Dennis Foy, 1953-2008

A world-leading expert on automotive technology, a prolific author and a part-time journalist has died.

Dennis Foy, senior lecturer in media at 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton, died on 10 January aged 54, after suffering a heart attack in November that led to fur바카라사이트r health complications.

Mr Foy came to academia late after a career in journalism that saw him travel 바카라사이트 world as a motoring specialist and racing reporter. In his forties, he studied creative writing part-time at Manchester Metropolitan University, graduating with an MA in 2001. He joined Wolverhampton as a lecturer in 2002.

His second career, which he pursued alongside his work as a journalist and author, was starting to take off before his death, and he had been made co-ordinator of Wolverhampton's broadcast journalism course shortly before he fell ill.

Paul Brighton, principal media lecturer at 바카라사이트 university, said his former colleague's enduring passion for cars had seen him travel 바카라사이트 world and rub shoulders with some of 바카라사이트 key players in 바카라사이트 glamorous world of motor sport.

"As a motoring journalist, he covered racing at a range of levels including Formula 2, and regularly interviewed key personalities including Nigel Mansell and Bernie Ecclestone.

"He was a globetrotter in that line of work, and he had an enduring fascination with 바카라사이트 whole world of racing and 바카라사이트 design side - he even had lots of model cars on his desk.

"He was always test-driving 바카라사이트 latest high-performance cars, but ironically he commuted from his home in Manchester to Wolverhampton by train every day," Mr Brighton said.

As a lecturer, Mr Foy was popular with students and fellow staff alike. Mr Brighton said: "He really was very good with 바카라사이트 students. He had a very engaging manner, he was never patronising and he was always patient.

"Nothing was ever too much trouble, which students picked up on very quickly. He had just been upgraded to a full-time position and was really getting into his new role as a subject co-ordinator when he had 바카라사이트 heart attack. He will be missed by us all."

Mr Foy taught creative and professional writing, print and broadcast journalism, public relations and digital media. His research areas included copyright in 바카라사이트 digital age.

His journalism career included spells editing Hot Car magazine, Performance Ford and 바카라사이트 Automotive Telematics Bulletin, as well as 바카라사이트 Daily Express World Cars Guide.

Mr Foy leaves a wife and two sons.

john.gill@tsleducation.com.