Andrew Philip Cox
1959 - 2023
In loving memory of Andrew who sadly passed away at the Prospect Hospice on 21st February 2023.
Funeral Service Details
Donations
Donations in memory of Andrew would be appreciated to the Prospect Hospice.
Thank You
Thank you for your donation. Please note, there can be a short delay of 30-60 seconds before your donation is shown in the total above from JustGiving. Rest assured your donation has been received.
If you have not left a message of condolence and would like to, please feel free to do so below.
Andy and I went back a long time, to the days when his son, Jack, and my son Dave were teenagers playing rugby at Minety RFC. Too far for either of us to drive back and forth during evening training sessioons, we stood and watched the lads and got chatting about rugby and then our mutual love of speedway.
During the following seasons Andy and Mandy would often appear at pit gate at Swindon Speedway for a chat before a meeting. Andy was a great supporter of the Blunsdon Blog (a silliness that started as a “one off” and soon developed into a widely read , rather irreverent website view of the sport. Andy wrote a number of blogs for me, giving his perspective from the “other side of the fence”. We often chatted about the possibility of him joining the track staff when he retired.
That came about in October 2019 and he immediately asked if there would be room for him in Number 96, the small tea room shared by the day time track staff at Swindon Speeedway I had no doubt that he would fit in. That he became such an integral and much valued member of the team that winter, after the double winning season, was entirely down to his sheer hard work, good humour and character.
Together with Keith Johnson, he was responsible for the laying of new white line around the inside of the newly created track. It is so sad that all of his hard work will never be more widely appreciated; speedway at Swindon was halted first by Covid and then by re-developments at the stadium.
Andy was a regular member of the Thursday morning Zoom chats which ran for the next two years and enjoyed the challenge of trying to pick the least likely to win characters in the GP Challenges. He is much missed by all who knew him and worked with him. The photograph was taken shortly before lockdown in 2020 and shows Andy, in yellow, with fellow daytime trackstaff as they shelter from the rain in the pits at the Abbey Stadium, home of the Swindon Robins.
There are no words that can do you justice Andy, but we’ll try.
You have been such an amazing friend to us all; Nick, Sylvia, Andy, Monika, Jonah, Michelle and myself.
Two great memories of you:
1) The first time we met you. Nick and Mandy were at our house stripping plaster off the wall. You had cycled there on the way home from work and when we got home, you were there, covered in mess all over your work clothes, getting stuck in. It just shows the kind of person you were, generous to a fault.
2) The second was the boat trip, when you fell in and got a wet foot : )
Mandy has often said that you both consider us all family, as do we to you and your family. x
All our love and thoughts to Mandy, Sammy, Ben and Jack. xx
I was incredibly sorry to hear of Andy’s passing. Andy gave up his own time to work as part of our very important and special Swindon speedway trackteam. His and their work and efforts never went unnoticed.
Andy will be sadly missed.
Sending sincerely condolences to Andy’s family and friends.
From all the Robins management.
I worked with Andy for a number of years in Nationwide. Andy ‘The Consultant’ looked like a stern miserable git who didn’t look that approachable. When i actually had to ask him a question, he was the complete opposite. He was helpful, and had bags of patience for us “thickies”, which was great relief.
I had a few encounters with Andy over the years until I finally became his line manager. I wasn’t sure how that was going to pan out and a little nervously, I invited him for his first 121 with me. We sat down in the atrium in Wakefield house and he started the 121 by telling me how it was going to be and that he was going to take no messing about, after his last line manager, otherwise he was off!!!! That set the tone for our relationship going forward.
I loved working with Andy as he knew what was what and knew how to ‘play the game’ if need be. I could always rely on Andy helping me out if I needed some help or something doing. We had a laugh, we ate Samosas and wound up our trainee as much as legally possible. I think we had a great little team, which Andy was a big part of, and he would often come out to the ‘playgroup’ outings in Old Town with us.
I was so chuffed to have been invited to his surprise 60th and to have had the opportunity to meet his family, and grand-pooches.
When I took redundancy last December, even though Andy wasn’t well, he came for a leaving drink with me and I was so pleased to see him. I gave him a big hug when I saw him and I’m not sure what he thought but it meant so much to me to see him, knowing he wasn’t well.
I’ve attached the picture of us at your surprise 60th birthday, along with one we took in the office on samosa day.
Rest in peace Andy Cox.
All my love and best wishes to Mandy, Sam, Jack & Ben xx
Andy I am so very pleased I got to meet you when you visited Guernsey. Jack talks about you guys all the time and loves you very much. I’m sorry it became your time to move on, you will be missed. Sending love to the Cox fam and wishing you all peace xx
The Legend.
Everyone knew Andy for two things: his knowledge of Nationwide systems, and for being a grumpy git. On the latter, if you spent 5 minutes with him – you quickly realised that what you thought to be true about his personality simply was not. He was an accommodating and witty character who you could spend hours chatting with. He helped me immensely during my early years within our Banking team. No question was too stupid – he generously entertained them all without letting up how off base I was with my reasoning. Years marched by after our careers took different paths – but we always caught up for a chat when our paths did cross. He had a healthy view of all the political positioning (polite phrase) at work, and never shied away from speaking up when something ‘smelt wrong’.
I count myself very fortunate to have known him.
I am so happy to have known Andy. He was kind, funny and such a lovely man. We had some good adventures with our “What next ?” group !!!! Lots of love to Mandy, Ben, Sam and Jack.
Julie xx
To our good friend Andy….
We knew you for twelve years and in that time you and Mandy were more than just our holiday buddies. We went on numerous trips abroad as well as in this country ( some with our What’s Next group and family). Also we went on numerous days out where we did long walks. On these occasions when you drove, you had us in fits of laughter with your personal Sat Nav system consisting of ‘Post It notes’ stuck all over the dashboard!!
Although you were a private man, you showed such stoicism, honesty and openness during your illness and we felt honoured / humbled that you wanted to share your last months with us.
We are so sorry your life was cut short and our thoughts are with your family Mandy, Ben, Sam and Jack.
Love always Sylv and Nick xx
When I joined Customer e-Business, Andy was always very supportive and patient with me. I had a lot of professional respect for him, throughout our Nationwide days. Extremely dependable, my go to person. Outside of work, I spent plenty of time with him watching Swindon speedway. And speedway discussions in general, I learnt a lot from the great man. I’d always go over and chat to him at the Abbey stadium, knowing that he’d be in his usual spot by the finish line on the main straight. Andy, a true friend .
Sadly, I didn’t know Andy for very long. He was very friendly each time I saw him, an extremely nice man and I’m sorry that I won’t be able to get to know him better. No doubt I will be able to hear more about him from Mandy and the family.
Andy – the scary consultant who very quickly showed that stupid questions were fine and he’d happily spend as much time explaining something as was necessary; with me, that was sometimes a while…
Later, he became part of our team and stuck with the endless silliness and ridiculousness with plenty of banter, but he seemed to enjoy it as much as the rest of us and even enjoyed a few nights out with in Old Town.
It was great to see Andy being surprised at his 60th Birthday Party, masterminded by Sam and to meet the rest of the family; I still remember watching feed one of the pugs an ice cream – priceless!
I was incredibly touched that Andy kept in touch after he retired and we met for coffee or brunch to catch up after he became ill.
So sorry I can’t be at the funeral. Mandy, Ben, Sam and Jack – I’ll be thinking of you all.
Miss you Andy – a true gent and a really lovely friend.
Ali x
Memory Gallery