, Andrew Longworth, in early September.

Curatorial assistant Andrew Longworth at Guildford Museum’s store.

Andrew joined the heritage team in June 2013, having been at Peterborough Museum and the Great North Museum in Newcastle upon Tyne before that. Andrew was a superb historian, both at work and in his personal life where he pursued his family history avidly. He preferred accuracy above all else and enjoyed solving puzzles for enquirers and exhibitions, which he did with quiet good humour. His knowledge of 20th-century pop music helped us to succeed in many a pub quiz. He was a teller of stories. 

Tragically, we now know that Andrew took his life. His family have asked us to be open about how he died, and knowing him as we do we are certain Andrew would prefer this as well – honesty and integrity were of paramount importance to him.

People are often described as unique. In the literal sense that is true about every person, but I hope you will be believe me when I say that Andrew really was a one-off.

He was reserved at first meeting so didn’t always make a big initial impression, but once he had warmed to you that would all change and he would be glad to share his (often very strong) opinions. Sometimes this could be frustrating (especially as he was so often right!) but we all appreciated his candour. If Andrew told you he thought your work was well done you knew absolutely that this was the case. He was authentic, always frank and open about his opinions, never false. 

Andrew and I didn’t always agree – in fact, we frequently disagreed on how to go about our work, not helped by the fact that we are both a little stubborn, but despite this we almost always saw eye to eye.

We agreed about the reasons for doing a thing if not the way to go about it. I am not sure I will work with anyone quite like Andrew again – he was the opposite of me in most ways but this was always beneficial to our working practice as it allowed us to compare options and find the middle path. 

Many of us have asked each other and ourselves if we had known this was coming. The honest answer is that we couldn’t have, for a number of reasons not least of which the fact that Andrew enjoyed his job so much. We were privileged at Guildford to see his best side at work because he truly loved being here. 

Andrew Longworth with Guildford Town Guide Nick Bale.

Andrew was buried on a windswept hillside in Bolton, his hometown, on September 21 on a day that was sometimes sunny, sometimes rainy. This followed a beautiful service at the grand and historic Bolton Parish Church (a cathedral in all but name).

His family wrote and read moving poems to their brother and son, his friend told us about Andrew as a childhood ally, and both myself and retired museum colleague Carol Brown were given the honour of sharing a little of his working life in Guildford. 

The family’s choice of church was perfect in so many ways: Bolton Parish Church stands atop Saxon foundations in the heart of the oldest part of Bolton, so would have been seen by the generations of Andrew’s family that he came to know so well through his genealogical research.

The church itself seemed fitting to me as it is grand and significant, but not self-imposing or self-important. This sums up Andrew’s work rather well: always certain in his approach, but never arrogant. 

We will gather at the museum this Thursday (November 8) to celebrate the life and work of our wonderful friend and colleague. 

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