HE was a teaching fellow at the University of Southampton who enjoyed performing magic at a city community centre for adults with learning disabilities.

Dr Michael Hogg passed away unexpectedly last month at the age of 60. Students lined the streets outside the university to see him off.

The father of three grown up children, Mike was a great lover of music - everything from 70s progressive rock to late 19th and early 20th century classical music from Gershwin and Stravinsky.

He adored the Saints and lived happily in Bevois Town with his partner of ten years Brigid Lake.

Mike loved to read about ancient history, particularly the Greek and Roman empires.

He was a fan of sci-fi, particularly Terry Pratchett, and loved words, excelling at Scrabble and being a bit of a cryptic crossword fiend.

Partner Brigid told the Daily Echo: "He was really well liked, particularly popular with the teaching staff and students at the University.

"Mike was a very kind person who put quite a lot of effort into helping others and never wanted anything in return.

"He was always happy, optimistic and cheerful. A lot of people loved him. He was a very clever man.

"Mike was so kind to me and such a generous man. He went too soon and I miss him dreadfully."

Mike went back to studying late in life, joining the Mathematical Sciences Department.

Describing himself as an older, but definitely not mature, student, he was thrilled that the Student Union offered a club for 'almost anything legal', darts being his society of choice. He played darts competitively and found it helped him to unwind.

As a teaching fellow, he found his work teaching mathematics to students on the foundation year 'hugely rewarding' and described his time at the University as 'some of the best years of my life'.

Mike often performed magic shows at the R Community in St Denys for adults with learning disabilities, mental health issues and dementia.