
Andy James Bell

Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those who transform into the Force. Mourn them do not. - Yoda
Obituary
Andy James Bell, a vibrant soul with an unyielding spirit, left our galaxy on March 29, 2025, at the age of 52. Born on August 2, 1972, in the charming town of Truro, Andy grew up surrounded by the rolling hills and the bracing sea air, which sparked his love for adventure.
A resident of Cheltenham at the time of his passing, Andy lived a life as rich and varied as the worlds he adored in Star Wars. Whether it was enjoying a festival with friends, or immersing himself in the music of his childhood, Andy's passion for life was contagious. His podcast, Just Shillin', was a reflection of this vibrant spirit, where he celebrated all things awesome with sharp wit and infectious enthusiasm.
Family was at the heart of Andy's universe. He shared a beautiful life with his beloved wife, Lucy, and was a dedicated father to their two children, Chloe and Abi, passing on his generous spirit and unfaltering resilience to them. He cherished trips to Praia da Luz, Gran Canaria and Appledore, where he loved relaxing on beaches or taking long walks to connect with nature.
In both personal and professional spheres, Andy worked tirelessly to provide for his family, always making sure laughter filled their home. His hard work and dedication were evident in everything he pursued, yet he never took life too seriously, knowing how to break the tension with a perfectly timed joke or a brilliant story that captured the room.
A true friend to all, Andy's circle was wide and diverse. His kindness and generosity knew no bounds, and he had a unique ability to make everyone feel at ease and appreciated. Whether dancing at a festival or enjoying a quiet evening at home with family, Andy brought people together, leaving an indelible mark on all who knew him.
Though our time with Andy was too short, the legacy of his spirit and stories will resonate with us forever. May the Force be with you, Andy — always.
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Videos
Memories
Lucy, Abi, Chloe – my sincere condolences to you. We’ve never met, but through Andy’s stories and updates, I feel like I know you well. He was SO PROUD of his girls. The running joke whenever Abi or Chloe aced a test or exam was “they clearly got their intelligence from their mum”. I’ve lost count how many times we said that to each other over the years, always with a good chuckle and a cheeky grin.
Andy, you genuinely amazing chap, you will always remain in my memories as one of life’s bright shining stars.





May the force be with you where you are!
I worked with Andy at Microsoft during his first few years from late 2008 to 2011 (when I left). He was an absolute pleasure to work with and I very much considered him to be a friend. It's fair for me to stay that I'm not best suited to larger companies (I prefer startups or small to medium sized ones) but Andy made the work fun and enjoyable at the same time as being an incredible capable professional. I have many positive memories from that time, but for me the highlight was finding out in the Microsoft Reading office that he loved "Islands in the Stream" by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, and then before I knew, he was playing it on his laptop and we were both singing along.
It's a testament to the man, that Andy made time to support his colleagues and friends. I had a bad day once whilst we were both in the US, and he took time to coach me through that even though we were due to fly later that day. Years after I left the company, he reached out to me with a lovely message to congratulate me on becoming an adoptive dad - such a kind thing to do. And finally, when my wife passed a few years ago, again he reached out to me with a very kind personal message. I'll never forget that. Thank you Andy my friend. May you rest in peace and sing all night long.
I was trying to find a poem to capture all I want to say.
I remember being fascinated, your very first day.
None spoke of making memories then, but now I hold them dear, to keep you close and in my heart, now you’re no longer here.
Cornish summers almost endless, playing in the sea
until our fingers and our toes turned purple and wrinkly.
Dad building in the sand for you – tanks and spaceships to ride, to be defended and then smashed up, squealing,
when, in rushed the tide.
Cycling, top trump cards pegged to bike wheels, to our climbing tree, and the happiest day together, when you could climb as high as me.
And when it did rain we’d rush inside, you’d doff Doctor Who scarf and hat, we’d make Lego cities for hours and hours, on the floor, and that was that.
And Andrew I know that I have said this, many times before
I’m still sorry I hacked your fringe off, when you were only four.
Your early signs of loyalty to loved ones were never in doubt, when at 5 you ran away from home with me, only to return when the crisps ran out.
Fast forward to our teenage years Duran, Japan and Wonderstuff, you spent days on your hair in the bathroom with gel, and (in the hallowed words of Depeche Mode) just couldn’t get enough.
Alphabetised CDs, and DVDs just so, along with your Aha wrist bands and turn ups on chinos.
You mastered the arts of the side eye, comedic timing and huge wit, shame you didn’t master keeping a towel on when running from the shower, wasn’t it?
Andrew you were a passionate and vocal artist, drawing for hours and making a din, and we’d know how creations were going by the amount of torn paper in the bin.
And my love, it was you, at fourteen, who came to me bravely and told, of how you and mum found dad had died, and on that day we grew old.
You grew up fast when dad passed, as things changed in so many ways, you worked hard at weekends and during school breaks, to fund college and uni days.
On your wedding day to Lucy there was no one, more proud than our Mum, and she was so thrilled becoming “grandma”, when Chloe came along.
Cracking jokes, telling the driver - by-pass the church and head for the hills, when I was a bride,
and then, dearest Andrew, when we said farewell to Mum, again you were right by my side.
The man of our little household from fourteen years old, your love for family has always shone,
when it was Nan’s time you never faltered, you just did, with love, what needed to be done.
I ache, that we all could not have more time before you went away, and although our hearts are broken, we think of you everyday.
You’re still here in the ocean waves, the starry skies, the windy trees, within our hearts your laughter, smiles and personality.
You live on in your lovely girls, you know that baby Roo. We wrap our love around Lucy, Chloe and Abi as they wrapped their love around you.
Son, Grandson, Husband, Dad, Nephew, Cousin and Friend.
And my brother, in all our hearts you will remain
….until we meet again, my ‘ansome….until we meet again.
During the pandemic, we spent a few evenings hanging out on Google Meet, talking about everything from movies to life in general. It was something to look forward to during a strange and difficult time. As our Aussie friends would say, Andy was always good value. He was funny, thoughtful, and easy to talk to.
Meeting him in person took things to another level. He was warm, genuine, and incredibly welcoming. He made sure everyone, whether they came from Australia or the US, felt included and looked after. It was just who he was.
Later on, I got into the podcast he did with Shawn. It became part of my routine, something I turned to on both the good days and the tough ones. It always felt like catching up with friends.
Andy showed us what it really means to be part of the nerd community. He was kind, passionate, and generous with his time and energy. Losing him is a big blow to our little corner of the galaxy.
I hadn’t seen Andrew for years but did manage a very brief phone chat with him when Paula was visiting him at the hospice.
It may sound like an odd comparison, but when I think of Andrew, I picture a dog wagging it’s tail - full of life, always happy to see you, always bringing a warm, open-hearted energy wherever he went. He had a brightness about him, a joy that stayed with you. I know he will be missed by many. The celebration of his life this afternoon was truly beautiful. You really did him proud. Rest in peace baby Roo. Xx
I have opened this site many times, and many times I’ve closed it again. It’s still so hard to find the right words.
Losing you has left a space that words struggle to fill. You were not only a remarkable team member - reliable, kind, full of integrity - but also someone whose warmth and light truly lifted those around you.
But what I keep coming back to - what truly stayed with me - was the way you talked about your family. You spoke about your wife and your girls with such deep love and proudness that it always left an impression. It was clear to anyone who knew you how honored you felt to be their husband and father. Your eyes lit up every time you mentioned them, and it reminded all of us what really matters in life.
To your family: please know that Andy carried you with him in every conversation, in every plan, in every happy moment he shared with us. He loved you fiercely, and we were lucky to witness even a small piece of that love.
You are in my thoughts, and in the thoughts of so many others whose lives Andy touched.
Lucy, Abi and Chloe - though we've never met in person, I feel like I know you so well through Andy. He never hesitated to share all his proud moments with you all (which were endless) and demonstrated clearly the strength, fun and love in your family. I truly hope the memories and tributes from work also help you get to know a few little extra things about Andy and that you can feel the love for him from all over the world. Andy was one in a million and leaves an incredible legacy of love, support, fun and kindness. What an incredible man and such a wonderful legacy.

remember fondly the conversations we shared about mental health and his passion to help others. Always positive and always putting others before himself. My sincere condolences to all the family.
The last memory I have of you was me rushing into co-op to pick up my lunch after running late on my clinic. I ran in, oblivious to my surroundings and almost took someone out. It was such a relief when I realised it was you! You apologised, even though it was my fault entirely and then we both went on to catch up as usual. I was not far from my due date and you couldn’t wait to hear all about it in your next checkup.
The day has replayed in my head several times since Lucy told me the dreadful news. Had I known that would be last time we crossed paths, I would have said so much more.
It has been such a pleasure to have you known you for the last few years.
There was never a dull conversation, you always remembered the smallest of details and you always spoke so highly of Lucy, Abi & Chloe. You always knew how to make everyone laugh with your quick witted comments and the staff at Beyond Dental absolutley loved seeing your name in the diary.
I cannot begin to imagine what Lucy, Chloe & Abi must be going through and I wish them all the strength in the world to get through such a difficult time. ❤️
You were taken far too soon, you will truly be missed and I feel blessed to have known you.
May the force always be with you Andy, Love Shaz x
But more importantly when you spent any time with him it was clear how much life he lived out of work! On this he was a genuine inspiration to keep perspective and in doing that to make time for your passions. One of the best and sorely missed.
Me and my daughters lit a candle for you and your family when visited the church during Easter. Rest in peace dear Andy. (The picture was taken just after you told me something I rather forget during our offsite in Munich :) that's who you were, so much fun and transparent)


As we got older (I hesitate to say “grew up”) he became a husband and a father. We’d become the kind of friends that celebrated each others successes as our own. Being Chloe and Abi’s dad was a source of immense pride to him and I fondly remember his chest puffing an extra few inches every time we talked of them and their many achievements.
Throughout the course of our lives, whatever and wherever we might be, our friendship endured. No matter how long or how far apart, he would be one of the last to wave me off and one of the first to welcome home. Whether it was 5-aside football or a round of golf he was always up for it and made sure it was bloody good time. We shared countless beers and happy times, midnight Star Wars premiers and a shared geek love of new tech, video games, MCU movies, random Sci-Fi stuff, many aspects of each other’s lives…..so many of the things those 16 year old boys had hoped for for their future selves.
I can’t quite imagine what life will be like without him being part of it. There’s so many qualities I will forever miss. His uncanny ability to be perfectly inappropriate at the appropriate time, the quick flash of a goofy face in an important meeting that reminded u that none of it is really important…his utter inability to hide his excitement when he knew a party/good night/mischief was afoot…his enthusiasm for making each moment the best time for everyone involved. He always sought to enhance the experience, never to diminish. To know that I won’t get one of those big bear hugs and wet stubbly cheek kisses on my next return breaks my heart.
Over the course of almost 40 years he helped me define who I am, a lifetime of friendship, I am just utterly gutted that one of those lifetimes was so horribly cut short.
He was such a large, vibrant, colourful, confident personality. I will always remember him in full flow, life and soul of the party, loud and gloriously, magnificently, unashamedly, Andy Bell.
Lucy, Chloe and Abi, I can’t imagine how awful this has been for you, love and condolences to you all xxx





Our shared love for Star Wars was something special. If there’s one thing I know for certain, the galaxy will feel a little emptier without him. But just like the heroes we admired, his legacy of kindness, drive, and warmth will live on. He was a top bloke, and I will miss him deeply.
May the Force be with you, mate. Always. Scott ❤️
Thank you for coming into my life! What you have taught me will always be the most important warmth in my life. Our working time together often brought many new challenges, no matter how urgent or complex, you always tried to explain and give me more background. Unfortunately, we only met through video conferences, and sadly, you have gone to another world. I hope that world is yours, without illness or worries, only moments that make you laugh heartily.
I want you to know that there is someone far away in China who cherishes your friendship and will remember you!
Our friendship was only a few years old, it was a friendship where we just clicked and our conversations were seamless. You invited me to have evening drinks over Teams and I didn't take you up on the offer. I wish now I did. I thought we would be friends for many years to come. I still have not come to terms with you being gone but see it as you being on leave. Although it will be a sad occasion at your funeral I am looking forward to seeing your family, these people that were such a big part of your life. My way to remember you is to dedicate not entirely sure which though a karaoke song either Enrique Hero or Aerosmith Don't Wanna Miss A Thing leaning towards the latter as when I sang it last I was feeling a bit shaky and you were there to come in and support me with singing it and so we did it together. We had some great (sometimes intimate ;-) times together. Goodbye you legend and of course, may the force be with you. Peter
My happiest memories of him was when we were on Rodgers boat - he was like a child going to Disneyland with the excitement & we enjoyed many trips together with some epic adventures with the excursion on the dingy with the girls to get ice cream. He will be missed so much but hopefully those happy memories will help Lucy & the girls get through this tough time.
We were truly blessed to have known him ❤️


When they talk about life's 'good guys' Andy sits at the top of that tree. A lovely, warm, smiley, kind man with just a massive heart that he wore proudly on his sleeve. He was very committed, loyal and so passionate about his family and his work. A great storyteller, I used to so look forward to chatting to him and lets be honest, you'd always need to extend the call with him:-)
But he left his positive mark on you and I had such respect for the way he led his life.
Life can be so cruel, its been devastating to hear about Andy's illness. We miss you Andy, I hope your soul lives on. xx
Andy,
Your presence in my life was a source of inspiration, kindness, and unwavering support. When I arrived at BSO, you became my mentor, guiding me through the challenges and triumphs of the past three years at Microsoft. Your influence will left an indelible mark on me.
Your dedication to work and ability to build meaningful relationships will be unmatched. Your warmth and generosity were a constant source of joy. Whether it was sharing a laugh during a meeting or a long explanation ending with a Star Wars reference or a story about their family, you always brought comfort and happiness every day.
You were also a dedicated advocate for mental health, creating a supportive and inclusive environment. One personal memory that stands out is when you shared the importance of balancing work and family life. Your daughters and Lucy were the center of all the decisions, and you were super proud of them , inspiring me to find a better balance in my own life.
Rest in peace, dear friend and colleague. You will be greatly missed, and next time I visit Mousehole or Portugal, I will drink a glass of wine in your honor as we did in Milano and Paris !
You will be truly missed not only as a colleague or friend, but as a person.
I will always remember the last time I saw you, our taxi ride from the Paris office to the airport, when you said do the things that make you truly happy.
I am going to be in Portugal this summer and will raise my glass for you.
Mehmet
When i first joined his team as a colleague, he was the one making friendly jokes on me being the "new french" guy. It made me feel happy to be part of the team, and allowed me to open up & trust this team.
Later, he was the one with whom i was having calls to vent on how stupid we found some decisions, or share ideas or concerns.
We spent so many fun times together in the offsite ! i remember a pool contest started in 10PM ended the next morning 4AM. Andy super focus, losing, but with british dignity :)
I can't forget how many hours we spent talking about our kids and how i have troubles to guide them. He couldn't be more proud of his daughters and the way they grew. He coached me on my own education method.
More recently, as a brand new manager of the team, he supported my application, advised me on the interviews and reminded me he had faith in me. And also that i'd better not turn into a "Twat" - new word for me -
Ultimately, i recall him sick calling me after a very bad review on my manager score, to give me context and reassure me that i was doing ok.
Reading the recaps of our 1 to 1 meetings, it says that Andy is "super engaged in his work, highly knowledgeable and recognized by his peers for his ability to take ownership & drive positive change. Andy is the employee who demonstrate to outmost growth mindset and can do attitude".
I miss you Andy.
Rest in peace, Andy. You will always be remembered with so much fondness and gratitude.
I have loved hearing all his stories and you could always take something positive away from them.
I wish the force had been with him longer as I will really miss him. Sending heartful wishes to all his family. RIP Andy. Love Anna x
It was such a privilege to know you, be friends with you and share good times through the year! I still cannot believe that I have no longer have the opportunity to pick up the phone, chit chat on all the silly things in life, laugh together and put a bit of work in between everything.
You were such amazing soul that will be remembered with great memories, huge smile on my face and your laughter in my ears!
Andy, thank you for being your authentic self and leaving such a strong footprint in the world!
It's been a pleasure working with you and spending a decade as your friend. Safe travels buddy, I'll be raising a Bloody Mary for you!
Thank you for being a wonderful human being - I/we will miss you dearly. Next time I'm at our Bellagio bar, I will be having a whiskey for the both of us!
JB x
See you on the other side Andy
I will never forget that dinner in Madrid during a team meeting last April. That night I thought your were probably the funniest person I knew. And I will not forget either last time we saw each other, in Paris office, when you gave me that massive hug (and kiss!) when you saw me at the corridor.
That's how I will always remember you... smart, funny, kind and human. May the Force be with you mate.
Andy was genuinely one of the kindest, most thoughtful people I’ve ever had the pleasure of working alongside. His commitment to supporting others, raising mental health awareness, and making the world a better place was just a reflection of his kind soul. I do not think there was a single conversation in which Andy did not mention how much he loved, and how proud he was, of his family.
Andy, thank you - for your kindness, your wisdom, your light. You touched the lives of everyone who had the privilege to know you, and I’m forever grateful I was one of them. Rest easy buddy xx
You were my absolute guiding light during my first few years at Microsoft - never failing to support both in business and personal challenges. I only wish I had said thank you more.
Above all else, I will miss your commitment to brightening everyone’s day and bringing smiles to our faces, hearing your laugh from a mile away and listening to you talk about your family with true admiration.
Show them who's boss up there in the stars.
One of my fondest memories of Andy was travelling to Vegas, we met up at the airport and ended up sitting next to each other for the flight - many a drink was had and it was great to further connect on a personal level with him, he always spoke about his girls Lucy, Abi & Chloe with such pride.... god bless Andy x
We all know how much Andy loved Star Wars!
Rest in peace, mate. You are now a guardian of the Force, forever watching over us. May the Force be with you, always x
Sending lots of love and prayers to you all at this time. All our love Helen, Peter and Irene
A few months before he got sick, I remember a conversation we had where he said, "As I have grown older, I have more and more stopped worrying and getting upset about all the small and insignificant things in life." This is a valuable lesson that I will try to live by.
Thank you for all the laughs, Andy. May the force be with you.

I invited him along to our pre convention drinks where he quickly mingled and became part of our gang for the next few days and even bought us all dinner on the last night.
The following years he was a constant guest on the podcast and we caught up regularly while making plans to pick up where we left off in Japan. I'm devastated that Andy won't be there with us in person in a few weeks but we won't be forgetting him anytime soon.
We now have hours and hours of Andy recorded forever when a few years earlier he would hightail it away when I tried to put a microphone in front of him. My silly podcast has always been about keeping in touch with friends and talking about silly things you like. To get to meet and become friends with new people like Andy has made it more rewarding than anything.
As he would say, I'm hoping this post isn't "dripping with cheese", but I'm going to miss you terribly and are so thankful you decided to reach out and say you enjoyed something I just did for fun.

Amanda x
He was a brilliant problem solver - but always bought a little bit of chaos and fun too.
Andy was a great a colleague to me when I first joined Xbox 5 years ago, making me feel welcome and always happy to help.
One of my most memorable meetings I had with Andy was at Christmas when he was jokingly moaning about how his house was over run with Christmas Gonks! and gave me a tour of his house showing us them all. (I know he loved them all really).
I didn't know what a Christmas Gonk was before that, but I know now...and whenever I see one in future, I know I will think of Andy.
Lucy, Chloe and Abi - I loved working with your Andy - and will miss him greatly.

The way he would light up when he talked about Lucy and the girls was so endearing to me. Being a husband and a dad meant so much to him! He loved talking about family trips and plans, and I could tell that it was a huge part of his life.
Andy always asked how other people were doing, even during the hardest of times. People from all over the world got to know and love him through his podcast, and he will be greatly missed.
An absolute legend of a man. Love you, my dude. Thank you for being my friend.
Andy and I met many times in Microsoft on Windows Phone and other roles. We always caused trouble and had a laugh.
Andy was smart as hell and a total messer, he made life more fun.
He lives forever now in our memories.
RIP Andy.
The past 35 years have seen us both become husbands, fathers and uncle’s, and my children have always loved seeing Uncle Andrew - you always had time for them, particularly when we were on holiday together. We will all miss you terribly, and I won’t have anyone to share those stupid videos with anymore! We’re so sad that this has happened to you. Sleep well. xx


Favourites
Appledore, Devon
The Seagate, Appledore
Chicas, Praia da Luz
Moules-Frites
Service
After the ceremony at the crematorium, we would love if you could join us at Ellenborough Park to share stories and raise a drink to Andy.
Bouncers Ln, Prestbury, Cheltenham GL52 5JT
Southam Ln, Cheltenham GL52 3NJ
Donate
Together, let us continue the legacy of compassion and kindness that Andy embodied throughout his life.
Please send donations to Chloe Bell:
Account Number: 03139396
Sort Code: 09-01-29