OS OBITUARIES for regeneration in the Langtang Valley , Kathmandu . This work continues , with the model to be rolled out in six other national parks . Samuel spent four months of the Covid lockdown in Nepal , refining his language fluency .
SAMUEL JOHNS 1990 – 2024
Samuel Gregory Johns , a beloved son , brother , uncle and friend passed away on 19 April in Bletchingley , Surrey . Born in Redhill , Samuel ’ s life was a testament to living life to the full : ‘“ I have come that they may have life , and have it to the full .”’ ( John 10:10 )
Samuel was a man of extraordinary talents and passions . A self-described jack of all trades , he was certainly also a master of many . His brilliant mind enabled him to achieve the top first in his year in Geography at Oxford , while simultaneously excelling across several different fields . After gaining his Master ’ s in Geography at the University of British Columbia , he worked for Proctor and Gamble , vowing that he would never sell his soul to a corporate and pointing out to the European director that the company was not living up to its ethical code ! He then pursued a varied and unique career path .
Samuel ’ s passion for education led him to work as a private tutor with Bespoke Tuition . His fine intellect , gracious personality and neuro-flexibility helped him bring some of the toughest dysfunctional children back into an educational context . He spent 2023 tutoring in Malta , where he discovered free diving , and was due to tutor in Mexico later this year .
In 2017 , he set up PSD Plastics , a subsidiary to the Partnership for Sustainable Development ( PSD ) Nepal . Through recycling and upcycling of mountain PET plastic waste , he established an economic model
In 2018 he signed up with International Fellowship of Evangelical Students ( IFES ) Graduate Impact , helping to develop their strategy , writing teaching material and leading discussion groups for young professionals in Eastern Europe . A core motivator in Samuel ’ s life was his Christian faith , which gave him a deep desire , in a digital world , to understand and pursue human flourishing in the image of God . He joined TechHuman and worked as a consultant advising on the ethics of AI in the commercial world . In parallel , he engaged with local church life , leading youth groups , participating in worship bands and preaching .
In 2022 , he started a PhD with the Brussels School of Governance on human personhood in the age of automation : a study of modern identity formation in the Linkster Generation ( Gen Z ). This involved surveys and interviews with hundreds of young people on their interactions with technology .
Samuel ’ s love for the great outdoors was apparent to all . He was an avid cyclist , skier , snowboarder and mountain trekker . He was a true global citizen with homes away from home , including France and Nepal . His love of nature and mountaineering was born in the UK and France but grew into maturity under the snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas and Whistler .
In both his professional and personal life , Samuel inspired the people he met . Across his different walks of life he has left a lasting impact the world over . He is survived by his parents , Tim and Evelyne , his sister Marina and her husband Luke . He will be deeply missed by his niece and nephew , Elsa and Raphael . Samuel ’ s memory will live on through his family , friends and colleagues whose lives have been enriched by his unwavering love , generosity , kindness , support and joyful energy , so freely given .
Marina Johnson ( OS 2006 )
142 OLD SENNOCKIANS