Our condolences to Professor Mark Alexander of the Department of Civil Engineering whose eldest son, Andrew (26), died in a car accident on 11 May.

A gifted student, Andrew enrolled on a UCT Entrance Scholarship in 2001. In 2003 he graduated with a BA in historical studies and English, with distinctions for both subjects - and for his degree.

Andrew received class medals for history in his third year. He was also on the Dean's Merit List in 2003.

He completed an honours degree in historical studies in 2004, for which he obtained a first-class pass. In 2005 he began work on his master's degree, graduating in June last year.

"Intellectually, he was an extremely talented student," said his supervisor, Professor Nigel Worden. "As a person, Andrew was extremely modest, utterly respected for the standards he lived to. A committed Christian, he was dedicated to a number of issues: social, academic, and those attached to his career."