Postmaster and The Merton Record - 2020
Postmaster and The Merton Record - 2020
The Merton
Record
2020
Merton College
Oxford
OX1 4JD
Contents
Telephone +44 (0)1865 276310
www.merton.ox.ac.uk College News
From the Warden...................................................................................4
Edited by
Emily Bruce, Philippa Logan, Milos Martinov, JCR News..................................................................................................8
Professor Irene Tracey (1985)
MCR News..............................................................................................10
Front cover image Merton Sport..........................................................................................12
Wick Willett and Emma Ball (both 2017) in Fellows' Women’s Rowing, Men’s Rowing, Football, Squash, Hockey, Rugby,
Garden, Michaelmas 2019. Photograph by John Cairns. Sports Overview, Blues & Haigh Ties
Additional images (unless credited) Clubs & Societies.................................................................................24
4: © Ian Wallman History Society, Roger Bacon Society, Neave Society, Christian
13: Maria Salaru (St Antony’s, 2011) Union, Bodley Club, Mathematics Society, Quiz Society, Art Society,
22: Elina Cotterill Music Society, Poetry Society, Halsbury Society, 1980 Society,
24, 60, 128, 236: © John Cairns Tinbergen Society, Chalcenterics
40: Jessica Voicu (St Anne's, 2015)
44: © William Campbell-Gibson Interdisciplinary Groups....................................................................40
58, 117, 118, 120, 130: Huw James Ockham Lectures, History of the Book Group
68, 69, 70, 71: © Studio Edmark, Oxford Departments.........................................................................................44
105: © Bryan Organ The Chapel, The Choirs, The Library, The Archives, Development
109: © University of Exeter and Alumni Relations, Academic Office, Schools Liaison and Access,
116: www.facebook.com/photosbyoshy Domestic Bursary, The Gardens
123, 232, 302: Timothy Foot (2011)
132: Professor Irene Tracey (1985) Hail to New Fellows............................................................................ 68
144: Caroline Holloway
183: Gillman & Soame
233: © The Royal Society
237: © St John’s College, Cambridge
240: © Isabel ‘Didi’ Cutler
248: © Magdalen College, Oxford
269: Jessica (Bibby) Giesen
281: © John Crossley (1960)
300: © Virpi Andersin / Tampere University
Lost, Little Known and Unbuilt Merton (17).................................. 96 MC3: Merton College Charitable Corporation.......................... …136
Alan Bott (1953) has a literary stroll round the garden in winter Alumni Groups and Events............................................................... 138
Memorial Meeting for Sir Rex Richards........................................ 100 Merton Golf Society, Merton College Biomedical and Life Sciences
Addresses from the Memorial Meeting for our former Warden Network, Merton Lawyers’ Association, 1969 Reunion
News of Old Members....................................................................... 146
In Memoriam
In Memoriam.......................................................................................232
Fellows: Vincenzo Cerundolo; Emeritus Fellows: David Bostock,
James Coulton, John Lucas, Robert May; Honorary Fellows:
Christopher Dobson, László Heltay, Patrick Wright; Bodley Fellows:
Prosser Gifford; Wyliot Fellows: Ian Taylor; Former Fellows and
Lecturers: Geoffrey Bath, Barney Henderson, David Pattison, George
Rigg; Former Visiting Fellows: Lionel Opie; Mertonians 1934-91
Events
Forthcoming Events..........................................................................302
FROM THE WARDEN
Let me start by saying: it’s good to be back. My family and I so that more of you could enjoy it. I’m pleased to say that
have been overwhelmed by the warm welcome and support we will be, thanks to the generosity of donors, live-streaming
from the staff, students, Fellows and alumni. It is deeply more of our services and BBC Music Magazine Award-winning
reassuring to return to a place so loved by us all and discover choir in the coming years. Over the summer, we have
it is in great shape. My thanks go to my predecessors, Steven permanently fitted the Chapel with our own equipment, so do
Gunn as Acting Warden, and Wardens Jessica Rawson and join us online for worship and music. The first term was busy
Martin Taylor, for their dedication as well as invaluable advice meeting our undergraduates and graduates as well as staff
and encouragement. I am particularly grateful to the Sub- and Fellows. It was also great to welcome our new Fellows
Warden, Jennifer Payne, who has been a fantastic support to the College. The Winter Ball was a particular highlight and
in my first year and done a sterling job during her two-year spirits were high despite the freezing cold; congratulations to
tenure. However, I was not expecting a global pandemic as my the Ball Committee, who did a fantastic job.
first challenge! My thoughts and good wishes go to all of you
who have been affected by this dreadful disease. From crisis Several other social events provided a welcome opportunity
creativity is born, and with Merton’s long history surviving to engage with Mertonians from different generations,
many a war and global pandemic, you will be unsurprised to including my own era. We have all aged well! For example,
learn that the challenge set by Covid-19 was met with energy the Merton Society’s Welcome Drinks at the Apothecaries’
and inventiveness. The resilience in the face of constant Hall in London and the annual Carol Service were both
change and a dedication to deliver has been humbling to lively and vibrant occasions. I am grateful to Dame Philippa
witness from student through to staff and Fellow. I count Whipple (1984), the new President of the Merton Society
myself very fortunate that I’m head of this House. Council, the committee and Mark Davison (1978) as Chair for
all their work creating ways for alumni to remain in touch
It started as a normal first year for a new Warden with my with each other and the College.
installation on Saturday 5 October, which was a truly splendid
occasion, where the College, Chapel and Choir did us all Michaelmas term also heralded the enthronement of an
proud. This was the first time such an event was live-streamed alumnus, Naruhito 徳仁 (1983) as Emperor of Japan. To
4
College News | FROM THE WARDEN
Irene being installed as 51st Warden of Merton on 5 October 2019
© Ian Wallman
mark the actual day (22 October 2019), the College flag was College governance and committees to be held digitally. This
flown all day and the Chapel bells were rung at 1.15pm. We preparation enabled Trinity term to go much better than any
hosted the Japanese Ambassador to the UK for Formal Hall, of us predicted. Again, I would like to express my thanks to
where he was able to meet with Fellows and several of our our tutors for their herculean efforts, and to our students,
Japanese students. led superbly by Lucy Buxton and India Morris (JCR and MCR
Presidents, respectively), for being so tolerant and positive
In January, I had the pleasure of meeting Mertonians in throughout. We launched The Big Merton 1264 Challenge as
Asia on visits to Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, as well as a way of bringing the community together during lockdown,
the Emperor and members of his family. We were made so as well as raising funds for two worthy causes: Oxford
welcome everywhere we went, and I’m very grateful to those Mutual Aid and the Merton Hardship Fund. Thanks to each
Mertonians for their generous hospitality. I am only sorry and every one of you who participated. You can read more
that, due to Covid-19, all other planned visits to meet alumni about this, and other aspects of the College’s response to
in other parts of the world, as well as local events, such as Covid-19, on page 72.
Gaudies, special dinners and lunches, had to be postponed.
We will reschedule and I look forward to meeting many Despite these challenges, I am very proud to announce that
more alumni. I would like to thank Dr Duncan Barker for his our finalists produced another stellar set of results, which is a
work on behalf of the College as Development Director over testament to them, their dedicated tutors and all the support
the past three years, and wish him every success in the next given them by the academic and welfare offices. Let me also
stage of his career. take this opportunity to thank Merton’s former Senior Tutor,
Dr Rachel Buxton, who served us fantastically well over many
Hilary term was dominated by Covid-19 and our desire to years and whose efforts are recognised in these successes.
keep the students, staff and Fellows safe while maintaining We wish her well down under! Of course, our leavers did not
some normality. Our College Officers worked, and continue get the goodbye they or we hoped for, but a full and proper
to work, tirelessly and selflessly to adapt to constantly celebration will be held as soon as it is possible. A-level results
changing events. I am so grateful to each of them for going in August brought another challenge to the year for College
well over and beyond the call of duty. The Easter vacation and the University, but our new Senior Tutor, Dr Jane Gover,
was consumed with tutors getting ready to deliver their and her team did a brilliant job under difficult circumstances. I
courses and tutorials, as well as Finals, online, and for all look forward to welcoming the incoming Class of 2020.
5
© Ian Wallman
Our Fellows continue to lead the way in research and Regius Professorship awarded to Oxford since 1842, and we
academia. Professor Ehud Hrushovski, Merton Professor of are very honoured that it has been confirmed that it will
Mathematical Logic, was elected as a Fellow of the Royal stay permanently at Merton after Sir Andrew’s retirement.
Society; Professor Peter Holland, Linacre Professor of
Zoology at Merton, was awarded the Royal Society’s Darwin The brutal death of George Floyd shook the College
Medal; Professor Madhavi Krishnan won the Royal Society of community. The student body, Fellows and staff issued a
Chemistry’s Corday-Morgan Prize; and Honorary Fellow and joint statement in response, declaring Merton’s opposition
former Warden Professor Dame Jessica Rawson was awarded to racism and inequality in all its forms and emphasising
an Honorary Professorship at Peking University. These are but the strength of our commitment to supporting black
a few of the prizes and awards won by our Fellows, students communities. The recent Oxford Annual Admissions Report,
and alumni this past year; you can read more on page 113 while highlighting excellent progress in attracting students
and pages 118-123. We welcomed two amazing women as from underrepresented backgrounds, shows that we must
Visiting Fellows in the Creative Arts, the poet Penny Boxall and do more to improve Merton’s diversity profile, particularly in
Professor Kirsty Gunn, an academic and novelist. Both made a terms of black and minority ethnic representation. Specific
significant impact on Fellows, staff and students, proving once initiatives to tackle this and other aspects of diversity
again the value of this new scheme. are in progress and this is an area I will be championing.
Our students are helping us here, and I am pleased to
Many of you witnessed for yourselves the excellence of report that Malak Khalil (2016) and Apollo Lalouschek
our Fellows via our new online lecture series. This digital (2016), both now alumni, have set up Black Writing
extravaganza began by me giving the customary new Matters, a reading group that aims to study and celebrate
Warden’s Merton Society London Lecture and was followed the work of black writers.
by lectures from five of our Fellows (you can see them
at www.merton.ox.ac.uk/online-lectures). As these have This academic year, for the first time in the College’s history,
proved so popular, we’re looking to do more in Michaelmas women occupied the roles of Warden, Sub-Warden, MCR
term. We were pleased to announce that the Regius Chair President and JCR President. Although we have seen a ‘triple’
in Mathematics will stay at Merton. This prestigious post before – in the first year of Professor Dame Jessica Rawson’s
was announced in June 2016, and Professor Sir Andrew Wiles wardenship, 1996-67, Kate Knox (née Downey) (1995) was
(1971, Fellow) was appointed by Her Majesty the Queen as President of the JCR and Laura Nell Hodo (1996) was President
the first holder of the Chair in May 2018. It was the first of the MCR – until now we’ve not had a ‘quadruple’. Perhaps
6
College News | FROM THE WARDEN
Irene, Myles and Colette kicking off The Big Merton 1264 Challenge with a run
fate was involved because, of course, we look forward (Warden, 1969-84) on Saturday 8 February 2020. It was a
to celebrating 40 years of women at Merton this coming moving occasion fitting for this extraordinary man. The
academic year – see page 94 for more information about this. speeches from the meeting can be found on page 100.
Of course, it is inevitable that throughout an academic year Let me finish by saying that, despite it not being quite the
we will lose some of our nearest and dearest, including first year I expected, it has nonetheless been thoroughly
a Fellow still in post, Vincenzo Cerundolo. We also said enjoyable and rewarding. Looking ahead, we are planning for
goodbye to Bodley Fellow and former MC3 President Prosser the arrival of students to our beautiful College in Michaelmas
Gifford, MC3 President John Kirby and Wyliot Fellow Ian term. I cannot wait to welcome returning students, as well
Taylor. Emeritus Fellows David Bostock, Jim Coulton, John as greet the freshers. It will be a term like no other, but we
Lucas and Baron May of Oxford sadly passed away too, as plan on making it as special as we can with lots of creative
did former Fellows Barney Henderson and David Pattison. ideas from the entire community. Thank you for all you do
We also lost the Honorary Fellows Sir Christopher Dobson, as Mertonians to keep our vibrant community flourishing. It
Master of St John’s College, Cambridge; László Heltay, creator means a great deal to have your support. We are hoping to
of the College’s Kodály Choir; and Lord Wright of Richmond, hold alumni events in 2021 (see the inside back cover), and
former Merton Society Council President. Needless to say, it would be wonderful to see some of you over the coming
the College flag has been at half-mast more times than I’d year. Meanwhile, take great care and stay safe.
have liked. Do see In Memoriam on page 232 for obituaries
of these and other loved Mertonians. Before Covid-19 struck, Professor Irene Tracey (1985)
we were able to hold a Memorial Meeting for Sir Rex Richards Warden
7
JCR NEWS
It’s safe to say that this academic year will go down in the evening of ‘organised chaos’ that is the Time Ceremony, the
history books for many reasons, and yet it comes as no JCR voted to create the new position of Social Backgrounds
surprise to me to tell you that through it all, the Merton Rep to offer support and a friendly face to students from
JCR has risen to every challenge, unperturbed, with its lower-income backgrounds; in consultation with our brilliant
characteristic joy and enthusiasm. librarians, our Equality and Diversity section in the Library
received a fabulous new haul of books by LGBTQ+ authors
Our numbers have swelled with our largest ever freshers’ or discussing LGBTQ+ issues; over the course of the year we
cohort and, following a successful Freshers’ Week sweetened have established a Gender Expression Fund to offer financial
by many a scoop of G&D’s ice cream, our new Mertonians assistance to our transgender or gender-questioning
have settled brilliantly into the bustle of Merton life. With the students; we also held our first ever Women’s Formal with
more seasoned older years by their side, they have attended Corpus and Oriel to celebrate International Women’s Day.
our fortnightly JCR meetings with verve and vigour, eagerly Hall has never looked so colourful! Covid-19 may have
participating in lively debate, munching on pizza and coming hindered some of our planned celebrations for 40 years of
together to make positive change as an undergraduate body. admitting women (1980-2020), but nevertheless the JCR went
Not even a pandemic could put these off, and so over the steaming ahead in Trinity with online profiles of some of
course of Trinity our meetings have continued (now pizza- our most inspirational women, as nominated by their peers.
less, alas) via the wonderful medium that is Zoom, and have Most recently, and very importantly, alongside the gathering
been even more treasured for the limited social interaction momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement the JCR has
they offer in this newly isolated world. united to take a strongly anti-racist stance, offer financial
support to Black Visions Collective and put together a report
Many of the changes we have made have centred on the of concrete actions that College and the JCR can, and should,
accessibility and inclusivity of the College, for though I am be taking to better support and grow our BAME community.
always immensely proud to speak of how welcoming Merton
is as a community, the proof of this is only ever in the action Merton JCR is fortunate to receive fantastic welfare support
we take. Right off the back of Freshers’ Week and our annual from the college Welfare Team, and the care and concern
8
College News | JCR News
Merton matriculands 2019. This photograph has been reproduced by kind permission of Gillman & Soame and can be ordered by visiting
www.gsimagebank.co.uk/merton and using token login w64nuq2020
they have for every single Mertonian trickles down into highlights of which include our first ever Open Mic Night, a
much of what we do: our termly Welfare Weeks, held in big charity Summer Fling Raffle, and, of course, committing
5th week to keep the notorious ‘5th Week Blues’ at bay, to the 1264 Challenge, which got us all out and moving!
featured activities such as mug painting, ice skating, and The JCR has also endorsed the Oxford Reach Scholarship,
even entertaining a whole host of farmyard animals to pet the Refugee Scholarship, and expressed its support for the
in our illustrious Warden’s back garden. Our beloved BOPs Oxford Homelessness Charter.
were sprinkled with a dash of the old ‘welfaring’ with the
introduction of sober and supportive BOP angels. On top It would be remiss of me to not mention the Merton Winter
of our ever-popular Welfare Teas, we kickstarted a shiny Ball, which, with its dazzling lights, sparkling colour, first-
new Treat of the Week in Hilary to offer further free food class music and entertainment and unsurpassable food
(it’s always a bestseller), hot drinks and the opportunity and drink, really does feel like the stuff of fairy tales in this
not only to chat and play some formidable table tennis, but strange new world. A huge thank you and congratulations
also to make better use of our marvellous JCR – the room – must be given to Milo and the Ball Committee for the work
which has been too often neglected. Though we may have they put in to organising such a special evening.
been apart in Trinity, concern for the JCR’s welfare has not
been diminished: there has been an abundance of colouring We may have lost a tree in Fellows’ and a final term together
and craft sessions, tricky quizzes, online photo competitions in Oxford, but it is with great pride that I can say that the
on our JCR Isolation Station and even a remote Adopt a fierce Merton JCR spirit has in no way been dampened over
Finalist scheme, whereby our much-loved finalists were this turbulent year. It has been an honour and privilege to
shipped little care packages to give them a boost amidst the serve this JCR and work alongside our brilliant Exec and the
difficult adjustment to online Finals. General Committee, and I am filled with excitement to see
the direction our capable incoming Exec will take it next.
As a JCR, we pride ourselves not only in looking out for one
another but also in giving back to the wider community. We Lucy Buxton (2018)
have held several events supporting Oxford-based charities, JCR President 2019-20
9
MCR NEWS
We began the academic year by welcoming our new Warden Michaelmas and Hilary were busy terms with our usual
to the College. So many people turned up to witness Irene schedule of events. Vice-President Chris Eijsbouts supported
Tracey’s installation ceremony that the Chapel was full, with our academic endeavours by organising regular writing
many more watching the live stream at home. It’s a rare groups, assisted by Fitzjames Research Fellow Daniel Sawyer.
privilege to get to see a Warden installed; our last Warden, Our dedicated Arts and Culture Officer Sophia Buck also
Sir Martin Taylor, was installed ten years ago in 2010. It’s a organised a considerable number of events, including
still greater privilege to work with Irene, whose dedication regular subsidised trips to the cinema which provided a
to the College and its students is second to none. A group welcome break from academic pursuits. Our social calendar
of enthusiastic freshers have even dubbed themselves Team was full of things to do, organised by our Social Secretaries
Irene, as her unofficial fan club in the MCR. Kitty Gurnos-Davies, Sushanta Mahanta and Bora Güloğlu.
Exchange dinners with other Oxford colleges continue to
Irene’s installation also marked the first time in history that be a popular part of graduate life in College. Our second
four women have held the roles of Warden, Sub-Warden, desserts remain a highlight of the MCR calendar, and are
MCR President and JCR President. It was a great honour to be undoubtedly some of the best in Oxford.
part of Merton’s history, and to work with Lucy Buxton, JCR
President, Jenny Payne, Sub-Warden and Irene throughout Welfare Officers Clara Lepard and David Oliver introduced
the year. Next academic year promises to be even more several new events this year. Arts and Plants, a sociable
exciting as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of admitting evening where you decorate a plant pot and are rewarded
women to College. This year’s Women’s Officers Carmen for your efforts with a new houseplant to take home, was
Jorge Díaz and Hannah Schiller have done excellent work to exceedingly popular and you can spot several of these
advance gender equality in the MCR, and to prepare for next plants in the windows of Holywell Quad. Clara and David
year’s celebrations. Our Diversity Reps have continued to do also organised our first animal visit. We were joined by three
brilliantly this year, and it has been wonderful to see Dalia dogs from Therapy Dogs Nationwide in the Sports Pavilion.
Gala, Sushanta Mahanta and Leonie Woodland take over as It’s no surprise that Clara and David were elected as Welfare
Access, BAME and LGBTQ+ Officers respectively. Officers again for 2020-21.
10
College News | MCR News
This academic year, for the first time in the College’s history,
there are women occupying the roles of Warden, Sub-Warden,
MCR President and JCR President. From left: Professor Irene Tracey,
Warden; India Morris, MCR President; Lucy Buxton, JCR President;
and Professor Jenny Payne, Sub-Warden © Simon Cope The MCR committee
The end of Hilary term saw the election of the new MCR out of the letters in the college motto (qui timet deum faciet
committee, led by Lucas Didrik Haugeberg, MCR President bona). Other MCR members came up with incredibly creative
for 2020-21. Lucas and his committee had to face unique challenges as well, including Kate Stanton who documented
challenges as they began their roles amidst the coronavirus her year at Merton in 12.64 photos and Silvia Trinczek who
pandemic. Lockdown and social distancing have made it picked 126 flowers in the meadows of her hometown, Kaufering,
difficult to continue business as normal, but Lucas and his and her mother’s garden. The Big Merton 1264 Challenge was
team have been amazing in keeping the MCR going in these a testament to the College’s ability to come together and
challenging times. support each other, even when we’re physically apart.
Although Covid-19 prevented some of our best-laid plans for Support and community remain the two most important
Trinity term it did not prevent us coming together virtually. aspects of the MCR. We’re a welcoming home for graduate
Our Social Secretaries for 2020-21 Antonia Anstatt and students at College. The most important aspect of the MCR is
Lachlan Hughes organised a virtual treasure hunt which saw not the organised events or our Ordinary General Meetings,
us completing puzzles in a race against the clock to see who but rather the friendships one finds with other members
would snag the first-place prize. Charles Tolkien-Gillet worked of the MCR community. This is perhaps best typified by
hard on organising the weekly Bar quiz in cooperation with the number of MCR members who gather for lunch in Hall
the JCR for some classic lockdown entertainment. together every day, before heading up to the MCR for a coffee
and a chat. Our common room is one of the most vibrant,
The Big Merton 1264 Challenge provided another great busy and friendly spaces one could hope to find. This year
opportunity for MCR members to come together during has shown that even when we can’t gather in our common
lockdown. Particular praise must go to Francesca Lovell- room, Merton MCR is still welcoming, friendly and supportive.
Read (MCR Treasurer 2020-21) who completed two separate We will come together despite any and all obstacles.
challenges: first baking an amazing 1264 themed cake complete
with a fondant sculpture of Walter de Merton, and then, helped India Morris (2014)
by her sister Stephanie Lovell-Read (2012), making 1,264 words MCR President 2019-20
11
Merton
Sport
College News | Women’s Rowing
Women’s Rowing
This past year has been full of challenges and new our hopes and expectations for the new season soon
discoveries for women’s rowing at Merton. The season disappeared, and once more we turned all our energies to
started with quite a good number of senior rowers, land training. Away from the water, we learned about rowing
motivated to do everything in their power to achieve a technique either on rowing machines or by analysing
similar success to last year’s, and a very high number of various racing videos. Close to Torpids the girls were ready
novice rowers, interested in learning more about the sport. for the competition, which alas did not take place.
These two sides of Merton’s female rowers developed into a
highly committed and determined team. Trinity term has been the time when we all probably learned
the most about rowing, although not only was the river
Although the weather has not been in our favour in not accessible, but even land training in groups was not
Michaelmas term and we did not have access to water feasible. The period of lockdown that our rowers have been,
training, we put all our energies into land training. The and are, living through asked us to understand better why
seniors trained, together with rowers from other colleges, we appreciate rowing at Merton and why we are not ready
to compete in Fairbairn Regatta in Cambridge, where they to give in with this sport. Beyond the great opportunity of
rowed the Cam stretch one minute faster than the previous learning a new sport and having access to some amazing
year. The novices, instead, were busy learning about rowing equipment, rowing at Merton is about building a community
under the supervision of our wonderful Novice Co-Captains. and learning about yourself through it. We therefore decided
Eventually, even though our own Christ Church Regatta did to continue training remotely in Trinity term and throughout
not take place, our two women’s squads did brilliantly at the the summer, and to take an active part in rebuilding our
Worcester Ergatta, with the women’s first team being the community next year.
fastest team among the participating colleges.
Constanta Burlacu (2018)
With only four days of green flag on the Isis in Hilary term, Women’s Rowing Captain 2019-20
13
Men’s Rowing MCBC after the inaugural ‘ergatta’
Many perplexing questions may present themselves to equanimity? At what point does rowing become fun? Do
the mind of the uninitiated when contemplating the noble rowers ever think (and speak) of anything else? In a season
tradition of college rowing. What possesses a man to wake of uniquely trying circumstances the men of Merton College
up, cycle a 26 km round trip in the bitter cold, repetitively Boat Club may well have struggled to find answers to these
place an oar into water for an hour, and return before the questions themselves. However, it is a testament to the
rest of the world has stirred? What mysterious quality character and spirit of our members that these challenges
allows an oarsman to meet this Sisyphean task with such were met head on.
14
For our returning rowers this season marked
15
Football
1st Team 2nd Team
The 2019-20 season was a thoroughly enjoyable one for the I am pleased to report that the 2019-20 season was a hugely
Merton & Mansfield 1st team, and with an average of 6.9 goals successful one for the Ms Reserves football team. A highly
per league game, there was no shortage of excitement. Even competent crop of freshers from both colleges replaced those
better, it wasn’t just the opposition scoring the goals; we who graduated last year and improved the quality of the
found the net in all ten of our matches, a feat matched only team as a whole. The final standing of the league remained
by the league winners, Magdalen. Having waited 23 months undecided until the final whistle of the last game, with the Ms
for a league victory, two came in consecutive matches achieving a run of five victories in the last five matches to seal
towards the end of the season, (something about buses their second promotion in a row as league champions. Next
springs to mind); the first being a remarkable comeback season sees the team play in the top division of the college
performance from 3-0 down against Corpus & Linacre to reserves leagues for the first time in many years.
run out 4-3 winners. The second victory, 6-0 against Univ,
ensured the Ms did not finish bottom of the Oxford college The season also proved successful in Reserves Cuppers,
footballing pyramid, an achievement I was proud to avoid. with the Ms winning their way to the semi-final, missing
out on a place in the final after a close-fought match with
We had a successful run in Cuppers this season also, defeating eventual champions Regent’s Park & St Benet’s Hall. The
Trinity, Hertford and St John’s on our way to a semi-final team had beaten Balliol 10-1, Pembroke 3-2 and Somerville
under the floodlights at the Oxford City 3G pitch. In atrocious 2-0 in the quarter-final to reach this stage, and led 2-1 with
stormy conditions, we fought valiantly but it was not to be; 20 minutes remaining, but conceded two quick goals and
we lost 3-1 to Pembroke but I am extremely proud of the team missed a last-minute penalty to miss out on a place at the
for the desire and character they showed. Notably, despite final at University Parks by the finest of margins.
the many University-representing players we had in our team,
my man of the match that day was Ben Paterson, one of a The team started slowly in the league, losing two out of
clutch of first years who have not been lucky enough to be their first three games and looking set for a mid-table finish
selected for a University team yet, but are certainly talented at the break in the season over Christmas. However, 4-0
enough to do so. It would make me immensely proud to see and 10-0 victories early in Hilary meant that victory in all
more Ms push up through the Oxford footballing ranks into a of the final three games would assure promotion, although
University team; the determined, fearless character of the Ms these were against the three teams above us. A comfortable
is a trait that would be valued highly at this level. 7-1 win against St Anne’s maintained momentum going into
the penultimate game against a St John’s side that was
With the team predominantly consisting of first and second unbeaten all season. They were dispatched 4-1, setting up a
years, the 23-month gap between league victories meant final high-stakes game against newfound rivals Regent’s &
that most of us hadn’t experienced a victorious 90 minutes Benet’s, also unbeaten in all competitions.
in all our time here at Oxford; the post-match shandy had
never tasted so sweet. I’m in no doubt that next season will Going into the game, we knew that a win would guarantee
be even better for the Ms; the future looks bright with much promotion as champions, but a loss or a draw would see
exciting young talent. a third-place finish, with our opponents promoted instead.
Keen to avenge our Cuppers defeat, the Ms all but sealed
Oliver Harding (Mansfield, 2018) victory in the opening 30 minutes, racing to a 3-0 lead. A
MMAFC Captain 2019-20 strong comeback from Regent’s & Benet’s in the second half
16
College News | Football
M&Ms 2nd football team
left some nervousness with the score at 4-2 with 20 minutes more experienced players – Nick entering his sixth season
remaining, only for Trajan Halvorsen (2019), the player who playing for the team – the Merton & Mansfield Reserves
had missed the last-minute penalty in the semi-final, to seal look forward to cementing their place in the top tier. It was
victory with the fifth goal, prompting wild celebrations on a shame that we were not able to organise the annual Old
the pitch and touchline. Boys game in Trinity, nor the feistily contested Merton vs
Mansfield match. This is something that we hope to play
Honourable mentions go to those other than myself who in Michaelmas. Throughout the year, I was ably assisted by
played every minute of all 11 games this season: freshers my de facto Vice-Captains Ollie Bowling (2018) and Ed Spiers
Ben Patterson and Harry Morrison (both Mansfield, 2019) (2018), and am especially pleased to leave the captaincy
and fifth-year striker Nick Ridpath (2015). Nick was the top in the capable hands of Will Barker (2019), a commanding
scorer with 13 goals, followed by Harry on 7. A special thanks presence and an exceptionally gifted player. I have every
also goes to James, our groundsman, who kept the pitches confidence that he will be a success.
in immaculate condition all season, and to Neal, the college
barman, who supported us home and away along with a Joe Hyland Deeson (2018)
loyal group of Merton second years and Mansfield freshers. MMAFC Reserves Captain 2019-20
17
Catherine Felce (2016) front row, far right, and Laura Neill (2018),
Squash holding the trophy as captain, at the Blues Varsity at the The Royal
Automobile Club in London. The women’s team beat Cambridge 4-1,
as did the men. Photo: Anna Willis
Merton squash has had an impressive season with multiple sporting event that was cancelled as a result of coronavirus.
teams entered across the league and Cuppers. Unfortunately, Regardless of how we would have done in the final, just
we had missed out last season, due to an error about the getting there from an unseeded position is no small feat and
deadline to enter, so we were unseeded in all events. Despite the team should be very proud of this achievement.
this, we still performed incredibly well with plenty of players
getting involved. Our first match in Cuppers against Keble Beyond Men’s Cuppers, we also entered a team into the
was closely matched, with Merton managing to secure the Men’s League and Women’s Cuppers. Unfortunately, the
win 3-2. This allowed us to progress to the next round, latter did not end up taking place. However, the Men’s
where we faced Jesus. We lost the first two matches, but League was played throughout Michaelmas and Hilary.
luckily managed to win the last three. With another 3-2 win For this team, Merton mostly played non-University squad
under our belt, we moved on to the quarter-final against players, increasing participation and including those of all
St Hugh’s. We knew they would be tough competition, standards. Once again, due to our lack of play last year, we
with two Blues from both the men’s and the women’s side. were put into the bottom division. In the first term, we were
The first three matches were played, which resulted in us undefeated, securing our promotion for the following round,
being 2-1 down. Luck was on our side, as the two remaining which did not get fully completed.
Hugh’s players chose to withdraw. Hence, we were awarded
walkovers and so the final result was 3-2 to Merton. Overall, it has been a great year for squash at Merton.
Hopefully, our strong performance this year will allow us
Next up, we had Balliol in the semi-final. We put out a better seedings in the events for next season, facilitating
strong team, including Alex Roberts (2014, a former Men’s us to build on this year’s success even further. We have
Blues first seed), Laura Neill (2017, the Women’s Blues first had an impressive number of Mertonians representing the
seed), and three players on the Men’s Seconds team: Trajan University, in BUCS matches, private fixtures and Varsities.
Halvorsen (2020), Benedict Yorston (2019) and Tim Bennett I hope this continues into next season and wish a new
(2019). We won the first four matches 3-0 and were given a addition to the team, Ed Spiers (2018), the best of luck as he
walkover for the final one. Our apparent affinity for 3-2 wins takes over the college captaincy.
ended as we earned a 5-0 win. Our opponents in the final
were Somerville, last year’s winners. However, the final was Laura Neill (2018)
scheduled to take place in Trinity, so it was yet another major Squash Captain 2019-20
18
College News | Squash & Hockey
Hockey The M&Ms and the alumni team in February 2020
Having lost some key players from last year to graduation and improvement from the 2018-19 season, in which we won only
years abroad, there was some mild concern as to the strength three out of six matches. This brought us neatly to the top
of the Merton-Mansfield hockey team this season; not of the league rankings, coming joint first with the Balliol-
necessarily in its quality, but rather in its quantity. However, University College team. Our team played well together, and
this worry was very much unwarranted, and Freshers’ Week we had strong turnout to matches – the highest being 16
brought with it a large quantity of new players with a wide players for an 11-player game! Hilary 2020, where we entered
range of levels. Some new recruits were more experienced, Men’s Cuppers (with a mixed team, however), unfortunately
and also rapidly became involved in the Oxford University was a weaker season in terms of match outcomes. Due to
Hockey Club, while others had never played before and chose several storm-ridden weekends impacting turnout, we were
to come and try hockey at the weekly training sessions. knocked out of the tournament after the first round. It is
also a shame that Trinity 2020 was a remote term, as we
These weekly training sessions all began with some drills were greatly looking forward to competing in Cuppers.
to improve hockey skills such as shooting, passing the ball,
and dribbling. Wherever possible, we tried to include both We also held the annual alumni match against ex-Merton-
attackers and defenders in the drills, to replicate match play Mansfield hockey team players in February this year. It
so that we would be as well prepared as possible for the was lovely to have some familiar faces on the alumni team.
college league matches. The hourly session was always The event is always a highlight of the season and a nice
rounded off with some match play. Having such weekly opportunity to meet some alumni and get to know more
trainings was a lovely way for the team members to bond about what they are doing in their post-University lives. This
and to keep our hockey skills up. Joining the M&Ms as year, the M&Ms came back victorious with a 4-2 win. At least
a fresher almost two years ago, I can definitely say that one of the two alumni goals was scored by Matt Dodd. The
having weekly training made the team feel more accessible match was followed by a social dinner at a local restaurant
and welcoming to join. The sessions also provided a welcome in Oxford; a lovely way to finish the day. We are looking
break in a busy Oxford week. forward to the next season 2020-21 and hope it will not be
cut short! Lastly, we would like to thank Merton College for
Michaelmas 2019 was a strong term for the Merton- its continuing support in paying for the hockey pitches.
Mansfield hockey team. We retained our position in the first
league (out of three) and played six matches against other Tiphaine Wibault (2018)
college teams overall, with five strong wins. This was a great Merton-Mansfield Hockey Captain 2019-20
19
Rugby Photo: Federico Amodeo
The dictum ‘Life is like a box of chocolates… you never know Following a Christmas break solely dedicated to bulking,
what you gonna get’ was as true for the Ms as it was for something about the M&Ms’ attitude had changed. Perhaps,
Forrest Gump. it was the gentle encouragement of training with members of
the opposite sex or, perhaps, it was the lack of distractions due
The 2019-20 season started as unpredictably as ever, with to the sudden falling apart of numerous relationships among
the team suffering from the departure of the previous senior its ranks. Whatever the reason, the M&Ms’ determination was
leadership. Typical of its ‘never say die’ attitude, however, the reflected in an unprecedented league victory against Christ
Merton, Mansfield & Regent's Park (MMR) RFC’s herculean Church and a much-anticipated revenge against Queen’s.
efforts prompted the valiant acquisition of brand-new kit
and the recruitment of talented ‘fresh young blood’ to level The boys in the maroon and white then set out on their
the playing field. annual Cuppers campaign. After performing a calculated loss
to enter into the Bowl section of Cuppers, the M&Ms went
Unfortunately, still, the MMR RFC witnessed a slow start to the on to defeat Exeter with a last-minute try from our very own
league, recording two early losses against St Hilda’s and The club President Joshua Navarajasegaran (2016). After-match
Queen’s College. Wishing to give effect to its founding value of shandies and the desire to grace the hallowed turf of Iffley
‘champagne rugby’, the M&Ms decided to ‘turn up for once’, with maroon and white blood once again inspired the boys
prompting an astounding 73-17 win over LMH/St Hugh’s. to face Queen’s in the quarter-final. As Warden Tracey’s
20
College News | Rugby
undying support by the side-line spurred the boys on, the rugby’, ‘sustainable banter’ and ‘big socials’. A special
M&Ms looked calm and collected throughout. The attack mention ought to go to trusted Vice-Captain Robert Power
by Queen’s was relentless but the MMR RFC showcased a (Mansfield, 2018) for securing the most tries and currently
defence comparable to that of the Romans against Hannibal. being in negotiations to hire a professional rugby coach, in
Conor ‘Pitch Painter’ Sheehan (2017), Tobi ‘Clinical’ Clarke the hope to guide the M&Ms on to even greater heights.
(2017) and Callum ‘The Cannon’ Schafer (Mansfield, 2017)
scored three decisive tries to secure a sterling 17-5 win, thus Looking ahead, the foundations are already in place for a
sending us onto the semi-final at Iffley against Lincoln. successful year. I am glad to leave the team in the capable
hands of the first-ever Regent’s Captain Max Wormsley
The M&Ms’ momentum was such that only a global pandemic (Regent’s, 2019), supported by Vice-Captain Alex Fisher
could stop its advance in Cuppers. And, as a matter of fact, it (Mansfield, 2019) and Club President Wick Willett (2017).
did. It is hoped, however, that the M&Ms may resume their On behalf of all the departing M&Ms, we wish the club
Napoleonic plans of victory once the situation allows. and players the very best of luck going into next season.
Forever Standing.
Reflecting on this past season, I could not be any prouder
of the M&Ms. The boys in maroon and white showed to be Federico Amodeo (2018)
true ambassadors of the three core values of ‘champagne MMR RFC Captain 2019-20
21
Sports Overview
Looking for some inspiration, I was scrolling through past performing their ambassadorial role of great entertainers –
Postmaster records to gauge what Merton College had something that I know will be carried on to next year.
achieved sporting wise throughout the years. Unfortunately,
though not surprisingly, I discovered that our beloved Rowing was unfortunately affected by the sustained flooding
College had not been able, in the past few years at least, in the Thames River Valley, though proved to be inspirational
to lay claim to much sporting success. It is, thus, with the despite the constant adversities facing them. All college
greatest pleasure that I say that Merton has, indeed, turned racing was cancelled, which meant that none of the crews
this around in the year of 2019-20. was able to race. A slight exception was M1, who managed to
establish Sunday heads racing with Abingdon Rowing Club’s
Merton and Mansfield’s football teams brought junior boats: M1 won against both a single sculler and two
unprecedented pride and joy to Merton, with both the 1st women’s U18 fours, as well as the ARC men’s juniors. The
and 2nd XI reaching the semi-final of Cuppers, showcasing novices really devoted themselves to land training, chalking
great skills and passion throughout the entire tournament. up impressive hours on the ergometers and weekly circuit
Notably, the seconds were also promoted to the top league training. Unfortunately, Christ Church Regatta was the first
after a memorable victory against St Benet’s Hall. As well race to be cancelled and the novices spent little time on the
as success on the field, the men’s football teams are to be water. Despite the unfortunate series of events, however, I was
commended for their ability to foster a sense of community impressed by the club’s constant determination and flexibility.
among their peers, exemplified in the dozens of enthusiastic
supporters gathered throughout their Cuppers campaign. Merton squash also had an impressive season with the team
It is hoped, therefore, that such sentiment will be spread reaching the final of Cuppers unseeded. The final against
across the vast array of College sports. Somerville was cancelled due to coronavirus, though it is
now clear that the College can pride itself on great talent
Similarly to football, the M&Ms rugby had an incredible within its ranks. Without a doubt, Merton squash has the
season. Admittedly, I may be a little biased with regards to the quality to produce similar results in the coming years.
boys in maroon and white, though I would be lying to myself
and anyone reading this report if I said that the M&Ms rugby Keeping up with the successes of other college sports, Merton
did not deserve such high praise. The M&Ms successfully hockey had a great season. Despite having lost key players,
reached the semi-finals of Cuppers (-Bowl) following an recruitment efforts by the hockey M&Ms significantly raised
inspiring streak of wins, though were unfortunately halted in numbers in the team. In fact, although not successful in
their campaign by Covid concerns. Socially, the M&Ms kept Cuppers, the M&Ms won five out of six league matches, thus
22
Blues and Half Blues
Haigh Ties
Awarded in June 2020
Federico Amodeo (2018)
Constanta Burlacu (2018)
Tobias Clarke (2017)
coming joint top in the league rankings. Notably, Merton Matt Drake (2018)
hockey hosted (and won) a greatly enjoyable alumni match, Matthew Feaster (2017, Mansfield)
proving once again the strength of the Merton community. Max Geurts (2018)
Benjamin Gowers (2017)
Merton also housed a series of inspiring individual talents Trajan Halvorsen (2019)
at University level. Laura Neill captained the women’s Blues Oliver Harding (2018, Mansfield)
squash team, Amy Hearn (2018) played women’s Blues Rachel Herring (2018)
cricket and Claudia Murray (2019) was awarded a Blue for Joe Hyland Deeson (2018)
swimming. Madison Schaefer (2016) and Benedict Yorston Paris Jaggers (2016)
Christopher Lippert (2018)
(2019) were awarded Half Blues for Taekwon-Do and Real Joshua Navarajasegaran (2016)
Tennis respectively. Kaiyang Song (2018) and Charlie Peters Conor Ó Síocháin (2017)
(2019) played men’s football at University level; alas, the Kaiyang Song (2018)
varsity match was cancelled because of the pandemic, so no Tiphaine Wibault (2018)
Blues were awarded in the sport this year. Eppie Sharp (2018) Wick Willett (2017)
and Charlie Lamb (2019) were University cheerleaders. Benedict Yorston (2019)
23
Clubs &
Societies
College News | History Society
From left: Joe Hyland Deeson, Olivia Tan, Rachel Herring, Jess Hinks,
It has been another successful year for the Merton College earned their refreshments by fielding some very thought-
History Society, notwithstanding the unusual circumstances provoking questions. That is not to say that Merton’s
that we have seen towards its end. In what seems like a lifetime historians can only talk about history, as they proved at the
ago, we kicked off Michaelmas in time-honoured fashion with annual History Society Dinner. The company was even better
the Freshers’ Subject Tea. The opportunity to get to know each than the food, which is saying something. We are eternally
other better over afternoon refreshments proved as popular grateful to the Hall staff, without whom the four History
as ever with freshers and older-years alike. It was particularly Society Dinners that I have had the pleasure to attend simply
encouraging to see the enthusiasm with which the second- would not have been possible. We also appreciate our tutors
years took to their newfound position as advice-givers, taking (most of whom have been to far more than four of these
the reins for their own event at which they furnished the dinners) for their unfailingly insightful and entertaining
freshers with more tricks of the trade that they had learned speeches. It was particularly pleasing to be joined by Dr
in their first year – as ever, accompanied by refreshments. Matthew Grimley, who has been on sabbatical this year.
However, this year the new faces in the Society were not
all students, as we also welcomed Dr Jennifer Altehenger to Few might have predicted that the dinner was to be the last
Merton as our Jessica Rawson Fellow in Modern Asian History time that Merton’s historians could gather under one roof,
and Associate Professor of Chinese History. It was great to as the global pandemic changed life as we know it. While this
hear Jennifer speak about her most recent research with such has regrettably robbed us of a normal Trinity term, including
infectious enthusiasm at our first speaker event of term. I the annual Garden Party, I for one have been able to draw
know I was not alone in having my eyes opened about the optimism from the togetherness that our cohort has shown
potential for using furniture as a lens through which to over the last few months. My experience of Merton’s historians
examine modern Chinese history. Jennifer’s talk was followed has always been one of a particularly cohesive community,
by the customary History Society Formal Hall, which allowed and these unprecedented circumstances did nothing to shake
discussion to continue long into the evening. this. It was particularly reassuring to see the finalists keep in
close contact with each other as they sat their exams further
Hilary term brought a new year, a new decade and a new afield than they would have liked. It is for these reasons that
schedule of events for the Society, which showed no sign although the results of the election for the next History
of losing momentum as attendances continued to be strong Society committee are yet to be announced, I have complete
despite the intensification of the academic workload for faith that the success of the Society will continue in 2020-21.
many students. Continuing to cast the chronological and In the meantime, I would like to thank the Treasurer, Grace
geographical net far and wide, we welcomed Professor Clark (2018), and the Secretary, Olivia Tan (2018), for their
Christopher Tyerman and Dr Lucy Wooding for talks on the endless support throughout the year. They, and the rest of
creation of a political space for ‘commoners’ on crusade, and our cohort, have made my year as President a great pleasure.
the survival of religious images through the iconoclasm of the
English Reformation, respectively. Both speaker events were Josh Travers (2016)
well received by students, who ensured that the speakers History Society President 2019-20
25
Roger Bacon Society
Roger Bacon in his observatory at Merton
© Wellcome Collection
The Roger Bacon Society is made up of all the physicists materials have, in recent years, become extraordinarily
at Merton College: undergraduates, graduates and tutors. elaborate, sometimes taking the form of short films.
Our calendar revolves around three key events that are held
during the academic year: our Freshers’ Tea, the Society But, to our surprise, Richard (even in the absence of any
Dinner and the Summer Garden Party. competition whatsoever) produced a stunning video
mirroring the recent Avengers film, poignantly putting forward
Being a product of Merton College, we love tradition. As why he deserved everyone’s vote. I think, unfortunately, this
always, the physics freshers were warmly welcomed to the video may have scared everyone off, because Richard only
College with a sumptuous spread of the best value snacks won the election by the slimmest of margins (3 votes, to 2
that we could carry from Tesco to College in one trip. for R.O.N.).
After some introductions and icebreakers, we, once again
compelled by tradition, migrated to the famous Turf Tavern The dinner was concluded by a speech from me which
for a drink (even though it was only the early afternoon). largely recycled last year’s material (something which was
The Freshers’ Tea provides an easy and informal opportunity not well received by certain recent alumni, but luckily my
for new and old generations of Merton physicists to come term was almost over so an impeachment would be futile),
together – a chance to pass down old wisdom (like warnings followed by a (lengthy, it must be said) speech from the
of the notorious Hilary term problem set 5) and think up now-incumbent Richard, listing a great many (many, many)
new wisdom (like how to get the best armchair in classes). distinctive qualities of the archetypical Merton physicist.
The tea, however, simply pales in comparison with the Unfortunately, we were not given the luxury of our Summer
flagship event of the year: the Society’s Black Tie Dinner Garden Party due to the current pandemic, which is a great
in Hilary term. Once again, Merton’s Kitchen laid on a shame. But, remaining optimistic, perhaps this will mean
fabulous four-course meal for us all, which was thoroughly we are looking forward even more to welcoming the next
enjoyed. The question, however, on everyone’s mind was cohort of physicists to the College this Michaelmas. Or,
the results of the annual election for the next Society maybe those of us leaving the College have been given yet
president. Given the passion of the large physics community another excuse to come back and visit in the sunshine.
at Merton, it was slightly disappointing to see that only one
candidate, Richard Chatterjee (2017), nobly volunteered. This Jules Desai (2016)
disappointment was based in the fact that election campaign Roger Bacon Society President 2019-20
26
Neave Society
27
Christian Union Meeting over Zoom
The Merton Christian Union started off the academic year to a University-wide Christmas carol service (in November!)
with welcoming the new freshers to Merton. We held in the Sheldonian, and as always the mulled wine aided the
two events during Freshers’ Week to get to know some gallant singing of the carols by the Mertonians who had
of them – a fun games night run by myself and my co- come together for a joyful time near the end of Michaelmas.
rep Alex Beukers (2018) for those wanting a nice night-in
accompanied by some ice-breaking games, and a CU Tea In Hilary term Merton got involved with the annual OICCU
and Cake event for those wanting some tea and cake with events week held in the Town Hall – a week with talks
a nice chat. It was lovely to get to meet the new freshers, and Q&As giving students an opportunity to explore the
spend some time having fun together and help them settle Christian faith. It was great to see many Mertonians attend
in; and for those seeking to get involved with churches and the talks and they provided opportunities for thought-
the OICCU (Oxford Inter-Collegiate Christian Union) it was provoking conversations about faith, life and Jesus that we
also a joy welcoming new faces to them and introducing wouldn’t normally have.
some freshers to these communities.
As Trinity term was held virtually, this made us transfer our
During term time the CU meet fortnightly in College for Bible study to Zoom and we have continued to meet during
a Bible study meeting. In addition to reading the Bible term. This has provided a great time to continue to catch
together it also provides an opportunity to catch up with up with each other, but most importantly, while separated,
each other, pray together and spend some time relaxing in an opportunity to support one another through prayer
the middle of a busy week – this has always been a highlight and fellowship.
of the week for me and it’s great to see Mertonians across
the years come together, with everyone welcome to the With Michaelmas 2020 approaching, Alex Beukers (2018) and I
meetings. In addition to this regular meeting in Michaelmas are excited to welcome more freshers to Merton and the Merton
we held a Text-a-Toastie event where students from the Christian Union, and to continue to be a loving, welcoming and
JCR could ask questions of the Christian Union in return supportive community of Mertonians in College.
for a conversation, however short or long, accompanied by
a toastie with fillings of their choice. Later in term we also Joseph Jae-Sung Rhee (2018)
held a free mulled wine and mince pies event before going Christian Union Rep 2019-20
28
College News | Christian Union & Bodley Club
Bodley Club Mark Haddon © John Cairns
The Bodley Club has been delighted to host two fascinating Unfortunately, we were not able to hold the Club’s Annual
events this year, with very diverse topics, as per our Club’s Dinner or Garden Party, both of which had been planned for
mandate to invite speakers from without or within the Trinity term, due to the ongoing pandemic. We look forward
College who are deemed to be ‘fabulously interesting’ and to being able to reschedule these for the next academic year,
from wide-ranging disciplines. and to continuing our programme of speakers.
In Michaelmas we welcomed best-selling author Mark This year saw changes in the Club’s committee, as Adam
Haddon (1981), an Oxford local and himself an alumnus of Carter (2016) and Francesco Dernie (2016) moved on into
Merton College. He spoke to us about his creative work, the busy world of graduate medicine. We were delighted to
his recent heart surgery and his new novel, The Porpoise, welcome Alex Beukers (2018) to the committee, and she has
a thrilling and complex weaving together of Shakespeare’s been wonderfully helpful with organising this year’s talks.
Pericles, Jacobean London and modern-day Greek myth. Also graduating this year is Emma Ball (Treasurer, 2017), to
whom I am immensely grateful for her long-standing efforts
In Hilary, thanks to recent Merton alumnus Tom towards the smooth running of the Club. I also thank Victor
Fetherstonhaugh (2016), we were put in touch with Hyung Ajuwon (Secretary, 2015) for his continuing commitment, as
Joon Won, a South Korean violinist and activist who has well as our Senior Member, Fra’ John Eidinow (Fellow, 1986),
been using music as a medium for peace and reconciliation and all who have attended this year.
between the two Koreas. After a long diplomatic battle to
organise an initial concert with musicians from North and Wick Willett (2017)
South Korea in the Demilitarised Zone, he performed in China Bodley Club President 2019-20
and Sweden with a North Korean musician – something that
until now has been impossible.
29
Mathematics Society
It has been a very exciting year for the Mathematics Society. Rodrigo’s famous baking (I would particularly recommend
Following a nail-biting election in which they ran unopposed, the cookies). These have been a great opportunity to bridge
the joint presidents Rodrigo Marlasca Aparicio and myself the gap between years and have really strengthened the
(Jonny Durston) were elected, taking over from the superb sense of mathematical community in Merton.
Abbie Manning and William Whitehouse. We have focused
on making several key changes to the society, most notably The yearly subject dinner occurred as usual, with a decent
improving communications between year groups and making turnout. There was delicious food and drink, good conversation
events as accessible as possible. and an uplifting talk by our tutor Radek Erban about how he
came to be a mathematician. He also mentioned the progress
The academic year began with a fantastic subject tea, made in gender equality, and his hopes that this would be
with representatives from all years present. The particular reflected in the tutors as well as the students. After the meal,
highlight, aside from the Colin the Caterpillar cake of course, we retired to the bar for some more drinks and card games.
was a chance to have some great conversation with the new
freshers. In particular, it is lovely that more than half of the It goes without saying that Trinity has ended rather
first years taking mathematics are female, which represents abruptly, but despite the issues that may have arisen, we
some of the progress that has been made in the ongoing have still been able to remain in contact with one another,
efforts to improve gender equality in the subject. We were albeit in a different way to usual. Weekly virtual maths help
able to pass on some of the tips and tricks we have learned sessions are still occurring, and we are looking into a way
from studying at Oxford, and just generally have a good laugh. of expanding Rodrigo’s baking into a global cookie empire!
This year has been a fantastic success, and undoubtably this
Having a laugh while helping one another has remained a greatness will continue to be upheld by our successors.
key theme throughout the year, as we held weekly maths
help sessions. Unsurprisingly, these consist of older years Rodrigo Marlasca Aparicio (2018) and Jonny Durston
assisting the first years with their problem sheets, and (2018)
there have been lots of snacks available too, most notably Mathematics Society Co-Presidents 2019-20
30
College News | Mathematics Society & Quiz Society
Quiz Society Merton’s 2019-20 University Challenge team © BBC
This has been another successful year for the Merton ‘Come February that we did. Upon arrival at the home of
College Quiz Society. University Challenge, in Salford, we discovered that we would
be playing Corpus Christi College Cambridge (CCCC), in one
We entered three teams into the University-wide Inter- of the first round Oxbridge clashes. A tight affair ensued
Collegiate Quiz competition, of which our A team reached with much toing and froing of the lead. I suspect this led to
the quarter-finals. This was despite three of our members an exciting viewing experience, as much as it did to a nerve-
being ineligible to take part: because of regularly playing for wracking experience on our parts. After about 25 minutes of
the University A or B teams, we were instead helping to write competition the gong sounded to see the score at Merton
the questions. 140-195 CCCC. Historically 140 would be sufficient in about
half of the series to be a highest scoring loser and thereby
As far as those reading this are concerned, our most provide the opportunity to vie for a final two places in the
prominent activity is the selection of the University Challenge second round. Alas, it was not be, with the highest scoring
team, with which we have had considerable recent success loser at 145 points.
at reaching the televised rounds. The Merton team for the
2019-20 series, consisting of James Kempton, Rowan Wilson ‘CCCC went on to reach the final where they were finally
and Jacob Robertson, captained by Nick Ridpath and with defeated by Imperial College, in beautiful justice, captained
Lucienne Pullen as reserve, were successful in making it by old Mertonian Caleb Rich. No team scored higher than us
onto the television; you might have seen them on air in against CCCC until the final.
July 2019. The 2020-21 Merton team – William Isotta, Tom
McLean and Conor Sheehan, captained by Pax Butchart, and ‘While we were naturally disappointed with the result, the
with Elisabeth Le Maistre as reserve – have also made it onto experience was a great one. To have one’s name called to
the television. The series is on air from July 2020; you’ll have the high heavens by Roger Tilling, to meet the man himself,
to watch it to find out how they get on! Jeremy Paxman, to have my introduction lambasted on
Twitter, it was all great fun.
James Kempton from the 2019-20 Merton University
Challenge team wrote the following about his experiences. ‘It was a pleasure to practise and compete alongside my
teammates and I thank them greatly. To the current Merton
‘After a rigorous internal selection process, we were team, bonne chance!’
interviewed by the producers. Whatever criteria they sought,
we were apparently deemed to possess, and were greatly Leonie Woodland (2016)
excited to receive an invitation to compete on the show. Quiz Society President 2019-20
31
our common room to preside over events from BOPs to
JCR committee meetings. These three portraits are of female
Junior Research Fellows who study and work at Merton. We
hope greatly that this small gesture will help to celebrate the
role of women in both the wider academic world and in our
own Merton community, for there is still a long way to go
until we see equality in academia.
32
College News | Art Society & Music Society
an attempt to advertise for the college orchestra, Fidelio,
with a social held in Mob 1 in fourth week of Michaelmas, but
although this was advertised, the event was poorly attended.
There are ongoing efforts to revive the college orchestra.
Through Michaelmas term there were organ recitals on the
Chapel’s Dobson organ on Tuesday lunchtimes, including
a performance by our Director of Music. The final event of
Michaelmas term was the Kodály Choir Christmas Showcase,
where the open-to-all College Choir performed at the end
of a term’s work in the Chapel.
Hilary term’s main event for MCMS was the musical soiree
on 13 February in the TS Eliot Theatre. This was a new
addition to the year’s programme. Participation was open
to all college performers, including performers from the
MCR, as an informal evening of music-making. The concert
was preceded by a wine reception. The evening was well
attended, and featured an extremely varied programme
of instruments, ensembles and performance modes that
reflected the rich music-making in College.
33
We are especially proud of the continued popularity of the
termly Merton poetry pamphlet, Pekes and Pollicles. The title
comes from a poem by a fellow Mertonian, TS Eliot’s ‘The
Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles’. We hosted launch
parties for each release of the pamphlet, which has included
work from students across Oxford. It is important to us that
the wide variety of innovative voices at Merton could have
a free medium to express their creativity, and you can find
previous editions of Pekes and Pollicles in the Merton Library.
From left: Luke Bateman, Verity Stuart Despite the difficulties of Trinity term being held remotely,
and Julianna Barker Merton poets have continued to thrive, proving the
importance and resilience of poetry during this global crisis.
Associate Chaplain Jarred Mercer curated the Merton Poets at
Poetry Society Home series on Facebook, featuring resonant contributions
from students. We have received positive feedback from our
growing online presence, and the release of our first online
The 2019-20 academic year has been transformative for edition of Pekes and Pollicles, with a cover design by the first-
Merton College Poetry Society. Michaelmas term saw a year classicist Rachel Jung, features 20 incredible new poems.
surge of first-year students filling the JCR at our events
and exhibiting a genuine love of poetry. The society hopes I am so grateful to Julianna Barker for her endless creativity
to provide members of the College with a space to enjoy, which has helped uncover powerful poetic voices at Merton.
discuss and showcase poetry in an accessible and relaxed As I hand on the presidency of Merton College Poetry Society
environment, and the reaction has been brilliant. Our to two exceptional first-year students, Luke Bateman and
Hopeful Poetry event at the start of 2020 was a highlight, as Rachel Jung, I know that Merton will continue its reign as one
was our Poetry Workshop in Hilary term, during which we of Oxford University’s hubs of poetic innovation and creativity.
split into small groups to discuss our writing. These events
were attended not just by English students, but also by Verity Stuart (2017)
medics, linguists, philosophers, biologists and more. Poetry Society President 2019-20
34
College News | Poetry Society & Halsbury Society
From left: Liam McKenna (2017), Ross Moore (2018), Siddhant Iyer (2018) and Riya Bhatt (2017) at the annual Halsbury Society Christmas Drinks.
© www.facebook.com/photosbyoshy
Halsbury Society
The past academic year has been another highly successful those students involved. Students also had the opportunity
one for the Halsbury Society with a wide range of events to attend the Doshisha Merton Advocacy Network Initiative
and fantastic achievements by Merton law students. (DOMANI) which was hosted at Doshisha University, Japan,
in September 2019. DOMANI was an excellent chance to apply
During Michaelmas term, the society hosted our Welcome Tea our academic skills in a novel setting, with students having
Party for the incoming fresher law students to allow them to the opportunity to practise examination in chief and cross-
get to know the other law students, a Subject Tea in honour examination style questioning as well as to discuss strategy.
of Professor Imogen Goold, who has been a great help to our
students for a number of years, and our annual Christmas Every year Merton law students participate in a number of
Drinks. In Hilary term, we welcomed Lady Arden of Heswall, mooting competitions, often with great success. This year
Justice of the Supreme Court, to Merton, who delivered a Liam McKenna (2017) and Stephanie Bruce-Smith (2017) were
highly engaging and interesting lecture on the topic ‘Justice the winners of the first Oxford v Cambridge edition of the
cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both’. Herbert Smith Freehills Disability Mooting Championship.
Petra Stojnic (2018) and Ameer Ismail (2016) were runners-
The Halsbury Society is fortunate to receive sponsorship up in the renowned ELSA European Human Rights Moot
from many leading law firms each year. Special mention Court Competition. All should be congratulated for their
must go to Sullivan & Cromwell for sponsoring our annual excellent performance in these competitions.
Christmas Drinks and to Slaughter and May, who sponsored
the lecture dinner with Lady Arden. Although our year has been cut short and a number of
planned events have not come to fruition, it has been an
The Halsbury Society is always looking for ways to absolute privilege to serve as the Halsbury Society President
provide Merton law students with new and exciting legal for 2019-20. I wish Merit Flugler (2019), President 2020-21,
opportunities. Professor Anselmo Reyes from the University and the rest of her committee the best of luck for next year.
of Hong Kong provided the unique opportunity for Merton
law students to undertake a mini-pupillage in Hong Kong, Petra Stojnic (2018)
which was an enlightening and educational experience for Halsbury Society President 2019-20
35
Tri-college women’s formal hosted at Merton
36
College News | The 1980 Society
In addition to discussion groups, we sought to create an Theatre was given by Irene Tracey, Helen Small and Marion
inclusive social space. 2020 began with a women-themed Durand (Corpus Christi), who discussed their experiences as
bar quiz, featuring rounds such as ‘firsts’, ‘herstory’, and women in academia. A drinks reception and formal dinner
the discovery that the jockstrap inspired the modern-day followed, and attendees discovered mutual interests, shared
sports bra. We hosted a social along with SpeakOut Oxford, experiences and the everyday inspiration of fellow women
a student-run advocacy and support group for victims of students. Credit must go to Jessica Searle, Gender Equality
sexual assault, in the Merton JCR. The 1980 Society hopes to Representative 2019-20, and her counterparts at Oriel and
continue encouraging an atmosphere of consent, belief and Corpus Christi, for its inception. As the four of us stood and
support at Merton. One of the year’s most heart-warming gave a speech to a hall and high table filled with women, I
moments was the ‘cake and compliments’ afternoon. was struck with awe and pride at the accomplishments of our
A ‘postbox’ (a Yorkshire Tea tin) was filled with notes of attendees and predecessors. I hope this will become a regular
gratitude and messages of inspiration written by students and equally cherished tradition for future women of Merton.
to one another. We pidged so many notes our arms ached,
but each one reminded me why I chose Merton, and how I am deeply grateful to all those who helped with both
grateful I am to be a part of such an incredibly supportive events and content creation, especially the 1980 committee
community. In lieu of a garden party, we have marked the members; all have been a continual source of inspiration.
end of Trinity with a raffle raising money for the Okra Individuals of all genders have a role to play in holding the
Project and My Sisters’ House; with feminist prizes, including JCR to the highest standards of equality, and ensuring that
a copy of Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo, we are Merton is an inclusive, welcoming place to call home. As I
rounding off an often-difficult year with positivity. hand over to the new 1980 President, we hope to continue
with these aims, and use the 40-year anniversary to connect
Throughout the year we have showcased inspirational women of Merton past and present. I look forward to
women. The Tinbergen Society hosted a talk by Professor EJ reading Postmaster in 40 years’ time and seeing the further
Milner-Gulland, and after her presentation we held a Q&A advances towards equality that will have been made, and I
on the changing experience of being a woman in STEM, and shall look back with pride and warmth at a society that is
the advice she would offer current students. Popcorn and becoming a part of Merton life.
gin accompanied a screening of On the Basis of Sex, depicting
the powerhouse that is Ruth Bader Ginsberg, while the 1980 Olivia Tan (2018)
Instagram account has provided a platform to showcase President of the 1980 Society 2019-20
the achievements of women from afar. From inspirational
women of the JCR, nominated by their peers, to the women
featured in the Black Cultural Archives’ Breaking Barriers
exhibition, the extraordinary and the everyday achievements
of women are something we believe is important to
highlight. Without in-person events, our Instagram became
a source of education and inspiration. A team of students
created film, music, book and theory recommendations, and
wrote definitions of terms from ‘patriarchy’ to ‘consent’.
We posted daily reminders of self-kindness coupled with
informative resources, as we sought to meet our three core
aims regardless of our remote position.
37
Tinbergen Society Otmoor nature reserve © Steve Daniels
Although cut short, it has been an exciting year for Merton’s that different methodologies of badger culling have on the
Tinbergen Society. numbers of badgers and rates of bovine tuberculosis across
the country. At the end of the presentation, during the
We started off the year with an inspiring talk by Professor Q&A, there were some provocative questions asked by anti-
EJ Milner-Gulland on 7 November. The presentation was badger culling activists which Professor Donnelly responded
titled ‘An optimistic vision for a sustainable, wild and socially to. Watching this interaction was a wonderful reminder of
just future’ in which Professor Milner-Gulland spoke about how science doesn’t just exist in a bubble and often has
three inspirational conservation case studies and implored real-world political implications and controversies.
a view of ‘conservation optimism’ – a more positive view of
conservation, rather than the bleak dogma we often hear. Our second talk in Hilary was given by Dr Nessa Carey on 10
Additionally, since we were heading into Merton’s 40-year February. This lecture was titled ‘Hacking the code of life’ and
celebration of women in the College, we ended the talk discussed the history and current ethical, social and political
by discussing Professor Milner-Gulland’s experience as a implications of the recent gene editing technology CRISPR:
woman in academia. from the possibility of super humans, to the recent illegal
experimentation on twins by He Jiankui. This talk showed the
We continued our events this year with our annual trip to complex issues surrounding modern science and its wider
see the starling murmurations at Otmoor nature reserve, effects on society and the environment, which are essential
on 27 November 2019. It was utterly brilliant to see the concepts to consider as a biologist. After the talk the members
large group displays the starlings perform at that time of of the Tinbergen Society, along with Dr Carey, attended our
year, which some of us had never seen before. Seeing and annual Tinbergen Society dinner. This was a lot of fun for
experiencing nature is a vital part of being a biologist, and everyone and allowed us to get to know Dr Carey and interact
so there was a large turnout from across the JCR and MCR with many people we don’t see very often. As always, the food
community, allowing us to form stronger inter-year bonds was delicious! We then concluded the night with some cheese
within the Merton biology community. After we had watched and wine in the MCR, which was a lovely end to a great day.
the starlings, we walked to a nearby pub to get some dinner.
Although the oven wasn’t working, it was a lot of fun and we The society, unfortunately, did not hold any events in Trinity
all look forward to the possibility of going again next year. term due to the coronavirus. However, this year we have
still had an amazing series of events and we are all looking
In Hilary, Christl Donnelly, Professor of Statistical forward to what we will be able to do next year.
Epidemiology at Imperial College London, gave a fascinating
talk about badger culling and bovine TB on 31 January. We Christian Kirk (2018)
learnt a lot about the different considerations and effects Tinbergen Society President 2019-20
38
Chalcenterics
39
Interdisciplinary
Groups
College News | Ockham Lectures
Professor Stuart Bale’s talk Dr Chiara Marletto’s lecture
Ockham Lectures
Once a term, the physics tutors at Merton host the Ockham Hilary’s lecture turned to the more theoretical-philosophical,
Lecture — a physics-related talk given by a distinguished with Dr Chiara Marletto informing us about constructor
external speaker. The lectures are always some of the most theory – a rethinking of the way we approach physical
interesting and enjoyable events of the term — a great way for theories and their basic commitments. The new mode of
the physics community at Merton to get together, meet non- thought was applied to areas across physics, including
Merton academics, and broaden our intellectual horizons. The information theory, thermodynamics and quantum gravity,
lecture begins with a drinks reception, before we are prompted with profoundly deep philosophical ramifications.
to move into the theatre by Professor Schekochihin’s famous
words ‘The lecture is served’. The lecture typically lasts for The physics tutors had pulled out all the stops for Trinity
an hour, with plenty of time for questions (of which there – we had all anticipated the second ever Ockham Debate
are always many). We then migrate to Formal Hall, where in the Ockham Lecture’s ten-year history. In 2013, we saw
wine is graciously provided by the physics tutors (one might Professors James Binney and Simon Saunders face off over
think we study physics at Merton for the teaching; perhaps the measurement problem in quantum mechanics. We
this shows otherwise). The event concludes with after-dinner had been looking forward to Professor Saunders’ return,
drinks in the MCR, which typically involves a healthy amount this time against Professor Ard Louis, about whether or
of arguing over a range of physical or philosophical topics, not Physics implies Atheism, or whether it is a new kind
and occasionally a series of heated table-tennis matches of Deism. Regrettably, the debate was postponed due to
between students and tutors. the current pandemic, to take place whenever it is safe,
hopefully in Michaelmas 2020. We certainly look forward
Michaelmas saw Professor Stuart Bale elucidate some salient immensely to that debate; I have no doubt that it will be a
features of NASA’s recent Parker Solar Probe mission, to take highlight of the year.
the first in situ measurement of our sun’s corona. The talk
contained some recent, cutting-edge experimental data, and Jules Desai (2016)
so it was extremely interesting to be shown the forefront of Roger Bacon Society President 2019-20
international experimental physics.
41
History of the
Book Group
College News | History of the Book Group
Illustrated architectural books featured in both History of ‘Travelling, measuring and drawing Ancient Rome: Mistakes,
the Book seminars held this year. misinterpretations and misattributions in Antoine Desgodets’
Les edifices antiques de Rome (Paris 1682)’. Gian Piero
The Michaelmas term seminar, on 20 November 2019, was recounted the story of the origins of this publication: how
given by Dr Benoit Seguin (ETH Zurich), a Visiting Scholar a young French architect Antoine Desgodets was sent by
at Merton and research collaborator of JRF Lia Costiner. Dr the powerful French Minister of State Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Seguin’s talk, entitled ‘Analysing text and image in early- on a special mission to Rome in 1674 to make drawings and
modern architectural treatises using machine learning’, take exact measurements of the major ancient monuments.
brought together visual arts and software engineering. Desgodets had an adventurous journey to Rome, since his
He explained how interdisciplinary teams were working ship was captured by Ottoman pirates, and he was sold into
to address a question of relevance to many researchers: slavery in Africa for a year before Colbert ransomed him.
given the increasing wealth of digital images of works of After this detour, Desgodets spent an intense 18 months in
art and illustrated books now freely available online, how Rome climbing around and in ruined sites, making detailed
does one search in this vast sea of material for images that drawings of ancient buildings. On his return to France, the
may be relevant to a given research question? Drawing drawings were engraved and published in 1682. The book
intriguing parallels with the development of self-driving cars, became a standard source of information and inspiration
Dr Seguin described one of his current projects in which for classicists and for generations of French architects who
researchers are helping computers learn to distinguish and wished to create accurate classical buildings. Following the
‘read’ different structural elements of a book illustration or talk, attendees, including the Merton Chalcenterics (the
the compositional elements of a work of art. The bi-tonal Merton Classics society), co-sponsors of the event, had the
engraved illustrations and diagrams in digitised copies of opportunity to examine the many illustrations in the book,
architectural treatises lend themselves as a corpus of material which had been released from the Upper Library for this
for this type of project. Dr Seguin also showed examples of special occasion.
searches across digital images of paintings. These digitised
materials offer huge untapped research potential when Finally, it is a pleasure to record that a third Teaching the
their visual content is made fully accessible to computer Codex colloquium, co-sponsored by the History of the
indexing and searching. The end of the presentation focused Book Group, was held in the TS Eliot Lecture Theatre on
on current work related to bringing the same exploratory 24 October 2019. The organisers, Mary Boyle (2011), Tristan
power developed for images to the textual contents of Franklinos (2011), Alex Peplow (2013) and Jessica Rahardjo
the indexed books. Dr Seguin's talk gave a glimpse of the (Wolfson, 2016). The theme, ‘Decentring the Codex’, focused
great changes coming soon to research methods in the on manuscript books outside of Greco-Latin tradition.
humanities. An appreciative audience of curious Mertonians Speakers provided a fascinating exploration of how they
and those from Oxford’s digital humanities community also teach palaeography and material aspects of manuscript
had an opportunity to view two early printed architectural books in the Hebrew, Chinese, Armenian, Arabic and Irish-
treatises from Merton’s collections. language traditions.
43
Departments
College News | The Chapel
The Chapel
The Installation of Professor Irene Tracey as 51st Warden of Merton
College on 5 October 2019 © Ian Wallman
For the Chapel, as for every other part of College life, it the College Choir, continues to grow. Both groups are great
feels like this year has been dominated by our response to ambassadors for the College, and our ability to webcast
Covid-19 and the lockdown. To an extent, that’s true; but many of this year’s services, thanks to the generosity
it’s important not to overlook all that took place within the of Cheyney and Sandy Ryan, enabled their talents to be
first six months of the academic year and, not least, the enjoyed by a global audience. At the beginning of the year
installation of Merton’s 51st Warden, Professor Irene Tracey, we welcomed Kentaro Machida as our new Organ Scholar.
with which it began. Merton likes firsts, and this installation He has been playing alongside Alex Little, our Assistant
included several: music performed by our Girl Choristers and Organist, who gained his FRCO (Fellowship of the Royal
a brass ensemble as well as the College Choir and organ; a College of Organists) this year, and who leaves us in the
reading from the introduction to the Statutes of 1274; the summer to continue his organ studies in the United States.
presence of Wyliot Fellows; and, perhaps most significantly, Alex has been with us for five years and has contributed
the livestreaming of the ceremony so that it could be hugely to the musical life of the Chapel. I would like to put
enjoyed by alumni and friends around the world. If you on record my thanks to him, as well as to Ben Nicholas,
haven’t watched it yet, you can find it through the College under whose direction music at Merton has developed an
website: a wonderful record of the happiest of days. international reputation.
Michaelmas and Hilary terms followed their normal pattern, Alex is not the only member of the Chapel team to leave for
with the All Souls’ Requiem and Advent, Christmas and the States this year. The Revd Dr Jarred Mercer, our Associate
Epiphany Carol Services attracting large numbers of visitors Chaplain, left us in May to become Rector of St Paul’s
as well as members of the College. Our worship continues Church, Newburyport, in the Diocese of Massachusetts.
to be enriched by choral and organ music of the highest While with us, Jarred has increased the range of the Chapel’s
standard. The reputation of our Girl Choristers, as well as non-liturgical activities, broadening their scope and enabling
45
them to appeal to a diverse group within the College. As have also enjoyed visits by the Revd Dr Hugh Jones, Vicar
we wish him well in his new ministry, we look forward to of St Nicholas’, Lincoln; the Revd Professor Robert Gilbert,
welcoming the Revd Dr Melanie Marshall, currently Chaplain Fellow and Tutor in Biochemistry at Magdalen College; the
and Welfare Coordinator at Lincoln College, who takes Revd Canon Dr Jennifer Strawbridge, Fellow and Tutor in
up this post in September. Finally, in terms of personnel, Theology at Mansfield College; and the Revd Canon Imogen
in November Lizzie Casey joined the team as Chapel Nay, Canon for Evangelism and Discipleship at Chelmsford
Administrator. She came to us from OUP, and has already Cathedral. The Warden, Professor Irene Tracey, gave the
made a significant contribution, not least in helping us address at this year’s Postmasters’ Evensong and, on the
develop our social media presence. final Sunday of Hilary term, the BBC News Home Editor,
Mark Easton, gave the address at Evensong.
Merton’s Verger, Leah Collins, oversees the day-to-day
running of the Chapel, including our team of Chapel Following the imposition of lockdown, our services and
officers. This year, 13 undergraduate and graduate students activities moved online. I’m grateful to my colleagues in the
have served in this capacity, a record during my time at Chapel team for taking the initiative in this at a time when
Merton! I’m very grateful to Leah, and to all those who I needed to focus on the welfare aspect of my role. Socially
work with her; in particular, to Tim Foot and Oliver Isolated, Spiritually Connected became our hashtag. Moving
Pateman, who both leave us this year after many years of online enabled us to connect not only with the current
service to the Chapel and, among other leavers, to Adrian student body, staff and Fellows, but also with alumni. The
Burbie, Rob Lentz, Tom Lousada, Thomas Nightingale and resources we put together are available on the College
Colin Robertson. website, as are the Sunday evening online services, which
included a homily on 7 June by our Honorary Fellow, Bishop
Our principal service of the week, on Sunday evening, has Tom Wright.
once again been enriched by a variety of visiting preachers.
This year’s episcopal visitors have included the Rt Revd Mark As for what the Chapel programme will look like next term,
Davies, Bishop of Middleton; the Rt Revd Dr Martin Warner, it’s too early to tell, except to say that generous donations
Bishop of Chichester, who preached the University Sermon from the Reed Foundation and the McElwee family will enable
on the Grace of Humility; the Rt Revd Tim Thornton, Bishop us to install cameras over the summer to complement the
at Lambeth; and his predecessor in that role, the Rt Revd existing webcasting equipment. This will add sight to sound,
Nigel Stock, both of whom also baptised and confirmed. We enabling us to livestream services and concerts.
Patronage
The Chapel’s Social Media The Revd Elveen Mead, Assistant Curate of Gauzebrook
Accounts (Diocese of Bristol) has been appointed Priest-in-Charge
Instagram: @MertonCollChoir and (Interim Minister) of Stratton St Margaret with South
@MertonCollChapel Marston and Stanton Fitzwarren (Diocese of Bristol).
Twitter: @MertonCollChoir and @MertonChapel
Facebook: @MertonCollChoir and The Revd Diane Whitaker, Rector of Potterspury with Furtho
@MertonCollChapel and Yardley Gobion with Cosgrove and Wicken (Diocese of
Peterborough) has been appointed Rector of the Astwell
Benefice (Diocese of Peterborough).
46
Welfare and Student Support
47
The Choirs
Three Choirs Festival, July 2019
© Michael Whitefoot
With the cessation of choral services on 12 March, the choirs’ am delighted that Cheryl has since been appointed to the
activities came to an unexpected halt. While the College Choir Visiting Fellowship in the Creative Arts at Merton and we
has met socially online and recorded a number of pieces for look forward to fruitful collaborations in 2021. It was good
the Virtual Chapel in ‘isolation’, it’s easy to feel that the year to welcome the composer Gregory Rose to the College
lacks any completeness. Intensive rehearsals prior to 12 March to work with the choir in preparation for the premiere of
left the choir ready for two performances of Bach’s St Matthew his demanding motet Ut queant laxis, which was sung at
Passion and three broadcasts for the BBC. The Girl Choristers Evensong on 30 October.
have met via Zoom weekly throughout Trinity term and I am
grateful to Carys Lane for her resourcefulness in devising In addition to the Advent and Christmas Carol Services, the
various musical games for the younger choristers. However, College Choir sang a carol service for alumni at St Vedast,
it’s still possible to look back on a year which included two Foster Lane, London, and, with the Girl Choristers, gave a
particular highlights: just before Michaelmas term began, the Carols by Candlelight concert in the Chapel. At the invitation
College Choir and the Girl Choristers combined to sing for of Oxford University Press, the College hosted a concert of
the installation of Professor Irene Tracey as Warden. It was music by OUP composers, at which John Rutter conducted
a memorable ceremony and the choirs enjoyed contributing the College Choir in two of his recent carols.
Vaughan Williams’ O clap your hands and Herbert Howells’
Collegium Regale Te Deum. Then, in May 2020, it was Hilary term began with the Epiphany Carol Service, sung by the
announced that the College Choir had won the Choral Award College Choir and Girl Choristers; at a tea party beforehand,
at the 2020 BBC Music Magazine Awards for the recording of members of the College Choir had an opportunity to thank
Gabriel Jackson’s The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the Friends of the Choir for all the support they offer each
the first time that a choir from Oxford has won this accolade, year. The Carol Service included the world premiere of Nico
and I would like to thank all those benefactors who made it Muhly’s Song of Ephrem the Syrian, commissioned for both
possible for us to make the recording in the first place. choirs (the choristers have their own very distinctive part)
through the generosity of the Reed Foundation. Song of
Michaelmas term included a visit to sing a concert at St Ephrem the Syrian is included on the new CD Sleeper’s Prayer
Matthew’s Church, Rushall, one of the College livings. – a collection of choral and organ music from North America,
Once again, we received wonderful hospitality from Lady released on Delphian Records in May. The disc has been in
Jones. At the 2019 Oxford Lieder Festival, the choir gave a the top 20 of the Classical Charts and was described on BBC
concert which included Maurice Duruflé’s beautiful Requiem Radio 3’s Record Review as ‘a fantastic disc ... a real feat of
and motets by Judith Weir and Cheryl Frances-Hoad. I excellence and precision’. Due to the impact of Covid-19, the
48
College News | The Choirs
The Choir recording Sleeper’s Prayer © William Campbell-Gibson
planned CD recording of music by Ian Venables and Herbert through our Choral Open Day and other events. The choir
Howells has had to be postponed until next year and we from Abingdon School sang with the College Choir for
look forward to this. The Choir’s recordings and recordings Evensong in the Michaelmas term, and the choirs from Tiffin
of the Dobson Organ are available through our online shop School and Winchester College visited in early January to
at www.merton.ox.ac.uk/chapel-choir/recordings. record discs of Christmas carols. As ever, I welcome enquiries
from potential organ and choral scholars, and potential girl
The Girl Choristers began the academic year with a visit to choristers (aged nine at admission) and I am always happy
Chichester Cathedral, where we sang Evensong between 27 to meet them at any point in the year.
and 29 August. Accommodation at Cobnor Activity Centre
enabled us to enjoy daily walks at Chichester Harbour, Kentaro Machida has made a very promising start as Organ
and we were entertained to lunch at the home of Phoebe Scholar, and has coped well not only with lockdown, but also
Pexton (2015) near Bosham. Apart from the obvious social with illness in the Michaelmas term. We look forward to his
benefits of a trip like this, the musical rewards of this return to the College in the autumn. Leah Collins, as ever,
intense period of rehearsal and performance have been works incredibly hard supporting both choirs and Elizabeth
felt all year. In addition to the singing of Evensong on Casey has completed her first year, during which she has
Wednesdays during term, the choristers have taken part in vastly improved the choirs’ profiles on the various social
a number of extra events including a joint service with the media platforms. Our Assistant Organist, Alex Little, leaves
choristers of Magdalen College, the Carols by Candlelight us this summer to pursue doctoral studies at the Eastman
concert as well as the Christmas Celebration for OUP. Sadly, School of Music, Rochester, New York. He has served the
the current situation has meant that our residency at St Chapel brilliantly over the last five years, and we wish him
George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, planned for August, has well for his time in the USA. Jarred Mercer will also be much
been cancelled. In September 2020, the choir will become missed by all, but we hope to visit him on a future US tour!
an Associate Member of the Choir Schools’ Association – a Finally, on behalf of all the singers and organists, a huge
wonderful tribute to the College’s educational work with debt of gratitude to Simon Jones for all he does to make the
girls from nine different schools. David Harvey’s continued Chapel the thriving community that it is.
support of the choir is greatly appreciated.
Benjamin Nicholas
The services that take place in the Chapel remain the heart Reed Rubin Organist and Director of Music
of our work and it has been a pleasure to welcome a number
of choirs to sing with us as we continue our outreach work
49
The Library Books in quarantine
As Trinity term came to a close, the Classics Room in the With all the dislocations to working patterns and planned
OWL library was filled, but not with finalists. Instead, the large activities since March 2020, it is easy to forget that a lot
oak tables were covered with neatly labelled piles of returned happened earlier in the academic year. Here are a few
library books waiting for 72 hours to elapse before they highlights.
could be re-shelved. All through term, library staff had been
working from home, answering enquiries every day, helping Brenchley TS Eliot Collection
students and tutors track down electronic resources and, in In January 2020 Cathy Lewis, Resource Description Project
some cases, arranging for newly purchased books to be sent Librarian, completed the detailed cataloguing of the
directly to students. The Fellow Librarian and the Archivist took contents of the Brenchley TS Eliot Collection. This collection
turns checking the Upper Library and store areas regularly – a of over 1,300 items was formed by Mertonian Frank
task deemed ‘essential’ by the Governing Body for heritage Brenchley (Honorary Fellow, 1936). It contains many of
collections like Merton’s. Librarians from colleges and Bodleian Eliot’s publications in their original format as they appeared
libraries worked together to purchase e-books that could be in magazines and newspapers as well as the Epstein bust
shared by all. When college libraries were able to allow staff of the poet now displayed in the foyer of the TS Eliot
back to work on site, librarians scanned chapters and sections Lecture Theatre. Researchers can now locate items in the
of books to send to students or share online. collection by using Oxford’s online catalogue. Many of the
20th-century journals and paperbound volumes of poetry
Looking back on the early months of the pandemic, I am are fragile, and Cathy also worked with conservators from
struck by how active libraries were, even while reading the Oxford Conservation Consortium to re-house individual
rooms were closed, and by how libraries across the items in acid-free protective folders and boxes.
University worked collaboratively to provide services to our
users. I usually conclude these reports with thanks to the Equality and Diversity Collection
library staff, but this year I’ll put the thanks at the beginning In February 2020 the library launched a loan collection
and acknowledge the excellent work of Harriet Campbell dedicated to exploring issues around gender, sexuality,
Longley, Julian Reid, Verity Parkinson, Rosslyn Johnston, Leah disability, race, nationality, religion, and the interactions
Collins, Cathy Lewis and Tuija Ainonen. between these areas. The idea for the collection was
50
College News | The Library
proposed by Merton students to ensure that subject areas
not well covered by the existing curricula are represented in
the library. This project is a participatory work in progress
with ongoing involvement of the JCR and MCR.
51
It was Elisabeth’s idea to donate material to establish a day and its multiple functions as a working college library.
Beerbohm Collection at Merton, but sadly she did not live The book can now be bought at www.bodleianshop.co.uk/
to see it happen. Instead, it was her sister Dr Eva Reichmann products/merton-college-library, and Mertonians can get a
who worked with Dr Roger Highfield (then Fellow Librarian) 10% discount by using the code OUAlumni at the checkout.
to make Elisabeth’s wish a reality. The chain of ownership
of the books donated this year bears witness to a chain of My work was made possible by the remarkable wealth of
friendships: from Max to Elisabeth, Elisabeth to her sister documentation in the College’s archives, by the manuscripts
Eva, who gave them to her book-loving friends Pauline and and books which in themselves constitute an archive, and
Arnold Paucker (d. 2016). And it was their friend, Michael by a number of more focused specialised studies, some
Diamond (1959) who suggested to them that the Merton of them by my predecessors in the role of Librarian. After
Library might be a good permanent home for them. writing about the various ways that the library has changed
over more than 700 years, I was confident that the library
A new history of the Merton Library could adapt routines and services this spring to continue
One of the many events postponed this summer was the to support the Merton community when the members of
publication date of a new history of the Merton Library: that community were physically dispersed. We are fortunate
Merton College Library: An Illustrated History by Julia C in the preservation of beautiful and inspiring buildings, but
Walworth (Oxford: Bodleian Library, 2020). This short what remains truly unchanging is our academic purpose.
illustrated survey traces the development of the library
from its origins in the 13th century as a shared collection Dr Julia Walworth
for a new type of community of scholars to the present Fellow Librarian
Donations to the Library and
Grateful thanks for gifts and Archives 2019-20
support are extended to: It is a pleasure to record the following particularly
Kristin Böse, Penny Boxall (Visiting Research Fellow noteworthy donations to library and archive collections:
in the Arts, Michaelmas term 2019), Emily Capstick
(2017), Christ Church, Corpus Christi College, • Seven works by Max Beerbohm with inscriptions to Elisabeth
Gail Fine (Emeritus Fellow), Michael Garton- Jungmann (Lady Beerbohm), donated by Arnold (†) and
Sprenger (1969), John Gibbons, Sam Gormley Pauline Paucker
(2010), Rosslyn Johnston (Library Assistant), Simon • Books and archival material from the library of Sir Rex
Jones (Chaplain; Fellow), Iacovos Kareklas, Lincoln Richards FRS (Warden 1969-84), donated by his family
College, MJP Architects, Oriel College, Oxford
University Press, Pembroke College, Stephen Phelps, • Corrected proofs of For Want of the Golden City by
John and Rose Randle, Jessica Rawson (Honorary Sacheverell Sitwell, donated by Michael Raeburn (1959) to
Fellow; Warden 1994-2010), Nicholas Richardson complement the Ritchie Sitwell Collection
(Emeritus Fellow), Paul Saenger, Verity Sherwood, • Family correspondence and personal papers of Professor
Christopher Skelton-Foord, Somerville College, Kuruvila Zachariah (1912), donated by the Zachariah family
Mark Synnott, Roger SO Tomlin (Harmsworth • Photograph of Merton College in the snow, April 1908, taken
Senior Scholar 1966-68), Julia Walworth (Fellow by Reggie Chenevix Trench (1906), donated by Anthony
Librarian), Elia Weinbach (1967), Joella Werlin, Steve Fletcher (1959)
West, Hanna Wimmer, Worcester College, Simon • Merton College and other student memorabilia, 1970-71,
Wren-Lewis (Emeritus Fellow), Clare Wright. donated by John Symes (1969)
† Donated posthumously
52
College News | The Library
We also thank Mertonians who have given copies of their publications to the College:
Allen, RH (1967). Medicine Man (PublishNation, Yang, CN, M-L Ge and Y-H He (Fitzjames California: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
2018) Research Fellow in Mathematics 2005-09; Platform, 2015)
____ It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue (PublishNation, Lecturer in Mathematics) (eds). Topology and Preest, D (†) (1956) (tr) and HR Webster (ed).
2019) Physics (New Jersey: World Scientific, 2019) The Annals of Dunstable Priory (Woodbridge:
____ Death on the Volga (PublishNation, 2019) Houghton, LBT (1996). Virgil’s Fourth Eclogue Boydell Press, 2018)
____ The Body in the Marine Buildings (Beacon in the Italian Renaissance (Cambridge University ____ (tr) and JG Clark (ed). The Deeds of the
Publishing Group: New York, 2019) Press, 2019) Abbots of St Albans: Gesta Abbatum Monasterii
____ Misfits and Miscreants (PublishNation, 2019) Sancti Albani (Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 2019)
____ Post and Perfidy (PublishNation, 2020) Huitink, L (Leventis Research Fellow in
____ Defenestration and Devilment (A Play of Ancient Greek 2009-13) (contributor). In A Raeburn, M (1959). A Book of Celebratory
Deceit) (PublishNation, 2020) Willi and P Derron (eds) Formes et Fonctions Cakes (London: Cacklegoose Press, 2020)
des Langues Littéraires en Grèce Ancienne: Neuf
Bott, A (1953; Emeritus Fellow). A History Exposés Suivis de Discussions (Fondation Hardt: Rastall, P (1970). Bottom-Up Linguistics:
of the Churches of Bramley and Grafham & Vandœuvres, 2019) Perspectives and Explorations with a Postscript
Wonersh and Blackheath (self-published, 2020) on Language and Reality (Brno: Masaryk
Grethlein, J, L Huitink and A Tagliabue (eds). University Press, 2019)
Bowers, W (JRF 2015-19). The Italian Idea: Experience, Narrative, and Criticism in Ancient
Anglo-Italian Radical Literary Culture, 1815-1823 Greece: Under the Spell of Stories (Oxford Richardson, N (Emeritus Fellow) (ed).
(Cambridge University Press, 2020) University Press, 2020) Autogiro Pioneer: The Life of Jack Richardson
(Stroud: Fonthill, 2019)
Carey, J (Emeritus Fellow). A Little History of Hunt, D (2005) (contributor). In H
Poetry (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2020) Puschmann (ed) Butterworths Challenges in Sawyer, D (Fitzjames Research Fellow in
Medieval English Literature). Reading English
Fine, G (Emeritus Fellow) (ed). The Oxford Arbitration: Challenges against Arbitrators,
Verse in Manuscript c.1350-c.1500 (Oxford
Handbook of Plato, 2nd edn (New York: Oxford Awards and Enforcement in England and Wales
(London: LexisNexis, 2019) University Press, 2020)
University Press, 2019)
Jones, S (Fellow) (contributor). In S Croft (ed) Siegert, Y (2018) (tr). C Maillard, Killing
Rodger, T, P Williamson and M Grimley (Fellow) Plato (with original subtitles) (New York: New
(eds). The Church of England and British Politics Rooted and Grounded: Faith Formation and the
Christian Tradition (Norwich: Canterbury Press, Directions, 2019)
since 1900 (Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 2020)
2019) Späth, M (VRF 2018) (contributor). In
Franklinos, TE (2011) and H Hope (2008) Marburger Jahrbuch für Kunstwissenschaft,
(eds). Revisiting the Codex Buranus: Contents, Karlin, D (JRF 1978-80) (ed). H James, The
Bostonians (Cambridge University Press, 2019) Bd. 45 (Marburg: Veröffentlichung des
Contexts, Composition (Woodbridge: Boydell Kunstgeschichtlichen Instituts der Philipps-
Press, 2020) Lemos, IS (Fellow) and A Tsingarida (eds). Universitat, 2018)
Gunn, K (VRF in the Arts, Hilary term 2020). Beyond the Polis: Rituals, Rites and Cults in Early
Walworth, J (Fellow Librarian). Merton
The Big Music: [Selected Papers] (London: Faber and Archaic Greece (12th-6th centuries BC)
(CReA-Patrimoine: Bruxelles, 2019) College Library: An Illustrated History (Oxford:
& Faber, 2012) Bodleian Library, 2020)
____ My Katherine Mansfield Project (Honiton, ____ and A Kotsonas (eds). A Companion
Devon: Notting Hill Editions, 2015) to the Archaeology of Early Greece and the Wormald, J (1963) and K Rennick. National
____ Infidelities (London: Faber & Faber, 2016) Mediterranean, vols 1 & 2 (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, Policy, Global Giants: How Australia Built
____ Going Bush (London: Sylph Editions, 2016) 2020) and Lost its Automotive Industry (Cambridge
____ Caroline’s Bikini: An Arrangement of a Novel University Press, 2019)
Morrish, PS (former Assistant Librarian).
with an Introduction and Some Further Material Libraries in Leeds: A Historical Survey, 1152-c.1939 Wycherley, L (former Library Assistant). The
(London: Faber & Faber, 2018) (Leeds: Thoresby Society, 2019) Testimony of the Trees (Beeston, Nottingham:
Hall, M (1962) (ed and tr). John of Garland’s De Phelps, D (†) (1962). Using Drugs to Cheat Old
Shoestring Press, 2018)
Triumphis Ecclesie: A New Critical Edition with Age: The Daughters of Pelias and the Emblems We would also like to thank those who
Introduction and Translation (Turnhout, Belgium: of Zoroastrian Immortality (Scotts Valley, anonymously returned missing books.
Brepols, 2019)
53
The Archives
Merton in snow, April 1908. Photo by Reggie Chenevix Trench (1906),
kindly donated by his grandson Anthony Fletcher (1959)
I hope Mertonians will forgive my referring to the uncharted second-year historians starting to plan their dissertations:
territory in which we find ourselves. I am sure I will not how to identify sources, the pitfalls of research and making
be alone in this edition of Postmaster in referring to these the most of visits to physical archives.
interesting times, but they have preoccupied our minds for
the past six months or so. How different things were by the start of Trinity. We were no
longer able to meet together in person but rather gathered
Readers will be aware from previous reports that at the online. It seemed unlikely then that students would be able
end of Michaelmas term the Fellow Librarian and I normally to visit record repositories and access original sources, so I
provide a workshop for first-year history students, looking too was placed in the novel position of asking how one could
at medieval documents from the archives as an introduction undertake original research without physical access to sources.
to the sources of history. It is always fascinating watching With the not-unreasonable assumption that libraries might
them teasing out the clues and starting to draw conclusions. reopen sooner than record offices, there are many sources
November 2019 was no different. At the end of Hilary or (diaries, collections of letters, and so on) available in printed
the start of Trinity term I usually contribute to a slightly editions. Moreover, over the last two decades much work has
different class organised by the History Fellows, talking to been done to digitise and make available online a wealth of
54
College News | The Archives
original resources held in both national and local collections. retained 26 copies to give to friends and admirers. One such
Previously, access to some of these has been restricted by was York Powell, to whom Pissarro had presented this copy.
a paywall but, in the current circumstances, many of these Powell, Regius Professor of Modern History from 1894, died
restrictions have been removed for the duration. aged just 54 at his home on Banbury Road, on 8 May 1904.
So we can place quite closely the date of Pissarro’s gift, since
Answering enquiries and providing information is part of the the book came off the press in March 1904 and Powell died
bread and butter of being a college archivist, and this has just two months later. It is satisfying when a bookseller’s
perhaps proved even more true in lockdown, as people have catalogue preserved in our archives can reveal so much of
found themselves without direct access to sources that are the story of a book held in a library on the other side of
normally taken for granted. While I have largely been working the globe.
from home, I have been permitted to go into College once
a week, primarily to check the security and environmental In October I had the pleasure of meeting an older generation
conditions of the parts of College, both library and archives, of Mertonians at the lunch for matriculands of 1969. John
where special collections are housed; to ensure, for example, Symes entertained the company with his recollections,
that we have neither suffered a flood nor been invaded by including a Myrmidons dinner at which John Cleese, whose
insects. I have used these visits to check original sources in star was then rising as one of ‘the Pythons’, was the guest
response to queries. of honour. John subsequently kindly donated the menu
from that dinner, signed by all those in attendance, together
One such enquiry received was from the Curator of Rare with other memorabilia from his time at Oxford. Professor
Books at the Alexander Turnbull Library, part of the National Anthony Fletcher (1959) has also augmented the archive of
Library of New Zealand. Alexander Turnbull was a member his grandfather Reggie Chenevix Trench (1906), which he had
of a late-19th-century comfortable mercantile family, who previously given to the College, with a framed photograph of
had established a comprehensive collection of all aspects the College taken in the snow, in 1908. This might not seem
of the history and natural history of New Zealand, which so remarkable, except that the event occurred in April. Snow
he left to the nation at his death in 1918. In addition to this fell across southern England for four days, 23-26 April, with
primary collecting interest, he was a collector of the works a blizzard raging across Oxfordshire and Berkshire on the
of John Milton. Turnbull had purchased a copy of Milton’s 25th; the depth of snow in Oxford measured c.16 inches/40
Areopagatica advertised for sale in a catalogue issued by cm. Reggie Chenevix Trench rose early on the 26th and
Blackwell’s in February 1907. The curator was aware we held photographed the College from Christ Church Meadow,
the Blackwell Collection; were we able to supply any further capturing the event for posterity.
information? As it happens, the collection includes the set
of catalogues from the ‘Gaffer’s Office’: Sir Basil Blackwell’s Finally, I must acknowledge the kind gift by the Zachariah
own reference set. The entry was quickly found, revealing family of additional papers of Kuruvila Zacharia (1912).
that Turnbull’s purchase had been a small quarto edition of Mertonians will be familiar with his student letters from
Areopagitica published by Lucien Pissarro’s Eragny Press in the account by Philip Waller in The Treasures of Merton.
1904. The catalogue also records that it was inscribed, ‘To The recent gift comprises primarily later correspondence
Prof. York Powell from Lucien Pissarro’. between himself and members of his immediate family,
1929-54; in particular with his wife Shanti, when they were
Pissarro had established the Eragny Press in 1894 to print separated by his work as a teacher and educator. They
beautiful books in the tradition of William Morris’s Kelmscott provide fascinating glimpses of domestic and professional
Press. Further research revealed that the Areopagitica was life set against the wider backdrop of Indian independence.
originally printed in the autumn of 1903 but that a fire had
destroyed all but 40 copies. The printing of a further 160 Julian Reid
copies was completed in March 1904, of which Pissarro Archivist
55
Development and
Alumni Relations The Mertonian Dinner in Singapore, 17 January 2020
The Merton Development Office exists to keep our to meet Irene and hear her speak about her vision for the
community of over 8,000 alumni and friends connected to College. The annual Merton Lawyers’ Association event
the College and to each other. We organise events around was as fascinating as ever, hosting a conversation between
the world, broadcast news through our publications and Dinah Rose QC (Blackstone Chambers), now President of
e-newsletters, and fundraise to support current and future Magdalen College, and BBC journalist and author Mishal
generations of Mertonians and academics at Merton. In this Husain. We are grateful to Daniel Schaffer (1986), Matthew
most extraordinary and difficult year, I am proud to report Tobin (1991) and William Watson (1980) for enabling us to
that we have remained steadfast in our mission. We would hold this event at Slaughter and May. The Merton Society
like to extend our sincerest gratitude to our community of Carol Service rounded off the calendar year, with the Choir
alumni and friends for their continued interest, involvement performing at St-Vedast-alias-Foster church in the City of
and generosity. London, which was filled to the brim with Mertonians and
friends, many of whom stayed after the performance to
A vibrant programme of events catch up with friends over mince pies and drinks.
The academic year began with two popular reunion events
in College. Mertonians who matriculated between 2009 We are delighted to have had the chance to hold events
and 2011 returned for their first Gaudy in September 2019, overseas. Last November, Amna Naseer (1997) kindly hosted
filling Hall to capacity. The Golden Jubilee Lunch for 1969 a lively MC3 drinks reception at her home in New York. The
matriculands followed in October, bringing together nearly Warden and Development Director Duncan Barker also
50 Mertonians and guests, with Year Representative John travelled to East Asia in January 2020 to meet with Mertonians
Symes (1969) presiding over the occasion. and attended dinners in Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
We would like to express our thanks to Tom Willett (1986),
In November and December, we held several events in Charles Target (1975) and Steven Thomas (1979) who,
London. A wonderful Welcome Drinks event for our new respectively, hosted these events. Our Warden was honoured
Warden, Irene Tracey (1985), took place in the beautiful to meet with Naruhito, Emperor of Japan (1983) and his family,
setting of Apothecaries’ Hall. More than 180 people came all of whom are great friends of the College.
56
College News | Development and Alumni Relations
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we unfortunately had to two worthy causes: Oxford Mutual Aid, a local organisation
postpone or cancel all in-person events for the rest of 2020. supporting individuals in need during the pandemic; and
Like most other aspects of College life, events moved online the Merton Hardship Fund, a new fund to help students,
from March onwards. In May, the Warden gave the annual alumni, staff and other members of the College who are in
Merton Society London Lecture on her career and research need during these difficult times. The 1264 Challenge was a
in neuroscience. This was followed by a series of lectures huge success, and more than £60,000 has been raised for
by Merton Fellows on: malaria vaccines (Professors Matt the Hardship Fund at the time of writing. You can view the
Higgins and Simon Draper), the value of the Humanities many creative challenges that were submitted and make a
(Professor Helen Small), the diversity of animals (Professor contribution here: www.merton.ox.ac.uk/1264challenge.
Peter Holland), the ancient history of Sicily (Professor
Jonathan Prag) and law and civic education in socialist China Donations have also been coming in towards the Michael
(Dr Jennifer Altehenger). Recordings of all the online lectures Baker Tutorial Fellowship appeal in Physics, which has the
can be viewed at www.merton.ox.ac.uk/online-lectures. goal of raising £1 million to permanently endow a teaching
post. This campaign will honour Professor Baker, who was
Supporting the next generation at Merton our first Tutor in Physics, and ensure that the quality of
Amid the many challenges of this year, our alumni and this subject at Merton is preserved for future generations.
friends have remained committed to supporting Merton. We If you are interested in making a gift towards this important
are enormously grateful for all the gifts we have received, appeal, please do not hesitate to contact us.
which have even more impact during these difficult times.
Donations are crucial in providing financial assistance to The Development Office – old and new faces
students in need, preserving our high quality of teaching This year has seen much change in the Development Office.
and research, and maintaining and enhancing the College We sadly said goodbye to our Development Director, Dr
buildings. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated. Duncan Barker, who left his post in May. We are enormously
grateful to Duncan for everything he has done for the College
We were delighted to begin the academic year with the over the past three years. Our Development Officer, Megan
conclusion of the appeal to establish the Roger Highfield Buchanan, has also left, and our Alumni Events & Stewardship
Graduate Scholarship in History. A total of £1 million was Officer, Elizabeth Lynn, is due to go on maternity leave. We wish
raised to permanently endow the Scholarship, which will Duncan, Megan and Elizabeth well in their new endeavours.
honour Dr Highfield’s great legacy and help us to attract the
best graduate historians to Merton from all backgrounds. We Alongside these departures, we have welcomed Emily Bruce
also held a fruitful mini-Telethon in December, which aimed as Alumni Communications Officer and Chelsea Chisholm
to reach alumni living overseas. A small team of four students has returned from maternity leave. James Vickers and I
made late-night and early-morning calls, raising over £10,000 remain constants in the team. We are looking forward to the
and speaking to more than 100 people in less than a week. coming year and helping to support the Merton 2020 (40
Years: Merton Women) celebrations among other events, as
The arrival of the pandemic brought a new set of challenges well as keeping all our alumni connected with the College.
for fundraising. We unfortunately had to cancel the March
Telethon and postpone the biennial Founder’s Society Lunch We are always happy to hear from Mertonians and friends.
for legators. In a creative and positive step, the Warden, If you have any questions or comments, please do contact
JCR President and MCR President launched The Big Merton the Development Office by email at development@merton.
1264 Challenge. This campaign encouraged the whole ox.ac.uk or by phone at +44 (0)1865 286314.
Merton community to take up fun challenges related to the
numbers 1-2-6-4 (for example, running 12.64km or baking Milos Martinov
126 cookies), post the results online, and make donations to Deputy Development Director
57
Academic Office
It has been an extraordinary year for the College and its with tutors and others to introduce remote formats for
community, and one in which the Academic Office has teaching, assessment and academic administration.
seen considerable change. Although not for the first time,
the College has had three Senior Tutors over the course I joined the College as Senior Tutor on 4 May and consider
of the academic year. Dr Rachel Buxton ended her term myself fortunate to be stepping into the shoes of two
of office in December 2019 to take on the role of Director outstanding predecessors. Although I have held roles in
of Learning at St Mark’s College in Adelaide, a residential Oxford colleges before, I have been extremely impressed
college for students from universities in the city. The post by the structures and the work of the Academic Office.
carries responsibility for the College’s tutorial programme Without these in place, taking on a new role in lockdown
and events, and for ensuring the academic success and while handling the Senior Tutor’s usual workload and
personal wellbeing of all students. I am sure that her time considerable amounts of Covid-related planning would have
at Merton, and her commitment to enhancing the student been so much more challenging. Both Rachel Buxton before
experience, will be invaluable and we wish her every success she left, and Fra’ John since, have been generous with their
and happiness in her new post. time and expertise, and I cannot thank them enough for
assisting with the handover.
Dr Buxton was succeeded in January 2020 by Fra’ John Eidinow
who became Acting Senior Tutor until my arrival in May. As Merton’s students began their online studies in Trinity
Fra’ John’s detailed knowledge of the College’s governance term, and our tutors adapted to new ways of teaching
and structures, his experience and his clear thinking and and supporting them, so the work of the Academic Office
wisdom have clearly been of huge benefit. Not only did he changed. Members of the team worked from home to
successfully complete an almost normal Hilary term, but he maintain services. That it has been possible to do this is a
then skilfully navigated the transition into lockdown, working testament to the hard work and commitment of all members
58
College News | Academic Office
and to Katy Fifield’s leadership as Academic Registrar. Over but we hope to have a replacement in post ready for the next
the last few months, many tasks have carried on but new exercise in Michaelmas term 2020. We are also recruiting a
ones have been added, policies have been amended, and new Schools Liaison and Access Officer and look forward to
other activities have been adjusted or paused. It is thanks resuming outreach activities as restrictions lift.
to Charlotte Pawley’s wizardry with Zoom that Warden’s
collections ran smoothly for students all over the world. We know that the pandemic has been a challenging time
Julie Gerhardi’s experience gave continuity to on-course and for many of our students but I would like to end by saying
postgraduate offer-holders. Rachel Wilkins transformed the that despite the difficulties, they have shown the most
start-of-term collections into online versions and Frances extraordinary resilience, commitment, tenacity and flexibility.
Raimo’s work has helped to ensure that students facing They have learnt new skills, been reflective about their
financial hardship because of the pandemic have been well experiences, and continued to demonstrate the motivation
supported. Sarah North devised and delivered two virtual and hard work that will enable them to thrive, on course
open days and Katy Fifield has worked tirelessly to adjust and in the future. I cannot tell you how much I am looking
and adapt provision, including as it related to a wholly forward to a more normal year in which it is possible to get
online examination season. I would like thank them all to know students and tutors in person, to attend events, to
for working so collaboratively and conscientiously for our hear our choirs sing, and to become a part of what is clearly
undergraduates, graduates and tutors. a very special community of extraordinary people.
Sadly for us, Sarah North will be leaving her role as Admissions Dr Jane Gover
Manager to become Academic Services Manager at Christ Senior Tutor
Church. I know that her knowledge and expertise in supporting
the undergraduate admissions process will be sorely missed,
59
Schools Liaison
and Access
This has undoubtedly been an incredibly difficult year for digital content required a great deal of time and energy
the schools and colleges that we work with and for their from colleagues across the College community and from
pupils, whose education has been disrupted to varying our undergraduates. We were delighted with the end result:
degrees, despite the enormous efforts of teachers to mitigate tutors ran live Q&A webinars and offered pre-recorded
the effects of the pandemic. Following the UK government’s subject videos, current student ambassadors engaged
announcement of a country-wide lockdown in March with hundreds of prospective applicants through live Q&A
2020, due to the rising number of cases of Covid-19, it was sessions, and new website content was produced, including
unfortunately necessary to pause Merton’s outreach work. some excellent new ‘student life’ videos.
School groups were no longer able to visit the College for
tours, presentations and sessions with our current students, The preparation and delivery of the Open Days were
and outbound visits to schools and colleges by tutors and supported by a number of College staff, who went above
members of Merton’s Academic Office also had to be cancelled. and beyond their normal duties to ensure that the events
ran smoothly. The contribution made by our students was
Despite the huge challenges that pupils and their teachers also outstanding and demonstrated not only their love of
have faced, and are still facing, we are extremely excited the College but some phenomenal communication skills. We
about the prospect of being able to renew and invigorate very much hope that the virtual events, and the information
our in-person outreach offerings as soon as government provided, will have helped a great many prospective applicants
guidelines permit and when it is safe to do so. In the meantime, in their decision making. We are looking forward to repeating
we have continued to adapt to changing circumstances, the process for our September 2020 Virtual Open Day, but
including the decision by the University that its 2020 Open even more so to welcoming applicants, their families and
Days would be held remotely so that prospective applicants their teachers in person when it is possible to do so.
did not have travel to Oxford. In July 2020, we therefore
welcomed visitors to Merton’s first ever Virtual Open Days. Despite all the challenges, the last few months have
The transition to an online format and the creation of new taught us much about working online with students and
60
College News | Schools Liaison and Access
colleagues. Although it is undoubtedly the case that face- enhance Merton’s relationships with schools and colleges
to-face activities play a hugely important part in highlighting in the region and to work closely with them on existing
the welcoming and diverse nature of the College, and in and new initiatives. Merton will retain its existing outreach
dispelling myths about Oxford University, these experiences regions and school networks, as primary college contact,
will be invaluable in informing the future place of virtual but the consortium arrangements will provide additional
engagement in the College’s access strategy. opportunities for expansion, collaboration and increased
effectiveness in our outreach work.
Looking ahead to the new academic year we have some
exciting news: as part of a University-wide recalibration of An exciting development linked to this decision is that
the outreach and access activities delivered collectively by Merton will have the opportunity to extend its reach and
the colleges, we are delighted to announce that Merton visibility by building new relationships with schools and
now forms part of the South West Outreach Consortium, colleges in the Bath and North East Somerset regions. The
partnered with Exeter College and Lady Margaret Hall. The South West Consortium will also be working collaboratively
collegiate University’s move to consortia arrangements in Bristol, which offers a new area on which to focus
provides numerous benefits for pupils and their schools and recruitment opportunity. In addition to restarting Merton’s
colleges, as well as for the Oxford colleges that work with outreach programme, we are very much looking forward to
them. For Merton, this formalisation of the consortium will working with our consortium partners in the year ahead in
help to maximise the impact and efficacy of our regional these new areas.
outreach and will offer a means for the consortium
members to work together towards common outreach aims. Sarah North, Admissions Manager, and Dr Jane Gover,
In doing so, we will be able to share expertise and resources Senior Tutor
where this offers mutual benefits and, importantly, improve
coordination and consistency across and between regions.
With sustained regional engagement, it will be possible to
61
Domestic Bursary
Ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the College is Road and student accommodation in Rose Lane, improving
perhaps a good way to sum up the work of the Domestic the bedrooms and making the buildings’ heating and lighting
Bursary staff – but as this review of the past year will make systems more environmentally friendly; the conversion of
clear, we have, for obvious reasons, been presented with far the Fitzjames Arch washrooms into gender-neutral facilities,
more than the quotidian challenges we ordinarily face. comprising four new cubicles and a fully accessible washroom;
and the commencement of a programme to convert one of
Throughout the 2019 long vacation we were engaged in hosting our Mansfield Road graduate houses into a nursery.
a substantial programme of meetings and conferences. At the
same time we carried out a programme of annual maintenance, The major event of Michaelmas term was the triennial
which involved refurbishing graduate accommodation in Iffley Merton Winter Ball in November. Although a student-led
62
event, the gardeners, the Lodge, the maintenance team Another of the small number of staff who have worked
63
who was helping at a street clinic for the homeless. conference events from Easter through to the end of the
summer have had to be rearranged to 2021, and the team
Our tenants across the country, many of whom are in the have been in frequent contact with the event organisers to
agricultural sector, have had a similarly difficult and uncertain keep them updated.
time these last few months, so our Estates Office have been
in regular contact with them in order to address their needs. As I write we are once again in the long vacation, and the
summer maintenance programme has recommenced. Our
By the start of Trinity term we had rapidly become familiar priority this year has been Holywell Street, where seven
with operating in a virtual world. All the usual committees student houses are being worked on. Although work on the
and meetings took place remotely, we had weekly online new nursery has been paused, we are carrying out a great
meetings with managers and heads of departments, and deal of compliance-related maintenance across the College,
managers were able to maintain contact with their staff who such as the testing of electrical systems.
were working at home or furloughed.
Now we are planning in detail for the restart of on-site
Web & Media Officer Simon Cope, as well as keeping the working – conducting Covid-specific risk assessments across
now-dispersed College community abreast of developments the College and within each department. We have been re-
via the website and social media, worked closely with our inducting staff and explaining revised working arrangements,
Development Office and some of our tutors to deliver a which will include split teams so that staff are not all in their
successful and well-attended programme of online lectures offices at the same time. This is especially important in our
throughout the term. kitchens, where normally between 10 and 12 people work
together in a relatively small space, providing upwards of
The pandemic has meant a different sort of busyness for our 30,000 meals a year. We will be introducing different shift
Conference and Events team. In an average year, the College patterns to try and ensure that we don’t lose the entire
hosts around 2,200 events: internal and external functions, team should one person display symptoms.
meetings, dinners, seminars and conferences. This year, all
64
College News | Domestic Bursary
We are slowly restarting our supply chain, with a phased re- As people are slowly beginning to return to on-site working, I’ve
introduction of catering, and have already started providing been hugely impressed by the positivity they have expressed,
sandwiches at lunchtime. Many of our suppliers have and by their flexibility and willingness to accommodate a
themselves furloughed staff, and they too need time to get much-changed working situation made necessary by the
up and running. need to get our people back into College safely.
In preparing for a socially distanced world in the new Thankfully, to date we have still had no confirmed cases
academic year, we are actively looking at the creation of of Covid-19 in College. I am very proud of the enormous
household ‘bubbles’, and the possibility of additional dining contribution that College staff have made over the last 12
facilities, including al fresco dining spaces, for example on months: their commitment, their loyalty and their willingness
Chestnut Lawn. to go above and beyond the call of duty. The management
team too has done a terrific job of ensuring that College
There is a huge amount of catching up being done in remains safe and secure.
preparation for the restart now that we are able to safely
bring some staff back into College – in particular this has Much of the work of the Domestic Bursary staff takes
meant Joanna Twardowska, Magda Clarke and Katarzyna place ‘under the bonnet’ and often goes unnoticed during
Adamczyk having to organise the cleaning of many rooms normal times. In this most extraordinary of years their role
that have remained untouched for four months after being in ensuring the continued smooth day-to-day running of
vacated at very short notice. the College has been very much at the forefront.
The first signs of a return to normality are starting to Timothy Lightfoot
appear, one of which is that the SCR coffee machine is now Domestic Bursar
back in use, allowing Fellows to enjoy the opportunity to
read the daily papers and chat – albeit while wearing nitrile
gloves and maintaining social distancing. Photos taken in lockdown by the Head Porter, Huw James
65
The Gardens Allium amethystinum ‘Red Mohican’
On Monday 23 March the Prime Minister announced we gravel. Sadly, back in February, Storm Ciara mechanically
should go into lockdown, only the weeds weren’t listening. ripped our mature yew out of the ground, when wind gusts
reached 68 miles per hour.
I was here for the best part of two months on my own. How
quickly a garden can get away from you! Mowing like crazy Successional planting on the deep herbaceous borders didn’t
while juggling cramped tender perennials in the greenhouse take place. Usually we cut down the dying foliage of spring
is no mean feat. bulbs and interplant. Nicotiana sylvestris (woodland tobacco
plant) is our favourite as it can grow up to 1.5 metres tall
Nothing at Merton has grown by accident and watering new and, as its common name suggests, can survive shade, in
tree plantings was high on my list of priorities. We have a our case from other herbaceous perennials.
bowser you tow with a mini tractor and a pedestrian one
for tricky-to-reach places. This gave me a huge appreciation In contrast to the extreme rainfall last winter the UK recorded
for gardeners who came before and what they have given the sunniest spring since records began in 1929 – particularly
us. Just on Fellows’ Garden current students are able to warm and dry conditions ranking it the eighth warmest and
compare trees from China, Hungary, Turkey, the Balkans, fifth driest spring. What were lovely green lawns turned to
Northern Europe, Persia, Eastern Canada and both western being crispy underfoot within a month.
and eastern Asia. Wow.
Despite this, new plant acquisitions flourished. Mertensia
Rose Lane had a new Spanish evergreen oak planted last maritima, so-called oysterplant because its edible leaves
autumn to cope with the drought from fantastically shallow taste of oyster, is native in the Shetland Isles up to northern
soil, all of six inches in depth, over hard compacted alluvial Greenland.
66
College News | The Gardens
Mertensia maritima
Eremurus x isabellinus ‘Cleopatra’, commonly known as foxtail have declined since the 1930s, possibly due to nutrient levels
lily, boasts flower spikes with hundreds of tiny tangerine in soil, different cultivars grown or supermarket storage
blossoms. Suspended over sword-like blue green leaves periods. In growing your own you can influence much of
they add drama and spectacular vertical lines in the garden. that. A good dose of manure or compost will nurture a
Planted south facing, the leaves die back after flowering, healthy soil biology and eating your produce at its peak
allowing the tubers to be baked in the sun promoting flower means you get more of the nutrients to keep your body
buds the following year. A dose of sulphate of potash also healthy, to help fight off viruses and other diseases.
does the trick.
Things are looking up; we had the first student return to
Allium amethystinum ‘Red Mohican’ has lived up to its name, Fellows’ Garden lawn on 26 June. Fingers crossed lockdown
giving us glorious wine-red flowers to complement a purple continues to ease and we can have the rest of the gardens
hazel nearby. team un-furloughed soon.
A common question during lockdown was how to get hold Lucille Savin
of compost. Staff took buckets of our leafmould to mix with Head Gardener
sieved garden soil. Tomato plants were changing hands as
people were looking to grow something to satisfy their
nurturing instinct and benefit their mental wellbeing due to
having so much time on their hands.
67
Hail to
New
Fellows Dr Jennifer Altehenger
Associate Professor of Chinese History, Jessica
Rawson Fellow in Modern Asian History
I joined the Merton history team in October 2019. I am
delighted to work once more at the college where I began
my postdoctoral life as Departmental Lecturer in 2010 after
a BA in Chinese Studies at Cambridge and a doctorate at
Heidelberg. In 2011, I held a postdoctoral fellowship at the
Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, Harvard University, and
I was then a lecturer at King’s College London between 2012
and 2019.
69
Professor Thomas Richards Dr Marc Roth
Royal Society University Research Fellow, Professor Junior Research Fellow in Computer Science
in Evolutionary Genomics and Tutor in Zoology
I completed both my undergraduate and my doctoral studies
I studied Human Sciences at University College, London, at Saarland University in south-western Germany. Shortly
which led to an interest in the major transitions that shaped after defending my thesis, I joined Merton College in October
the evolution of life on Earth. After my BSc I worked in a 2019.
NASA laboratory in New York where I did my first molecular
experiments, which changed my perspective on evolutionary My research lies in the broad field of what is called complexity
research. I then went to graduate school in Oxford, with theory, a branch of theoretical computer science. More
two years at the Natural History Museum, London, before concretely, complexity theory is the study of the inherent
moving to the University of Exeter and, in 2017, to the complexity of (computational) problems. In particular,
University of California, Berkeley, as a Visiting Professor. the goal is to identify which problems can be solved by
computers efficiently, and which are deemed infeasible
Our research team seeks to understand the shape of the even for future hardware. One example is the task to find
tree of life, and to understand the genetic and cellular a shortest path between two locations in a network, which
processes that have underpinned major transitions. We are fortunately admits an efficient algorithm, as demonstrated
particularly interested in the diversity and cell evolution of by navigation devices. Another example is the task to
eukaryotic forms: those organisms that are subdivided into decipher an encrypted message, which is highly relevant in
compartmentalised structures such as the nucleus where the context of cybersecurity.
our DNA is stored. Without these, there would be no animals
or plants. Our interest lies primarily in the distant cousins I am particularly interested in so-called counting problems.
of these eukaryotic groups, the protists. Protists include a Such problems are historically motivated by questions
wide diversity of forms from huge multicellular seaweeds to arising in statistical physics, and the understanding of their
slime-mould amoeba. They represent much more genomic inherent complexity often reveals a rich and, in my eyes,
diversity than animals or plants, and are responsible for fascinating and beautiful mathematical structure, which is
major components of ecological functions such as the the reason why I decided early to devote my research to the
carbon cycle in the ocean and crop diseases. study of counting problems.
We sequence genomes, calculate evolutionary trees, conduct The Junior Research Fellowship at Merton College allows me
biochemical experiments to understand cell function, and to combine the freedom of performing my own research
manipulate synthetic cells. We sample microbes from the with the opportunity to collaborate with some of the
depths of the ocean to the deserts of the Andes. All to leading experts in my field of research at the University of
understand how genome and cell evolution has underpinned Oxford. For this, I am most grateful and I am looking forward
the evolution of biological complexity. to the next few years at Merton.
70
College News | Hail to New Fellows
Dr Collis Tahzib Dr Cat Quine
Junior Research Fellow in Philosophy Junior Research Fellow in Theology
I joined Merton College as a Junior Research Fellow in I joined Merton College in September 2019 following a
Philosophy in October 2019. Prior to this, I was a non- one-year teaching post at the University of Nottingham. I
stipendiary lecturer in Political Theory at Christ Church, work in the area of Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) studies,
Oxford. I received a DPhil in Philosophy from St John’s College, focusing particularly on historical approaches to the texts
Oxford; a BPhil in Philosophy from The Queen’s College, and ancient Near Eastern cultures.
Oxford; and a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from
Lincoln College, Oxford. I am currently writing a book on Athaliah, queen of Judah,
who ruled as a monarch in Jerusalem for six years before her
My research focuses on contemporary theories of liberalism. assassination (c.840-831 BCE). Using various hermeneutical
In particular, I am interested in various principles of liberal lenses, this book will introduce Athaliah to a broader
political morality, such as the harm principle, the principle of audience and explore reader responses to her throughout
state neutrality and the public justification principle. These the centuries. I have also started a major project that seeks
principles all significantly constrain the way in which the to understand the region of Benjamin’s role in biblical history,
state is permitted to act in relation to citizens. In pursuing particularly its relationship to the beginning and end of the
these themes, I have engaged closely with the thought of monarchy and the patriarchal narratives concerning Jacob.
John Rawls, as developed in his two seminal works A Theory
of Justice and Political Liberalism. I am currently working on I am delighted to be a part of the Merton community and am
a book manuscript about the philosophical foundations of grateful for the chance to focus purely on research in such
liberalism. a stimulating and welcoming environment.
71
Features
Postmaster spoke to a selection of alumni, Fellows, current undergraduates, graduates and College staff to gain a small insight into
this collective response. Please bear in mind that the interviews were conducted in July, and some statements may now be out of
date –though the sentiments of help and cooperation remain unchanged.
Alumni
Ruth Taylor (1984) is a trying to get back to normal work while keeping socially
GP and senior partner distanced from our patients. And that’s not easy.’
at a general practice in
Worcester. Although she Many alumni have been involved in research. Marc Lipsitch
says that she had no (1992) is Professor of Epidemiology at the Harvard TH Chan
fear for herself when the School of Public Health and Director of Harvard’s Center for
outbreak began, she did Communicable Disease Dynamics. His main line of research
check that her children studies the effects of treatments and vaccines on pathogen
knew where her will was. populations, and the consequences for human health.
‘My members of staff were
really quite frightened – He states: ‘At the start, I had a feeling of dread. We had
Ruth Taylor there was a feeling that we had dress rehearsals with SARS and H1N1, but this was
would be overwhelmed.’ different. After the first few weeks, the scale of the pandemic
became clear so we increased our research involvement,
In common with many general practices, in the initial weeks collaborating widely with others in the same field.’
routine work was cleared and there were many changes in the
ways of working, not least a huge uptake in remote working. Marc’s own research involves the immune system,
‘We were worried about doing palliative care remotely, worried determining how you can tell whether people are protected
that we would run out of syringe drivers, and we had to devise by previous exposure. He also researches how to allocate
improvisation plans. We were outside our comfort zone, vaccines to maximally reduce transmission.
but people did follow the government guidance to stay at
home and reduce the pressure on the NHS, so we weren’t At the start of the pandemic, he sought to understand the
overwhelmed and we did manage to look after everyone.’ seasonality of coronaviruses in general, and to assess the
consequences if SARS-CoV-2 followed a similar pattern.
Ruth is now concerned about the collateral damage in Other early work involved investigating groups of travellers
the community: cancer patients who have not been seen; with Covid-19, trying to extrapolate the data to discover
mental health issues coming to the fore; domestic violence, patterns in the source population.
abuse, suicide attempts and alcohol problems.
His current research efforts focus on serologic data analysis.
‘When I trained to be a doctor, I never thought I would ‘But it’s going to be a long haul, as natural immunity and
be risking my life. Now I really feel I have done something perhaps even vaccine-induced immunity may be partial and
useful, and feel part of something much bigger. Now we’re not last forever.’
Left: Chris Cooper's cartoon representation of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA polymerase complex (the enzyme that copies the viral genome during viral replication)
73
In the UK, Dr Christopher were allocated as the first point of contact for help with
Cooper (1994), Senior local shopping and collecting prescriptions; other volunteers
Lecturer in Biological manned the phone lines, either receiving calls for assistance
Sciences, University of or making regular calls to lonely people. In partnership with
Huddersfield, is working on a charity in Didcot, Oxford Together arranged the delivery
computational analysis of of 1,600 food parcels a week. Volunteer mechanics repaired
the structure of some of abandoned student bikes to give them to key workers so
the proteins in SARS-CoV-2. that they could avoid public transport. And many students
gave online tutoring classes for secondary school pupils.
Knowing the shape of the
protein can help with drug ‘Oxford City Council couldn’t have matched the level of need
Dr Christopher Cooper design, and Chris’s group if our volunteers hadn’t stepped in. We’ve been around as a
is using computational charity since 2008, but our work has been more appreciated
structural methods to and more visible because of the Covid crisis.’
find new targets to help
develop the chemistry, so that novel drugs can be developed. And if we didn’t know anyone personally who had had
Some of the proteins in the Covid-19 virus have already had coronavirus severely enough to be admitted to hospital,
their structure determined from similar coronaviruses: SARS Dominic Minghella (1986) put us in the picture through his
and MERS and also coronaviruses that cause some common articles in the Telegraph and Observer. Fortunately, he has
colds. recovered completely, with no lasting ill-effects. However,
his was a harrowing experience at the time; he even
Chris’s group is trying to predict the structure of the other penned farewells to his family. He wrote about not only his
proteins, and model compounds that bind to them to find symptoms but also the frightening ordeal of being in hospital,
out if they can act as potential targets for drug inhibition. surrounded by people whose faces he could not see.
The viral helicase and RNA polymerase are some of the
important proteins, as they unwind and copy the viral Dominic says he wrote the piece ‘because I felt traumatised
genome during its replication cycle. by the experience, and it felt like a way to exorcise it. I also
felt that, in the early phase, a lot of people wanted to know
Chris says modestly: ‘Mine is very small-scale research, but what having the virus was really like.’
it is all part of trying to understand the disease – to find out
how the virus works. Every bit of knowledge helps. You try Even though Dominic was fit enough to travel to Italy as
and do your bit. If future related pandemic viruses develop, usual this summer, his body appears to have flashbacks.
then we hope to have additional lines of attack.’ ‘Packing for Italy, I opened the same travel bag that I had
taken with me to hospital, and my hand and my whole arm
At the community level, Sara Fernandez (2006) worked with started shaking. My body hasn’t forgotten about it.’
Oxford City Council to set up Oxford Together in partnership
with Oxford Hub, the volunteering charity of which she is Dominic also wanted to join the debate about what was
CEO. ‘I’m Spanish and my mum is a nurse in Madrid, so I was being done and not done, and the divisions caused. ‘I’m sad
fearful about what was going to happen here.’ about that because we are all vulnerable together and we all
need to get out of this situation together.’ He wrote another
Sara’s team went into action on 12 March, devising a response article, in the New Statesman, about the 11 days of March,
plan. The first step was to divide the city into 600 segments. from 12 March, when contact tracing stopped, until lockdown
About 5,600 people signed up as volunteers, of whom more was imposed on 23 March, ‘because so many people were
than 2,000 were matched with tasks. Street Champions hungry to know about that. I’ll leave it to others now.’
74
Students need. Students, staff and alumni were encouraged to create
75
of Charity on Donnington Bridge, which has seen even more asymptomatic. He is the Chief Investigator for a collaborative
use. ‘The response has been absolutely heart-warming. I go research project of about 100 researchers in Oxford who
there and check regularly, so I know it’s used. People are still have joined forces to conduct deep phenotyping of patients
in need. I believe that we all have a responsibility to care for with Covid-19, to try and identify the phenotypes of those
one another, and this is one way to show it.’ who are most at risk.
The medical students, of course, have been either very close Julian explains: ‘We have recruited a core set of about 140
to the front line or on the verge of joining it. All the final-year Covid-19 patients in the John Radcliffe and taken blood
medics were accelerated into junior doctors, starting four or samples to try and understand their immune response,
five months earlier than usual. Clinical students from the by the differences in the proteins and RNA molecules in
earlier years, who don’t yet have the training, have helped individual cells.’ This information is enabling generation of
in other capacities. For instance, two fourth-year medics, the Covid-19 Multiomics Blood ATlas (the COMBAT project).
Joshua Navarajasegaran and Adam Carter (both 2016), have
been working as volunteers in the John Radcliffe Hospital (JR). Single-cell RNA sequencing is very expensive, and so cannot
be done on a large scale. This research effort will be one
Josh reports: ‘Our medical studies were put on pause in the of the biggest single-cell investigations ever, involving more
middle of March. I was in the middle of a surgical rotation than 60 billion individual sequencing reads.
when we stopped. Adam and I were given the opportunity
to volunteer with the Oxford University Hospitals trust. For The group has already generated data and is now starting to
three months from April till June, I was working Monday to see the biology, with different immune cell responses in
Friday at the JR hospital pharmacy. I was providing general different patients. Although there are no definite answers
support but mainly delivering medications to all the wards yet, Julian can see a time when they will be able to classify
all around the hospital including Covid wards, clocking up response to Covid-19 using molecular signatures rather
about 15km around the hospital every day. than rely on assumptions.
‘It’s been great to be given the opportunity to help out Sunetra Gupta, Professor
during this time and feel part of the team in the pharmacy. of Theoretical Epidemiology,
Thankfully, on 6 July, we restarted our medical course.’ has been in the media
frequently during the
coronavirus pandemic, for
Fellows and DPhils her modelling predictions.
Unlike the large and
Many of Merton’s Fellows complex models of the
and doctoral students Imperial College group,
have been involved in which predicted a very
research into different Professor Sunetra Gupta large number of deaths,
aspects of the virus and Sunetra’s model is much
its effects. Professor Julian simpler, and gives qualitative
Knight, Tutor in Medicine, insights but nonetheless translational information.
has been working to
understand why some Sunetra says she usually steers clear of policy issues but
people develop severe feels she had to get involved this time – ‘because I’m very
Professor Julian Knight disease whereas others are exercised about the effects of lockdown. I thought it was
affected only mildly or are important to make the government aware that a simple
76
model could equally well fit the same assumptions, and that
77
mechanism in Oxfordshire-based care homes. In July, they College staff
were awarded a grant to help apply their mechanism in
disadvantaged communities in Mexico. Progress on a vaccine against Covid-19 is moving fast. At the
time of writing, in late July, it appears that the coronavirus
Tracking the response vaccine developed by the University of Oxford is safe and
of governments to the triggers an immune response. The trials involved 1,077
Covid-19 crisis is another people, among whom was Emily Bruce, Merton’s new
important piece of the Alumni Communications Officer.
jigsaw. Francesca Lovell-
Read (2015) is a DPhil
student at Oxford’s
Mathematical Institute,
doing mathematical
epidemiological research.
She was working on
Francesca Lovell-Read plant diseases when the
coronavirus pandemic took
off, but is now engaged
with University-wide research, initiated by the Blavatnik
School of Government, to develop a tool that tracks the
response of governments to the pandemic.
Emily Bruce's vaccine trial pack
The Oxford Covid-19 Government Response Tracker takes into
consideration many different interventionist measures such
as school closures, workplace closures, travel restrictions Emily volunteered to help with the coronavirus trials
and fiscal stimuli. Francesca is involved in data collection because, as she says, ‘I felt I should do something – make
for the tracker, which now has data from more than 160 some small contribution to the fight against the virus.’ She
countries. The different indicators are scored and collated to passed the screening test and was given the vaccine in early
indicate the number and strictness of the policies. May. In fact, half of the people in the trial were given the
trial vaccine, and the others were given a control vaccine,
Francesca emphasises that ‘this is not a score of how well but neither the participants nor those administering the
a country is doing but is more of a comparative measure injection knew who was receiving which.
of the strictness of approach of different countries’. This is
a massive tool, with the results publicly available to inform For a month afterwards, Emily had to complete an electronic
action and advice issued by governments and bodies such as diary daily, to check for any reaction (there was none), and
the World Health Organisation. will have other check-ups after six months and a year. By
the time that Postmaster is published, the reality of a vaccine
may be even closer.
78
The College kitchens closed Choristers. During Holy Week, a movement from the College
New working practices include distance alarms, plastic She understates the case when saying: ‘It’s been quite the
screens and different procedures for meeting suppliers. Says first year! There’s always something that challenges you
Mike: ‘The other big change is that the chefs will have to do early in a new job, but I was not expecting a global pandemic.
their own cleaning now.’ What's been really impressive is how well everyone has
come together: staff, Fellows and students.
Whereas the kitchens
look after the body of ‘We pulled it off as an institution at both a college and
the College residents, the university level with everyone working collaboratively. Staff
Chaplain, the Revd Canon have been adapting to changing circumstances; tutors have
Dr Simon Jones, and his worked without a break, sacrificing their Easter vacations
team look after the soul to prepare the next term’s courses and exams, all online.
of the student body. At the Creating an online degree course in two months’ flat is
end of Hilary term, all but beyond impressive. The students have been incredible
about 15 undergraduates - tolerant, patient and forgiving. Whether first years or
had gone home, though finalists, they rose to the challenge and just got on with it.
The Revd Canon Dr Simon Jones about 80 graduate
© John Cairns
students remained. ‘Early ‘We feel rightly very proud of how well Merton’s community
on, a few people were self- has responded to the pressure. It has showed me what an
isolating, so the welfare team checked in on them each day inspiring place this is and just how fortunate I am to be
and made sure they had what they needed. Then we set up among such wonderful people.’
online resources: things that we would normally have done in
person, we moved online, such as yoga and other activities.’
We are aware that many more within our community
Chapel services continued throughout lockdown, but online. have been involved in the fight against Covid-19.
It was fortuitous that webcasting equipment was installed Please contact us at [email protected]
in the Chapel last year, so the College already had a wealth to share your story.
of recorded music from the College Choir and the Girl
79
Views from the Top
Our series of interviews with Mertonians at the top of their fields continues with perspectives from two very different professions.
You studied PPE at Oxford. Did that prepare you for the I’m also a council member of the Advertising Standards
world of work and, if so, how? Authority, so I am contributing to rulings on what is legal,
I never thought it at the time, but when I look back, studying decent, honest and truthful in UK advertising. I look back
PPE prepared me very well for my career. at the time I spent on the Philosophy part of the course,
researching and writing papers on feminism and civil rights,
I’m the Chief Marketing Officer of Channel 4, which is a public and realise that it all feeds into what I do now. The ASA has
service broadcaster set up to make sure our media landscape recently introduced guidance on harmful stereotypes, and the
is sufficiently diverse. All the elements of PPE play a part in this. courses I chose prepared me well for that sort of challenge.
80
And I’m a trustee of the international development charity, I stayed with P&G for so long because it was immense
81
Zaid (centre) at his 2013 Gaudy with Mark Haskins (1990) and Fellow in Mathematics Ulrike Tillmann
companies was something I had experience in. From my time You moved to Channel 4 as Chief Marketing Officer in
at P&G, I was used to managing acquisitions, portfolios of September 2019. Can you tell us a little bit about the
brands, and developing multi-brand strategies. Secondly, the background to Channel 4?
CEO of BT, Gavin Patterson, was one of my first managers at Channel 4 plays an important role in the broadcast
P&G, and I knew I would learn from him. landscape. It was set up as a challenger of norms, and as a
champion of voices that aren’t usually heard.
So I moved to BT. Like all the moves in my career, I was
moving to a different industry. I’d started in consumer It’s entirely taxpayer-owned, but doesn’t cost the taxpayer a
products, then an internet start-up in holiday home rental, penny, and was set up by the government 38 years ago, with
and now telecommunications – I’ve never wanted to stay in the specific remit to provide innovative and creative public
just one industry because it’s more exciting and you learn service broadcasting on topics that weren’t covered by the
more through change. mainstream broadcasters (which at the time were BBC1,
BBC2 and ITV). Part of our remit is to make programmes for
Unless you are a doctor or a lawyer, for example, and go a culturally diverse audience.
down one chosen path, life is all about experiences and
transferable skills. That’s the PPE background coming in Ofcom measures us on all these aspects, such as reaching
again: with PPE, you choose breadth of learning, rather than BAME audiences, young audiences, and working with
ploughing one deep furrow. production companies that are more diverse.
82
So we have to make sure we support the diversity of UK It’s all about the cohesion of society, achieved through
83
Anna Watts (1992)
Anna Watts is a Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Amsterdam, whose research interests lie with neutron stars and their
thermonuclear explosions. She devotes half her time to research, and also runs the university’s BSc degree in Physics and Astrophysics.
Postmaster happened to catch Anna with her feet on the ground before the new term started, for her –literal –view from the top.
Can you tell me a bit about your research? And perhaps Did you always know you wanted to be an astrophysicist?
offer a short explanation of what neutron stars are. And can you tell us the route you took to reach where
Neutron stars are objects of incredibly high density, and quite you are today?
small, maybe 15-30 kilometres across. They are essentially No, I hadn’t wanted to be an astrophysicist from childhood.
dead stars, consisting of extremely tightly packed sub-atomic I didn’t even particularly want to do Physics A-level, but
particles, and are created when a massive star exploded my school felt that Physics went better with Chemistry
in a supernova. Pulsars are rapidly spinning neutron stars and Maths than History did. Anyway, in the science area at
that sweep out beams of energy, and that’s what we can school I saw a poster on the wall for the European Space
observe and measure. My research is aimed at taking those School, which attracted my attention. So I went to Brunel
measurements to work out what neutron stars are made of for a two-week summer course on space. (The course still
and also investigating explosions on neutron stars. I work on exists, but it’s now three weeks long and run from Leicester.)
theoretical modelling using X-ray telescope data. Helen Sharman, the first British astronaut, was one of the
84
lecturers; she was brilliant and so inspiring. It really made me You work on NASA’s NICER mission. Can you explain
85
NICER on the International Space Station. © NASA
of our findings. We are now analysing a couple of other At the end of 2004, there was a very powerful event lasting
bright neutron stars that we think will yield even better several hundred seconds. We saw very high frequency
results. All these neutron stars are several hundred light ringing, at a similar pitch to a musical instrument. We think
years away. that we were seeing that big burst coming from a quake on
a neutron star, which set the whole star vibrating.
This work, first in developing the technique for the telescope
and then interpreting the measurements, has been We discovered this phenomenon in a couple of neutron
absolutely brilliant. We have got our technique through stars. We saw them using both a dedicated X-ray telescope
to completion and are learning more about neutron stars, and also using a solar X-ray telescope that just happened to
which is the whole aim. be pointing in the right direction at the time (solar telescopes
wouldn’t normally receive data from neutron stars!). We
Any other exciting moments? were able to use the data from the solar telescope as well
I was thrilled at discovering star quakes on neutron stars. and confirm our discovery.
While I was at NASA, we were observing a group of neutron
stars with strong magnetic fields. They emit regular bursts What would you say has been the greatest discovery in
of X-rays and gamma rays, and about every ten years or astrophysics in recent years?
so there is such a massive eruption that it affects Earth’s Definitely, the biggest change in astrophysics in recent
ionosphere. times has been the direct detection of gravitational waves in
86
Features | Views from the Top
Notional magnetic field geometry of a pulsar derived from NICER X-ray measurements. © NASA
2016. Scientists are now using them to study the interior of different way of working. It’s important to have a good
neutron stars. Having left the field of gravitational waves, I am mix; it makes me sad that there are not more women and
now working closely with gravitational wave scientists again. minority groups in my subject.
What are the greatest unknowns in our knowledge of I do find myself breaking barriers. For example, I was the
the universe? What are the most challenging questions first female faculty member to have children at my institute,
to be answered? which meant that they had to make some changes. I’m also
It’s got to be dark matter and dark energy. But that’s not for only the second female full professor in my institute. You
me to work on! We still don’t know what neutron stars are might be surprised to know that the percentage of women
made of – that will take the next generation of telescopes – professors is far lower in the Netherlands than in the UK.
and that is my job.
What do you remember most about your time at Merton?
Would you like to go to Mars? It was such a beautiful, historical place to be. Sitting in the
Yes! If I was eligible to go (which I’m not), I would go in a Merton Library, being part of that history, was something
heartbeat. It would be fascinating. special. Plus the privilege of being able to follow intellectual
leads and ask questions, no matter how random, and know
Is astrophysics a hobby as well as a career for you? that my tutors would take the time to answer them. That
Yes, it really is, in the sense that I find myself thinking about was also priceless.
it all the time. But I do try and switch off – by doing a lot of
sport. And I have two young kids, which helps. Finally, do you have any advice you would give to anyone
who is interested in astrophysics as a career?
Do you feel that you are in a minority, as a woman in Find something you enjoy. Look for opportunities down the
astrophysics? line – missions that are about to launch, rather than what’s
Yes, I am in a minority, and it does make a difference. For going on at the moment. There are a lot of big collaborations,
instance, here in Amsterdam we are part of a collaboration so it’s possible to find something that interests you. And
with China, on the Chinese-European Enhanced X-Ray keep up to date. Also, be very sceptical. Many discoveries
Timing and Polarimetry mission. The team has a great many have been made by people looking back through existing
senior women, and the atmosphere is very different to research and finding errors. You need tenacity and
previous collaborations I’ve been part of – it’s a completely persistence to figure out what is really happening.
87
William Heytesbury
I’ve often wished I was better at mathematics (especially
during Chemistry Prelims!) but am still fascinated by the
history of the discipline even when the subject itself eludes
me. Thus, I was keen to read Infinite Powers: The Story of
Calculus, The Language of the Universe by Steven Strogatz,
Professor of Applied Mathematics at Cornell University.1 The
book was shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book
Prize in 2019, which was how I came to hear of it. I had no
expectation that I would find any Merton connection within
its pages, but then, as I was reading the section on constant
acceleration (p. 173), I stumbled across a reference to William
Heytesbury, ‘a philosopher and logician at Merton College,
Oxford’ who solved the problem (of constant acceleration)
around 1335. Any mention of Merton always gets my attention
and, as I’d never heard of William Heytesbury, my curiosity
was piqued and I decided, as a bit of a project during the
Covid-19 lockdown, to see what I could find out about him.
89
Some 13th-Century Encaustic Tiles from
Merton College
Five, fragmentary 13th-century encaustic tiles, said formerly than from where later work was done in the Sacristy in the
to have come from the chapel of Merton College, have 1870s. Similar tiles were recovered at that time from there.1
recently come to light (Plate 1). They are deposited in the
Museum in Norwich Castle, having been presented in 1863 Richard of Cornwall, 1209-72, was the son of King John, being
(Box A 202, ACC 20.20). According to the College of Arms, the younger brother of Henry III.2 In 1267, Walter de Merton
only two of the tiles are heraldic. One has the personal acted as his attorney and the following year Richard presented
arms of Richard of Cornwall; the other has the double- the advowson of Horspath, Oxon, to the Founder although,
headed eagle of the Roman Empire, of which he was elected in the event, the College never secured the patronage of the
King in 1257. living. The Founder’s Statutes of 1270 provided for 12 ‘poor
secondary scholars’ to pray for the soul of Henry of Almain
Having been acquired as early as 1863, it would seem that and of his father, Richard King of the Romans. Richard’s coat
these tiles were probably débris from the restoration of the of arms formerly adorned the south window of the hall of
choir of the Chapel by William Butterfield in the 1850s, rather the Warden’s House, c.1300.
90
Features | Some 13th-Century Encaustic Tiles from Merton College
The five encaustic tiles, c.1295.
91
and then joined the Centre for Contemporary Cultural
Studies at the University of Birmingham, of which he became
director in 1968. He was also Professor of Sociology at the
Open University. As well as his writings on politics and
culture, he is best known for his wide-ranging contribution
to the then-emerging field of cultural studies, covering
elements such as identity, race and ethnicity.
92
Features | Stuart Hall and his Legacy at Merton
Kewpie (back row, centre) and friends on Sir Lowry Road,
District Six, Cape Town
Ruth Ramsden-Karelse © GALA Queer Archive, Kewpie Photographic Collection
urgent need to tackle systemic racism, Hall’s openness about mounted an exhibition of Kewpie’s photographs, first in
having to actively work through difficulty and discomfort Cape Town in 2018 and then in Johannesburg in 2019.
seems as crucial as his incisive critiques of the legacies of
colonialism that Britain still hasn’t addressed.’ Ruth is delighted to have the scholarship. She also enjoys the
opportunity to meet up with like-minded scholars through
Ruth’s own research is centred on the Kewpie Photographic the Stuart Hall Foundation. The Foundation’s Scholars and
Collection – a collection of about 600 photos in the GALA Fellows meet up in person every year (and this year have
Queer Archives in Johannesburg. These photos depict held additional meetings on Zoom) to talk about Stuart
a group of people in District Six in Cape Town who were Hall’s work and their own work.
legally classified ‘Coloured’ during the apartheid era; they
were assigned to the male sex at birth but used female Ruth feels that being at Oxford is a great privilege, although
pronouns and called themselves ‘girls’. Most of the photos sometimes it can seem to be a daunting place for a new
were taken in the late 1960s and early 1970s – that is, not arrival – but perhaps not as much as for Stuart Hall himself,
long after 1966, when the area was designated as ‘Whites setting foot in the UK for the first time in 1951.
Only’. Over the following years, about 60,000 members of
the community were forcibly removed from District Six, their
houses demolished around them.
Merton now has a second Stuart Hall doctoral
Kewpie, who collected the photographs, was a hairdresser student. Caetano Maschio Santos is a Brazilian
and performer in District Six, and her pictures show the musician and ethnomusicologist doing collaborative
stories of this lost community as well as the better-known research with artists of the Haitian diaspora in Brazil,
narrative of the forced removals. Coincidentally, not long analysing the intersections of culture, history, race
after Ruth decided to include an exploration of the Kewpie and politics within their varied musical output.
Collection in her thesis, GALA and the District Six Museum
93
40 Years: Merton Women 1980-2020
The academic year 2020-21 will of Merton research groups will focus on work by and about
be a special year at Merton. women, culminating in a study day in May 2021. The JCR
The 40th anniversary of the and MCR are also planning themed events. In the gardens,
admission of women will be the inventive Head Gardener and her team will be creating a
marked with a series of events planting project linked to the anniversary.
and initiatives, even though
the uncertainties of planning This year is not just about the past and the present. Looking
during a pandemic may call forward, the College will be launching a programme to
for flexibility and ingenuity. link students with alumni mentors, as well as establishing
Throughout the year there a graduate scholarship for women in STEM subjects. And
will be opportunities for plans are being made to open a nursery that will benefit
celebration, recognition, and the young families of the entire Merton community in years
plans for the future. Women to come. If some of the anniversary events have to move
from the wider college community will be featured in a series online, that will make it possible for more Mertonians from
of profiles on the website and on social media. An exhibition across the globe to participate and enjoy them. Look for the
will highlight the involvement of women in the College ’40 years’ Merton anniversary logo!
during its long history. The College is working towards
diversifying the portraiture in the common spaces. There will Dr Julia Walworth
be music composed and performed by women. The meetings Fellow Librarian
Women also donated to the College. Warden in French – rather than the Latin used by the
1 One stands out: Ela Longespée, scholars – and endowed an annual drink for the Fellows,
Countess of Warwick. She was while the College sent her gifts and tipped her servants as
already a benefactor together with they set up her room in the nunnery. Her greatest successor
her second husband, a political was Julia de Lacy Mann, the College’s first woman Honorary
ally of Walter’s, when she retired Fellow. She was an economic historian and long-serving
to Godstow Abbey. From there she Principal of St Hilda’s who gave generously to Merton out of
took a close interest in the College. her inheritance from her uncle, Thomas Bowman, who had
She wrote heartfelt letters to the been Warden here.
94
Features | 40 Years: Merton Women 1980-2020
Queens featured among the Eva Richards played a positive role in welcoming students
College’s notable guests. Catherine and Fellows to the College. Many tutors’ wives did the same.
of Aragon came in 1518 to an ecstatic Eva Richards summed up their intention in an open letter to
greeting from the then Warden, Mertonians in the 1971 Postmaster: ‘to make the acquaintance
who compared her to both Juno and of as many members of the College as possible’.
Minerva; Elizabeth I dined in Hall in
1592. Catherine of Braganza stayed 4
2 for several months in 1665 as London
seethed with plague. The serenity of
the refuge was perhaps lessened by
the birth at Merton of one of the king’s several illegitimate
sons by Catherine’s lady-in-waiting, Barbara, Countess
of Castlemaine. Henrietta Maria resided longest. For ten
months in 1643-4, while Oxford was the civil war capital of
her husband Charles I, she occupied the Warden’s lodgings
at the junction of Front Quad and Fellows’ Quad. Widows
of royalist captains – Lady Cobham and the Countess of
Northampton – served her and her Catholic entourage
held baroque services in the Chapel. Not quite a queen but The 20th century brought more substantial change. Merton
the sister of an emperor, Ekaterina Pavlovna, Duchess of students were taught by women both outside the College
Oldenburg, stayed with Tsar Alexander I on his visit in 1814. and within, as women were appointed College lecturers
from the 1960s. More women joined the staff, in secretarial,
Less famous women were more administrative, librarianship and medical roles. From 1958 the
3
regular visitors. Already in Kodály Choir rapidly became, as one early reviewer called it, ‘the
the founder’s time there were best mixed voice choir in Oxford’ and featured, as was reported
laundresses doing the College’s in the arch tones of the 1960s, ‘vast hordes of mellifluous-
washing and by the 18th century voiced young ladies’. In 1959 its singers were the first women
there were bedmakers like Sarah to dine in Hall in term-time. Merton drama productions drew
Bedding, who was granted £1 in first professional actresses such as Hermione Gingold and
because she had grown aged and then women from other colleges. Already in 1957 it was noted
ill. She had many successors, some that the auditions for Merton Floats’ Cuppers play ‘seem to
working on staircases and others in have involved half of St Hilda’s’. As the proportion of women
the kitchens, but a more unusual expedient was the billeting in Oxford’s overall student body increased, so more and more
in St Alban’s Quad of nurses working in the hospital set up entered Merton for tutorials, for student society activities and
in the Examination Schools during the First World War. They as individual guests. The stage was being set for 1980.
horrified the natives by playing tennis in Fellows’ Quad.
Steven Gunn
Whereas Fellows were not allowed to wed until 1871, Wardens Fellow and Tutor in History
were. The Warden’s wife was thus a convenient scapegoat
for controversial behaviour. Lady Clayton apparently insisted 1 The 1266 seal of Ela of Warwick from a grant in the College Archives
that the College replace all the furniture in the Warden’s 2 The College’s portrait of Catherine of Aragon, c.1600
Lodgings and build a new summerhouse in the garden; Mrs 3 The College’s 17th-century portrait of Henrietta Maria
Lydall allegedly required a coach to transport her daughters. 4 Merton Floats’ production of All’s Well That Ends Well (1954), with
By the 1960s and 1970s, in contrast, Margaret Harrison and Rosalind Hale (née Williams; St Anne’s) as Helena
95
Lost, Little Known and Unbuilt Merton (17)
The Garden (4): Winter
1 2
Although Merton Garden was celebrated for its beauty from In Merton Walks when charming Wh---te is seen
at least the 17th century, not all visitors were particularly In Cyprian Shades: We view soft Beauty’s Queen
enthusiastic. After describing the College’s architecture So blooming bright, and so divinely fair
as consisting of ‘several ugly old buildings’, Conrad von Her Gesture such, and such her charming Air.
Uffenbach, who visited Oxford in 1710, noted that Merton In vain, Ye Groves! You All your Shades oppose,
Garden ‘is considered one of the finest here. It consists of No Screen from Love, the panting Lover knows
a shrubbery or some low dark walks, which are really not
pleasant as they have no fresh air. On one side, is a terraced The second lampoon (1718) suggests the dangers to the
walk and a poor Summerhouse’ (Plate 1). undergraduates from these tempting visions:
Nonetheless, during the early 18th century, Merton Garden In vain his Tutor, with a watchful Care,
became a fashionable resort for both the University and the Rebukes his folly, warns him to beware
Town. Thomas Hearne recalled that on a Sunday evening,
the Garden was ‘thronged with young gentlemen and young But the College, for a time at least, grew tired of its visitors
gentlewomen’. From two lampoons of the period, Merton so that in 1720 Merton’s Garden was closed to the public.
Walks, or the Oxford Beauties: A Poem (1717) and Strephon’s Thomas Hearne wrote that ‘the young gentlemen and others
Revenge: A Satire on the Oxford Toasts (1718), the names of partook themselves to the Magdalen College Walk, which
some two dozen of the ladies – some perhaps from the is now [30 July 1723] every Sunday night in Summertime
Town – are known. Each girl is glowingly apostrophised. A strangely fitted just like a fair’. In 1745, BAs were reminded
Miss White, for example, inspired the following lines (1717): that they were excluded from the main Garden as well as the
96
Features | Lost, Little Known and Unbuilt Merton (17)
3
Library and, furthermore, were required always to uncover the terras and the thicket’ (Plates 2 and 3). This suggests
in the presence of an MA. The problem of intruders is, sensible husbandry, some decades after the initial planting.
however, a perennial one and in 1952 Professor H W Garrod Dendrochronology proposed a date of c.1740 for the planting,
wryly began his essay on Max and Merton with the words: which is consistent with the other evidence. Regrettably, old
‘Some weeks ago I met an American in the Merton Garden. age and decay rendered the felling of the avenue necessary in
I knew he was an American, because the Garden is private.’ 1996, although one specimen, at the west end, survived until
However, both the former Professor of Poetry, together 2018. Though unfortunate in itself, the removal of the avenue
with one of the College’s most distinguished literary alumni has made possible the opening up of the rest of the Garden
of the 20th century, an American, who was admitted to to allow in more sunlight, particularly for the herbaceous
the College in 1914, would surely be equally surprised and borders, and also the judicious replanting of the former
delighted that, in 2010, the TS Eliot Theatre was erected in a ‘avenue’ with new specimens of plane, lime, oak and ash.
further part of the Garden.
The raising of the terrace along the south-east end of the
One of the most memorable features of the Garden, now City Wall in the first years of the 18th century had provided
sadly gone, was the avenue of lime trees, running below the those within the Garden a fine ‘prospect’ of the Broad Walk,
terrace on the north side of the City Wall. The date of their consisting of some tall trees in Christ Church Meadow. This
planting is unknown. Perhaps they already figure in Loggan’s feature had been swept away during the Civil War, when
print of 1675. But in December 1760, the Register noted: ‘the the Royalist troops had trained there. However, according to
Garden master was empowered to cut down and remove Anthony Wood, it had been replanted by Dr Fell in 1670, with
twelve lime trees, i.e. six alternate trees in each row, betwixt 72 elms on either side. The great sycamore in the centre of
97
4 5
Merton Garden, to the north east of the Mulberry tree, is with the Dean of Christ Church, it was agreed to move the
rather later and has been dated by dendrochronology to south gate of the Grove 20 yards to the west, to a site where
1705. In 1725, Merton had its rent, due to the City Council, the ‘penny gate’ or ‘late gate’ was later to be located. In the
reduced from £8 per annum to 6 guineas, on account of the 1950s, this was the classic way of ‘climbing in’ to the College
cost of repairs to the Wall. The Wall was to be lowered and after hours. From St Aldate’s, through St Catherine’s College,
wooden palisades erected on top. as it was then located, through the Meadow and, with a
penny, the lock could be sprung!
Turning to the history of the ‘Bachelors’ Garden’ (now the
Grove), Agas’s plan (1578, repeated by Hollar, 1643), shows an The 19th and 20th centuries saw the gradual rationalisation
area of randomly planted trees here. William Williams’s plan and unification of the three Gardens. In 1843, a gardener was
(1733) shows some elaborate landscaping, perhaps including appointed ‘to undertake to keep the Quadrangles, the Garden,
a small ‘mount’ with a tiny amphitheatre surrounding it (Plate the Grove and all the smaller gardens and plots attached
1). By the 19th century, the breaching of the City Wall and its to the College (except that called and being the Warden’s
substitution with iron palisades had reached the western end Garden) in good order … mowing, lopping and pruning, the
of the College. In 1817, it was agreed that ‘the stone wall in the College paying for plants and seeds, … for £70 per annum’.
Grove towards the Meadow be taken down and an iron railing
on a stone base be substituted’, and in 1827 ‘an ornamental In 1904, the advent of Thomas Bowman as Warden, 1904-
iron railing should be substituted for the wall at the north 36, resulted in the building of the new Lodgings (OWL) in
end of the Grove’ (Plate 4). In 1862, after correspondence Merton Street, the redevelopment of the Warden’s House in
98
Features | Lost, Little Known and Unbuilt Merton (17)
6
99
Memorial Meeting
for Sir Rex Richards
Sir Rex Richards (right), welcomed by Dr John Roberts (then
Sub-Warden), at his installation as Warden of Merton
A Memorial Meeting for former Warden Sir Rex Richards was held in the TS Eliot Theatre at Merton on Saturday 8 February 2020.
We would like to share the addresses from that occasion.
100
Rex at Merton anticipated because it was cue for the butler to circulate
101
talked to soldiers who fought at Waterloo. Undertones of time they’d met because she’d already have had them to a
war reverberated throughout Rex’s wardenship. In 1970, most friendly meal, which she cooked herself. When the Boat Club
Fellows had done National Service. Many had been under fire. acquired a new first shell, Eva was invited to launch it in a
Honorary and Emeritus Fellows included Great War veterans: memorable ceremony – memorable not least because it had
Edmund Blunden, Nevill Coghill, Alec Cooke, Hugo Dyson, already been in a collision.
Walter Moberly, Tolkien. Rex’s predecessor Robin Harrison
lost both brothers killed in that war. Before Harrison was Here was a preliminary to that landmark of Rex’s wardenship,
Mure, who lived until 1979. He fought at the Somme and the decision in 1978 to admit women. Not for the first time,
Passchendaele, won the MC, and saw friends’ names inscribed Fellows were bolder than undergraduates. A JCR referendum
under the Fitzjames Arch. Our war survivors leave memorials disclosed them keener for co-residence in other colleges than
in their life’s work. Alister Hardy served in the cyclists’ in Merton. Rex himself was an enabler, not an evangelist; above
battalion; then, suitably for a budding zoology professor, he all, level-headed. Since he aimed for academic excellence, how
became a camouflage officer with the Royal Engineers. In could Merton excel if it ignored half the population? Rex was
retirement he pursued research into religious experience; or, also emollient, never bore a grudge or left others with one.
as we saw him, was hot on the trail of God in a back room of
Mansfield Road which the College made over to him. Rex understood that a vital part of being Warden is bridging the
humanities and sciences and combining different characters.
Three Mertonians won the VC in the Second World War, Great minds think unalike. Colleges thrive through Fellows’
including the dam-buster Leonard Cheshire. Among the Fellows dissimilarity. Groupthink breeds stagnation, unless whatever
was the Admiral, Derick Hetherington, our genial Domestic is the current orthodoxy is persistently questioned. Rex was
Bursar; indeed, the College’s first full-time Domestic Bursar. unfussy and unpretentious, sharp-minded, direct and always
He played the clarinet with the Kodály Orchestra and had inquiring. He was a moderniser: how could he not be, with
the DSC and two bars. Then there was Bill Williams, Monty’s that unwaveringly positive look so deftly captured in Bryan
trusted intelligence officer at Alamein and D-Day; Rodney Organ’s portrait? He also liked most sorts of people. Those
Needham, wounded with the 1st Gurkha Rifles in Burma; and he liked less interested him for that reason.
Tolkien’s successor Norman Davis, whose clandestine activities
with the SOE in Bulgaria earned him a death sentence in In 1977 he became Vice-Chancellor, Merton’s first since
absentia. War did not go away. We had students who fought Scrope Berdmore in 1797. Uncle to a Regency dandy, Scrope
in Vietnam – then the longest war in American history – and B. resigned after a year, finding the whole French Revolution
a succession of lieutenant colonels from the US Air Force a trifle tiresome. Rex took all inconveniences in his stride.
Academy in Colorado Springs. Airey Neave could escape Hating administration, he was therefore supremely good
Colditz but not an INLA bomb at Westminster in 1979. Nor at it. He deplored the later mushrooming of bureaucracy
had the Cold War cooled. The Berlin Wall, like Fermat’s Last and aggrandisement of the office of Vice-Chancellor, under
Theorem, still stood. Hungary produced two notable refugees a pretext of professionalism, as if he lacked expertise or
for us. In 1956, George Radda fled Soviet Communism and experience. During his tenure, the JR2 opened, and Green
morphed into our chemistry tutor just as, in 1938, Eva Vago College and the Nissan Institute of Japanese Studies were
fled fascism to become chemistry tutor at Somerville. Why founded. A bonus followed, in the advent at Merton of
does she merit mention today? Because in 1948 she married Prince Naruhito, now Emperor of Japan, who revelled in the
Rex and was his indispensable partner in life, in his science, College’s informality under Rex’s wardenship.
and in his wardenship.
It’s no one’s fault if they’re not a Mertonian, only their
Together they made 19 Merton Street the epitome of misfortune. Rex wasn’t a Merton aborigine, but he made the
hospitality. If members of the College wanted to discuss College and his name inseparable. Under him, Merton was
anything with Rex, Eva resolved it shouldn’t be the first going places. It still has that aura. Gaudeamus igitur.
102
Rex and his Research visit to Oxford on Rex’s behalf, walking around the science
103
Spectrometers and molecular structure earlier, he resigned from his post in Physical Chemistry and
Rex had to build his own spectrometer, which involves relocated to the Biochemistry Department.
a magnet and associated electronics, and managed to
convince his head of department, Sir Cyril Hinshelwood, Through his interest in magnet technology and his links with
to give him the £100 needed to buy the magnet. For the Oxford Instruments, Rex was a key figure in the development
electronic equipment, he went to a place known as ‘the of superconducting magnets for NMR. Such magnets are
dump’ at the airport hangar in Abingdon, where he could central to modern MRI scanners.
buy surplus RAF and army radar sets for next to nothing.
These sets contained electronic components that Rex used Ray Freeman’s tribute
to build his spectrometer. Eventually, after an enormous I hope that I’ve been able in this brief time to give you a
amount of endeavour, he obtained an NMR signal. flavour of Rex as a scientist. A key feature was his ability
to bring people together, for example physicists, chemists
Rex soon set to work on using analysis of NMR to and biochemists. Rex was also highly regarded as a teacher.
investigate molecular structure, and with his student John I understand from Keith McLauchlan that in the mid-1960s
Smith published a paper in 1951 on acid hydrates. This was Rex was several times voted the best lecturer in Oxford (not
arguably the first in which a chemical problem was solved just chemistry) in student surveys.
by NMR.
Let me conclude by quoting Ray Freeman, a student of
Rex’s strengths Rex’s in the 1950s who has himself gone on to have a stellar
By 1951, while Rex was still in his 20s, we see the strengths career in NMR. In Ray’s words: ‘It is hard to adequately set
that were to pervade his career. He had the vision to foresee out the enormous contribution that Rex made to science
a major new field of research, namely NMR in chemistry, and education during his charismatic career. The first person
and the intellect, practical skills and courage to take it on, in Britain to have the vision that NMR would revolutionise
both at the level of building the equipment and of designing chemistry, and then build his own NMR spectrometers from
and interpreting experiments. He also had the ability to get scratch in a department largely dedicated to wet chemistry.
on with people. This is illustrated by his interactions with A superlative undergraduate tutor, research supervisor, and
Tommy Thompson who was not, by many accounts, the an outstanding mentor.’ I think these are fitting words with
easiest of people. In due course, Tommy was to become which to end this brief tribute to Rex and his science.
Chairman of the Football Association, and for anyone who
is interested, there have been some fascinating accounts of
Tommy’s somewhat robust dealings with eminent managers
such as Alf Ramsey and Brian Clough.
In 1959, while he was still in his 30s, he was elected FRS, and
in 1964, in his early 40s, he was appointed Professor and
Head of Physical Chemistry. Then he and his skills evidently The late president of Switzerland, Jean-Pascal Delamuraz,
came to the attention of the Fellows of Merton, who and his wife with Sir Rex (centre) in 1996. Reproduced by
permission of The Henry Moore Foundation
duly appointed him Warden. At this stage, as I mentioned
104
Features | Memorial Meeting for Sir Rex Richards
Bryan Organ's portrait of Sir Rex Richards
Rex and Art In his lecture Snow recounted ‘A good many times I have
been present at gatherings of people who, by the standards
Sir Nicholas Serota, art historian and curator, Director of traditional culture, are thought highly educated and
of the Tate 1988-2017 who have with considerable gusto been expressing their
When CP Snow gave his influential Rede lecture ‘The incredulity at the illiteracy of scientists.’
two cultures’ at the Senate House in Cambridge in 1959,
he wanted to draw attention to the flaws of an English Speaking as a physicist himself, he went on to point out
education system that for more than a century had placed how correspondingly limited was the understanding of even
much greater value on the humanities than on the sciences basic scientific concepts, such as weight and mass, by those
and engineering. he termed ‘literary intellectuals’.
Today, with the emphasis on STEM subjects, we might argue I don’t know whether Snow ever met Rex Richards, but if he
that the balance has gone the other way. However, we can did, he would surely have recognised that Rex was the shining
share Snow’s ambition that we ought not to see the arts exception to the widely held belief that scientists were illiterate.
and sciences as two competing poles, but rather as equally
important components of an all-round education that For Rex was a man of great distinction and achievement in the
equips us to face the modern world. scientific world whose deep engagement with the arts, and
105
especially the visual arts, ultimately enabled him to make an
outstanding contribution in that field as well as in his own.
In the 1960s, Rex had been a regular visitor to the Bear Lane
Gallery and had begun to make occasional purchases of
work. In the main he was drawn towards the leading edge of
abstraction, taking a special interest in the work of artists
associated with St Ives like William Scott, Alan Davie, Patrick
Sir Rex (left), on the day of his installation, with Courtenay Phillips, Heron and Peter Lanyon as well as acquiring paintings and
Tutorial Fellow in Chemistry
sculpture by more established figures such as Ivon Hitchens,
Keith Vaughan and Henry Moore. Sometime in the late 1960s
as a beautiful Patrick Caulfield still life in an interior, or the or early ‘70s, Rex was invited to join the board of the gallery
painting that he gave to Merton, John Hoyland’s powerful which ran as a not-for-profit charity.
‘Jinn’ from 1988, which many of you will have seen during
your lunches or meetings in College. As already mentioned, in 1973 a proposal was made to merge
the recently established Museum with the Bear Lane. The
In 1978 Rex was given an opportunity to bring together his museum had been created by architects, designers and
interests in science and art when he was invited to join the others in the town, many of whom were associated with
Scientific Advisory Committee of the National Gallery. The the polytechnic, now Oxford Brookes. The Bear Lane was
Committee had been established to support the gallery’s the favoured child of the University community. Given that
scientific research into the techniques and materials used by the merger involved the closure of the Bear Lane and the
the old master painters – what is now termed ‘conservation amalgamation of two boards, there was considerable friction.
science’. It also brought a measure of independent judgement
to the difficult issues arising from the conservation of old Fortunately, Rex agreed to join the joint council where
master paintings, following the controversies over the his calm response to challenges, lucid presentation of his
cleaning of paintings in the late 1940s. One can imagine position and sensitivity to the views of others quickly made
what pleasure this appointment must have given him. him a pivotal voice and earned him the respect and deep
gratitude of a rather gauche young director not well versed
Recently, Dr Ashok Roy, a research scientist who worked in the politics of a university town.
in the department from 1977 until 2016, for much of that
time as its director, commented on the vital and energetic After I left Oxford and moved to the Whitechapel Art Gallery
contribution made by Rex. He also captured so well the in East London I had less frequent contact with Rex, though
character of the man whom many of us knew: ‘I remember he was a regular visitor to our exhibitions. He continued
Rex as the soul of kindness – a man of great intellect and to show a lively curiosity about new developments in art,
creativity – and also a person of exemplary civilised dealings while maintaining his personal affection for painting. During
with those with whom he came into contact. He always the 1980s he made several purchases from Waddington
seemed to put over it was a privilege for him to meet you.’ Galleries of works by artists of the next generation, such
106
It was a natural development that in 1982 Rex should have Rex and the Leverhulme Trust
107
needed an inspirational scholar and academic leader to guide issue was fundamental to the whole research enterprise.
them in taking forward the new entity. They found that
leader in Rex Richards. Indeed, as today’s trustees remind me, it continues to be at
the forefront of discussion today, in global debates about how
Rex was the first head of an Oxford college and the first Vice- best to fund ‘high-risk/high-reward’ curiosity-driven studies,
Chancellor of a university to become Director of the Trust. where outcomes are uncertain except in the very long term,
He immediately set about the substantial tasks of devising and about how best to target research which is driven by the
a coherent strategic framework for us, professionalising need to deliver a specific, practical or societal ‘impact’.
our rather traditional organisational ways, and making the
Trust’s approach to grant-making fit for modern purpose. Today’s research landscape in the UK is dominated by
Rex was, in a word, the director who created the modern heated discussions about the value of the various research
Leverhulme Trust. assessment exercises, and the success (or failure) of what
we now call ‘knowledge transfer’ between the academic and
Future Trust historians will want to describe Rex’s contribution the wider world, or – to define the issue in Rex’s own words
in detail. My own summary, viewed as a trustee of some - ‘the failure of scholars to communicate with practitioners’.
22 years standing, is that Rex made three fundamental
contributions on which the subsequent success of the Trust But Rex was also a very practical man – which brings me
has been built. to the second major theme of his years as Director of the
Trust. Rex was a brilliant administrator. Very quickly after his
First, he made sure that the trustees of Leverhulme engaged appointment, he set to and reorganised the machinery of
directly with what he saw as the major strategic issues of the the old, pre-1984 Trust bureaucracy. He devised new criteria
research funding world. Ever the scholar, he did so by setting for the assessment of bids for Trust funding, including
them an ‘examination paper’, as it were, of 18 questions revised guidance for peer reviewers. The template that Rex
about which they needed to have thought carefully and provided is distinctive to Leverhulme, and is still largely in use
formed a collective view. today, providing peer reviewers with rigorous and consistent
criteria for assessing the originality, significance, lasting value,
These included the different research funding needs of the timeliness and excellence of research proposals. His aim was
sciences, social sciences and humanities; the possible role to provide trustees with more extensive and more reliable
of the Trust in providing support for music and the visual information to help inform their grant-making decisions.
arts; whether and how to support ‘archival work’; the role
of ‘evaluation’ in determining the success of completed The best known of these administrative reforms involved
projects and providing future support for ongoing work; and the computerisation of the Trust’s database. When Rex
how Leverhulme’s support for ‘people doing projects’ could arrived at Leverhulme, the Director was required after every
be married effectively to the ‘research facilities’ that were trustees’ meeting to borrow what he referred to as a ‘small
provided by public funds and other foundations. army’ of copy-typists from the Unilever building half a mile
away, so that award letters could be issued and carbon
Most importantly, he encouraged the Board to find a copies made, to create the paper files that were needed
suitable balance between support for basic, fundamental, or to track the progress of the awards. Rex was horrified, so
so-called blue-skies research, and what Rex called ‘topical he set about teaching himself coding, in order to design
research’: that is, research undertaken for the specific a computerised grant management system for the Trust.
purpose of devising a practical application, or providing Revolutionary in its time, but no research funding agency
robust evidence to inform the design of public policy, the or grant-making charity today can operate without these
organisation of business, or the development of educational electronic systems.
curricula. Rex was prescient in seeing that this particular
108
Features | Memorial Meeting for Sir Rex Richards
The fact that, confronted by this data-management problem,
the former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University simply
sat down and devised his own bespoke and sophisticated
computer package from scratch is, frankly, astounding.
It speaks volumes for Rex’s ‘can do’ attitude and lack of
pretension. Most people in his position would surely have
hired a team of expensive consultants (who would probably
have devised a less robust system). If Rex had been a
business entrepreneur rather than a scholar, he might also
have patented the system, and sold it for profit to other
charities and grant-making agencies. That he did neither
of these things reflects the character of the man, and a
life spent altruistically in public service. Rex’s computerised
grant-management system was so effective that it was still
in use 20 years later.
Its use also allowed the trustees to make the proud claim –
which is still true today – that Leverhulme’s administrative
costs are among the lowest in the sector. The Trust still
employs only 15 people to handle the more than the 4,000
grant applications it receives each year.
109
Records Merton College 2019-20
The Visitor Artur Konrad Ekert, MA, DPhil, (MSc
Cracow) FRS Professor of Physics
Béla Novák, MA, (MSc, PhD, Dr Habil, TU
Budapest; CSc DSc Hungarian Academy
The Most Reverend and Right Honourable of Science) Professor of Integrative
the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Alan David Morrison, MA, DPhil, (MSc Systems Biology
Lond) Professor of Law & Finance
Alan James Barr, MA, DPhil, (BA, MSci, PhD
Warden John Stuart Gjers Gloag, MA, MRICS Land
Agent & Estates Bursar Camb) Professor of Particle Physics & Tutor
Irene Tracey, MA, DPhil, FRCA, FMedSci in Physics
Julia Caroline Walworth, MA (BA Rhiannon Ash, MA, DPhil, (MA Toronto)
Swarthmore; MA, PhD Yale) FSA Librarian
Fellows The Revd Canon Simon Matthew Jones,
Professor of Roman Historiography & Tutor
in Classics, Secretary of the Harmsworth
Steven John Gunn, MA, DPhil, FRHistS MA, DPhil, (BA, MA Durh; PhD Camb) Trust
Professor of Early Modern History & Tutor Chaplain
in History Patricia Thornton, (BA Swarthmore; MA
Peter William Harold Holland, MA, (PhD Washington; PhD Berkeley) Associate
Ulrike Luise Tillmann, MA, (BA Brandeis, Lond; DSc Rdg) FRS Linacre Professor of Professor of Chinese Politics & Tutor in
PhD Stanford, Habil Bonn) FRS, FIMA, Zoology Politics
FAMS, Mem Leopoldina Professor of
Mathematics Kathryn Lee Blackmon, MA, (BS Clemson; Matthew Grimley, MA, DPhil Associate
MBA, PhD North Carolina) Associate Professor of Modern History, Mark
Richard Anthony McCabe, MA, (MA Dublin; Professor of Operations Management & Reynolds Fellow & Tutor in History
MA, PhD Camb), FBA Professor of English Tutor in Management Studies, Prevent
Language & Literature & Tutor in English Officer, Dean of Graduates Alexander Schekochihin, MA, (BSci
MIPT; MA, PhD Princeton) Professor of
Chih-Hao Luke Ong, MA, (MA Camb; PhD Simon Martin Hooker, MA, DPhil Professor Theoretical Physics & Tutor in Physics,
Lond) Professor of Computer Science & of Atomic & Laser Physics & Tutor in Physics Steward of Common Room
Tutor in Computer Science
Irene Stavros Lemos, MA, DPhil, FSA Daniel Grimley, MA, DPhil, (BA, MPhil, PhD
David James Paterson, MA, DPhil, (MSc, Professor of Classical Archaeology Camb) Professor of Music & Tutor in Music
DSc Western Australia), FRSB, FPhysiol,
Hon FRSNZ Professor of Cardiovascular Alexander David Scott, (BA, PhD Camb) Sir Andrew Wiles, MA, DSc, (PhD Camb)
Physiology & Tutor in Pre-Clinical Medicine Professor of Mathematics & Tutor in FRS Royal Society Research Professor of
Mathematics Mathematics
Mindy Chen-Wishart, MA, (BA (Hons),
LLB, LLM, Otago) Professor of the Law of Jonathan Ralph Warburg Prag, MA, (PhD Charles Alan Heathcote Alexander, BA,
Contract & Tutor in Law Lond) Professor of Ancient History & Tutor (MBA Harvard) Finance Bursar, Wine
in Ancient History Steward
Timothy Charles Guilford, MA, DPhil
Professor of Animal Behaviour & Tutor in Michael Hilton Whitworth, MA, DPhil, Andrew Mackie, MA Professorial Fellow,
Zoology, Garden Master Professor of English Literature & Culture & Director of Legal Services & General
Tutor in English Counsel, University of Oxford
Véronique Gouverneur, MA, (Licence en
Sciences Chimiques, PhD Louvain), FRS James Peter Neary, MA, DPhil, (MA NUI) Simon Saunders, BA, MA, (M Math Camb;
Professor of Chemistry & Tutor in Organic FBA Professor of Economics PhD Lond) Professor of the Philosophy of
Chemistry Ian Maclachlan, MA, DPhil Professor of Science & Tutor in Philosophy
Jennifer Payne, MA, (MA Camb) Professor French Literature & Tutor in French Julian Charles Knight, MA, MBChB, DPhil,
of Corporate Finance Law & Tutor in Law, FRCP, Professor of Genomic Medicine &
Sub-Warden Tutor in Medicine
110
Bassel Tarbush, MPhil, DPhil Tutor in Sebastian Alonso Vasquez Lopez, MSc, Emeritus Fellows
111
Honorary Fellows Sir Callum McCarthy, BA, (PhD Stir; MS
Stanford)
David Ure, MA
Sir John Boardman, MA, (MA Camb), FBA, Benjamin Nicholas, MA
Hon RA, FSA Guy Howard Weston, BA
Sir Christopher John Ball, MA, Hon DLitt, Peter Warry, MA, (LLB Lond; PhD Rdg),
FREng, FSA
Supernumerary Fellows
(CNAA) Andrew John King, MA Status, (BSc, PhD
HIM Emperor Naruhito of Japan, Hon DCL Martha Piper, (BSc Michigan; MA Lond), FMedSci, FPhysiol, FRS
Connecticut; PhD McGill), DSc (Hons), Francis Platt, MA Status, (BSc Lond; PhD
Sir Alec John Jeffreys, MA, DPhil, (DUniv LLD (Hons)
Open), FRC Path, FLS, FRS Bath), FMedSci
Timothy Dewe Phillips, CBE, MA, (AMP Simon Draper, MBioch, DPhil
Vassos Karageorghis, DLitt (PhD Lond) Harvard)
FSA, FBA Michael Keith, BA, DPhil
Julian Blackwell
The Rt Hon Sir Jack Beatson, DCL, (LLD Sunetra Gupta, MA, (AB Princeton; PhD
Camb), FBA Anastasios Leventis, CBE, OFR Lond)
Richard Charles Levin, LittB, Hon DCL, (BA Dame Jessica Mary Rawson, DBE, MA, Anant Parekh, MA, DPhil, FMedSci, FRS
Stanford; PhD Yale) DLitt, (MA, LittD, Camb), FBA
Hilary Greaves, MA, (PhD Rutgers)
William Peter Cooke, CBE, MA Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, QPM
Andrea Cavalleri, (Laurea, PhD Pavia)
David Robert Holmes, BA Hons, MA, Hon Lyndal Roper, (PhD Lond), FBA
DCL Nicole Zitzmann, MA, (MSc, PhD Dundee),
Dana Scott, (PhD Princeton), FBA FSB
Robert Owen Paxton, MA, (PhD Harvard) Lord Williams of Oystermouth, PC, FBA, Susannah Katherine Orkin, MA, MPhil,
Sir Howard Stringer, MA FRSL, FLSW DPhil, (BSocSc Cape Town)
David Francis Kerr Finlay, OBE, CFA, CMG Erich Gruen, (BA Columbia; PhD Harvard) Helen Barron, (MA Camb)
Jonathan Alan Hodgkin, MA, (MA, PhD The Rt Hon Dame Philippa Whipple, MA, Michael Booth, (MChem S’ton; PhD Camb)
Camb), FRS DBE
Craig MacLean, MA, (BSc, PhD McGill)
The Rt Hon Sir Brian Henry Leveson, MA, Sir Gerry Grimstone, MA, MSc
(LLD Liv) Martin Ney, MA
Sir Howard John Davies, MA, (MS Stanford)
Wyliot Fellows
Lady Hollick, OBE Charles Manby, MA, (MBA Insead)
Sir Charles Antony Richard Hoare, MA, FRS Sir Martin Taylor, MA, (PhD Lond), FRS John Booth, MA
Sir Anthony James Leggett, MA, DPhil, FRS
Peter Braam, MA, DPhil, (BSc, MSc Utrecht)
Sir Richard Hughes Trainor, MA, DPhil, Bodley Fellows John Moussouri, MSc, D Phil, (AB Harvard)
FRHistS Richard Bellerby Allan, MA, FCA
The Rt Revd Nicholas Thomas Wright, Nick Allard MA, (BA Princeton, JD Yale)
MA, DPhil, DD Visiting Research
Alan John Bott, OBE, MA, FSA
Sir Robert Andrew, MA, FRSA
Robert Gould McKelvey, MA, (BA Wesleyan)
Fellows
Sir Jeremy Isaacs, MA, FRSA Professor Simon Shaw-Miller, University
David Harvey, MA, DPhil of Bristol, Michaelmas term 2019
Sir Ian Kershaw, DPhil, Hon DLitt, FRHistS,
FBA Reed Rubin, BA Professor Garegin Papoian, University of
Maryland, Michaelmas term 2019
Martin Peter Read, CBE, DPhil Robert MacLaren, MB, ChB, DPhil,
DipLATHE, FRCOphth, FRCS, FMedSci Ms Penny Boxall, Michaelmas term 2019
Mark John Thompson, BA, FRTS, FRSA
Adrian Vickers, MA Professor Jonathan Schneer, Georgia
Adam John Hart-Davis, BA, (DPhil York), Tech, Hilary term 2020
FRSA Peter Phillips
Professor Kirsty Gunn, University of
Christopher Ramsey, MA, DPhil Dundee, Hilary term 2020
112
Elections Professor Peter Holland was awarded Professor Dame Jessica Rawson was
113
New Students 2019
Undergraduates
Ancient and Modern History History Philosophy, Politics and
Mr L Bateman, Miss L S R Lo Miss E R Cope, Miss E L Down, Miss E Economics
Hall, Miss L Hanson, Mr I Hawcock, Mr K Mr Z H Angell, Mr Y Deesomlert, Mr A Z
Biochemistry L Peyton, Ms T Ralph, Mr A D Robertson, P Gan, Miss P Jagger, Mr E B Kelly, Mr S S
Mr E J Prince, Mr F Waterhouse Miss E-R C Thompson, Mr W R Wickstead Mehta, Mr H B J Roberts
114
Records | New Students 2019
Graduates
In the following, Merton signifies Merton at Chapel Hill/Merton, Mr J Morford, R E Hepplewhite, Peterhouse College,
College, Oxford Merton, Mr D W K Oliver, Toronto/ Cambridge, Mr M Jaensch, Trinity College,
Merton, Ms T Roushannafas, St John’s Dublin, Ms C Kelepeshi, Cyprus, Ms S
2nd BM College, Cambridge/Hertford College, Mpinga, Kwazulu Natal/Cape Town, Mr
Mr D Adeyoju, Merton, Mr A N Carter, Oxford, Ms A I Sanchez-Jimenez, Seville/ T G Skaras, Rice, Mr L Tillmann, Exeter,
Merton, Mr F J Dernie, Merton, Mr J A UCL, Mr C M Santos, Federal University of Ms S Trinczek, Ulm, Ms E I B Wallace,
Navarajasegaran, Merton, Mr L S W Rio Grande do Sul, Ms A Saroldi, Pavia/St Witwatersrand, Ms V Zahoransky, Freie,
Pullen, Merton Anne’s College, Oxford, Ms E M J S Smith, Ms H Zhang, UC Berkeley, Mr J Zhu,
Merton, Mr T A Swann, New College, Ningbo/Melbourne
BCL Oxford, Mr E J Thornley, Mansfield College,
Mr E Ancev, New South Wales, Ms M G Oxford/Christ’s College, Cambridge, MSt
Clifford, Bond University, Gold Coast, Ms N Mr P H Zimmer-Harwood Osnabruck/ Ms N A J Bradley, Durham, Ms M K
Herrett, Merton, Mr M A B Ismail, Merton Oldenburg Horton, Durham, Ms K J Jaroszewicz,
Merton, Mr A Lalousheck, Merton, Ms T R
BPhil EMBA Morton, Merton, Ms K R Stanton, Sydney,
Mr S J Diggin, Hertford College, Oxford, Mr Ms Y M He, Sun Yat-sen/Bath, Mr A Kulik, Mr J Travers, Merton, Ms T H Truong,
L D Haugeberg, Science Po/Columbia RU Finance Academy Yale-NUS, Mr D Widdowson, Leeds
115
Records | Undergraduate Leavers 2020
Undergraduate Leavers 2020
Ancient and Modern English (Course II) Mathematics (4) Modern Languages and
History Mx R Wilson Ms L Buckingham, Mr C Linguistics (4)
Ms E Sharman McGarry, Ms J Stadlmann Mr S Dows-Miller (French),
History Ms E Le Maistre (German),
Biological Sciences Ms E Ball, Mr B Hartnell- Mathematics and Computer Ms G Sutherland (French), Ms
Mr A Fanner Brzezina, Ms Booth, Mr W Howie, Mr R Science (3) L Tarkanyi (German)
H Grassi, Ms N King, Mr J Lentz, Mr T Nightingale, Mr J Mr D Y Kim
Sweeney Phillips, Ms J Sheridan, Ms H Music
Smith, Mr E Turner-Fussell, Mathematics and Ms L Gibbs, Mr W Thomson
Chemistry Mr H Venters Philosophy (4)
Mr R Adair, Mr R Avadanutei, Ms Z Qureshi PPE
Mr W Gruchot, Mr V Nicod, History and English Mr S Chen, Mr D Gutt, Mr
Ms O Shiels, Ms Y Wei Ms C Buchuck-Wilsenach Mathematics and L Hart, Mr Z Lieu, Mr C
Theoretical Physics (4) Sheehan, Mr F Tokarski, Mr C
Classics (Literae History and Modern Ms G Acton, Mr R Dodhia, Ms Wong, Ms Y Zhang
Humaniores) I Languages (4) C Felce, Mr J McIntyre, Mr J
Mr M Reynolds, Ms O Tomlin, Ms A Desquiens (Spanish) Robertson, Ms L Woodland Physics and Philosophy (4)
Mr J Wolstenholme Mr J Desai
History and Politics Medical Sciences
Economics and Ms E Capstick, Mr A Ige, Mr J Ms C Fields, Ms K Gadsby, Mr
Management Woods V Himic, Ms M Tamblyn
Ms A Bibby, Mr T Clarke
Law (Jurisprudence) Modern Languages (4)
English (Course I) Ms R Bhatt, Ms S Bruce- Ms E Borsi (French and
Ms E Donachie, Ms C Smith, Mr A Burbie, Mr S Spanish), Ms H Phelan (French
Horsfall, Ms M Khalil, Ms G Gibbs, Ms I Janssen, Mr L and German), Ms M Schaefer
Shaughnessy, Ms V Stuart, McKenna, Mr E White (French and Spanish), Ms R
Ms P Webber Vasiu (German)
117
Undergraduate Results,
Awards and Prizes 2019-20
All academic results, awards and prizes are correct as of 8 September 2020.
*All First Public Examinations were cancelled in Trinity term 2020. The results in this table
relate to Law and Classics Mods taken in Hilary term 2020.
118
Promotions approved during the year
119
College Prizes
Members of the College who had achieved First Class in Schools or Mods, or Distinctions
in Prelims, Law Moderations or the First BM, were given College book prizes in accordance
with College Bylaw 87. Members of the College who had been awarded University prizes
were given College book prizes in accordance with the same Bylaw.
The number of prizes awarded is given in brackets.
Fowler Prizes for good work in Sebastian Dows-Miller (3)
Collections Jonathan Durston (1)
Connor Aberle (1) Holden Eaton (2)
Mashood Ahmad (1) Andrei Eftime (2)
Julie Alibert (1) Megan Evans (2)
Edvinas Alisauskas (2) Alia Eyres (2)
Federico Amodeo (1) Heidi Fang (1)
Molly Archer-Zeff (1) Daniel Felfoldi (1)
Nathan Bailey (1) Kirsty Fielding (1)
Sarah Bennett (2) Merit Flugler (1)
Alex Beukers (1) Mairi Franklin (1)
Riya Bhatt (1) Katrina Gadsby (1)
Tara Biddle (1) Valentina Giami (1)
Josephine Blagrove (1) Sam Gibbs (1)
Emma Bogert (2) Isobel Goodridge (1)
Hannah Bond (1) Radoslaw Grabarczyk (2)
Esther Borsi (1) Dylan Gutt (2)
Bence Botlik (2) John Handley (2)
James Bowen (1) Lauren Hanson (1)
Oliver Bowling (1) Isaac Hawcock (1)
Cecilia Bronzoni (1) Isobel Hawkins (1)
Stephanie Bruce-Smith (2) Rachel Herring (2)
Adrian Burbie (3) Alice Hilder Jarvis (1)
Pax Butchart (1) Jie Jie Huang (1)
Lucy Buxton (1) William Isotta (2)
Louis Cameron (1) Siddhant Iyer (3)
Emily Capstick (1) Isadora Janssen (2)
Thanawitch Chatbipho (2) Olivia Jenkins (1)
Richard Chatterjee (2) Adam Jest (1)
Alex Christie (2) Jessy Jindal (1)
Cristina Chui (2) Edmund Kelly (1)
Grace Clark (1) Christian Kirk (1)
Tobias Clarke (1) Daniela Krouzkova (1)
Emily Cope (1) Patrick Lewin (1)
Dragos Crisan (2) Zheng Hong Lieu (2)
Zhiwei Dai (1) Chris Lippert (1)
Yossapat Deesomlert (1) Jeremi Litarowicz (2)
Alice Desquiens (1) Oskar Maatta (1)
Elizabeth Down (1) Rishin Madan (2)
Records | College Prizes
Rayhan Mahmud (1) Daniel Storey (2) Other College prizes
James Malone (1) Leqi Sun (1) Ms L Buxton, Second Year and Above
Rodrigo Marlasca Aparicio (1) Marcell Szakaly (1) Undergraduate Essay Competition (winner)
Ross McDonald (2) Olivia Tan (2) Ms L Buxton, Professor WM Edwards Prize
Alexander McGinley (2) Alexander Tchernev (1) in Classics (joint winner)
Liam McKenna (2) William Thomson (1) Mr L Cameron, First Year Undergraduate
Rosanna Miller (2) Filip Tokarski (2) Essay Competition (joint winner)
Nicholas Mitchell (2) Nicholas U Jin (2) Mr Y Deesomlert, First Year
Ross Moore (2) Robert Vickers (1) Undergraduate Essay Competition (joint
Louis Morford (1) Shichen Wang (2) winner); Sam McNaugton Prize for best
James Morrison (1) Bethany Watkins (2) performance in year one Philosophy
Phoebe Mountain (2) Emily Webber (1) Mr A Fanner Brzezina. Wilder Penfield Prize
Anna Mullock (1) Oliver West (1) in Medicine and Biology (joint winner)
Phitawat Namnouad (1) Ewan White (1) Ms K Gadsby, Wilder Penfield Prize in
Tang Ng (2) Megan Whitlock (1) Medicine and Biology (joint winner)
Thomas Nightingale (2) Tiphaine Wibault (1) Mr W Gruchot, Phillips Prize for best
Frank Nightingale (2) Wick Willett (1) performance in Chemistry Parts 1A and 1B
Fergus O’Brien (2) Lasse Wolff (2) Mr J Handley, Raff Prize for best
Daniel Ostrowski (1) Leo Wong (1) performance in second year Economics
Suzanna Owusu-Addo (1) Junhui Yang (1) Mr S Iyer, Allen & Overy Prize for most
Jack Phillips (1) Boran Zhang (2) promising second-year Law student
Ethan Prince (1) Xiyu Zhang (1) (joint winner)
Thea Ralph (2) Mr R Moore, Allen & Overy Prize for
Lowenna Renals (1) NB: In terms where two small prizes were most promising second-year Law student
Milo Reynolds (2) awarded separately due to a delay in (joint winner)
Henry Roberts (1) receiving marks these have been counted Mr M Reynolds, Professor WM Edwards
Willow Rolls (2) as one large prize. Prize in Classics (joint winner)
Jessica Searle (1) Mr N U Jin, Norton Rose Prize for best
Eppie Sharp (2) Moderations marks of a Merton Law
Conor Sheehan (1) student
Hannah Sirringhaus (1)
Jan Siuta (1) University Prizes
Hannah Smith (2) Mr J Desai, Gibbs Prize
Aine Smith (1) Mr A Fanner Brzezina, Gibbs Prize
Guy Smith (1) Mr N U Jin, Law Faculty Prize in Criminal
Rebecca Smithson (1) Law
Kaiyang Song (1) Mr Z H Lieu, Gibbs Prize
Edward Spiers (2) Mr T Nightingale, Gibbs Prize
Mario Stepanik (2) Ms Z Qureshi, Gibbs Prize
Ms E Webber, Kolkhorst Exhibition
121
Graduate Leavers 2019-20
2nd BM EMBA 2019-20
Mr R Bendix-Hickman, Mr T I Fordwoh, 2018-19 Mr M M Bamborough (Archaeology),
Mr A D C Mafi, Mr E D McNelis, Mr T J Mr P Gul, Ms D Luvsandorj, Mr R Sutton, Mr J G Classen-Howes (Mathematical
Whitehead Mr J G Tabarani & Theoretical Physics), Mr M R E
Hepplewhite (Politics Research),
BCL 2019-20 Mr J R Morton (Major Programme
Mr E Ancev, Ms M G Clifford, Ms N Mr N S M M K Abbas, Mr A Gupta, Mr M Management), Mr M Jaensch (Economic
Herrett, Mr M A B Ismail Y Kalani & Social History), Ms C Kelepeshi
(Archaeological Science), Ms A K Morgan
DPhil MBA (Major Programme Management), Ms S
2018-19 2018-19 Mpinga (Law & Finance), Mr T G Skaras
Mr A Ferrari (Mathematics), Mr E Mr R Luttner, Mr B Pillai, Ms K Y Tuang (Mathematical & Theoretical Physics), Mr
Fioravanti (Mathematics), Mr D Hollman L Tillman (Integrated Immunology), Ms
(Condensed Matter Physics), Mr M van 2019-20 S Trinczek (Mathematical & Theoretical
Loon (Mathematics) Mr F Niaz, Ms J S Nkosi, Mr N J Sand, Ms Physics), Ms E I B Wallace (Mathematical
O S Taylor, Ms L Zhuang & Theoretical Physics), Ms V Zahoransky
2019-20 (Mathematics & Foundations of
Mr M F Adamer (Systems Biology), MJur Computer Science), Ms H Zhang
Mr A A Almet (Mathematics), Ms H Mr E Morin-Lévesque (Contemporary Chinese Studies)
Ashmawi (History), Mr A Baram (Clinical
Neurosciences), Ms L A Becerra Valdivia MPhil MSt
(Archaeological Science), Mr A M Clark Mr D P Barry (Economics), Mr N A C 2018-19
(Classical Languages & Literature), Ridpath (Economics), Mr C A Robertson Mr R Corker (English), Ms R J Young
Mr M J Day (English), Mr G W Eelink (Medieval History) (English)
(Philosophy), Mr S U Efem (Mathematics),
Ms J E Ford (Biochemistry) Ms L C MSc 2019-20
Garner (Medicine DTC), Mr M J Gilhooley 2018-19 Ms N A J Bradley (English), Ms M K
(Medicine DTC), Mr S Guggiari (Chemistry Mr K Bomba (Major Programme Horton (English), Ms K J Jaroszewicz
CDT), Mr L M Halewood (History), Mr Management), Ms V Gladkova (Comparative Literature & Critical
G N A T Hemberg (Organic Chemistry), (Mathematics & Foundations of Translation), Mr A Lalouschek (US
Ms A L Irving (Law), Ms E M Jacob Computer Science – D), Mr D W History), Ms T R Morton (Greek &/or
(Archaeological Science), Mr B J Jordan Hughes (Mathematics & Foundations Latin Languages & Literature), Ms K R
(Ancient History), Mr P Klimkowski of Computer Science – D), Ms H Hurt Stanton (Modern European History),
(Chemical Biology), Mr D P B Orton (Mathematical Modelling & Scientific Mr J Travers (Medieval History), Ms T H
(English), Mr A J Payne (International Computing), Mr J S Johnson (Major Truong (Greek &/or Latin Languages &
Relations), Mr A Piccolo (Economics), Ms L Programme Management), Mr I C Y Keh Literature), Mr D Widdowson (Classical
R J Raijmakers (Archaeological Science), Ms (Contemporary Chinese Studies), Mr Archaeology)
A H Royall (Interdisciplinary Bioscience), K A S Kollnig (Computer Science – D),
Ms M j Sanders (Zoology), Mr A S Sohal Mr D W K Oliver (Neuroscience), Mr A Visiting Students
(History), Ms A Steinepreis (Medieval & Schellinx (Contemporary Chinese Studies Mr L Burger (Physics), Mr P L F Ramond
Modern Languages), Ms A Stepashova – D), Mr R A Sullivan (Contemporary (Politics)
(Management Studies), Mr D J Treacher Chinese Studies – M), Ms M Tong
(Atomic & Laser Physics), Ms K A Watroba (Computer Science)
(Medieval & Modern Languages), Ms Q
Xia (International Development)
122
Records | Graduate Leavers 2019-20 & Graduate Results, Awards and Prizes 2019-20
Graduate Results, Awards
and Prizes 2019-20
All academic results, awards and prizes are correct as of 7 September 2020: as of this
date not all had been received.
College Prizes were awarded as follows: University Prizes were awarded as follows:
Ms D Del Vicario, Dacre Trust Award for graduate research in Ms W Yee, Beaconsfield Prize
History
Mrs Y Siegert, Lord Alfred Douglas Memorial Prize (2018-19)
Mr T Harrison, Eric Newsholme Prize in Biochemistry
123
College Staff
Name Appointment First Name Appointment First
Appointed Appointed
Mr R J Wiggins Decorator 16/3/1987 Ms S T Hague Head of Conference 2/2/2009
Mrs L S Walsh Sub-Warden’s Secretary 16/11/1987 & Accommodation
Mr J S Lisle Groundsman 17/10/1988 Mr I Knight Accommodation & 13/7/2009
Conference Porter
Mr J P McVeigh Quadman/Storeman 15/10/1990
Mr I R Walker Lodge Porter 19/7/2010
Mrs J Gerhardi Graduate Officer 2/1/1991
Miss H Deputy Head Porter 4/1/2011
Mrs N K Lisle Pavilion Catering Assistant 1/10/1996 Bednarczyk
Mr J E Tomkins Assistant Groundsman 11/8/1997 Mrs R da Silva Cleaner 11/1/2011
Mrs S A Allen Hall Assistant 7/7/1998 Miss G Hanson Gardener 28/3/2011
Mrs L J Pullen Scout 19/10/1998 Mr S Bowdery Senior IT Operations Officer 1/4/2011
Mr M Wender Head Chef 20/9/1999 Mr M Weavers Lodge Porter 9/8/2011
Mrs C L Turner Cleaner 27/3/2000 Mr T Cortes Cleaner 31/10/2011
Mrs N S Cleaner 23/4/2001 Rodrigues
Mahmood Mrs S Rai Cleaner 31/10/2011
Miss S L Bird Chef de Partie 8/10/2001 Mrs J Rusaitiene Cleaner 16/1/2012
Miss L Reveley Bursary Clerk 11/2/2002 Miss M Kowalska Cleaner 30/1/2012
Mrs C Lewis Resource Description 7/5/2002 Mr S Cope Web & Media Officer 3/12/2012
Project Librarian
Mrs L E Collins Verger 23/9/2013
Mr C D Joyce Kitchen Porter 29/7/2002
Miss J I Dziadosz Hall Steward 27/1/2014
Miss L Savin Head Gardener 7/10/2002
Mrs S Lawino Cleaner 10/3/2014
Mr J A Reid Archivist 2/12/2002
Miss M Lasota SCR & Hall Supervisor 1/10/2014
Mr C E Shackell College Accountant 20/1/2003
Mrs G Pal Cleaner 3/11/2014
Miss L Lawrence Warden’s Secretary 1/9/2003
Mrs F Lawrence HR Manager 2/12/2014
Mr C Bridgman Third Chef 29/9/2003
Mrs S Hoverd Chef de Partie 23/5/2015
Miss J Baker Cleaner 2/1/2004
Miss N Lane Lodge Porter 19/8/2015
Mrs M Skalik Head Steward 10/8/2005
Mr N Hall Bar Manager 21/9/2015
Mr J Pawlowski Lodge Porter 24/10/2005
Miss I Siwczak SCR & Hall Supervisor 27/10/2015
Mr D Brown Second Chef 2/1/2007
Mrs M Serhej Cleaner 6/6/2016
Mr M Furse Senior Gardener 2/1/2007
Mrs S Camino Cleaner 1/12/2016
Mrs G Norridge Payroll/Personnel Administrator 25/6/2007 Carrera
Miss N Harrison Estates Administrator 23/7/2007 Mrs A Antofie Cleaner 1/12/2016
Mr P Macallister Chef de Partie 22/10/2007 Miss C Chisholm Alumni Relations Officer 9/1/2017
Mrs K Adamczyk Housekeeping Supervisor 1/11/2007 Dr K Fifield Academic Registrar 1/3/2017
124
Records | College Staff
Name Appointment First Name Appointment First
Appointed Appointed
Ms M Clarke Accommodation Coordinator 20/3/2017 Miss C Pawley Academic Officer 10/9/2018
Miss R Raftery Conference & Events 27/3/2017 Mr D Spencer Maintenance Technician 01/10/2018
Coordinator (Plumbing & Building Services)
Mrs S Moore Conference & Events Manager 19/4/2017 Mr K Lau Lodge Porter 08/10/2018
Mr K Watts Maintenance Manager 3/7/2017 Mr A Lopez Bar & Catering Assistant 15/10/2018
Miss J Wingrove Chef de Partie 31/07/2017 Munoz
Ms C De Souza SCR & Hall Assistant 14/08/2017 Miss I Blasco SCR & Hall Assistant 18/11/2018
Lima Checa
Mrs F Raimo Student Support Administrator 25/09/2017 Mr H James Head Porter 07/1/2019
Miss P Martin SCR & Hall Supervisor 28/09/2017 Mrs R Wilkins Academic Officer 25/2/2019
Montalvo Mr S Saprykin Lodge Porter 08/4/2019
Ms C Long Executive PA 02/10/2017 Mr L Fekete Lodge Porter 09/4/2019
Mrs J Cullen Estates Secretary 30/10/2017 Miss K Leach Assistant College Accountant 27/08/2019
Mr E Tesfalem Servery Assistant 16/11/2017 Mr A Little Assistant Organist 01/09/2019
Mr P O’Keefe Servery Assistant 27/11/2017 Ms J Barrett Welfare Adviser 01/10/2019
Ms V Parkinson Resource Services & Support 03/1/2018 Mr D Page Commis Chef 07/10/2019
Librarian Mr C Evans Housekeeping Manager 21/10/2019
Miss R Johnston Library Assistant 08/1/2018 Ms E Casey Chapel Administrator 21/10/2019
Mr M Martinov Deputy Development Director 19/2/2018 Mr J Ottaway Lodge Porter 02/12/2019
Ms H Campbell Deputy Librarian 26/2/2018 Miss S Horder Gardener 06/01/2020
Longley
Miss E Ochiela Bursary Clerk 27/01/2020
Mr J Vickers Development Operations & 05/3/2018
Data Manager Miss A Forrai HR Officer 03/02/2020
Miss M Dziadosz SCR & Hall Assistant 03/4/2018 Miss C Francis Bursary Clerk 24/02/2020
Miss A SCR & Hall Assistant 06/4/2018 Mr T Jeffrey Lodge Porter 02/03/2020
Nowakowska Ms E Bruce Alumni Communications 31/03/2020
Mrs A Ostoja- Butler 16/4/2018 Officer
Starzewska
Miss J Twardowska Housekeeping Supervisor 01/5/2018
Mr M Carroll Chef de Partie 08/5/2018
Mr I Kozadinos IT Operations Officer 08/5/2018
Miss E Lynn Alumni Events & Stewardship 10/9/2018
Officer
125
Publications
Selected Fellows’ Publications 2019-20
Barr, A, et al. and the ATLAS Ragotte, RJ, MK Higgins and SJ Draper Erban, R (2020). ‘Coarse-graining
Collaboration (2020). ‘Search for (2020). ‘The RH5-CyRPA-Ripr Complex as molecular dynamics: stochastic models
direct production of electroweakinos a Malaria Vaccine Target’, Trends Parasitol with non-Gaussian force distributions’, J
in final states with one lepton, missing 36(6): 545–59 Math Biol 80(1-2): 457-79
transverse energy and a Higgs boson Labbe, GM, et al. and SJ Draper (2019). Stadlmann, J and R Erban (2019). ‘Limiting
decaying into two b-jets in pp collisions ‘Harmonization study between three stochastic processes of shift-periodic
at √s =13 TeV with the ATLAS detector’, laboratories for expression of malaria dynamical systems’, Roy Soc Open Sci
Eur Phys J C, arXiv:1909.09226 (accepted) vaccine clinical trial IgG antibody ELISA 6(11): rsos.191423
Barr, A, et al. and the ATLAS data in microg/mL’, Malaria J 18(1): 300 Geddes, JR, NC Andreasen and GM
Collaboration (2020). ‘Performance Warszawski, S, et al. and MK Higgins, Goodwin (eds.) (2020). New Oxford
of the missing transverse momentum SJ Draper (2020). ‘Design of a basigin- Textbook of Psychiatry, 3rd edn (OUP)
triggers for the ATLAS detector during mimicking inhibitor targeting the malaria
Run 2 data taking’, J High Energy Phys invasion protein RH5’, Proteins 88(1):187-95 Grimley, M, T Rodger and P Williamson
arXiv: 2005.09554 (submitted) (eds) (2020). The Church of England
Barr, A, et al. and the ATLAS Illingworth, JJ, et al. and MK Higgins, SJ and British Politics since 1900 (Boydell:
Collaboration (2020). ‘Search for new Draper (2019). ‘Functional Comparison Woodbridge)
phenomena in final states with large of Blood-Stage Plasmodium falciparum Grimley, M (2019). ‘You got an ology? The
jet multiplicities and missing transverse Malaria Vaccine Candidate Antigens’, backlash against sociology in Britain, c.
momentum using sqrt(s)=13 TeV proton- Front Immunol 10: 1254 1945-90’ in L Goldman (ed.) Welfare and
proton collisions recorded by ATLAS in Arezes, J, et al. and SJ Draper (2020). Social Policy in Britain since 1900: Essays in
Run 2 of the LHC’, ATLAS-CONF-2020-002 ‘Antibodies against the erythroferrone Honour of Jose Harris (OUP), pp.178-93
Barron, HC, R Auksztulewicz and K N-terminal domain prevent hepcidin Gruen, ES (2019). ‘Philo’s refashioning of
Friston (2020). ‘Prediction and memory: suppression and ameliorate murine Greek myth’ in F Alesse and L De Luca
a predictive coding account’, Prog thalassemia’, Blood 135(8): 547-57 (eds) Philo of Alexandria and Greek Myth:
Neurobiol, 101821 Liu, AG and FS Dunn (2020). ‘Filamentous Narratives, Allegories, and Arguments
Brantner, L and G Heuts (2020) ‘The connections between Ediacaran fronds’, (Leiden: Boston), pp.3-18
v_n-periodic Goodwillie tower on wedges Curr Biol, doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.01.052 Barber, NM, et al. and MK Higgins (2019).
and cofibres’, Homol Homotopy Appl 22(1): Yin, J, Y Li, S Liao et al. and A Ekert ‘Structure-guided design of a synthetic
167–84 (2020). ‘Entanglement-based secure mimic of an EPCR-binding PfEMP1 protein’,
Carey, J (2020). A Little History of Poetry quantum cryptography over 1,120 BioRXIV, doi 10.1101/749432
(Yale) kilometres’, Nature 582: 501-5 Macleod, OJS, et al. and MK Higgins
Chen-Wishart, M (contributing ed.) Dragan, A and A Ekert (2020). ‘Quantum (2020). ‘A receptor for the complement
(2019). Supplement to chapters 2 and 27 principle of relativity’, New J Phys 22, regulator factor H increases transmission
in H Beale (ed.), Chitty on Contracts, Vol 1, 033038 of trypanosomes to tsetse flies’, Nat
33rd edn (Sweet & Maxwell) Erban, R and J Chapman (2020). Commun 11(1): 1326
Stochastic Modelling of Reaction-Diffusion
Processes: Cambridge Texts in Applied
Mathematics (Cambridge)
Records | Selected Fellows’ Publications 2019-20
Trevor, C, et al. and MK Higgins Karageorghis, V and T Kiely (2019). Heldt, FS, JJ Tyson, FR Cross and B Novák
(2019). ‘Structure of the trypanosome Salamis-Toumba. An Iron Age Sanctuary (2020). ‘A single light-responsive sizer
transferrin receptor reveals mechanisms in Cyprus Rediscovered (Excavations of can control multiple-fission cycles in
of ligand recognition and immune the Cyprus Exploration Fund, 1890) (A.G Chlamydomonas’, Curr Biol 30(4): 634-44
evasion’, Nat Microbiol 4(10): 2074-81 Leventis Foundation, Cyprus Institute) Hégarat, N, et al. and B Novák (2020).
Lennartz, F, C Smith, AG Craig and MK Karageorghis, V and E Raptou (2019). ‘Cyclin A triggers mitosis either via the
Higgins (2019). ‘Structural insights ‘Palaepaphos-Skales Tomb 277. More Greatwall kinase pathway or Cyclin B’,
into diverse modes of ICAM-1 binding prestigious burials’, Opuscula-Annu Swedis EMBO J 39(11): e104419
by Plasmodium falciparum-infected 12: 327-67 Tyson, JJ and B Novák (2020). ‘A
erythrocytes’, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA Kubincova, A, PH Hunenberger and M dynamical paradigm for molecular cell
116(40): 20124-34 Krishnan (2020). ‘Interfacial solvation biology’, Trends Cell Biol 30(7): 504-15
Guijarro-Clarke, C, PWH Holland and can explain attraction between like- Gerard, F, C Imbert and K Orkin
J Paps (2020). ‘Widespread patterns of charged objects in aqueous solution’, J (2020). ‘Social protection response
gene loss in the evolution of the animal Chem Phys 152(10): 104713 to the COVID-19 crisis: options for
kingdom’, Nat Ecol Evol 4: 519-23 Bespalova, M, S Mahanta and M Krishnan developing countries’, Oxford Rev Econ Pol
Pracana, R, AD Hargreaves, JF Mulley (2019). ‘Single-molecule trapping and (forthcoming)
and PWH Holland (2020). ‘Runaway GC measurement in solution’, Curr Opin Garlick, R, K Orkin and S Quinn (2020).
evolution in gerbil genomes’, Mol Biol Evol, Chem Biol 51: 113-21 ‘Call me maybe: experimental evidence
msaa072, doi: 10.1093/molbev/msaa072 Lemos, IS and A Tsingarida (eds.) (2019). on frequency and medium effects in
Zhong Y, C Herrera-Úbeda, J Garcia- Beyond the Polis. Rituals, Rites, and Cults microenterprise surveys’, World Bank
Fernàndez and PWH Holland (2020). in Early and Archaic Greece (12th-6th Econ Rev 34(2) 418-43
‘Mutation of amphioxus Pdx and Cdx centuries BC), Etudes d’archéologie 15, Winbo, A and DJ Paterson (2020). ‘The
demonstrates conserved roles for (CReA‑Patrimoine: Brussels) brain-heart connection in sympathetically
ParaHox genes in gut, anus and tail Lemos, IS (2019). ‘The “Ritual Zone” on triggered inherited arrhythmia’, Heart
patterning’, BMC Biol 18: 68 Xeropolis at Lefkandi: Some preliminary Lung Circ 29(4): 529-37
Nong, W, J Cao, Y Li et al. and PWH thoughts’ in IS Lemos and A Tsingarida Bardsley, EN, OC Neely and DJ Paterson
Holland (2020). ‘Jellyfish genomes reveal (eds), Beyond the Polis. Rituals, Rites, and (2020). ‘Angiotensin peptide synthesis
distinct homeobox gene clusters and Cults in Early and Archaic Greece (12th-6th and cyclic nucleotide modulation in
conservation of small RNA processing’, centuries BC), Etudes d’archéologie 15 sympathetic stellate ganglia’, J Mol Cell
Nat Commun 11(1): 3051 (CReA‑Patrimoine: Brussels), pp. 75-89 Cardiol 138: 234-43
Ding H, et al. and SM Hooker (2020). Lemos, IS and A Kotsonas (eds) (2020). Kalla, M, et al. and DJ Paterson (2019).
‘Nonlinear plasma wavelength scalings in A Companion to the Archaeology of Early ‘The cardiac sympathetic co-transmitter
a laser wakefield accelerator’, Phys Rev E Greece and the Mediterranean (Wiley neuropeptide Y is a pro-arrhythmic
101(2-1): 023209 Blackwell: Oxford) following ST-elevation myocardial
Treacher, DJ, DT Lloyd, F Wiegandt, Lemos, IS (2020). ‘Euboea’ in IS Lemos infarction despite beta-blockade’, Eur
K O’Keeffe and SM Hooker (2019). and A Kotsonas (eds) A Companion to Heart J 41(23): 2168-79
‘Optimised XUV holography using the Archaeology of Early Greece and the Quine, C (2020). Casting Down the Host
spatially shaped high harmonic beams’, Mediterranean (Wiley Blackwell: Oxford), of Heaven: The Rhetoric of Ritual Failure
Opt Express 27: 29016-25 pp.789-813 in the Polemic Against the Host of Heaven
Jones, S (2019). ‘Worship transforming Birgitta, E and IS Lemos (2020). ‘From the (Leiden: Brill)
catechesis: catechesis transforming collapse of the Mycenaean palaces to the Quine, C (2019). ‘The host of heaven and
worship’ in S Croft (ed.), Rooted and emergence of Early Iron Age communities’ the divine army: a reassessment’, J Biblical
Grounded (Canterbury Press: Norwich), in IS Lemos and A Kotsonas (eds) A Lit 138(4): 741-55
pp.21-36 Companion to the Archaeology of Early
Karageorghis, V (2019). ‘Cypriote ships Greece and the Mediterranean (Wiley Quine, C (2019) ‘Jehu’s slaughter of
revisited’ in F Briquel et al. (eds) Nuit de Blackwell: Oxford), pp.133-60 Judah’s Royal Family at Beth-Eked
pleine lune sur Amurru - Mélanges offerts Maclachlan, I (2020). Louis-René des (2 Kings 10:13-14): a closer look’, Z
à Leila Badre (Geuthner), pp.253-60 Forêts and Inner Autobiography (Legenda: alttestament Wissenschaft 131(4): 537-48
Cambridge)
127
Chugunov, KV, J Rawson and YA Grebnev Rodríguez-Martínez, R, et al. and TA Scott, A and DR Wood (2020). ‘Better
(2020). ‘Allies and victims: identifying a Richards (2020). ‘Controlled sampling bounds for poset dimension and
steppe component within Shang culture’, of ribosomally active protistan diversity boxicity’, T Am Math Soc 373, 2157-72
Stratum Plus (2): 409–38 in sediment-surface layers identifies Scott, A and P Seymour (2019). ‘Induced
Liu, R, AM Pollard, J Rawson et al. (2019). putative players in the marine carbon subgraphs of graphs with large chromatic
‘Panlongcheng, Zhengzhou and the sink’, ISME J 14: 984–98 number. X. Holes of specific residue’,
movement of metal in Early Bronze Age Richardson, NJ (2019). Autogiro Pioneer: Combinatorica 39, 1105-32
China’, J World Prehist 32(4): 393–428 The Life of Jack Richardson (Fonthill) Chudnovsky, M, A Scott, P Seymour and
Rawson, J (2019). Chinese Ornament: Roth, M and J Schmitt (2020). ‘Counting S Spirkl (2020). ‘Detecting an odd hole’, J
The Lotus and the Dragon. Lian yu long: induced subgraphs: a topological Assoc Comput Mach 67(1), Article 5
Zhongguo wenshi 莲与龙: 中国纹饰. approach to #W[1]-hardness’, Chudnovsky, M, A Scott and P Seymour
Zhang Ping 张平 (trans.) (Shanghai: Algorithmica (2019). ‘Induced subgraphs of graphs
Shanghai Shuhua Chubanshe) 上海书画 Roth, M and P Wellnitz (2020). ‘Counting with large chromatic number. XII. Distant
出版社
and finding homomorphisms is universal stars’, J Graph Theor 92, 237-54
Milner, DS, et al. and TA Richards (2019). for parameterized complexity theory’, Norin, S, A Scott, P Seymour and D
‘Environment-dependent fitness gains Proc 2020 ACM-SIAM Symp Discrete Wood (2019). ‘Clustered colouring in
can be driven by horizontal gene transfer Algorithms 2161-80 minor-closed classes’, Combinatorica 39,
of transporter-encoding genes’, Proc Natl Roth, M, Y Forster and F Kunze (2020). 1387-412
Acad Sci USA 116(12): 5613-22 ‘The weak call-by-value lambda-calculus is
Richards, TA, et al. (2019). ‘Single cell reasonable for both time and space’, Proc Shue, H (2020). Basic Rights: Subsistence,
ecology’, Phil Trans Roy Soc B 374: 1786 ACM Programming Lang 4 (POPL) 27:1-27 Affluence, and U.S. Foreign Policy, 40th
anniversary edn with new chapter on
Chambouvet, A, et al. and TA Richards Sawyer, D (2019). ‘Missing books in the climate change (Princeton)
(2019). ‘Intracellular infection of diverse folk codicology of later medieval England’, Shue, H (2020). ‘Distant strangers
diatoms by an evolutionary distinct Mediaeval J 7(2): 103-32 and the illusion of separation: climate,
relative of the fungi’, Curr Biol 29(23): Sawyer, D (2019). ‘Pedant’s revolt: development, and disaster’ in T Brooks
4093-101 dissent in the hierarchy of scripts’, J Early (ed.), Oxford Handbook of Global Justice
Wideman, JG, et al. and TA Richards Book Soc 22: 269-80 (OUP)
(2020). ‘Unexpected mitochondrial genome Sawyer, D (2020). Reading English Verse
diversity revealed by targeted single-cell in Manuscript c.1350–c.1500 (OUP)
genomics of heterotrophic flagellated
protists’, Nature Microbiol 5(1): 154-65
128
Records | Selected Fellows’ Publications 2019-20
Shue, H (2020). ‘Keeping exceptions Wallace, S, E Stubbins Bates and N Tracey, I (2020). Pain: A Ladybird Expert
exceptional in war: could any revisionist Quenivet (2019). ‘Legal protections for Book (Penguin Random House)
theory guide action?’ in G Parsons and Armed Forces personnel and veterans Waller, P (2019). ‘Light reading for
MA Wilson (eds), Walzer and War: serving in operations outside the United intellectual heavyweights’, in WR Louis
Reading Just and Unjust Wars Today Kingdom: response to public consultation (ed.), Serendipitous Adventures with
(Palgrave Macmillan) questionnaire’, SSRN, doi.org/10.2139/ Britannia: Personalities, Politics and
Stubbins Bates, E (2020). ‘The British ssrn.3463638 Culture in Britain (Bloomsbury: London
Army’s training in international Byrne, HM, et al. and U Tillmann (2019). & New York)
humanitarian law’, J Conflict Secur Law, ‘Topological methods for characterising Whitworth, MH (2018). ‘Transformations
doi.org/10.1093/jcsl/kraa006 spatial networks: a case study in tumour of knowledge in Oliver Lodge’s Ether
Stubbins Bates, E (2019). ‘Distorted vasculature’, IMA Math Today 55(5), and Reality’ in J Navarro (ed.) Ether and
terminology: the UK’s investigations into arXiv:1906.07626 Modernity: The Recalcitrance of an Epistemic
alleged torture and inhuman treatment in Schulz, E, et al. and I Tracey (2020). Object in the Early Twentieth Century (OUP)
Iraq’, Int Compar Law Q 68(3): 719–39 ‘Ultra-high field imaging reveals increased Whitworth, MH (2020). ‘Jamieson,
Stubbins Bates, E (2020). ‘United whole brain connectivity underpins jargons, jangles, and jokes: Hugh
Kingdom’ in L Lazarus et al. A Preliminary cognitive strategies that attenuate pain’, MacDiarmid and dictionaries’ in A Blades
Human Rights Assessment of Legislative Elife. 2020;9: e55028 and P Pennington (eds) Poetry and the
and Regulatory Responses to the COVID-19 Tracey, I, CJ Woolf and NA Andrews (2019). Dictionary (Liverpool)
Pandemic across 11 Jurisdictions, Bonavero ‘Composite pain biomarker signatures Whitworth, MH (2020). ‘The historicity of
Institute of Human Rights for objective assessment and effective “imagination” and “creativity”: a response
Stubbins Bates, E (2020). ‘Article 2 treatment’, Neuron 101(5): 783-800 to Tom McLeish’s The Poetry and Music of
ECHR’s positive obligations. How can Kikkert ,S, et al., I Tracey and TR Makin Science (2019),’ Interdiscipl Sci Rev 45(1): 8-15
human rights law inform the protection (2019). ‘Neural basis of induced phantom
of health care personnel and vulnerable limb pain relief’, Ann Neurol 85(1):59-73
patients in the COVID-19 pandemic?’ Soni, A, et al., and I Tracey (2019).
Opinio Juris ‘Central sensitization in knee
osteoarthritis: relating presurgical
brainstem neuroimaging and
PainDETECT-based patient stratification
to arthroplasty outcome’, Arthritis
Rheumatol 71(4):550-60
129
Graduate Publications 2019-20
Carter, AN (2020). ‘To what extent Hurford, R et al. (2020). ‘Prevalence,
does clinically assisted nutrition and predictors and prognosis of symptomatic
hydration have a role in the care of intracranial stenosis in patients with
dying people?’ J Palliative Care, doi. transient ischemic attack or minor stroke:
org/10.1177/0825859720907426 a population-based cohort study’, Lancet
Craske, H (2020). ‘Partners in crime? Neurol 19: 413-21
Scandalous complicity between Rachilde Hurford, R and L Li (2020). ‘Journal
and Jean Lorrain’, Nineteenth-Century Club: Risk of new-onset epilepsy and
French Studies 48 (3-4): 326-43 refractory epilepsy in older adult stroke
Frampton, A (2019). ‘Zelenka, Palestrina survivors’, Neurology 94(17): 758-60.
and the art of arrangement: a new Hurford, R and Lehman L (2019).
manuscript fragment’, Musicology ‘Introduction to the disorder: Pediatric
Australia 41(2), 174–98 stroke and cerebrovascular disorders
Murphy, K, F Kiernan and A Frampton (Pediatric Perspective)’ in JJ Millichap, RE
(eds) (2019). ‘Zelenka, Bach and the Strowd, JW Mink and P Pearl (eds) Child
Eighteenth-Century German Baroque: Neurology: A Case-Based Approach. Cases
Essays in Honour of Janice B. Stockigt’, from the Neurology Resident & Fellow
Musicology Australia 41(2) (Special issue) Section (American Academy of Neurology
& the Child Neurology Society), p.25
Fry, LE, et al. (2020). ‘Refractive outcomes Jolly, JK, H Bridge and RE MacLaren (2019).
of the Yamane flanged intrascleral haptic ‘Outcome measures used in ocular
fixation technique’, Ophthalmology (in gene therapy trials: a scoping review of
press) current practice’, Front Pharmacol, doi.
Fry, LE, et al. (2020). ‘RNA editing as a org/10.3389/fphar.2019.01076
therapeutic approach for retinal gene Carpenter, K, JK Jolly and H Bridge (2019).
therapy requiring long coding sequences’, ‘The elephant in the room: understanding
Int J Mol Sci 21(3): 777 the pathogenesis of Charles Bonnet
Peddle, CF, LE Fry, ME McClements and syndrome’, Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 39(6):
RE MacLaren (2020). ‘CRISPR interference 414-21
– a novel application of DNA targeting in Jolly, JK, CE Couldridge-Smith, K Xue
retinal disease’, Int J Mol Sci 21(7): 2329 and RE MacLaren (2020). ‘The impact
Fry LE, et al. (2020). ‘Association of of progressive visual field constriction
messenger RNA level with phenotype in on reading ability in an inherited retinal
patients with choroideremia: potential degeneration’, Ophthalmologica 243(3):
implications for gene therapy dose’, JAMA 207-16
Ophthalmol 138(2): 128–35 Jolly JK, et al. (2020). ‘Validation
Hurford, R, et al. (2020). ‘How to do it: of electronic visual acuity (EVA)
Diagnosis and management of acute measurement against standardised ETDRS
ischaemic stroke’, Prac Neurol (in press) charts in patients with visual field loss
Hurford, R, et al. (2020). ‘Prognosis of from inherited retinal degenerations’, Br J
asymptomatic intracranial stenosis in Ophthalmol 104(7): 924-31
patients with transient ischemic attack Jolly, JK, et al. (2020). ‘Transcorneal
and minor stroke: a population-based electrical stimulation for the treatment of
study’, JAMA Neurol PMID: 32453401 retinitis pigmentosa: a multicenter safety
study of the OkuStim® System (TESOLA-
study)’, Ophthalmic Res 63(3): 234-43
Records | Graduate Publications 2019-20
Liau, T and R Leow (2020). ‘Proprietary Parisi, JF, et al. (2020). ‘Toroidal and slab Nguyen, DX, G Wagner and SH Simon
restitution’ in E Bant, K Barker and S ETG dominance in the linear spectrum of (2020). ‘Quantum Boltzmann equation
Degeling (eds) Research Handbook on JET-ILW pedestals’, arxiv:2004.13634 for bilayer graphene’, Phys Rev B 101(3):
Unjust Enrichment and Restitution (Edward Siegert, YJ (trans.) (2019). Maillard, C, 035117
Elgar Publishing), pp.476-97 Killing Plato (New Directions) Wagner, G, DX Nguyen, DL Kovrizhin,
Thompson, RN, FA Lovell-Read and U Sap, JB, et al. (2019). ‘Synthesis of SH Simon (2019). ‘Driven quantum dot
Obolski (2020). ‘Time from symptom 18
F-difluoromethylarenes using aryl coupled to a fractional quantum Hall
onset to hospitalisation of coronavirus boronic acids, ethyl bromofluoroacetate edge’, Phys Rev B 100(24): 245111
disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases: and [18F]fluoride’, Chem Sci 10: 3237-41 Schultin, R, JA White et al. (2020).
implications for the proportion of ‘Integrated stable isotopic and
transmissions from infectors with few Sap, JB, et al. (2019). radiocarbon analyses of Neolithic and
symptoms’, J Clin Med 9(5): 1297 ‘Hydrochlorofluoromethylation Bronze Age hunter-gatherers from the
Miao, R, et al. (2019). ‘Electron transfer of unactivated alkenes with Little Sea and Upper Lena micro-regions,
to decorated graphene oxide particles’, chlorofluoroacetic acid’, Tetrahedron 75, Cis-Baikal, Siberia’, J Archaeol Sci 119, doi.
Angewandte Chemie 131(36): 12549-52 130679 org/10.1016/j.jas.2020.105161
Norwitz, NG, MT Hu and K Clarke (2019). Sap, JB, et al (2020). ‘Manual and Windischhofer, P, M Zgubič and D
‘The mechanisms by which the ketone automated Cu-mediated radiosynthesis Bortoletto (2020). ‘Preserving physically
body D-β-hydroxybutyrate may improve of the PARP inhibitor [18F]olaparib’, Nat important variables in optimal event
the multiple cellular pathologies of Protoc 15: 1525-41 selections: a case study in Higgs physics’,
Parkinson’s disease’, Front Nutr 6(63): 1-8 Hell, SM, et al., JB Sap et al. (2020). J High Energy Phys 1, doi: 10.1007/
Norwitz, NG, AS Mota, SG Norwitz, ‘Hydrosulfonylation of alkenes with JHEP07(2020)001
and K Clarke (2019). ‘Multi-loop model sulfonyl chlorides under visible light Yusuf IH, P Charbel Issa and AJ
of Alzheimer disease: an integrated activation’, Angewandte Chemie Int Ed Lotery (2020). ‘Pentosan polysulfate
perspective on the Wnt/GSK3β, 59(28), doi: 10.1002/anie.202004070 maculopathy - prescribers should be
α-synuclein, and type 3 diabetes (online ahead of print) aware’, JAMA Ophthalmol, doi: 10.1001/
hypotheses’, Front Aging Neurosci 11(184): Sap, JB, et al. (2020). ‘Organophotoredox jamaophthalmol.2020.2364
1-14 hydrodefluorination of Menghini M, J Cehajic-Kapetanovic J, IH
Norwitz, NG and V Loh (2020). ‘A trifluoromethylarenes with translational Yusuf and RE MacLaren (2019). ‘A novel
standard lipid panel is insufficient for the applicability to drug discovery’, J Am splice-site variant in CDH23 in a patient
care of a patient on a high-fat, low- Chem Soc 142(20): 9181-7 with Usher syndrome type 1’, Ophthalmic
carbohydrate ketogenic diet’, Front Med Turton, S (2019). ‘Unlawful entries: Genet 40(6): 545-8
7(97): 1-7 buggery, sodomy, and the construction Yusuf, IH, et al. (2019). ‘Clinical
Norwitz, NG, SS Dalai and CP Palmer of sexual normativity in early English characterization of retinitis pigmentosa
(2020). ‘A ketogenic diet for the dictionaries’, Dictionaries: J Dictionary Soc associated with variants in SNRNP200’,
metabolic treatment of mental illness’, North America 40(1): 81–112 JAMA Ophthalmol 137(11): 1295-300
Curr Opin Endocrinol (accepted) Turton, S (2020). ‘The confessional
sciences: scientific lexicography
Norwitz, NG, JJ Jaramillo, K Clarke and
AS Mota (2020). ‘Ketotherapeutics for and sexology in the Oxford English Awards
neurodegenerative disorders’, Int Rev Dictionary’, Lang Hist (advance online Miss Helen Craske
Neurobiol (accepted) publication) The Society for French Studies’ R Gapper
Wagner, G, DX Nguyen and SH Simon Postgraduate Essay Prize for graduate
O’Keeffe, EW (2020). ‘The anatomy of (2020). ‘Transport in bilayer graphene work in French studies in the UK
a drum corps: drummers and musicians near charge neutrality. Which scattering
in the Canadian Regiment of Fencible mechanisms are important?’, Phys Rev
Infantry, 1803-1816’, J Soc Army Hist Res Lett 124(2): 026601
98:41-57
131
Mertonians
Mertonians | Merton Society London Lecture
Merton Society
London Lecture
The Warden, Professor Irene Tracey (1985) is introduced by Dame
Philippa Whipple (1984), President of the Merton Society Council
The Covid-19-induced lockdown has provided challenges to Establishing that pain is a highly individual experience, with
us all. However, out of adversity comes opportunity; and so a non-linear relationship between the origin of the pain
it was that my sixth-former daughter and I sat down, with stimulus and the pain felt, and taking in the role of cultural
other virtual attendees from around the world, to enjoy biases in the perception of pain, Professor Tracey introduced
the 2020 Merton Society London Lecture: ‘A life of pain and us to some intriguing experimental studies on the effect of
pleasure imaging the human brain’, presented by the Warden. mood on pain perception. We could imagine ourselves to be
observers of experiments in which the impact of expectation
As Professor Tracey took us on a journey that started with management can be seen in medical images, with significant
her undergraduate days at Merton, I was unprepared to be effect: ‘imaging never lies’. Techniques for inducing
confronted by my 18-year-old-self looking out from the back antinociception (the blocking of detection of serious injury)
row of her matriculation photograph. However, equilibrium via distraction or arousal were illustrated, and the complex
restored, I rejoined the path as it continued through a and prevalent subject of chronic pain explored.
doctorate to postdoctoral studies, during which her research
focus shifted to functional imaging in the neurosciences. Returning to the theme of expectation management, the
Warden introduced the final subject of her fascinating
The Warden set the scene for the lecture with an talk – the role of placebo. This is well established in drug
introduction to the structure and function of the brain discovery, with control-arm experiments and double-
and nervous system, taking in historical perspectives and blind trials, but the subject here was the role of placebo
discoveries along the way. Bringing us up to more recent in surgical outcomes. The existence of this research area –
times with the formation of the Oxford Centre for Functional placebo surgery – was a revelation to me, and the outcomes
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain (FMRIB), Professor even more so. I encourage you to view the recording of the
Tracey talked about the role of imaging in capturing Warden’s lecture if you want to know more.
brain activity – mapping physical, emotional and sensory
experiences to something that can be observed through the The time flew by and Professor Tracey concluded by
scanner. Moving on to a general description of the function promising that she would present the rest of her slides, on
of pain, the Warden discussed acute versus chronic pain, anaesthesia, at a future date. I do hope that she will.
the mechanisms of pain transmission and suppression, with
some rather sobering statistics about the opioid crisis. Gareth Weston (1985)
133
Mertonians and their guests gathered at Apothecaries’ Hall in
All alumni of Merton College are automatically members of Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic meant that
the Merton Society once they leave College. It is important we were forced to cancel this year’s Merton Society
to state this as I sometimes meet alumni who are not aware Weekend which would have normally been held in College
of it, or of the existence of the Society and what we do. in June. It was disappointing that it was not possible
under requirements for social distancing to go ahead, but
The Merton Society works with the College, but hopefully we will be able to hold a weekend event as normal
independently of it, to provide alumni with opportunities in the summer of 2021.
to connect or reconnect with Merton, and to meet fellow
Mertonians. To to do this, we organise a broad calendar of Our annual London lecture did go ahead almost as normal
events such as lectures, dinners, drinks, a carol concert and in May but in a new online format. The Warden spoke about
the annual weekend in College. her research and career in neuroscience, under the title ‘A
life of pain and pleasure imaging the human brain’. In a
It has been another active year on this front. The highlight fascinating talk she explained what her pioneering research
for me was the drinks reception on 6 November held in has taught us about how the brain perceives pain and has
London to welcome Professor Irene Tracey (1985) as Warden demonstrated, for example, that the experience of pain
and introduce her to alumni. This event was a real success; it could be created in part by anticipation rather than actual
was attended by over 180 Mertonians and their guests, and it sensation, and also that distraction reduces the experience
was great to see many new and younger faces. It was also an of pain. I was particularly pleased that we were able to hold
opportunity for Mertonians to meet Dame Philippa Whipple the lecture digitally. It worked well, including time for Q&A,
(1984) in her role as the new President of the Merton Society. and meant of course that the lecture could attract a larger
I am delighted to welcome her on board; like the Warden she and more global audience. We will, I expect, experiment with
is bringing lots of dynamism and new ideas to the role. this format again in the future.
134
Mertonians | The Merton Society
© John Cairns
I would like to give a big thanks to Duncan Barker for all his At the Merton Society we are always looking to engage with
work for the Society as Development Director and wish him as many alumni as we can, of different ages, interests and
the best in the future as he leaves Merton. We continue to backgrounds. If you would like to become involved, please do
rely on Milos Martinov and the team at the Development get in touch with me via the Development Office. Perhaps
Office without whom a lot of our activities could not happen. you have ideas for events or have thoughts and views on
A big thank you to the Warden for her active support of the what we can do to further the aims of the Merton Society; I
Society. Council and Committee members have also provided am always interested to hear from you.
lots of great ideas and input over the last few months, which
is also much appreciated. Mark Davison (1978), Chairman
135
MC3: Merton
College Charitable
Corporation
The MC3 Drinks Reception in New York, November
2019, kindly hosted by Amna Naseer (1997)
136
Mertonians | MC3: Merton College Charitable Corporation
Tracey’s installation ceremony, which he attended, and 2020 was similar to that for 2019, but he noted that a sharp
how MC3’s presence at that historic occasion was further eye would be kept on expenditures if contributions waned
poignantly conveyed by the College flag flying at half- because of the impact of the pandemic.
mast in honor of John Kirby. He spoke more boisterously
of the new Warden’s inaugural lunch in Hall, including The Investment Committee, chaired by Neil Brown (2002),
lively conversations with Sir Howard Stringer (1961), Fellow reported that on 31 December 2019 the MC3 endowment
Dominic Welsh, and other classmates and friends of John. reached its highest level ever, at $3.571 million. The portfolio
had gained $614,000 (21%) in 2019. By 31 March 2020 the
Mr Allard also reported that MC3 and the College were well endowment value had declined to $2.993 million, giving up
represented at the 15 November 2019 celebration of John most of the 2019 gain.
Kirby’s life that was organized and moderated by Susan
Cullman and held at Fordham University’s Rose Hill Campus During the first quarter of 2020, the Investment Committee
in its Duane Library. The capacity audience, including a held a virtual conference with the portfolio manager to
large number of Mertonians and Oxonians, were touched discuss strategy. It was reaffirmed that this portfolio had a
and entertained by remembrances from the President of long-term time horizon. It was confirmed that it held enough
Fordham University, Joseph M McShane, SJ, the President of funds in investments outside of the stock market to meet
Georgetown University, John J DeGoia, United States Judge all short-term and intermediate-term commitments. It was
Kenneth Conboy, his children and other family friends, as noted that an equity-based strategy had been in place since
well as a moving documentary film of John’s life produced by the early 2000s and had served MC3 well. Over half of the
his son Tim. The concluding tribute was offered by Merton’s portfolio value of $3.571 million on 31 December, a total of
50th Warden, Sir Martin Taylor, who, with Lady Taylor, $1.895 million, came from portfolio profits and income. The
traveled to New York to participate in the memorial program. committee made no change in the basic strategy but asked
the manager to keep it apprised of its tactics in these volatile
David Harvey (1957), reporting for the MC3 Development markets. By the time of the annual meeting, the portfolio
Committee, noted that MC3 had raised $455,112 in 2019. had recovered more than 40% of the first-quarter loss.
The gifts supported 27 different projects or programs at
the College reflecting the wide diversity of interests that Mr Brown stated that even in the current markets the
overseas alumni have in College life. A total of $340,050 was MC3 endowment of about $3 million could support three
sent directly to Merton and the balance was added to MC3’s full scholarships of $40,000 each year. Discussions were
scholarship endowment and used for expenses. in progress with the College to fill the third scholarship by
Michaelmas term.
After the annual meeting, the Warden announced The Big
Merton 1264 Challenge, to raise donations to help those in The Nominations Committee, led by Scott Moore (2009),
the College community impacted by Covid-19. MC3 provided nominated Nick Allard as President, Marina McCloskey
a matching challenge grant of $12,640, which inspired and Nate Olson as Vice-Presidents, Kathleen Sheehan as
contributions from a wide range of Mertonians and friends Secretary and Robert McKelvey as Treasurer. This slate of
towards this important new Merton Hardship Fund. At the officers was elected.
time of writing (July 2020), more than £60,000 has been
raised, with 30% coming from MC3. David Harvey noted As the final action of the meeting, President Allard proposed the
that MC3, with only 15% of Merton’s alumni, often ‘punches naming of the third MC3 scholarship in honor of John Kirby:
above its weight’ in supporting the College. the John J Kirby Jr Scholarship. It was approved by acclamation.
Treasurer Robert McKelvey (1959) reviewed MC3’s most Robert McKelvey (1959)
recent tax filing and the 2019 budget results. The budget for MC3 Treasurer
137
Merton Golf Society
The season began once again in late September at Studley on 26 March and the Intercollegiate event on 17 April being
Wood near Oxford where a forecast of the ‘possibility of a cancelled. The latter was particularly disappointing as the
heavy shower’ turned into periods of prolonged and heavy prize-giving and dinner were booked in Merton Hall.
rain which at times even flooded some greens. However,
despite five unfortunate weather-related retirements during Merton has had several golf Blues in recent decades along
the round, eight cards were completed and once again in with success also in the President’s Putter. It is, however,
2019 it was Nigel Haigh who came out on top, securing difficult to make direct contact with people given the
another Merton tankard, with a fine score of 34 Stableford limitations of the General Data Protection Regulation, and it
points even though he had been docked two shots for would be good if some of these players were able to support
his success earlier in the year. Tony Lowman was a close the cause at the Intercollegiate meeting.
second and Nick Silk third with 31 points. We welcomed a
new Merton golfer, David Riddiford, to his first event and, Finally, the Golf Society is looking for a new leader as I want
after drying out, several members and their partners had an to pass on the responsibility after nine years. If anyone
enjoyable evening and dinner in College. would like to pick that up or would like to play in our future
events, do please contact me.
Unfortunately after this damp start coronavirus took its
toll on the remaining events in the year, with the Merton Bill Ford (1975)
spring meeting due to be held at Newbury and Crookham
138
Merton College Biomedical and
Mertonians | Merton Golf Society & Merton College Biomedical and Life Sciences Network
Life Sciences Network
The idea for the Merton College Biomedical and Life Sciences The network was created in March 2020 and is hosted on
Network arose during a conversation I had with Professor LinkedIn. At the time of writing, it comprises 101 members
Matt Higgins of Merton (Biochemistry Tutor) in autumn 2019 covering a range of occupations and geographical locations,
during lunch in College prior to a Merton Society Council as the pie charts illustrate.
meeting. We thought it would be useful to set up a network
of alumni whom current students could contact for advice If you are interested in joining, please either email me (david.
or help – for example, when looking for internships, jobs [email protected]) or send me a connection invite
or academic posts. As an additional benefit, the network on LinkedIn (you can find me by searching for ‘David Clark
enables Mertonians engaged in research or work in similar Charles River’). I look forward to hearing from you.
fields to find out about and get in touch with each other.
For instance, I have discovered that a consultant who has David Clark (1984)
been working in the same research group as me for several
months is a Merton alumnus!
Location Occupation
139
Merton Lawyers' Greg Campbell, Mishal Husain and Dinah Rose QC at the Merton
Association
Lawyers’ Association’s Annual Meeting on 11 November 2019
© Dan Schaffer (1986)
Our inclusive association embraces all Merton lawyers via minibus) the active participation of undergraduates
– those who studied Jurisprudence at the College and all and postgraduates at our annual London event, which has
those Mertonians who have subsequently become involved allowed different generations of Merton lawyers to interact
in the legal world, whether as practitioners, academics or and witness first-hand the amazing work being carried out
members of the judiciary. We have been very fortunate in by the Merton Law Fellows and their team and the energy,
recent years to have had tremendous support from the talent and diversity of our youngest members.
Merton Law Fellows – Sub-Warden Jenny Payne and Mindy
Chen-Wishart. Among many other things, Jenny and Mindy Our most recent Annual Meeting took place on 11 November
have been instrumental in promoting (and orchestrating, 2019. We were honoured to have as our speakers Mishal
140
Mertonians | Merton Lawyers' Association
Husain and Dinah Rose QC in conversation. Mishal Husain
presents the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, the BBC
News at Ten on Sundays and the BBC Weekend News, in
addition to being an author and journalist. Dinah Rose is
one of the UK’s leading barristers, recognised particularly for
her work in the area of human rights. She has represented
Julian Assange before the Supreme Court in connection with
extradition proceedings to Sweden, Binyam Mohammed with
respect to his detention at Guantanamo, and conducted an
investigation at the request of the BBC following revelations
relating to Jimmy Savile and others. Earlier this year, Dinah
was appointed President of Magdalen College, Oxford, having
read modern history at Magdalen as an undergraduate.
It would be an understatement to say that 2020 has been Greg Campbell (1993)
an unusual year, with many aspects of our daily lives – and Chairman, Merton Lawyers’ Association
141
1969 Reunion
It was a great pleasure to be back in Merton with nearly 30 • A talk by JRR Tolkien in the Mure Room.
other ‘69ers, 50 years after we matriculated together at Oxford. • The notorious ‘Junta’ election for JCR President in
We are very grateful to the College for inspiring and hosting 1971. Five of us stood as a ‘group candidate’ and
the occasion, and for extending the invitation to spouses and only just lost – which was probably the best result
partners. Special thanks are due to the new Warden, Irene for all concerned. This led to a passionate debate
Tracey, who took time out during her busy first weeks in that and emergency meetings of the JCR when the
role to meet us and share her experience with us. outgoing President tried to rule the nomination out
of order, and the proceedings were reported in the
This Jubilee lunch provided a spur for us to look back over Oxford Strumpet as evidence of the ‘Rotten Borough’
50 years, and to review what was going on in the years from of Merton.
1969 to 1973 when we were at Merton: • And finally the Myrmidon Dinner in 1971 with special
guest John Cleese – not yet a household name,
• Harold Wilson was Prime Minister and Richard Nixon but star of Monty Python – who agreed to come
was inaugurated as President of the United States. provided he didn’t have to be funny or make a
• The Vietnam War was intensifying, and British troops speech. An original menu signed by the guests
were deployed in Northern Ireland for the first time. including John Otto Cleese has been donated to the
• 1969 was the year of Woodstock and the first College archives.
Glastonbury Music Festival; Neil Armstrong walked on
the Moon. We were all acutely aware that much in the College has
• The first episode of Monty Python’s Flying Circus was changed since 1969 – the admission of women, the rapid
broadcast on 5 October 1969, and in December 1973 development of communications and the relentless increasing
the last episode was broadcast – so the Monty Python pressure of examinations. These have brought about well-
comedy series, watched together around the JCR TV, documented changes in the College and undergraduate
frames our Merton experience. Looking back at that experience. Underpinning the rate of social change has been
time after 50 years had something in common with the extraordinary scientific and technological progress of the
episodes of Monty Python, in that our memories served last 50 years, and I highlighted one particular development
up random sketches and impressions of events, but that is of particular significance to Merton and our year group.
often without accompanying context or explanation.
These were some we recalled: When we came up in 1969, a new warden had just been
• The Clarendon Building sit-in (1970) – something to appointed and started as a freshman with us – Sir Rex
do with student files and what now we might call Richards, who died in 2019, and whose obituary was published
data protection? in Postmaster last year. Speeches from his Memorial Meeting
• Anti-apartheid and anti-Rhodesia demonstrations – can be found on page 100. Rex was already an eminent
who now has heard of the Cahora Bassa Dam? scientist and a pioneer of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR),
• Penny for a Song – the Float’s production in Merton a new measurement technique being introduced in research
Gardens, reviewed in Postmaster 1971, with a picture chemistry which enabled the study of the behaviour of
of the balloon carrying the current Chairman of materials in exceptionally strong magnetic fields. Rex took
the Royal Bank of Scotland from tree to tree; and the technique from the Physics Laboratory into biochemical
which was sadly rained off on at least two nights. research, and while at Merton was the founder chairman of
• Merton Summer Ball 1972 – according to Postmaster, the Oxford Enzyme Group. Rex was a modern ‘renaissance
apparently only 60 out of 660 Mertonians attended. man’. Not only a Fellow of the Royal Society, he was also
142
The signed 1971 Myrmidon Dinner menu.
For this reason it was a very special pleasure to welcome John Symes (1969)
Irene Tracey at our Jubilee Lunch. Irene will continue 1969 Year Representative
143
144
Mertonians | 1969 Reunion
Back row: Dr Jonty Boyce, Mr Martin McNeill, Mr Duncan Campbell-Smith, Mr Richard Craven, Mr Vijay Joshi (Emeritus Fellow),
Mr Bill Hedley, Professor Dominic Welsh (Emeritus Fellow), Mr Tim Crick, Mr Anthony Harris, Dr Nicholas Richardson, Mr Tony Millns,
Dr Jeremy Cook, Mr Roger van Schaick, Mr Hedley Stone, Dr John Cape, Mr Gareth Glynn, Mr Neil Tower, Dr Will Barton, Mr Peter Annesley,
Mr Andrew Nicholson, Dr Steve Wilson, Mr Frank Keefe
Front row: Mr Michael Collins, Mr Stephen Howarth, Mr Nick Braime, Lord Freud of Eastry, Professor Irene Tracey (Warden), Mr John Symes,
Dr Tony Hansen, Mr Mike Garton-Sprenger
145
News 1949, 1950, 1951
Members Alistair Porter (1949) writes: ‘My wife Jennifer (St Hilda’s, 1948)
and I, both having reached our 90s, are ‘locked down’ in our
Sussex home in Lindfield. Like so many others, our planned
holiday, cruising round the British Isles, was cancelled and
we are making the most of our garden. We enjoy the help
of the local good neighbours’ scheme called CARE, for which
Up to 1948 we were ourselves volunteers for over 20 years. Like others
of our generation, we watch with admiration, and some
Year Representative: Michael Millard anxiety, our adult grandchildren accepting the challenges of
Tel: 02476 414776 Email: [email protected] being doctors and teachers in the present situation.’
146
photo-essay/. I had donated to them a collection of 14 place while we were away on holiday and the Founder’s
Mertonians | UP TO 1954
engineering models done in Soviet military laboratories in Society lunch has been postponed. One of the things that I
the 1970s. They are the Soviet versions of Western planes enjoy on a visit is walking on the old city wall and admiring
– it is clear the plans for every aviation advance had been the gardens; they are always a pleasure.
shopped to the GRU and KGB. Each plane represents a coup
for Soviet spying. ‘Pam and I continue our struggle with the (in)justice system!
One of our friends is now out, has a home and had a job
‘The plane featured is the Soviet copy of the first working until the lockdown. He is well settled and will stay out of
prototype of the British/French Concorde. It has its military trouble. Our other two friends are both in closed conditions
serial number on it. The Davis Center at Harvard’s Widener – one is doing well, the other is struggling because his Parole
Library chose this plane as the one “treasure” they would Board has been postponed because of the lockdown. He too
be allowed to highlight. was hoping to get out. Ministers of Justice come and go but
nothing really changes!
‘I was amused that the Law Library chose to feature as
its one treasure a 1298 copy of the Magna Carta – the ‘All our prison activities are on hold because of the
first translated into English. Bill Gates, a Harvard dropout, lockdown but I was brought up short by a mild heart
donated it, and he had paid tens of millions of dollars for it. attack in March. I spent 10 days in hospital but got out just
before the virus crisis. While in hospital I had a mild stroke
‘My “treasure” cost me nothing, and thus is priceless. The in my right eye and my vision is still affected. Doctors mess
Soviet models of Western aircraft were given to me by a about with my medication because I still cannot breathe
Soviet engineer who wishes for lifetime anonymity. freely. I look forward to being well enough to visit Merton
again soon.’
‘I’m glad that students of the Cold War and the space race
can hold in their hands concrete exhibits of just how good John Ingledew (1954) is still living on a farm in
the USSR was at spying. It’s a cautionary tale now that we Monmouthshire, which he has done for 56 years. He walks
face the Russian Federation.’ well, which he says is useful at 86!
David Barber (1954) reports: ‘Life in the States is different Reg Hall (1954) writes: ‘Helen and I continue to mature,
from last year! My wife and I have returned to Vermont from slowly as luck would have it; no major changes which is
our winter respite at the beach in Avalon, NJ. We are healthy good and we remain quite active. Helen’s International Club
and have survived the quarantine. We had an enjoyable trip continues to surprise us by growing apace in membership.
to the UK in October 2019 and met up with Sue and Chris We now have over 250 members who have spent more than
Paine (1954), Peter Husband (1954) and Gordon Sladen six months in 38 countries. It’s surprising how cosmopolitan
(1954) in Oxford. this rural corner of Georgia is!
‘I am about to start my vegetable garden and we are ‘My efforts to educate myself continue, though after
otherwise kept busy with our four adult children scattered wrestling with physics last year I have focused on history
across the US and 11 grandchildren. I would welcome hearing and more particularly China’s long and eventful chronicle.
from and meeting with Mertonians who might be traveling Harvard has an excellent series on China on the web via EdX
in the area. We live near the Sugarbush Ski Resort which is which is free unless you want to get a diploma. (I don’t.)
close to Burlington and Montpelier.’ It’s a long and tortuous saga which has now arrived at 1949
when the PRC was founded. There is more to follow next
David Watson (1954) states: ‘Sadly, my wife and I have not year when I will be interested to see how they confront the
managed a visit to Merton this year. The Garden Party took sensitivities of the current Chinese government.
147
‘We have not been as adventurous as in years past. Our At Christmas time, I hear from John Adams in Sydney, and
travels revolved mostly around the UK with one excursion Lionel Jebb, in Shropshire. Subject to aches and pains etc.,
to Porto and a week in Canada on a luxurious train called they both seem reasonably well. As am I.
the Rocky Mountaineer. It trundles along through beautiful
country from Banff to Vancouver with extended stays in Rex Jamieson, Emeritus Professor of Medicine at Berkeley,
both termini. sent a most welcome contribution from the USA. In this, he
rued the failure of the country’s justifiably famed medical
‘We spent the summer mostly in Ely but returned to Ilkley resources to deal adequately with Covid-19, saying that the
for September. In between we visited Northumberland, a pandemic had exploded the myth that the USA has the best
beautiful county with a good deal of history. We visited the healthcare system in the world. He wrote also of democracy
Roman wall and a nearby settlement called Vindolanda which currently undergoing a stress test. I feel that we, who admire
is fascinating for its glimpse of a civilisation which was far so much about the USA, can be sure it will get over its
ahead of its times. Alnwick Castle is the ancestral home of current troubles, hopefully sooner rather than later.
the Dukes of Northumberland who, with the help of the
Bishop of Durham, were charged with keeping the Scots Dermot Killingley last year had a few days in London and
under control and spreading Christianity. They didn’t do well visited contemporaries Tony O’Halloran and David Hadley
on either account initially! and managed to see other friends in Vienna and Tours.
But this year his travels have of course stopped, as have
‘Ely is a pleasant town near Cambridge which is worth a visit his Sanskrit classes and playing in an amateur orchestra.
for its magnificent Norman cathedral but after two months However, he is still working online for the journal Religions of
begins to pall. Cambridge would be a better location were it South Asia, of which he is one of three editors.
not for the press of visitors in a town which is not equipped
to handle them. There is now an embargo on groups of Nicholas Thornhill-Davey is well but thoroughly frustrated
more than 50 and talk of a levy of some sort. How they by the lockdown, of course. He hopes that his teenage
would collect the money I have no idea; parking tickets for granddaughter and grandson will both make the grade to
the buses, perhaps. enter Merton in due course.
‘Ilkley for a month is fine though the weather was autumnal; As for me, well I’m organically reasonable, but a ‘mis-spent’
plenty of showers and some brisk temperatures – for a youth on various games fields has come home to roost a bit,
couple of wimps, that is. with a re-built ankle, two replaced knees and now one hip.
The operations etc. have kept me off the golf course for much
‘We continue to look for a pied-à-terre in East Anglia. (Stop of the last two years, but I am back playing from a buggy
press: we may have found one in Woodbridge.) We need a now. I am also still trying to raise my £500k for my village’s
place we can leave safely unoccupied for long periods, hard new sports pavilion, which takes some time, but is enjoyable.
to find if you seek a small number of largish, high ceilinged
rooms. If one of you Mertonians has any ideas, let me know.’ I very much hope that more 1955-ers will remember to write
to me next year.
1955 With my best wishes to you all.
Year Representative: John Mitchell OBE
Email: [email protected]
148
Mertonians | 1954-56
1956
Year Representative: Richard Kenyon
Tel: 01926 859620 Email: [email protected]
A sad event inspiring many memories was the appearance in Dong Merrily on High at the 1957 Christmas concert. Having
the national press of the obituary of László Heltay (1957). A never heard it before, László gave it his own interpretation,
refugee from the Russian takeover of Hungary in 1956 he uninfluenced by David Willcocks or anyone else. Singing
arrived in College in the Hilary term of our first year and so under the baton of someone so completely original and
the musical magic of the College began. Typically of the talented was a real eye-opener and very inspiring.’
time, the choir comprised those members of the College,
and in our case also those of St Hilda’s, who liked to sing. In December László asked me, as Chairman of the Music
Bob Lowrie (1955) passed the direction to László whose Club, to arrange the concert for both Saturday and Sunday.
greeting was ‘You will teach me English and I will teach you I pointed out that the Saturday audience would be the
singers’ friends, College members who liked to give their
to sing.’ Richard Thomas, Mike Trevanion, Wendy (wife of support and others who were attracted by the programme;
Chris Ball) and Jane Wood of St Hilda’s were all reminded of on Sunday there would be no one left to come. Saturday
taking part. Brian Roberts-Wray recalls ‘the carol Ding
149
was as predicted, but news of the quality had spread like infection has been reported. Tim Brennand finds lockdown
wildfire. The choir was the equal of any in Oxford, and on in the Cambrian Hills above Lampeter a delightful imposition.
Sunday the chapel overflowed. I should be very glad to No vapour trails disfiguring the wonderful skyscape, which
receive any more memories and stories from our readers. were last absent when the Icelandic volcano erupted. John
László and I became close friends and I have often spoken of Isherwood hoped there would be no more obituary notices
him; his obituary appears in In Memoriam. before the copy deadline, apologising for the unfortunate
choice of word. On the brighter side, Michael Ellman felt
that he and his friends may now have a better chance to
save a lovely Victorian hall from conversion by the local
council into two luxury houses. ‘With the coronavirus it
is unlikely that they’ll be able to go ahead with their plans,
so we may sin after all!’, he wrote and then pointed out the
close proximity of the letters ‘s’ and ‘w’ on the keyboard.
150
Throne by Andy Adam (1959). When I told Andy, I discovered I
Mertonians | 1956-58
was not the only Mertonian on email at four in the morning. 1958
Jan and I continued our travels with a cruise from Hong Year Representatives: Bryan Lewis
Kong to Singapore in the autumn before heading to our Email: [email protected]
daughter’s ‘Il Molino’ home in Tuscany for Christmas. Their
eldest son helps with their Caspin Journeys walking tours and Peter Parsons
and also has his own projects looking after holiday houses
in the locality; one of his clients is Jamie Barr (1979). We Email: [email protected]
were in New Zealand with our son and family in January
when Covid-19 emerged but happily got home without The surviving 1958-ers are now, so the Merton College Record
infection or inconvenience. reveals, octogenarians. We are then surely members of what
novelist and playwright Michael Frayn wrote recently as
The following verse, with apologies to Thomas Gray, may ‘the luckiest generation’ – too young to have served in the
remind us of the start of lockdown: Second World War, beneficiaries of penicillin, the NHS, free
education, good employment prospects… Perhaps ‘the luck
The curfew tolls the knell of parting day, has now run out’ not least for the disproportionate impact
The empty shelves at Waitrose cause a fuss. of coronavirus on the over-70s, let alone the over-80s.
We hungry homeward plough our weary way,
No food because of corona virus. The annual request for contributions to Postmaster has
yielded only a few replies. Predictably, there are references to
the virus in a number of them. Colin McEachran like several
of us I suspect wrote being ‘locked up in Edinburgh means
time to sort through old papers’. He reflects that every year
since Oxford days, with one or two exceptions, he had driven
down from Scotland ‘with my rifle and equipment in the
boot to attend the National Championships at the Bisley
ranges in Surrey. The sport has given me much pleasure,
many sporting contacts in Canada, Australia and New
Zealand and some successes. For the last ten years or so
I made arrangements to play golf with John Trott in West
Sussex. This year I will not be at Bisley. Age has caught up
with me and my eyesight.’ Alas, John’s health is not good but
reports are that he is stoical notwithstanding.
Richard Kenyon at his home desk in front of his Merton pictures
David Waterhouse and Verena, both ‘mobile and reasonably
active’ in Shrewsbury, watched the Severn floods in February
‘with some awe, particularly as they were at the bottom of
1957 the garden but … there are 72 steps from the bottom to the
top of the garden so if the water had been threatening us
Year Representative: Graham Byrne Hill we would have had to phone Noah … but there was a lot of
Tel: 0208 940 1281 Email: [email protected] rather unpleasant clearing up to do when the water receded.’
151
Like so many. Covid-19 has at least provided the opportunity deleting meetings, theatre, concerts, recitals he is addressing
to read books that they have been meaning to read for ages. the Japanese slang word tsunkodu meaning ‘buying books
but never reading them and then letting them pile up at
Richard Salkeld’s sea-born peregrinations (‘charted waters’ home instead’.
as he put it) took in the Tyrrhenian Sea in 2019 entering the
region of Greek and Roman mythology and legends depicted Adrian Vickers writes: ‘I have just been “attending”, from the
in Homer’s Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid: Ponza, where Circe comfort of my own home, the Warden’s fascinating Merton
seduced Odysseus and turned his crew into pigs; Aeolus (the Society London Lecture. It occurs to me to wonder, had it
island of Lipari) where the gods of wind gave Odysseus a bag been possible in our day to experience digitally, lolling in our
containing the energies of the winds to help him get home; digs or College rooms, the lectures recommended by our
Gozo where the nymph Calypso kept Odysseus captive for tutors, we would have heard a greater number of them than
seven years; and Scylla and Charybdis where he resisted we actually did, possibly achieving higher academic success
the Sirens by tying himself to a mast. Gardens, excavations, for our 1958 cohort than history records.’
temples, volcanoes (trek to Vesuvius, Stromboli by night) all
added to his edification. Now the boat is blocked in Valletta Oliver Ford Davies writes: ‘Last year I played the button-
and planned 2020 destinations are out of bounds. moulder in a National Theatre modern adaptation by David
Hare of Peer Gynt. As I didn’t come on for three hours, I did
Michael Parry’s planned fishing trips to Scotland and read Proust vols 3&4, something I never thought I would
other outlying places presumably ruled out means getting achieve – there’s always a silver lining. Now I’m locked down
‘somewhat bored with gardening’. but actors are so used to being out of work, I’ve been
practising this all my life.’
Andrew Adam and Jacqui’s plans to downsize from their
house ‘Bean’s Corner’ (a friend suggested it should be
renamed ‘Has Beens’ Corner’) have been delayed by the virus 1959
(though now things are looking up?). ‘We plan to mature
like vintage Somerset cider, with bubbles and body, but we Year Representatives: David Shipp
need rebottling. So it’s Time Up on sailing the Seven Seas Email: [email protected]
since 2013. Flying is now a nightmare and frankly I’m tired
of my talks and too lazy to write new ones. New horizons and Roger Gould
beckon, so thanks and Sayonara to Cunard.’ Email: [email protected]
Roderick Abbott, now in his fifth year of retirement (he
worked beyond 65), has remained closely attached to the Since we compiled our report for 2019 in the afterglow of a
international trade world through a Brussels think tank. He successful Diamond Jubilee celebration, which had excellent
has been an expatriate for 45 years. He makes no bones coverage in Postmaster 2019, there have clearly been many
about his belief that leaving Europe is a historic mistake. changes to all our lives and to the life of the College. The
‘Whatever it means overall for the UK’s status in the world, resilience and creativity of the College and Mertonians in
it will have a colossal negative impact on the economy and this situation has been very gratifying to see for those of us
on its trade balance.’ in the older age group. Indeed, many of us will have reached
our 80th birthdays in the course of 2020. We would like to
Bryan Lewis spent five days longer in the Azores in start our report with news of two of our year group who
September than planned, having lost his passport inter- are fighting ill health with great courage, and to wish them
island hopping. It’s a long story but there are worse places well from all their colleagues.
to be marooned. Meanwhile having gone through his diary
152
First Malcolm Faber’s wife Pat writes: ‘When you last so chemotherapy and that it appears to be doing some good,
Mertonians | 1958-59
kindly wrote to Malcolm he was in rehab at the Robert Jones neither of us imagined there would be a greater challenge,
and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry. He was keeping clear of Covid-19. I am forbidden by the Government
discharged from there at the end of October 2019 after from going out of the house except to the hospital for
spending a year in hospital following a spinal-cord injury. chemotherapy, clinic appointments and emergency treatment
Initially he found the transition from being institutionalised for infections, until further notice which, in my case, may not
for such a long period of time to being at home challenging. be for months and months. Until then a return to the North
He is now settled into a routine and gaining strength. He is West is out of the question, and then whether we could go
still in a wheelchair but hopes to be out and about more will depend on my treatment plan. At present it requires me
when the situation regarding the Covid virus improves. He to remain in close range of the hospital so that incipient
sends his very best wishes to you all and his thanks for the infections can be treated within the hour, as has been
uplifting emails he received whilst he was in Oswestry.’ necessary three times recently – fortunately, thanks to heavy
doses of antibiotics, without fatal consequences. It helps to
Then Hume Hargreave writes: ‘Here is a small contribution have targets. The re-scheduled Gaudy in March next year is
to Postmaster, the tenor of which I never expected to be a good one. An 80th birthday party in the autumn does not
appropriate. Mary Ann’s and my life have undergone a look a runner. With luck we will all meet next spring.’
violent upheaval, and without her help and support I doubt
that I would still be around to put these words on paper. Richard Allan writes: ‘We enjoyed a largely UK-based year
Having finally completed four years’ work to our house in with one ten-day Sicilian interlude far away from house and
Arkholme in the Lune Valley last July, we made plans for garden. The house received a much-needed repaint while the
visits and holidays and looked forward to a contractor-free garden received a burst of honey fungus and, in between,
existence. However, to our surprise and consternation, I there were trips to explore Wiltshire, Suffolk and Cornwall
was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in September and to visit family in Newcastle. We also had some memorable
and told that without treatment I had only a few months days spectating at the World Cup, Wimbledon, the Ashes and
to live. We were unsure whether to accept the offer of Murrayfield, and attending a couple of happy golden wedding
treatment in the North West and decided to seek a second celebrations of fellow Mertonians. The garden, like so many
opinion from the Northern Centre for Cancer Care at the others, has been receiving unaccustomed attention during
Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne, part of the the current lockdown, and we are incredibly fortunate to
Newcastle Hospitals Trust of which Mary Ann had been have such a haven of peace in the heart of London. It means
a governor for nine years, and a leading centre for the that, in my case, walking the “tops” in North Britain has been
treatment of leukaemia. When I saw one of the consultant replaced by walking the “policies” in North London. In normal
haematologists, she tactfully dissuaded me from considering times, we continue with our voluntary activities and, inter
a course of aggressive chemotherapy as an inpatient with a alia, I still enjoy doing the rounds of the county grounds
view to killing the leukaemia, as I was too old and might not on behalf of cricket’s Chance to Shine. One or two of the
survive the first month, and recommended a less aggressive directors of cricket who have seen me in bygone years can’t
course which I could have as an outpatient with the objective resist asking me “Are you still here?”, to which the answer is
of suppressing it. I opted for that and asked when it would “Yes, Diana and I are still here.”’
start, to which the reply was ‘immediately’.
John Dance writes: ‘Doris and I are both well and so
‘So, having gone to the North East thinking that we would far suffering only very minor inconveniences from the
be back in a day or two, we have never got back. We have lockdown. We are, however, both exercising quite a bit more,
put our life in the North West on hold – kind friends and and with greater consistency, so you might say we were
neighbours are looking after the house – and we are installed even benefiting from it! Our main complaint is that we will
in a house in Newcastle. Having found that I could tolerate the be missing our annual road trips to the continent this year.’
153
Alan Drinkwater writes: ‘As with many other people of our Peter Hayward writes: ‘All of the Hayward family are well.
age, Joan and I are voluntarily self-isolating, but enjoying more My son-in-law had the virus (at least he thinks so as he was
time in our house and garden. Living in a rural village, we still not tested of course) and was pretty ill for two or three days
have opportunities to ‘exercise’ in the local bluebell woods, but then recovered quickly. Ann and I and some friends had a
and historic Stansted Park. I have also invested in an e-bike, successful first trip to Russia last autumn and then in March
so can now cycle over into adjacent valleys and admire the we had a fascinating couple of weeks in Cuba, only marred by
countryside, particularly the lambs. We keep in touch with the appearance of the virus a couple of days before we were
the family via Zoom, Facetime and Skype, becoming expert due to leave. The plane home was packed, and the passenger
in designing quizzes which we offer to our grandchildren next to me seemed pretty ill, but I hope with just a bad cold,
remote in Cardiff and Ickenham. I persevere with developing so we self-isolated but failed to show any symptoms. We
the website, or virtual museum as I like to describe it, for our are now enjoying more than the usual number of walks in
village Heritage Centre (www.rowlandscastleheritagecentre. Richmond Park, which we are lucky enough to live only five
org.uk, should you wish to visit it), but still a long way to minutes’ walk from and is now given over entirely to foot
go. We also enjoy contacts with other members of 1958 and traffic as cars and even bicycles have been banned.’
1959 at both College functions and informally too. We are
looking forward to meeting up again in 2021.’ John Latham writes: ‘The main thing this year was our trip
to Hong Kong in October to visit our son George who was
David Forsyth writes from deepest Dorset, in a delightful doing a term at City University. It was great for me as I spent
handwritten letter: ‘I am very well and safe in lone seclusion, a happy three months there in 1985 at Robert Black College,
and well supplied with food and drink by the village shop. and it was nice to do the iconic Hong Kong things again like
Everything is deposited in my porch by local volunteers and the Peak and Star Ferry. I was even able to celebrate my 79th
they take my cheque back to the shop. Occasionally one of birthday at my favourite restaurant in Causeway Bay with
my family brings essentials from a supermarket, delivering in Dawn and my 19-year-old son! Hong Kong of course has a
the same non-contact way.’ special Merton connection, as Frank HH King, author of the
monumental study of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank,
‘I have completed 11 books. My daughter types them for me. although an American, had been at Merton. George was in
The ninth and tenth are with the publishers awaiting printing. Hong Kong when all the trouble broke out at the universities
The eleventh is about to be typed. They are all different except and in the end had to get a plane out, having climbed over
for the three Tree Folk books that are for children aged 9-11 the barricades with his suitcase and laptop! However, there
years. I do not have a computer since I retired from general was no animosity to foreign students and they all wished
practice. My sons and my daughter have them, and will supply him a safe flight. On other matters, I understand they are
information I need, which is very rarely.’ [To see all his books, reissuing a couple of my old collections in paperback shortly.
visit www.sundial-house-press.co.uk then ‘David Forsyth’.] I’d heard about John Lucas’ death. He never taught me, but
at one of the Gaudies he sat next to me and was charming.
‘Since I retired to Dorset in 2007 I have led a very active life in Did you know he was a big fan of George Stephenson, the
my village. I umpired the cricket team for three years. I have inventor of the steam engine? John had even invented his
travelled in the West Country a great deal and visited friends own points system for switching the lines on a railway track.
and relatives all over the British Isles and been visited by them. He was hoping someone would adopt it!’
For the past four years I have been having an annual three-
day holiday with Niall Campbell, Anthony Fletcher and Bob Joe McDonald writes: ‘News this year (at the time of writing,
Moore. We four went round Italy over six weeks, tentless, in which is still in the Early Corona Age) is mainly about Bob
the summer of 1960. Our recent centres have been Ely, the Krueger. I had seen him in April 2019 for a very short visit,
island of Iona, Brixham and Norfolk. This year was to be in having understood that he had a life-threatening illness.
Ludlow but has been postponed due to the Covid crisis.’ Despite his physical frailty the rumour proved unfounded
154
and I then went for a longer visit in October last (and plan
Mertonians | 1959
another, Deo volente, this autumn). Although I had been in
close contact by letter for most of the time since graduation,
I had not otherwise met him since 1969 when he sold me his
car after being here to complete his DPhil. Last October, in
consequence, was the first time I had had a longish period to
get the story of his whole life, including his fascinating time
in the House and the Senate of the USA.
155
‘There was quite a lot of flooding in Hereford (in February) well suited to the terrain. We are planning our next long-
but the older locals who I chat with all said there had been distance walk on the Northumberland coast as soon as the
worse, and that some of the pre-war housing was regularly circumstances allow.’
flooded. We are perched on the top of a pretty steep hill,
so the most significant effect for me was that the Lugg Finally, as a postscript, we have received a brief message
Meadows have been under several feet of water for some from Peter Murray in Wellington, New Zealand. ‘Dear David,
months, and the Wye is in reality unfishable too. It has Your letter came rather late. Our PM, Jacinda Ardern, has
been a pretty poor season in fact, as we have had easily acted decisively. Our government has a better policy. Best
the rainiest year since we arrived, and the days when I was wishes, Peter’. Follow that!
prepared to get a soaking or to sit around in mud or wet
vegetation are long gone.’
1960
Roger Gould writes: ‘I was pleased to get my 80th birthday
celebrations in before the Covid-19 lockdown started. On the Year Representative: Keith Pickering
latter subject, our eldest granddaughter went to China on 8 Tel: 020 8998 2614 Email: [email protected]
January to teach English – not the best moment to choose!
She was back home a month later and has continued to
teach Chinese children online ever since. One good piece of Keith Aspinall, Arthur Hepher, Jasper Holmes, Alan Keat,
news for us is that son Richard (46) has become engaged Roger Laughton, Nick Silk and John Wood are in good
to lovely Rachael, who has one daughter, as Richard has. order but with nothing especial to note for Postmaster.
They plan to marry next year. Daughter Diana and her
husband have their two adult daughters at home, plus their Stuart Blume is doing fine; still working on the book about
boyfriends, so it is quite a busy household as they all work, investigating his family history, doing a spot of teaching,
teach or study from home during the lockdown. Meanwhile, and continuing to write academic articles on politics and the
Cathy and I have been self-isolating with splendid views of history of vaccine, all with undiminished enthusiasm.
the hills of Saddleworth and a daily walk among them.’
Gerald Cadogan is thriving but regrets that the recent
David Shipp writes: ‘We still walk regularly with Oldham pestilence has compelled him to cancel a work session at
Wednesday Walkers. Our group residential holiday to Street Knossos.
in Somerset in October was very successful. Highlights
were the Cheddar Gorge, Glastonbury Tor, the Somerset Geoffrey Copland is still in the ring, having had a rather
Levels, and the beautiful city of Wells. I retired from my
role as treasurer of the Millgate Arts Centre in Delph after disjointed year in being required to take over as Chair of
23 years at the end of 2019, leaving it thriving and busy, Trinity College London at short notice, but eventually having
until of course the Covid-19 crisis came along this spring, been able to identify a successor.
which has put everything involving “mass gatherings” on
hold. This term applies to virtually all our outdoor and Similarly, he found himself Chair of Trinity Laban Conservatoire
cultural activities: walking and bird watching groups, choral of Music and Dance (forms of applied physics in some sense).
singing, theatre and concert visits. We are fortunate to This came about as the previous chair (Geoffrey had been
live next to open countryside and have been taking full Vice-Chair for some years) stood aside in the autumn to be
advantage of our daily statutory exercise. We enjoyed a free to be on call for matters concerning Brexit, the general
Ramblers holiday in northern Portugal in September, with election and other key parliamentary issues. The chair was
an excellent mix of walking on the coast, in the mountains, expected to return after the election but it was felt that
and in the midst of small-scale old-fashioned agriculture, there was a continued need for an experienced MP to help
steady the party’s ship in the current turbulent times.
156
These plus some other charities have left little time for much On the way to the UK, friends at the Universitat Pompeu
Mertonians | 1959-60
else. Geoffrey attended a dinner celebrating Michael Baker’s Fabra in Barcelona kindly arranged a session (on the history
achievements and Merton’s excellence in Physics, built on of the Philippines and environs), which he happily shared with
the foundations he had laid. It was rather sobering to realise a fellow Australian, David Irvine. In England he was fortunate
that he was the one with the longest memory of Michael. to be able to meet with Martin Pearce, who had just written a
biography of Britain’s spymaster, Sir Maurice Oldfield. Maurice
John Cotton has happily resurfaced after a silence of over and John had been visiting fellows at All Souls in 1979 and
20 years and has brought us up to date with his life after now John has recalled that acquaintance by publishing in an
Merton. He has established a strong link with Belgium, a entirely new area, a surprise to both him and many of his
country which has been very good to him, he having been colleagues: in the journal Intelligence and National Security.
married twice, each time to lovely girls from that country,
lived there for nearly 20 years and in which he still retains a On a more thoughtful note he discussed body donation with
wide circle of local friends. He has three grown-up children: a local medico, who rejoiced in the name Michelle Lazarus.
a daughter who is a teacher in Madrid; and two sons who However, since he has spent more than six months in the UK
work in London, like him in the financial field. since 1980, he is ineligible because of possible Creutzfeldt-
Jakob infection. This year saw another sea change in that
His working life still continues pretty well full time and has his wife Sara retired, so now there are two of them around
been centred around the City and the financial world to which the house.
he gravitated after coming down from Merton. He specialises
in using the professionalism, services and products of the In August he had an enjoyable meeting with the St John’s
UK financial community exclusively for the benefit of those College President who was visiting Melbourne and followed
whose first language is not English – a gratifyingly specialist this by a return to Europe, going to Amsterdam after watching
niche. As a result he has travelled extensively, his family his niece performing at the Proms in London with the National
being of an equally peripatetic bent. He finds what he does Youth Orchestra of the USA. In October he was back in the
hugely interesting, usually challenging and greatly enjoyable, Philippines attending the annual National Historical Society
an ideal combination to keep him from becoming bored or meeting, but for the first time in years did not offer a paper.
getting into trouble. In November he went to his first gay wedding, which was a
delightful yet serious ceremony. Next year remains to be seen.
Otherwise he loves reading, music, gardening and the
company of family and friends. Elsewhere, he has found much George Darroch had a tough time medically for much of
satisfaction by taking up the guitar last year to complement the year but is now starting to resurface and look ahead.
the singing lessons he has been having for quite some time;
he travels selectively, enjoys his shooting and is involved in Andrew Devine, after a long absence, reports that he is in
a couple of charities together with his wife, while keeping fine form and wishes to pass on his regards to Keith Aspinall
in touch sporadically with some of his old Merton contacts. in memory of the old times. As a Professor at Stanford
University he has returned to his Classical roots and is
John Crossley says last year was one of reunions with old currently lecturing on Latin semantics and pragmatics.
friends, including Georgio Odifreddi, a great Italian prophet of
atheism, who has had public discussions with Pope Benedict John Davies says that his highlight for 2019 was a trip to
XVI, and is a delightful and entertaining friend. However, Bulgaria along with some 55 other steam train nutters. They
there were far too many funerals. On a more cheerful rode round the country in the ex-royal train behind some
note, being a Senior Scholar he had not met the 1960 Year wonderful dinosaurs (including a Russian-built diesel which
Representative, so it was a pleasure to have him come along expired in the middle of nowhere), but were still able to see
as his guest at the 2019 Encaenia Lunch at All Souls. a great deal of that most interesting country.
157
He continues to be very active. He had five requests in for in the local league had had an unbeaten season with one
January to carry out academic jobs (write a sum-up paper, match to play; his allotment association had managed to have
assess manuscripts, serve on a French PhD jury, etc.) and a palace revolt and get rid of a committee that was inactive
accepted four. He is now working through them, so being other than a field secretary who was long past doing the
told as a 70+ survivor to stay at home will not mean that he job; it looked as if he would finally get to retire from teaching
is twiddling his thumbs. Depressingly, at the time of writing, introductory bridge courses and the garden and house still
the chamber choir in which he sings has cancelled two had a lot to do before he and Gwyneth could relax.
concerts, and he fully expects that others in which he had
hoped to sing will now not take place. Then mid-February the world changed. The need for a late
change in the league team resulted in its only defeat and the
Leslie Epstein is still teaching full time at Boston University, next round match in the inter-club knockout was postponed
but now with a camera and microphone (if he can figure at the last minute as their opponents were worried by the
out how to plug it in) and writing as he can. A large book looming threat of Covid-19. Fortunately his allotment is just
about Hollywood and the Second World War is scheduled two minutes’ walk away so maintaining that, assisted by
to come out next spring and he tries to put out an Gwyneth (a Merton gardener on furlough), provides both
occasional article or story in the meantime. The latest was their daily exercise and essential work – providing food for
Fox and Lox, a story about his poker group, which appeared the summer.
on the Tablet site last month. Anyone interested can read
it online there. John Hartnett is alive and well, though that now must
come with a Covid-19 caveat, but is very much enjoying the
Peter Fattorini is still around and pleased to report having numerous jokes and cartoons which the disease has happily
enjoyed recent contact (at a distance) with David Fletcher, given rise to.
his very good companion chemist from Merton.
Philip Hawkes and his wife, Patricia, who acts as his
David Fletcher, apart from catching up with Peter Fattorini, amanuensis, have had a successful sale in the chateau
is writing a book proposing a profitable business path business – that of a chateau which used to be visited by
towards halving global emissions by 2030. Slow progress, Winston Churchill – a great relief, both for the chateau
though Bonnie has started cracking the whip about and their finances. The buyer has a wonderful Instagram
completion by 31 May. Watch this space! account relating all the work and restoration that is now
going on there, which can be seen on @annieuechtritz if
Bruce Gilbert continues to enjoy walking, gardening, you are tempted.
painting and reading, though is missing being able to get up
into the Dales in his MG and the opportunity to sing with However, being confined within the Chateau de Missery
the University Choir in York Minster. He notes his recently enclosure has been a great joy and the kitchen garden has
developed taste for the three TV series based in Oxford been providing, so every cloud has a silver lining.
(Morse plus two), which are generous in their frequent shots
of the College, Merton Street, view from the meadows, etc. Alan Heppenstall is still around, and though 2020 was in
and believes that such nostalgia is permitted now that we any case intended to be his last year of work the decision
are truly elderly and vulnerable! has been reinforced by there being no work anyway. He has
recently taken up bridge but this too is on hold pending a
Francis Glassborow records that his year had been return to normality.
progressing well. His team had reached the third round of
the English Bridge Union inter-club knockout competition Mike Hind goes on with what has become his main
for teams of four and the club team of eight which he plays retirement activity – reading and enjoying plays, poetry
158
and novels with kindred spirits in local groups; expeditions desired. He has many members of his close family in frontline
Mertonians | 1960
to see shows in London galleries are an occasional treat; medical care, so is viewing current events with trepidation.
and maintaining mostly email correspondence with friends All being well he and Sue hope to have a cruise à deux on
and former colleagues in a number of places remains as the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in September, trusting that by
important as ever. In due course he hopes to make a long- then they will not be contravening any government edicts
projected visit to India but pending that he intends to install on ancients going cruising.
a smart TV, which will allow him to watch the drama and
film output of the BBC as it should be seen. He has become Glynne Stackhouse is still a member of the board of Making
involved as a director with the local branch of Alliance Music, and chair of its Selected Artists Panel which provides a
Francaise, thereby coming to appreciate the expertise that range of outstanding artists for inclusion in an annual guide
others from different backgrounds can bring to a board’s to help member societies of Making Music select individuals
activities, contributing when he can, and listening much. The and groups for their concerts at specially negotiated fees.
group meets regularly in Exeter and Dartington, the two Though no longer chairman or Secretary of Music at St
centres of French teaching to adults in Devon. Peter’s, Wallingford, he is still a member of its management
committee and helps with its artistic planning. He plays
On a sadder note, he joined family and friends to mourn the piano duets with a friend and together they give concerts
passing of Stephen Hazell at a humanist celebration of his to raise funds for various charitable causes. Despite the
life in London late last year. ailments that come with being 79, he is pretty well and as
active as he wants to be, three grandchildren keeping him
Richard Mulgan is in good form and having turned 80 this and Pat as busy as might be expected.
year has finally stopped teaching, so living a quiet life in self-
isolation is no big deal. Richard Thompson has had a good year, with its usual
highlights. He and Jane had their fifth family holiday in
Tim Phillips, jealous of Keith Pickering’s new 2019 knee, the same villa and idyllic village by the sea in Sicily, with
followed suit with one of his own, just in time to spend the the grandchildren appreciating the Italian contribution to
next six months or so recuperating. civilisation – especially their ice cream and chocolate.
Keith Pickering would wish, as always, to thank his Cricket figured importantly, with a day watching England
correspondents for their generous responses to his vs Australia at the Edgbaston test match, a visit to the
emails, which continue to afford him the greatest possible Derbyshire cricket festival and early in the summer a guided
enjoyment. Otherwise, as is his wont, lunches have formed tour of the Oval. He continues to be in good health, following
a key part of the last year. He would like to thank John his established interests of gardening and learning Italian.
Crossley for his very kind invitation to the Encaenia Lunch
at All Souls, a unique experience for KWP. Thank you Michael Thorn is still periodically active; giving talks to groups
also to Tim Phillips, who not only hosted him and Sandy on matters historical, recently covering the Irish Famine of
at Wimbledon, but enabled them to meet some celebrity 1845-51, and spending annual sojourns in British Columbia
A-listers, hitherto only viewed at a distance on the large and New York. He is also working on a large rock garden,
or small screen. Lastly, thanks to Alan Keat and Richard which is showing up every weakness in his ageing body.
Thompson for making the trip up to The Great Wen for
another convivial Gentlemen’s Luncheon. Jim Trefil is still professing at George Mason. He has a book,
Cosmic Queries: StarTalk's Guide to Who We Are, How We
David Price can assure Postmaster of his continued Got Here, and Where We're Going, with Neil deGrasse Tyson,
existence and that, apart from gentle wear and tear, he is in coming out from National Geographic next year, coming
rude health, even if the actual shape leaves something to be out from National Geographic, and is starting a book on
159
what is called the Fermi Paradox; (‘Where is everybody (i.e. He has just finished scanning his aunt’s and his great-aunt’s
extraterrestrials)?'). Given that there are a gazillion planets postcards, more time-travel back to 1903-11 and 1920-74.
out there and life seemed to pop up quickly on Earth, where Toronto’s new streetcar fleet has now fully taken over and
are they indeed? the city remains one of the best in the world to live in.
Bruce Walter came across to the UK in October for Stephen Mike Williams was in hospital for three weeks and is
Hazell’s funeral, where Mike Hind delivered an admirable eulogy; still undergoing treatment for a gastric ulcer, but is now
and also to visit a very dear sister undergoing chemotherapy recovering with confidence.
for liver cancer, so not a particularly cheerful visit.
Brian Winston has a 20th book in production, written
He spent a few days in and around Catania in early with his son, Matthew (St Hugh’s – how did that happen?).
December, with an eerie ride through Etna’s lava fields on It is called The Roots of Fake News: Objecting to Objective
the Circumetnea train, a visit to the magnificent baroque Journalism, available from all good bookshops, due out
town of Noto and pungent rambles through what must be allegedly in publisher speak by September, say.
one of Europe’s biggest open-air seafood markets. More
recently he flew to Malta and was suitably impressed by Otherwise it has been has been a pretty usual year; Brian
Valletta’s towering fortifications and the quiet stone beauty has been fully employed, so still able to keep British Airways
of Mdina, the old capital. Above all, though, he was struck in clean socks, continues to do his best to rot the minds of
by the Maltese people’s determination to recreate the UK the young and sits occasionally looking through his window
on their two little islands down to the tiniest detail: every at the West Front of Lincoln Cathedral, (but not thinking
single piece of street furniture and all the shops completely that he too would like to be an ancient monument).
British and everyone speaking English from very well to
native speaker standard, the Maltese language almost Jonathan Wright is in pretty good shape. Maintaining his
nowhere to be seen save in some museums – and yet these continued academic workload, he has also completed a
apparently fervent anglophiles go home and converse in a chapter on foreign policy for a new OUP handbook on the
language largely descended from mediaeval Sicilian Arabic. Weimar Republic.
He found it all spookily reminiscent of Ray Bradbury’s The
Martian Chronicles.
1961
One last and happy piece of news is that Bruce’s
granddaughter, Natalie, has been offered a place at St Peter’s Year Representative: Bob Machin
to read History of Art, so he hopes that Oxford will be up Email: [email protected]
and running again by October.
Philip Webb as usual kindly submitted what he would We must start with the sad news that John Peterson died
authorise to have printed: just before Christmas 2019. An obituary notice can be found
on page 286.
Philip Webb (Toronto) is in good health. Recently, he has
read Borrow’s Wild Wales for the first time, very much in Brian Drury is well but has nothing to report.
tune with his own half-Celtic, half-continental outlook.
As a lifelong bachelor with few kinsfolk, Ian Harrold
Borrow was half-Cornish and half-French by ancestry and suspects that he is coping with solo-living better than most.
centres his tale around Cymraeg, which he learned in his Unfortunately his retirement village is deemed ‘vulnerable’
teens, just as Philip did before O-levels took over. so, despite being fit and healthy, he is not allowed to walk
160
200 yards to Tesco but has to write a list of his requirements Peter Steele has so far survived the lockdown unscathed.
Mertonians | 1960-62
that helpful folk deliver. This takes longer to compile than it There can be few better places to be quarantined than
would to perform personally. Getting Emerson Wind Music a Victorian spa town set in a deep Derbyshire dale with
to publish and market his wind ensemble catalogue is a load family strategically placed, even if one is discouraged from
off his mind and his printer. Lockdown has been put to good driving to visit them. He continues to struggle with Latin
use with three new wind quartets while the opera of Two epigraphy, counts his many blessings and revels in Mozart,
Gentlemen of Verona proceeds slowly but surely. Hadyn and Monteverdi.
Peter and Ros Lee have risen to the challenge of arranging Late in 2019 Frank Kelsall attended the new Warden’s drinks
teaching materials for their grandchildren. Ros can deal with at Apothecaries’ Hall and represented the year of 1961 at John
maths and Peter with history but he has been asked to stop Peterson’s funeral. He is now missing his regular bowls and
masquerading as a general science teacher. croquet matches; fears that home cooking and baking with
insufficient exercise is making him portly; and finds that an
John and Jenny Sandercock had two very memorable inability to concentrate for any length of time is thwarting
holidays in 2019. In June they toured to southern Italy in his intention to write up research during lockdown.
the Jaguar XK120. Despite the best efforts of local drivers,
the Jag returned to Switzerland unscathed. September Gwyn Pritchard reports that the resounding clatter of
saw a jazz cruise along the Mosel and down the Rhine saucepans at 8pm on Thursday nights for NHS workers is
to Amsterdam with different musicians coming aboard at the most exciting thing that anyone can remember ever
various points. His company continues to function during happening in Dymcha. He recently had a phone call from
lockdown because there is plenty of space for social Abdool Mamoojee confirming that he managed to return
distancing. John is supposed to have taken a back seat to Thunder Bay, after his annual trip to Mauritius, just before
but, after a few weeks at home, he has created a research all flights were cancelled.
optics lab in the basement.
Your correspondent spent several months in 2019 transcribing
Mike and Mary Dearden made their usual trip to the USA documents relating to Marshwood Vale. Lockdown has
for Thanksgiving; then January with Mary’s grandson in provided the time to analyse them and produce a study
Grand Cayman; and back to Florida in February for more of the historical development of the landscape. He’s
family reunions. They returned to the UK on 8 March just particularly pleased to have identified an early 13th-century
as the world was turned upside down. Home cooking skills ‘bypass’ around the central deer park. Small things please
have been honed, filing systems overhauled and they are small minds.
now into playing remote bridge.
Peter Cope wistfully recalls playing in the local Big Band, 1962
singing in the Ludlow Choral Society and hill-walking with
the local Ramblers in 2019. He became a volunteer at the Year Representative: Martyn Hurst
Ludlow Food Bank when more help was needed in 2019. Tel: 01483 414809 Email [email protected]
Sadly, that peak demand has been dwarfed by coronavirus.
After a stint as Secretary, Alan Slomson is now the Regretfully I take up the pen of my dear friend Tim Archer
President of the Thoresby Society. He is still actively involved whose obituary appears in this edition of Postmaster.
with the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust and maintains
sanity during lockdown by producing its daily puzzle for Some of our number are marooned away from home as a
school pupils. result of Covid-19.
161
Jeremy Hummerston after 30 years as Rector of Torrington triumphis Ecclesie – a first ever translation. He is awaiting
in Devon has retired to Yorkshire but finds himself deep in its review.
the heart of Texas where he is spending a rather longer time
than planned visiting his daughter. However he is enjoying Ian Hirst hopes he has concluded his protracted correspondence
the fauna and flora of the region. with the College on the subject of his email address.
Michael Roberts left Australia at the outbreak of the virus John Keane is enjoying retirement even more after standing
to watch England play cricket against Sri Lanka. He is still down from his town council. He is missing golf and Merton
there – but cricket is a rather slow game. music but has discovered the part of the UK that lies to the
north of Watford and much of it is very beautiful. His son
Callum McCarthy went to the south of France for a spot lives in Ilkley and he has been particularly taken with Ilkley
of spring cleaning. This has now morphed into summer Moor – but has failed to reveal whether he was there hatless.
cleaning and may yet run the whole gamut of the seasons.
However, he says the privations are somewhat alleviated by Charles Webb continues to be based at Windsor Castle as
regular supplies of excellent fresh food and any panic buying one of the Military Knights currently guarding Her Majesty
of wine has had no noticeable effect on its availability. during lockdown. He reports that they have recently been
joined by a raw recruit in his late sixties. There has been
Roy Stevens has recently been under close scrutiny by the loose talk that the newcomer has been bullied into doing
National Health Service. Happily he is now returned to the the lockdown shopping – but that’s the Military for you.
bosom of his extensive CD library. This was recently the subject Meanwhile, Charles is drawing St George’s Chapel from his
of a recent TV programme featuring eccentric collectors. front door but beginning to realise why most artists show
it from a distance.
The late and greatly missed James Wroe has messaged from
the hereafter to express his delight at his obituary being Andrew Morton is frustrated that his 24th consecutive
included with those of the Fellows. attempt to win the Round the Island Race in the good ship
Balerno has been postponed to the autumn or next year. He
Daniel Hodson continues with his tireless efforts to ensure is particularly disappointed as he had a feeling that 2020
the United Kingdom regains/retains its independence. He would be his year. A view not entirely shared by his crew
is now Vice-Chair of the Foundation for Independence whose combined age is now getting close to 400 years.
– a counterbalance to the CBI, representing the more
entrepreneurial SME sector. It is alleged that his next move is
to become Nicola’s Cummings.
162
Michael Brind is intrigued by a photo of himself and some de Guerre? How naïve and ignorant we were. Yet, if we had
Mertonians | 1962-63
others in sub fusc standing in front of a real live steam asked him about his experiences, he would have dismissed
locomotive (see picture). Mr Tretheway, shed master of our questions with an offhand wave saying something like
the Oxford Engine Depot, is also present looking suitably ‘Well, they had to give such things to someone.’
bemused. Was this a normal part of the matriculation
ceremony, he wonders. Footnote: Fortunately, at the time of our graduation there
was some dispute over the way in which the Norrington
Paddy Millard continues as a volunteer on the Low Incomes Table was calculated. This has provided a much-needed
Tax Reform Group of the Chartered Institution of Taxation, cloak of decency with which to shroud the combined results
badgering ministers and civil servants to correct anomalies of our endeavours – which could not be described as stellar.
in the tax system. Some success has been achieved by By way of atonement, at least one of our number has made
promises made in the Government’s election manifesto. He a significant contribution to the financial wellbeing of the
is enduring the lockdown by contemplating the splendour of College. I am reliably informed that, even at this late stage,
Lyme Bay interrupted occasionally by a little light gardening. others are examining their consciences and their wills.
Keith Burton has tasked me with ensuring the College
has his email which he thinks they may have lost in order 1963
to avoid asking him to events or even for money. I have
expressed my doubts on the latter but they now have his There is currently no Year Representative for 1963. Please
email. In the meantime, his garden has never looked better contact [email protected] if you are interested
and, through editing a philatelic magazine, his knowledge of in the position.
stamps and postal history increases by the day.
John Allen writes: ‘Last year I retired from the Northern
Keith Shuttleworth taught maths at Ellesmere College for Ireland Office where since 1997 I had been reviewing
38 years before some further part-time teaching at Concord departmental records due for release to the National
College near Shrewsbury. It is possibly the best performing Archives. This followed my decision to start in earnest a
co-ed school in the country with maths a strong and popular large new research project on church architects and artists
subject. He now sings in three choirs and is a worship leader throughout England. This is intended to be a website to
in his local church. Happily the lockdown has not overly complement my existing website on Sussex parish churches
affected his bridge playing which works well online. (www.sussexparishchurches.org) though it may be ten years
before anything emerges. The current lockdown has at least
David Jenkins writes from Toronto to say he is well but had the benefit of giving me more time for research and for
overwhelmed with grant writing. starting discussions with the designer of my Sussex website
on the form of the new one. Incidentally, my work on
Christopher Roberts, among others, makes mention of the Sussex churches was extensively used in both new volumes
Admiral being a casualty of friendly fire and the unusual on Sussex in The Buildings of England (Pevsner) series, the
appearance of a herd of cows in Front Quad towards the second of which appeared last year.’
conclusion of a memorable bump supper. This is clearly the
delusional ramblings of a generation of Mertonians cruelly John Wormald’s book National Policy, Global Giants: How
deprived of the beneficial and civilising effect of women in Australia Built and Lost its Automotive Industry, written with
their midst. co-author Kim Rennick, was published last year (Cambridge
University Press, 2019).
Who knew the Admiral, whom many of us regarded as an
amiable old buffer, had a DSC with two bars and the Croix
163
Richard Peel brought a group of a dozen Norwegian friends
1964 to Edinburgh last summer and I had the pleasure of giving
them a walking tour of the Old and New Towns. Quite hard
Year Representative: Richard Burns to keep them all under control walking up the Royal Mile
Tel: 07703 439226 Email: [email protected] thronged with tourists – what a contrast to conditions now!
Coronavirus-enforced free time this spring has not resulted in
an upsurge in responses to my request for news from a group 1965
which, if I am anything to go by, is having difficulty coming to
terms with the idea that one is now so old as to be classed as Year Representative: Peter Robinson
‘vulnerable’. It seems as if ‘late middle age’ is behind us. Tel: 07823 388014 Email: [email protected]
Not everyone, though, is sitting on their hands or just getting David Barker wrote to say that following their two
on with the gardening. Robert Irwin spends his mornings months in Europe last summer, they returned to the
working on a ‘big history’ of medieval Syria and Egypt and his (San Francisco) Bay Area, only for life to be interrupted
afternoons on his ninth novel, a ‘dark campus fiction’. Richard by an unexplained foot injury and then of course by the
Stokes has finished his latest book, The Complete Songs of coronavirus lockdown. Having had symptoms very similar to
Hugo Wolff, but its publication by Faber has been postponed the virus back in November last year, they are watching with
till October 2021, perhaps because his wife and daughter, both interest the various studies that suggest it may have been
doctors, fear a second wave of Covid infections this autumn. circulating locally much earlier than previously believed. In
the meantime, they are resisting the temptation to drink
Eric Colvin has retired as Head of Law at the University of disinfectant (gin and tonic tastes better) and are thankful
the South Pacific, but he and Julia plan to remain in Vanuatu that they are among those fortunate enough to have a
for a few more years in their house on the lagoon-front. house and garden, a (more or less) fixed income and, for the
Surprisingly, in light of his complaints of insufficient time for time being at least, their health. They take part from time
scuba-diving, kayaking and lunch, he is working on Criminal to time in the local version of thanks to medical workers,
Law of the Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Tuvalu, a companion which, in the slightly quirky atmosphere of southern Marin
volume to the 2017 best seller Criminal Law of Fiji. Meanwhile County, takes the form of a howl rather than applause. At
Covid-19 has not reached Vanuatu, whose borders are closed least the dogs (and coyotes) can join in.
to people but not cargo, so wine is plentiful and ‘life is good’.
Paul Everson reports that he and his family are keeping
For Tony Webster, life continues well, though increasingly well, but missing the regular face-to-face contact that they
one year is merging with another (I empathise). He continues are used to having, now (inadequately) replaced by regular
to learn the saxophone, playing with several bands and a social media exchanges. Nevertheless, he is getting some
pick-up group (don’t ask). The best memory of last year steady research and writing done – with few distractions. The
was two sunny months in the Pays d’Auge in Normandy priority is a Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture volume
– no Mertonian visitors but there is another distinguished on Cambridgeshire, for the British Academy: the third in the
Yorkshire presence in the shape of David Hockney. series he has authored.
David Sumner, a 21 Merton Street neighbour of mine in 1964, Bill McGrew sent greetings from social isolation in rural Fife.
writes from Wigtown in Galloway, where the big news is that Bill says that their hamlet is still Covid-free, but that’s not
the 2020 book festival has been moved online. Life is, and will so impressive, because they are so few and peripheral. Not
continue to be, quiet in southwest Scotland. much to report, from the midst of fourth week of lockdown.
164
Thank goodness that spring is here, so there is work to be been working on a translation of a Japanese literary classic
Mertonians | 1964-65
done in the garden. Otherwise, he might be watching yet Oku no hosomichi by Basho into Greek. This was published
more TV miniseries that he has never heard of before. in Athens last summer and was the first translation of this
entire work into Greek.
Ray Miles wrote to me in December last year to say that
he had just been perusing the latest Postmaster and was The news from Peter Robinson is very similar to that of
amused by Jon Zamet’s explanation of the arcane tradition our other correspondents. Planned holidays and family visits
of sconcing, which has no doubt long been abandoned now have been put on hold. My U3A activities have been curtailed
that the College is co-ed. Ray was lucky, or unlucky, enough but working from home is not unusual in an IT environment.
never to have been subjected to this; perhaps he would Fortunately, all our family and four grandchildren are well.
have been more compliant if the sconce pot had contained This is the first entire spring for which we have been in
champagne or even that hideous Bulgarian plonk we used to the UK in the past five years, so it has been a real pleasure
drink back then. Speaking of Bulgaria, next year Ray says that to witness the progress of the season in the countryside
he will achieve the dubious distinction of having visited 100 around Coppenhall. We have discovered country lanes that
countries – dubious because we should all be travelling less if we did not know existed. I attended the Memorial Service for
we are to save our planet. The Bulgaria visit in 1968 was with David Bostock last November and was saddened to learn of
fellow-Mertonians Andrew Massey (sadly deceased), Paul the death of John Lucas in April. All my Greats tutors are
Woodruff and David Holmes. They were on their way to now no longer with us.
Turkey, so only saw Bulgaria from the inside of the train. But
the transit was made memorable by the announcement of the I was pleased to hear from Bob Wilson again. While
Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. Earlier, in 1967, Ray’s second introducing me to the American term for lockdown, which
trip to Greece was in the company of two other Mertonians, is ‘sheltering in place’, he pointed out that he had received
Patrick Worsnip (1966) and Anthony Holden (1966), on an some consolation from writing stories and fantasies for
OUDS tour with his production of Agamemnon. Later, in 1974, their 11 grandchildren. He had not realised how much fun it
it was Jon Zamet who hosted me on my first trip to NYC. Ray would be, though not, of course, as much fun as actually
says he is happy to report that he is not always on the go. being with them.
He has now lived in Mexico more than any of his other homes
(16 years), but still keeps his tiny studio flat in the Barbican in Jonathan Zamet wrote to say that daughter Margot is
London. He still rides horses, but gave up scuba diving some finishing her final semester online at home and will graduate
years ago: not out of decrepitude but aghast at the state in May, albeit without all the usual fanfare. Number 1 son
of the reefs. When in London Ray still enjoys his first love, Sam is also working from home and seems to be doing well
theatre, but as spectator rather than participant. – the investment advisory business is benefiting from this
upheaval. Number 2 son Alec is also working from home but
Jerome Ripp wrote to say that it was good to be reminded in Folsom, California. He works for an educational software
of our Merton community and indeed that he is very well. company, which might not be a bad industry to be in these
He continues to work part-time as an IB Mathematics days. Jonathan also says that he has been making lots of pots:
teacher; with the lockdown, he has become proficient at some pretty good ones, though he says so himself. However,
teaching online with students in similar circumstances in goodness only knows when he will be able to sell them. His
many different time zones. His twin pleasures of walking and first craft fair is now scheduled for mid-June in Philadelphia,
gardening have been relatively unaffected and with a large but even if it is not postponed (for the second time) or just
store of fruit and vegetables from his allotment, current shop cancelled, he’s not sure that he won’t pull out. Craft fairs are
shortages are only a minor inconvenience. Although Jerome not a very good place for social distancing! If he has to, he’ll
has not published anything, he has been for the last few just shut it down for the year. In the meantime, no gym, no
years the amanuensis for his Japanese wife Kyoko who had golf, but plenty of long walks. They have several large parks
165
nearby, one of which, a wildlife preserve, requires a ten-mile history. His area of expertise was English history, and
hike to circumnavigate and you see hardly a soul. Jonathan in particular the reign of Elizabeth I. Oxford and Merton
says that his wife Pat is well. They have a wonderful new dog changed his whole approach to his discipline, and laid the
which is keeping her happy, as is having Sam and Margot foundation for a long and successful teaching career, a debt
at home to fuss over. They read the papers, do crosswords, he can never repay.
read books, watch TV, cook meals, do some gardening and
generally keep busy waiting for it all to pass. Robert Venables QC has been elected to an Honorary
Fellowship of St Edmund Hall, where he was Tutor in
Jurisprudence from 1975 to 1980. He says he is working
1966 harder than ever at the age of 72 and thinks of the line in
Virgil ‘iam senior, sed cruda deo viridisque senectus’, but then
Year Representative: David Holmes remembers the description of the particular old god in the
Tel: 01423 550078 Email: [email protected] previous lines.
Lawrence James continues to review books for The Times, David Giachardi writes that 2019 was a year of highs and lows
an activity which remains possible ‘while under house arrest’. for him. As reported in last year’s Postmaster, he was installed
His The Rise and Fall of the British Empire and Raj: The Making in February of that year as Master of his livery company,
of British India have been published in China. the Worshipful Company of Horners. This is a body which,
although it did not get its Royal Charter until 1638 under
Clifton Potter retired in 2019 from the faculty of the Charles I, traces its origins almost as far back as Merton and is
University of Lynchburg, Virginia, after 54 years of teaching mentioned in 1284 in City of London record books. This meant
166
that he and his wife, as ‘Mistress Horner’, enjoyed the early Policy Review of the Policy Institute of King’s College, London
Mertonians | 1965-67
part of the year taking in all the social aspects of the City, entitled ‘How to fix Europe’s fraying social fabric’. The
an endless sequence of lunches, dinners, church services and article advocates the creation of a European centre for best
civic events. He was most grateful to the College for enabling practices in societal cohesion. This is a project he has been
him to bring a group of fellow Horners for a guided tour of working on in Britain, France and Germany, and one which
the Old Library, Chapel and gardens followed by lunch in Hall. enjoys the support of the Mayor of London, among others.
Every one of them commented how splendid the event had
been, and unlike most things they would otherwise do. Sadly, Christopher Hill, FBA is now Emeritus Professor of
Helen, his wife of nearly 50 years, was diagnosed with bowel International Relations at Cambridge (and Emeritus Fellow
cancer and died just before Christmas. He was fortunate that of Sidney Sussex College), while from 2016 to 2019 he held
his daughter could stand and act as consort for a major event the Wilson E. Schmidt Distinguished Chair of International
that he had to host with the Lord Mayor as his guest. He was Relations at the School of Advanced International Studies
immensely moved when a number of Merton contemporaries (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, Bologna. He is still writing; his
attended Helen’s funeral and greatly touched by their support. latest book is The Future of British Foreign Policy (2019). He also
a joint editor of the European Review of International Studies.
Ron Scott has been a ‘finance man’ in various industries,
latterly retailing, and ended his career by building up a William Clendaniel reports at the time of writing that he is
national chain of clothing stores, mainly aimed at the comfortably ensconced in his Back Bay apartment in Boston,
student-age market. He is concerned that the heyday of MA with his partner of 23 years. They are well and walk daily
high street retailing may never return. After 15 years of semi- in their historic Victorian townhouse neighbourhood with
retirement his business interests are at different ends of the beautiful private gardens and several public parks. They have
spectrum: part-ownership of a city centre bar in Manchester kept busy with Zoom lectures from various Boston institutions
and chairman of a northern-based company about to launch and friends, including one with the 1967 American Rhodes
its ‘high tech’ green energy product in the sunnier climes of Scholars. They have both been retired for several years
Australia. A Lancastrian based for most of his life in Harrogate, although William is still busy as the treasurer of a small non-
he can be found in normal times in the Yorkshire hills and profit that advocates, raises money and cares for the Boston
dales with a like-minded group of ‘cynical’ 60- to 70-year- Common, the Public Garden and the Commonwealth Avenue
olds, putting the world to rights. Or watching his beloved Mall, historic parks in the centre of Boston. They belong to
Blackburn Rovers (now in the fifth generation with grandsons) a 40-year-old group, Beacon Hill Village, that works to keep
and Leeds Rhinos – that other northern code of rugby league. older people living in their own homes by providing a number
Ron is still in regular contact with Gary Stevens (1968) who of services, an idea that has spread around the world. It has
should have been staying this summer, Ric Harris (1967) and given them many new friends and many virtual programmes
Frank Keefe (1969). He met the latter two in York at the end – exercise, travel lectures, health information, etc. Recently
of last year when Frank’s wife Jennifer was Visiting Professor of William gave a Zoom slide lecture to the group on their
Philosophy. All four of them were taught by the unique John three-week trip to India a few years ago. They now have
Lucas and have exchanged many hilarious stories. more time for reading and have enjoyed Hilary Mantel’s The
Mirror and the Light, Erik Larson’s The Splendid and the Vile,
Arthur (Art) Shartsis is still in practice and managing his law and Ta-Nehisi Coates’ The Water Dancer recently. Earlier this
firm in San Francisco, which is doing surprisingly well (working month they escaped for six days to his partner’s farmhouse
entirely remotely) in the current environment. Hopefully, this in rural New Hampshire, and thereafter to his family’s coastal
strong viability will continue, in these very uncertain times. summer home in Maine for two months; it will be his 71st
The Law School at Berkeley recognised him this year with its summer there. He has two sons and two grandchildren, who
Citation Award, the school’s highest honour. In May 2020 have all been self-quarantined for many weeks in MA and VT,
he published an article in the international edition of the but who will join them at various points over the summer.
167
I have heard too from Geoffrey Penzer who joined the College old Mertonian, who recognised Eldon’s’ birthday present of
in 1967 as a junior research fellow, and who gave tutorials to a Merton sweater with a very bold crest.
the preclinical undergraduates who arrived that year.
David Taylor has been retired for some time. Five years ago,
David Jeans continues in retirement to be involved at he moved into Burton in Lonsdale, a village on the borders
Wadsley Church, where he was Vicar in the 1990s, and at of Lancashire, Cumbria and North Yorkshire, after living in
Sheffield Wednesday as Chaplain to the Wise Old Owls, a towns for most of his life. He found country living to be a
lunch club for senior supporters. David was Club Chaplain revelation and he and his wife are involved in village activities,
to the Owls from 1989 to 2006. He continues to be involved volunteering on local committees, and the village pub. He
in theological education, teaching at the Sheffield School of now has time to pursue his lifelong interest in motorsport,
Ministry, and St Mellitus North West at Liverpool Cathedral. fostered by the Oxford University Motor Drivers' Club, and
In March 2019 his Grove Booklet on the relationship between enjoys historic rallying and classic cars, along with the
science and faith was published; he had wanted to call it inevitable maintenance. And there are holidays: New Zealand
Engaging with Science: The Question of Human Significance, and Greece last year, along with skiing in the winter.
but Grove, for reasons best known to themselves, called it
How to Talk Science and God. At the time of writing David is Colin Fraser retired as Senior Master at Marlborough
still coming to grips with a new skill: preaching to a laptop College in 2011 but continued to teach A-level Greek and
screen of himself for a streamed service and being unable to Latin at Marlborough and at two other schools. He and his
gauge any response. He met up with Peter Richmond, Nick wife, Maria, spend much of summer on the Greek island of
Wright and Kelvin Roberts to support David Giachardi on Naxos, where they have had a home for many years. By
the sad occasion of the funeral of his wife Helen. He also happy coincidence, Andrew Hobson also has found a home
interacts on Facebook with Lou Henderson (1968). Lou had there and presides at regular meetings of the Naxos Merton
posted a photo of a bottle of the Sheffield institution of Society. Colin and Maria also travel each year to Ukraine
Henderson’s Relish. His bottle was a red and white striped to spend time with relatives there. Colin reports that it was
version in honour of the other Sheffield team, so David felt a particular pleasure to join Stuart Ferguson and other
obliged to respond by posting a photo of the blue and white distinguished young men of his year at a lunch he hosted
striped ‘Wednesday’ version. last July in Teddy Hall for the Merton Football XI that won
the League One Championship in 1970.
Eldon Zuill, considering the ties that bind us, recalls three
unexpected Mertonian contacts over the years. While Richard Smith writes that by the time this is published he
a guest at the R&A and having a drink in the lounge, a and his wife Jenny will have moved house after 12 happy years
gentleman passed him, and said ‘Hello Eldon, I see we were in what used to be the village pub in High Shincliffe, just
at the same college’ and he was gone. Eldon wondered how south of Durham city; built in 1829, originally converted in
Alan Elliot (1942) could have possibly been at the Ontario 1955 and improved by successive owners. They will be on the
Agricultural College. He later realised that he had been other side of Durham to be nearer their children and wider
wearing his Merton tie; Alan was at Merton during the war. families, and to be rid of the insistent needs of a two-
They became good friends and, with their wives, used to centuries-old property, lovely though it is. For the last 20
meet regularly for lunch. On a second occasion at a meeting years Richard has been Professor of Education at Durham
in his local village hall he was contacted by a stranger who University, where he was first appointed in 1978 after six
remarked the coincidence that his daughter had just been happy years teaching at King Edward’s School, Birmingham.
accepted to read law at Merton; Susan Paton (1981) was His current title gives little clue, he says, to his various
among the first cohorts of women accepted to the College. activities there. Like their former home, he has gone through
In May 2012, Eldon and his wife were visiting a sculpture park various conversions, including ten years as Director of
just outside Edinburgh when he was approached by another Combined Social Sciences and two spells as President of the
168
local branch of the lecturers’ union. He is still, at the age of Mike Zollo has been completely retired for quite a few years
Mertonians | 1967
71, employed on a 30% contract, which unfortunately leaves now, after 42 years of teaching, examining, and writing
little time to attend the departmental, faculty and other school language books. On 8 June 2018, Mike and Carol
meetings to which universities are prone. For Richard, one celebrated the 50th anniversary of their first meeting in the
great pleasure of working at Durham has been the gardens of Rose Lane, where he was living in RL 3.3, at a
exceptional quality, both intellectual and personal, of the staircase party. They spent a very enjoyable couple of days
young people who go to study there. A second has been in Oxford, revisiting old haunts, and notably Merton College.
writing, both as sole author and together with the many The photograph on the left shows them standing on the
friends he has made, generally through meeting like-minded very spot where they met. Since that fortuitous meeting life
people across four continents. He hopes, as do we all in has been good to them, producing five lovely children and, to
these times, that that these pleasures will continue for future date, ten grandchildren. After almost eight years of complete
generations: that the idea of the university will go on remission, Carol’s cancer (multiple myeloma) has recurred.
meaning more than online study, and stand for active She has undergone several months of chemotherapy in
resistance to xenophobia and ignorance. Devon, but the Covid-19 situation is delaying the necessary
stem-cell transplant. She and Mike very much hope that
when it has happened they will be able once again to spend
time in their Spanish house, concentrating on keeping
themselves fit with plenty of cycling, walking and swimming
– enjoying Spanish life to the full. We wish them well and a
successful outcome for Carol.
169
the words ‘carpe diem’. They find linking through ‘WhatsApp’ of his in his own years at Eversheds, and for whom Lyn did
to be a great morale booster in grim times. much work, and with his partner Dr Eileen Rees. He is in
regular contact too with Richard Allen.
Nigel writes: “My beloved Prisca (Somerville 1967-71) passed
away, to the immense sadness of the family, in 2016. I have a Peter Richmond and his wife Lou (Baxter) are well and
loving friendship now with Margarita Genova, once my pupil continuing to enjoy life in Hexham, especially in these trying
through the British Council. I maintain an interest in modern times. Last autumn he started doing the local Parkrun every
languages by speaking and writing Bulgarian and am completing Saturday morning, but that of course stopped in March.
a book on French and English semantic and etymological links.”
Since retiring, Martin Sands has been more involved with
Following early retirement in 2005, Richard Allen in recent alumni matters at his old school, Hampton, and has been
years has been helping charities of varying sizes improve Chairman of the Old Hamptonians Association for the last
their performance. His most recent book, The Body in the four years. During this period a new and mutually beneficial
Marine Buildings, was published in the USA last year. He still agreement was agreed between the association and the
writes books and music for pleasure. After a hip replacement school; Martin believes his experience of international
operation in late 2018, he no longer runs half marathons, negotiations while working in the Ministry of Defence may
but only shorter distances. He is also the very happy have been of some help with this achievement. He still
grandfather of two boys aged seven and five, who keep him sees colleagues from the MOD from time to time including
young and his football skills up to date. He and Vanessa attending various lunch and dinner engagements and
(Somerville) will have celebrated their golden wedding reunions. He is in regular contact with Richard Harris and
anniversary on 11 July 2020. He is also in touch with Chris his wife Lilian, Michael Prest, Bill Hedley (1969) and his
Hill and John Walsh. Richard’s brother David Allen (1968) is brother-in-law John Symes (1969). Martin and Carol have
still working as a judge, although upon hitting the dreaded continued to enjoy annual holidays to Greece, most recently
threescore years and ten, he has cut his caseload back a bit. to the Peloponnese where there are enough classical and
historical sites to satisfy a Merton historian along with
John Walsh has retired from the practice of law, leaving the more traditional aspects of Greek life. He reports that
the Birmingham firm Anthony Collins in 2015. His wife, Lyn, Carol retired in 2019 after working in the NHS for some 40
retired from her employment as a legal secretary on leaving years, and their daughter Emma graduated from Newcastle
Eversheds (Manchester) in 2017. They still live in Macclesfield. University in 2018 having completed her master’s. She is now
John was much inspired by reading, in Postmaster 2015, working for a tech company in London.
that Tom Head (1968) had, following his illustrious career
with Freshfields, ‘discovered that sloth has its attractions’. Like the linguists ‘carpe diem’ group, a subset of former first-
For almost five years, John too has been discovering these year denizens of Merton Street have kept in close touch and
pleasures. But he and Lyn have now stirred and joined the have gatherings every year or two or on suitable occasions.
committee of the Macclesfield Literary & Philosophical
Society (founded, much more recently than its name might Clive Richardson reports that in retirement, over the last
imply, in response to news coverage that Macclesfield was three and a half years he and Anne have obtained four
the least cultured town in England). This year he is looking grandchildren. Clive has joined the Worshipful Company of
to take on a small organisational role with the Manchester Blacksmiths and has become a Freeman of the City of London
group of the Oxford University Society, whose existence he (the latter is something he shares with me, as a member of the
learned of only a couple of years ago. Through the group, Worshipful Company of Skinners, and with David Giachardi
they have met and befriended Paul Shrimpton (1971) and his as a ‘Horner’). Clive and Anne went to a Forge Day, and Anne
wife, Michelle. John and Lyn have remained friends, in regular was photographed for the front cover of the Blacksmiths’
contact, with Ronald Graham (1971), a long-term colleague magazine – forging a sconce. Clive is an active Rotarian and
170
is having a second stint as President of the Epson Rotary There he met and interviewed (and had a few beers with
Mertonians | 1967
Club for 2020-21. He went with Anne to Malawi to donate 11 over the three days) a parachute veteran (Sandy Cortmann,
bicycle ambulances from the Rotary Club to the AMECA clinic 97 years old) who did a jump on the anniversary, 75 years
in Chilaweni, near Blantyre; they are returning next year with after he had done the real thing in 1944. Unfortunately, Mr
a Rotary cheque to help fund the maternity clinic there. He Cortmann died in May this year. A further product was a
has also run two successful Annual Fun Days for the local free D-Day to VE Day Cloud app; on release it was updated
community with about 3,000 people attending. monthly to increase awareness of VE Day for the 75th
anniversary, which brought about some national newspaper
Keith Wade is enjoying retirement and, family matters and coverage and some local radio coverage. Additionally, VE
various hobbies and interests apart, is spending a fair bit Day street party packs to help have some fun on VE Day
of time on voluntary work with their village at Sevenoaks despite lockdown were produced and sold; on the day there
Weald and Sevenoaks itself. Over the last two years or was a nationwide Instagram party with clients and friends.
so he has been the initiator and co-organiser of a major Terry’s own village street was shut and there was a ‘socially
exhibition on the heritage buildings of Sevenoaks on behalf distanced party’. This was based around a village friend of
of the Sevenoaks Society, which included researching various his, aged 96, who went in on D-Day +8, all the way through
historic buildings, institutions and locations within the town, Arnhem, Belsen and on to the North East of Hamburg, and
and writing material for the exhibition. He has co-authored who proposed the Toast at 3pm.
an accompanying book, Sevenoaks: A Remarkable Town, and
maintains a continuing role as Publicity Officer, Trees and The current project is to develop a free database site, Voices
Landscape Officer, archivist and Executive Committee member of Veterans, for family stories and voices, film etc. to be
for the Sevenoaks Society. He has been the lead member of a uploaded to preserve the memories as there are now so few
steering group set up to prepare a Village Design Statement left. Terry’s team are interviewing participants personally,
and Parish Plan for the village of Weald, and is engaged in the and the site (with upload capability) should be online by
preparation of a book on the history of the pubs and inns of the autumn. On the sporting side, Terry has climbed a long-
Sevenoaks, with publication planned for 2021. time target peak in Italy: Corno Grande in the Gran Sasso in
Abbruzzo (9,554 ft) and a few more peaks in Sibillini. He has
Terry Riordan, now a grandfather to five, has had a recently lost a good friend in Italy to Covid-19; two other
remarkably interesting series of projects in hand in the good friends in Emilia-Romagna, working in intensive care,
last two years. Initially he helped a military historian and fought it off and survived.
guide, Penny Burton, to make a Cloud-based app to explore
all battlefield walks at Waterloo in a more constructive, Sir Brian Leveson retired as President of the Queen’s Bench
enjoyable and informative way than anything else around. Division on his 70th birthday in June 2019 and later that
This has blossomed into a small company (Penny Guides summer was appointed Investigatory Powers Commissioner
Ltd) which led to a busy year researching, designing and where, for three days a week, he leads a team of 15
marketing a Cloud-based visitors’ app for D-Day (around retired senior judges. In this capacity he is responsible for
1,000 screens etc.), visits to Normandy for photographic overseeing the use of covert investigative powers not only
research for the app, but also detailed research into by the intelligence community but also by law enforcement
local wine and cheese etc., followed by attendance at the agencies and local authorities. He reports that it is all very
75th anniversary, meeting veterans, and being generally interesting and very different but it has been quite difficult
astounded at their achievements. during the lockdown period because he cannot go into the
office and deal with the most sensitive applications; he has
A Cloud-based app for Arnhem in the Operation Market thus appointed ten under-70 temporary commissioners to
Garden campaign (A Bridge Too Far) followed and Terry do that work, but it is still quite demanding in policy terms. In
attended the 75th anniversary at Arnhem/Oosterbeek. addition, this year he became Treasurer of the Middle Temple
171
which is his Inn of Court. He was asked if he would do that fronts. A highlight as far back in 2016 was an invitation from
on the basis that it would be fun. Brian says that there are the Russian Ministry of Transport to Marina (St Hilda’s, 1970),
lots of words to describe the last few months, but fun is our son Alexis, a niece from Australia and a Canadian cousin
not one of them: with criminal courts shut and barristers to attend a commemoration and re-interment ceremony
not able to earn anything there are real issues of hardship. near Sonkovo in the Tver region (roughly between Moscow
Those who think all barristers are fat cats are sadly mistaken; and St Petersburg) for Marina’s great-grandfather Prince
many are living hand to mouth and if the briefs do not come Michael Khilkoff, as his only available direct descendants.
in, there is nothing to replace them. Further, the emergency There are none surviving in Russia. I went as spouse of the
self-employed income support scheme (SEIS) does not cover senior family member present.
those who do not have three years’ worth of accounts. Brian
has consequently been behind appeals for charitable funds As Minister of Transport, Khilkoff built the Trans-Siberian
from the wealthier lawyers and necessarily has conducted all and the Trans-Caucasian railways and a network of roads
his meetings virtually. Brian also continues as Chancellor of in the late 19th and the first decade of the 20th century.
Liverpool John Moores University. His wife Lynne has ceased He is now recognised there for the work he did, apparently
working at Kew, and greatly misses that, but is now fully building more roads and railways during his tenure in office
engaged in remodelling and replanting their garden. than was achieved throughout the whole Soviet period. The
Soviets however had built a road over his grave and those of
John Wroe has retired from the practice of criminal law his immediate family, perhaps during the Second World War,
which he carried out successfully through his own firm in and all traces were lost until road repairs were undertaken
Reading for many years. in 2015. With the 100th anniversary of the completion of
the Trans-Siberian coming up in 2016, a historian undertook
Chris Starr reports that he has (temporarily) given up to find all the graves and arrange the reburial of the whole
computer programming in Belgium and Germany and has family group next to the ruined family chapel, complete
gone into the trucking business in East Africa. He has at the with dedicated memorial obelisk. We attended this occasion,
same time set his own new world record for complications expecting a small private service of locals and more distant
in his life. Russian relatives, but a special train had been arranged
for us and a collection of Russian VIPs from Moscow. The
open-air occasion was supported by a ceremonial military
escort and two Ministers (of Transport and of Railways),
the Russian Railways’ military band, a wonderful Orthodox
choir and a small swarm of media and TV people. A bust was
then unveiled in a separate ceremony at the railway station
with fireworks, military wreath-laying and official speeches.
Neither of us ever having been to Russia, and the family
history from 1917 being rather dark and unknown to all of the
family in the West, Marina and I were both astounded and
moved by the occasion: family conversational tales over the
Rory Khilkoff-Boulding (third from left) with his wife Marina (centre) decades as anecdotal history suddenly made startlingly real.
and son Alexis (third from right) at a commemoration for Marina’s
great-grandfather Prince Michael Khilkoff in 2016 In December of that year our son’s family immigrated to the
UK, and now live with us.
As for me, Rory Khilkoff-Boulding, although I am still
practising law as a solicitor in a semi-retired fashion, it In March 2018, on my 70th birthday, spent in Tallahassee, I
has also been an interesting few years on entirely different was presented with an award by the Florida Bar for leadership
172
in providing in London MCLE (Continuing Professional signed an application for attendance allowance in special
Mertonians | 1967-68
Development) courses for US-qualified international circumstances on the basis that I will be dead within six
attorneys, which endorsement was much appreciated. Closer months. Last week a stair lift was installed in the house
to home, Marina and I were fortunate to pass an audition where I have lived with my wife Anne Clarke (St Anne’s, 1970)
in the latter part of 2018 to sing at Glyndebourne in the for the last 45 years. Because coronavirus would surely kill
chorus of a specially commissioned opera, Agreed, which was me within days, Anne and I never leave the house except
performed in early 2019. This was a fabulous new journey for me to attend hospital appointments. I expect to die at
for us into a rather different and wholly immersive world of home, mainly looked after by Anne on her own, but we will
music, illusion and make-believe, superbly and professionally get nursing support at the end.’
crafted at one of the world’s premier opera houses. It was
an experience that stretched us immensely and one we will Peter is busy writing his autobiography, entitled Always Up
always treasure. Then 21 June 2020 was the 50th anniversary To Something, for publication after his death. He offers the
of Marina and I meeting in Oxford – the longest day, 1970. following extract: ‘1968: My usual propensity to acquire keys
of the kitchen didn’t desert me while at Merton. The kitchen
I would like to close by saying how pleasant it was to meet was far more rewarding than my school’s had been because it
up with so many of our year at the 50th Anniversary lunch handled the food and wine for the high table. Slipping silently
at the College in 2018, and, surprisingly, for it to be the first among the shadows of the kitchen furniture, I could see a
ever such lunch to include wives and significant others. But tray containing scallop shells: the well-known dish Coquilles
there was so little time there to really catch up in depth. As St Jacques. As I reached out, a hand appeared from the other
the years pass, friends and contacts and memories from one’s side of the counter and secured them a moment ahead of
most formative years become more and more important, as me. On that occasion I left the kitchen empty-handed. I
I think shines through in the Postmaster submissions. Please assume a fellow student was up to the same chicanery.’
keep the updates coming in future years.
Peter’s message finishes: ‘I have done in my life all the things
that I wanted to do. I weep to be missing the next steps in
1968 the life journeys of my wife, my relatives, my friends and all
the people I have known, loved and enjoyed. Farewell, I hope
Year Representative: Ian McBrayne you will remember me from time to time.’ Be assured that we
Tel: 020 8504 2491 Email: [email protected] will, Peter; may you go out with spirit unbowed.
173
Reno, which he found five to seven years ahead with battery Congratulations to Nicholas Richardson on the publication
technology for cars, back-up electricity grids and individual of Autogiro Pioneer: The Life of Jack Richardson (Fonthill Media,
premises. The 2020 racing season having had at least the 2019). This is an account of the varied life and adventures
first half cancelled, he has agreed to a short consultancy of his father, the first commercially licensed autogiro pilot,
assignment for the Government. Finally, albeit as an advisor, based on his memoirs. Nicholas says the publisher has
he has achieved his ambition. produced it very well. An enjoyable launch party was held
at the National Army Museum, doubling as a celebration
Chris Simmons has returned to work as honorary, part- of Nicholas’ 80th birthday. Another person putting pen to
time assistant curate in the parishes of St John Lee, Warden paper is John Reynolds, prompted by lockdown to write up
and Newbrough, across the Tyne from his home in Hexham. his trip to Iran a couple of years ago. Inspiration came from
St John Lee is where St John of Beverley retired when church reading The Road to Oxiana by Robert Byron, a Mertonian
life in Hexham became too tiresome. Chris’s escape was of the 1920s. John finds Byron an interesting character; the
a tour with the Antiphon choir, singing in Salisbury and introduction to the book mentions his precocious aesthetic
Wells cathedrals and the parish churches of Frome and tastes and his rooms at Merton ‘filled with Victoriana in
Glastonbury. Back home he gave a talk about two early-17th- provocative bad taste’. John recommends the book and
century copies of the Geneva (‘Breeches’) Bible in the town. wishes he could emulate Byron’s writing style.
A third local copy is rumoured, but the owner was reluctant
to lend it to a Church of England minister ‘in case she never Another recent traveller is Alastair Northedge, who has
got it back’. The garden continues to mature, rhubarb been to Algeria for the first time. It is a closed country and
particularly abundant, supplying the neighbourhood. visas are difficult to obtain; when you get there, there are
many checkpoints on the roads in 1970s communist style.
Paul Engeham is another one moving on. Two more work It was more interesting culturally than Alastair expected,
visits to the Falkland Islands enabled him to reach very remote rumours that everything of interest had been squashed
Carcass and West Point Islands where albatrosses, elephant by the French colonial government proving untrue. With
seals and penguins provide close-up fascination. He finds no tourists, he got a real taste of the country. Alastair has
virus-induced isolation less stressful than HMS Glamorgan’s latterly been living the full locked-down experience in his
often lonely 105 days at sea in the South Atlantic in 1982. He house outside Paris, wondering whether it might prove safer
recently won the Royal Navy foil fencing competition in which to go ahead with a planned trip to China.
he first competed in 1971: ‘Old age, low cunning and treachery
occasionally have their day against the young.’ Now partially George Daly and his wife Angela are locked down in Brittany,
retired from the Ministry of Defence, he has been appointed grateful for a good rhythm of life in a beautiful place. Earlier,
Chancellor for the Grand Lodge of England, responsible for they visited India and Nepal; George is researching the life of
relationships with more than 200 Grand Lodges all over the Siddhartha and they saw many Buddhist sites. He continues
world with which English freemasons may inter-visit. his work with the African Prisons Project, for which the virus
is a challenge: overcrowded prisons are not good places if
The difficulties faced by this year’s graduating students have a pandemic hits them. He finds the work of the project to
reminded Steve Powell of the problems with job applications transform criminal justice systems very absorbing and looks
caused by the postal strike of 1971. His first position, as an forward to being featured on the US television programme
examiner in the Patent Office, was also affected. Patent 60 Minutes later in the year.
applications that arrived late because of the strike were
deemed to be filed on a single date when it was over. A Those experiencing the US response to the virus include
final decision had to be made within four years, so there Dave Bell and his wife on Cape Cod and Alan Harland in
was a veritable tsunami of cases to be finished by a single Philadelphia, which he says is like a ghost town, with the tens
deadline in 1975. of thousands of students from Temple University and other
174
institutions sent home to be taught remotely by Zoom. Heasman and Rosemary, Peter Warry and Rosemary, Alec
Mertonians | 1968
With plans scuppered for flying round the world to mark his Jeffreys and Sue and Gerry Grimstone and Li Peng. The
wife’s recent birthday, they settled for a Zoom party with other six would like to congratulate Gerry and wonder if he
family members across three continents and eight US states. could schedule the next lunch for the House of Lords!
Earlier, they continued their quest to visit all the US national
parks with a wonderful adventure to the three parks in Another reunion, enjoyed by Steve Drinkwater, was of
Florida. Their oldest daughter is a park ranger in Utah, who his Earth Sciences year, with a splendid dinner at St Cross
now has one of the most spectacular locations in the world College and other events across the weekend. Some there
almost to herself, spotting wildlife rarely seen for years. had not met since 1972: a great opportunity to catch up.
Steve then took off to Scotland with his campervan, led a
Alan Taylor’s son (now 12) has started school in the UK. group on the West Highland Way and spent a couple of
Alan’s plan to commute every few weeks between Hong weeks walking and sightseeing. In August he was in Dorset
Kong and the new family home in York has been stymied by doing the coast path. Then disaster struck: the van broke
the virus. But Hong Kong is not a bad place to be: relatively down and he damaged tendons in his leg. Now that he is
mild social distancing, and shops, restaurants and cafés still on the mend the world has shut down. He is still actively
open. He was hoping for normal travel to be possible by July studying French, Photography and Creative Writing, with
so that he could celebrate his 70th in the UK. Psychology to come in the autumn.
175
quondam High Sheriff of that county, never got round to counts himself lucky when almost all musicians, singers and
marrying or writing a will. Regular visits to concerts at actors are suffering great financial hardship.
Birmingam’s Symphony Hall are also on hold. Otherwise, his
life remains more or less as last year. The last word goes to Alan Taylor, because it is the most
upbeat: ‘Looking ahead, past the current inconveniences,
Danny Lawrence sums up the effects of ‘these strange I am excited and optimistic for the future. I am impressed
times’ as multiple travel plans scuppered and withdrawal how quickly medical science and technology have
symptoms from not being able to go to the Etihad Stadium, progressed, and how people generally have responded to
‘none of which really matters just now, obviously’. David this challenge. How fortunate we are to be living in these
Allen is grateful for work as a distraction. He says: ‘It has interesting times.’
been interesting this week conducting High Court hearings
by video link from the sitting room of our flat.’ He plans to
retire in February, by which time he hopes for ‘some sort of 1969
normality, whatever that may be in the future’.
Year Representative: John Symes
Nine years ago Neil Loden and Susan bought a 16th-century Email: [email protected]
house in the Dartmoor National Park, once part of the Castle
Drago estate. Having succumbed to the charms of the West It is hard to follow last year’s exceptional response – it was our
Country and spent 18 months on a programme of repairs 50th anniversary and the College laid on a magnificent lunch
and improvements, they were gratified by an award from to celebrate. An account of this event is elsewhere in this
the Devon Historic Buildings Trust for the best restoration Postmaster, and in this section I will just summarise responses
of a historic building. The house is now their family home to my request for updates. (Forgive me if in shortening entries
and normally a regular venue for their two daughters and I have introduced any errors or distortions.)
families, including four grandsons aged one to six. James
Miller reports from the depths of Herefordshire that they On the principle that ‘no news is good news’, I propose to
were flooded twice last winter and now cannot get repair create a section for those correspondents who have nothing
work done during lockdown. Having taken over as chairman noteworthy to report or nothing to add to previous entries.
of Hereford Sixth Form College, he is also concerned at the In this spirit it was a pleasure to hear from Jonty Boyce,
impact of the virus on teenagers and other young people: Howard Davies, Martin McNeill and Patrick Traill.
‘Missing out on so much that is important of sixth form or
university life is something they can never make up.’ Duncan Campbell-Smith reports that his biography of
Frank Whittle (Jet Man: The Making and Breaking of Frank
Following the premiere of Akathistos at St Stephen, Walbrook, Whittle, the Genius behind the Jet Revolution) will be published
Nick Bicât was delighted to have an earlier piece performed later this year.
there too. Perpetua tells of the first female Christian martyr,
and the dramatic setting of Wren’s church helped to frame Michael Collins divides his time between Mosta, Malta and
and enhance the theatrical narrative. When his song for Kyrenia/Girne on the north coast of Cyprus. In Mosta he can
the 900th anniversary of Leeds Castle was performed, Nick see the famous Rotunda from his front balcony. This year he
joined the choir in procession. ‘We all wore monks’ robes; was licensed as a Reader at St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, Valletta,
however, I also had to drag a portable loudspeaker system where he is busy with the restoration appeal, which has
behind me: a somewhat anachronistic sight.’ His latest work raised over 5 milion euros. He is also busy giving talks and
should premiere at the Historic Dockyard in Chatham in lectures on his book St George and the Dragons: The Making of
October, but the Arts Council has currently suspended its English Identity (Fonthill Media) in Cyprus, Germany, Nigeria,
grant giving. He is still able to make some progress, and and hopefully Britain (when travel is permitted again).
176
Peter Forster confirms that he has now retired to live in Will Pedder was due this year to complete his ten-year
Mertonians | 1968-70
Melrose, as reported last year. project of sailing every European coastline with his wife
Rosie. Cyprus would have been their last country, but will
Mike Garton Sprenger and his wife Clare visited South now have to wait till 2021, virus permitting.
Africa in January to see the land where his grandfather’s
family were brought up. They travelled from the Cape and John Symes celebrated the birth of his first grandchild, Iris,
KwaZulu Natal up to Limpopo Province in the north where in December and with his wife Ann is adapting to the role
he tracked down the grave of his grandfather who died in of grandparenting. The seven-year project that he has led
1921, the year his father, also at Merton (1940), was born. to restore and enhance the church in Droxford also came
to a successful conclusion last year. The project raised
Following the death of his wife in 2018 after a very long £600,000 to restore the at-risk Norman church and to
illness, Tony Hansen has remodelled the upstairs of his build an annex with kitchen and toilets, and open a cafe in
house into a self-contained furnished apartment with the church, ensuring a sustainable future as a community
bathroom and kitchenette. The house is within walking hub. Major contributions came from the Lottery Heritage
distance of the main university campus in Berkeley and he Fund, Hampshire County Council, and the Garfield Weston
would welcome any Mertonian for a short- or medium-term Foundation with many smaller but generous donations from
visit. After five years planning with colleagues at Moscow the local community.
State University he installed one of his company’s air-
pollution instruments at a remote weather station high in Richard Underwood retired from Imperial College on 31
the Siberian Arctic. Although the Arctic is melting, there is December 2019 but remains Emeritus Professor of Cardiac
almost no data concerning the emissions and transport Imaging and works part-time at Royal Brompton & Harefield
of sunlight-absorbing ‘black smoke’ from the oil and gas Hospitals. Although not in the front line, it has been stirring
industry in Siberia. (His journal is available at www.mageesci. to see the changes to routine clinical practice that Covid-19
com/Yamal). thrust upon the hospitals. At one point there were 69
ventilated patients on ITU and a further 24 on extracorporeal
Bill Hedley was elected President of the Federation of membrane oxygenation (ECMO), by a long way the largest
European Philatelic Associations last November. The in the UK.
Federation covers 44 countries and its role is to coordinate,
promote and represent philatelic activities across Europe.
Usually these activities take the shape of exhibitions, 1970
seminars and meetings but those arranged for 2020 have
mostly been cancelled or postponed into 2021 and 2022 due Year Representative: Nick Skinner
to the coronavirus pandemic. Tel: 01903 767072 Email: [email protected]
Many thanks as always to you all for supporting this
John Newsome reports that, as a priest, you never retire; year’s newsgathering. As I write this, in the first few days
you just go on working in different ways but without pay! of June 2020, we are cautiously beginning to make the
Living near Frankfurt, having served most of his ministry in first few careful steps out of the Covid-19 lockdown; a
the Anglican Diocese of Europe, last year he took on the role concern for all of us in view of our age profile. Not I am
of Acting Archdeacon for parishes in Germany, Scandinavia sure the way any of us thought we would be remembering
and the Baltic. It enabled him to visit previously unseen our Golden Jubilee!
places such as Helsinki and Riga. After the appointment of
a new archdeacon he has returned to his role as Area Dean Many of us are now pensioners and retired from active
for Germany which he combines with Spirituality Advisor for
the diocese. employment, but Geoff Ellis writes that he is a minister to a
177
church in the West Park area of north west Leeds and also on 1 July 2020, I will retire from my full-time role as Professor
a chaplain to vulnerable residents in an MHA (Methodist of Accounting. In December of 2019, I was made a Fellow of
Homes) care scheme in Hunslet, south Leeds. ‘Whilst the Academy of Social Sciences, which means that I can now
isolating at home I am keeping in contact mainly by phone call myself a FAcSS!’
and newsletter to support those who have hardly if at all
left their homes or rooms for so many weeks. Church and It was good to hear from Malcolm Cook where the
chaplaincy business and conference meetings take place by lockdown has meant an enforced break from rowing. He
email and Zoom. Church worship and prayers continue to has been keeping fit on a rowing machine and has recently
be offered for people to participate in from their homes. The been able to return to the river on a single scull following a
big discussion point now is what will the “new normal” look relaxation of the rules.
like when social isolation is eased, and especially for those
in the most vulnerable health or age groups.’ Tony Sharp writes: ‘I benefited from medical intervention
this past year, having had a “minimally invasive total
Zoom is now a feature of our lives as we keep up virtually hip replacement” in August, which I suppose is my only
with family, friends, work and church. significant news, apart, of course, from the loss of all my
tour guiding, at least until October.
Another involved in ministry is Mick Holloway who is ‘on the
preaching rota as a licensed lay minister and acting treasurer ‘I had been suffering with arthritis in my right hip (though
for All Saints Church Highams Park, Bridging the Gap Islington the left is pretty clear, so far) for perhaps a couple of years,
(www.bridging-islington.org.uk) providing trained volunteer and thereby hangs a cautionary tale to share with others. It
mentors to adults who are homeless and/or at risk of was diagnosed at a time when I’d just come back from a four-
offending, and a family endowment trust (www.fbbtrust.org. day Berlin tour and felt pretty good about myself, suffering
uk) providing funding for postgraduates researching matters only intermittent manageable pain, and so declined the
relating to intolerance and how they might be resolved at offer of surgery until such time as it got worse. Four or five
Birkbeck College London’. Mick has been enjoying dealing months later it did get significantly worse and I returned to
with the garden in the great weather while shielding from the hospital in January last year whereupon the consultant
the virus, having recovered from a bout of chemotherapy in declared that they would be very happy to offer me a new
2018. Meanwhile wife Wendy looks after the allotment. Mick hip. The downside was that the waiting list was pushing 11
is feeling very well and keeping busy and positive. months. By that time I couldn’t face the wait, and so paid
£10,000 to have the same surgeon (widely recommended)
John Crabtree continues to teach at the Latin American perform the op that summer. Had I put down when it was
Centre at Saint Antony’s College, Oxford. He is currently first diagnosed I would have had the procedure about the
engaged in a research project (for a book) on business same time as it actually happened, but for free. The moral
elites and their political influence in the Andean countries, is clearly “get on the list asap”!’ Tony’s wife Catherine is
specifically Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. He was in Peru for two working full-time from home. He wishes the Mertonians of
months at the beginning of 2020 but had to cut short his 1970 continuing good health and a safe emergence from the
visit when the shutters came down there in mid-March; a current crisis.
rather costly but necessary move to avoid getting stuck in
the country and unable to get out. Since he mostly works Les Hewitt reports from Warrington that all is well with
from home, lockdown has not proven too traumatic; indeed, himself and his wife Anne: ‘We’ve been making good use of
a bit of a boon in getting stuff written. video technology (Zoom) to have regular chats with our
children. I also use Zoom to attend two Tai Chi classes a
Peter Moizer reports: ‘On 31 December 2019, I stood down week from my study. Despite the occasional technical hitch
as Executive Dean of Leeds University Business School and and screen freezing, it works well.
178
‘One of the highlights of the week is a visit to the “virtual genre, the action takes place in London, New York, Florence
Mertonians | 1970-72
pub” via video on a Friday night to replace my visit to the – and a thinly disguised Merton College. There is a copy in
real pub. My friends and I get a can or two and a bag of the College Library and it is also available at Blackwell’s and
crisps in our respective houses. We drink beer and talk on Amazon (just in case I’ve piqued your curiosity!)’ I’m a
rubbish just like a regular Friday night at the pub! mystery fan myself and will surely check out Simon’s book.
‘We’ve managed to maintain our regular exercise – a
selection from run, walk and cycle. As restrictions were 1972
relaxed this week, it was nice to go a little further afield for
a run. A refreshing change of scene.’ Year Representative: Mark Signy
Tel: 07710 349949 Email: [email protected]
An international perspective of the crisis is provided by
Tony Woodruff: ‘Here in British Columbia we have escaped What a strange and terrible end to the year. I hope everyone
Covid pretty well, thanks to an experienced Chief Medical is managing to keep safe and well.
Officer who has battle scars from SARS and Ebola epidemics.
Quick action, focus on distancing, protecting healthcare I attended the memorial for our former Warden, Sir Rex
workers, prisons and care homes right away, lots of detailed, Richards, in February, just before the lockdown. I’m pleased
consistent communication. Result – few deaths. Pre Covid, to report it was a lovely meeting and did Rex’s memory
the most interesting part of my year was a visit to Rwanda proud. The main (terrific) eulogy was given by Philip Waller,
last October. It’s a country that has fascinated me for a who you will recall as the (massively over-lenient) Principal
long time. It had a well-developed, complex feudal society of the Postmasters during our time at Merton (and who I
before Europeans started messing around, but alas much recall fined Steve Cole and me very unfairly for the minimal
tragic history since then. The genocide museum in Kigali offence of breaking his office window with a snowball – in
is chilling and superb, and surprisingly unbiased politically.’ retrospect, we all three thought it was £5 well spent).
Tony expresses the belief that Rwanda, Uganda and Africa as
a whole appear to be coping with Covid well. I have (eventually) had some news from several old friends
some of whom, I’m delighted to say, are contacting us for
Very best wishes to you all. the first time (some are from last year when we somehow
missed the deadline).
1971 Paul Weindling (from last year): Since 1998 Paul has been
Research Professor in History of Medicine at Oxford Brookes
Year Representative: Allin Cottrell
University. In 2016-17 he was Senior Fellow of the Vienna
Email: [email protected] Wiesenthal Institute, and in 2018 Fellow of the City of Vienna
at the International Research Centre for Cultural Studies,
This year I’ve heard from Simon Jones (classicist 1971-75, Vienna. Honours include membership of the German National
who later became a solicitor, ‘for his sins’). I’ll let him tell his Academy of Sciences Leopoldina since December 2014, and
exciting news in his own words. he is an honorary member of the German Association for
Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. From 2015,
‘Having retired, I turned my hand to writing fiction and I he has held an Anneliese Maier Research Award awarded by
thought you might like to note that I have just completed a the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Grants include 1.5
debut novel entitled Transit of Mercury (published by Matador million euros from the Max Planck Society to research the life
in January). A supernatural mystery in the magical realism
179
histories of brain research victims from the Nazi period and its not barrage). That was real accounting. It was a shock
post-war use of specimens. He is President of a Commission having to run a full set of accounts, which I had only ever
of the University of Strasbourg to research the history done as a brief training exercise in an auditing firm 30 years
of the Medical Faculty of the Reich University Straßburg. previously. My vague recollection from chemistry degree
Since 2003 he has been on the Council of Management and days did, however, come in handy when I created surprise
Trustee of CARA (Council for At-Risk Academics). Recent by knowing what a phthalate is – we were paying for tests
books include John W. Thompson, Psychiatrist in the Shadow on imported PVC balloons.
of the Holocaust (2010), and Victims and Survivors of Nazi
Human Experiments: Science and Suffering in the Holocaust ‘In 2015, annoyed by seeing our village and district damaged
(2014). Among several recent edited volumes is: From Clinic by bad housing developments, I stood for election as a
to Concentration Camp: Reassessing Nazi Medical and Racial district councillor. In this year’s elections our local Residents
Research, 1933-1945 (Routledge). for Uttlesford party swept the Conservatives entirely out
of power in a landslide and we are now, as far as I know,
John Millard (from last year) writes: ‘Time in retirement the only local residents’ group in the country to be in
moves very quickly. It’s difficult to believe that I retired (from full charge of a council. Like most councils it is run on a
paid work!) over two years ago. Time is spent doing a variety cabinet system, and I’m the cabinet member for Finance and
of things I didn’t do when working. Such as spending time Budgets. Fortunately the officers look after the detail, but it
with grandchildren (four), parents (two), performing music is another world!
(two – choir and orchestra), being a treasurer/trustee of
charities (two), going on holiday (several). So “retired” actually means still doing lots of things but not
getting paid very much!’
‘When I retired people asked me if we were going on any
sort of retirement jaunt. The answer then was “no”; but Michael Lewis, after 12 years as Bishop of the Diocese of
after a number of years in retirement (two) we went to Cyprus and the Gulf covering all Gulf and Arabian countries
New Zealand and Australia to visit relatives and explore. The and Iraq as well as Cyprus, also in 2019 became Archbishop
holiday of a lifetime – the world is a wonderful, amazing, and and Primate of the even wider Province of Jerusalem and
beautiful, place. We said it was a one-off but I wonder if it the Middle East, which stretches from Iran through Aden
will be. A return is a tempting prospect, so in a year (or two) to Somalia in the south and Algeria in the west. Serious
I might report a visit (number two).’ travelling and serious headaches practical and political, to be
resumed after universal lockdown. His wife Julia mostly and
Neil Hargreaves (from last year) writes: ‘I’m retired and live wisely stays put in the Troodos Hills.
in the village of Newport in north Essex. Although I qualified
as a chartered accountant I mostly didn’t do real accounting, Mark Anness writes: ‘Retirement (from a career in computer
having spent 26 years at insurance and reinsurance brokers programming/development) continues to be busy with
in the City and Norwich. After qualifying, Sally and I lived in church and commitments for the charity Myra’s Wells (www.
Nairobi for a while, where I worked for Deloitte, and which is myraswells.org). In connection with this, I was able to spend
where our son Alistair was born. His wife is from Kenya. They a week in Burkina Faso again in January visiting places
were born in the same hospital and their birth certificates where wells have been drilled recently. Over the year 2019,
were signed by the same person, but they actually met in 29 new wells were provided, but with the security situation
Sheffield. Our two daughters were born in London. deteriorating, we were restricted in which ones we could visit.
Visits to Burkina Faso always bring real joy, seeing what a
‘After kindly being paid off by my long-term employer in the blessing clean water brings to needy people. Having cycled
City in the middle of the 2008 recession, I worked briefly for across the Pyrenees just over two years ago, cycling has
a balloon manufacturer in Bishop Stortford (party balloons become restricted. Retirement is too busy to fit everything in.’
180
Peter Cowdy writes: ‘In our last year some of us were cruelly medronho, olives, oranges and avocado. It is a simple life
Mertonians | 1972
rude and critical of those sensible students who had applied and, for many, a hard rural life, but generally worn with a
to become chartered accountants. John Cleese said that smile and humility.
even a career as a bank manager was more exciting. How
chastened I felt to find myself doing just the same thing (i.e. ‘I like the Portuguese people. I enjoy the milder winter climate
applying to train) only eight years later. I went in to my then and the almost constant breeze and heat of summer. After
office, resignation letter in my pocket, only to be called up commuting from France since 2017, last year was spent
to the top floor (the one with the carpets) to be offered a entirely in Portugal. I am still involved in hospitality, but this
position working for a Chief Ohiwerri in Lagos. In response, time renovating and renting either a rural house or a coastal
I handed in my letter and went on gardening leave. Good apartment to holidaymakers. Later this year a new project
choice, as the summer weather in Shropshire was idyllic that will be finished in the charming nearby town of Tavira. It’s a
year. Then in August I started my accountancy training with difficult year, of course, for the hospitality business but guests
an 85% cut in pay! Accountancy wasn’t actually that bad. I will return next year. I like being ensconced in Portuguese life,
never thought I would say so. I did my best to work only for away from the expat enclaves. Speaking French has given
interesting people, and it turned out that most people are. way to speaking Portuguese. If I had known I would become
I was lucky to specialise in historic estates, preferably with an Iberian, I would have been much more attentive at Merton
castles. As I had given up history as a subject at the age of to the knowledge Dr Roger Highfield could have shared with
12 this was a revelation and I’ve since been trying to make me, given his passion for Spain.
up for lost time.
‘Isolation has not been difficult here. My vegetables and
‘I’m just coming to the end of my eight-year term as plants appreciate the extra attention. For anyone interested
a governor at Harper Adams University. This has been you can find me on Facebook, Instagram and my website
an amazing time to be associated with Shropshire’s only www.goalgarveholiday.com (for Portugal) and www.
university. This year we are the Sunday Times Modern kevinsaundersphotography.com (for photography).’
University of the Year. You may have heard of the Hands
Free Farm project for sustainable food, and this autumn we Azim Lakhani is now in his fourth year as Diplomatic
admit the first students to the new veterinary school, run Representative in Kenya for the Aga Khan Development
jointly with Keele. Network (AKDN). AKDN works in over 30 countries,
predominantly in Asia and Africa, to help create conditions
For anyone who might remember us, Penny and I have three and opportunities to engender self-reliance and improve
daughters: a physiotherapist, a doctor and a food marketing the quality of life of people in need. Alongside representing
analyst (spot the biochemistry connection).’ AKDN, Azim has a role in coordinating its activities covering
health, education, economic development, finance, industry,
Kevin Saunders writes: ‘It’s been a chequered life, which hospitality, media, environment and culture. Present in Kenya
took me from London to Atlanta as a lawyer, followed by for over 100 years, it has 175 institutions and programmes,
a photography career, followed by hospitality and a return directly employing over 16,000 people.
to Europe via 14 years in France. 2020 finds me living in the
Eastern Algarve of Portugal, in a small hamlet in the hills In March 2020, Azim coordinated a roundtable meeting
above Fuseta. It’s the right place for me at this time of my in Nairobi, bringing together a number of international
life. My 13 years of running a small hotel and restaurant in and national organisations to discuss environment and
France ended last year. The land is lovely. The Ria Formosa climate change issues. The meeting was presided by Prince
National Park is quite beautiful, with endless deserted barrier Rahim, son of His Highness the Aga Khan. AKDN is going
islands, flamingos, seahorses and a multitude of birds. The to follow this up by making a further contribution towards
farmers have smallholding crops of alfarroba [carob], cork, a government target to restore forest cover in Kenya to
181
10%. AKDN has already planted 11 million trees and hopes Heartfelt thanks to all those who have contacted me with
to create a nursery of indigenous tree seedlings as well as updates. It’s always good to hear from you, but never more
restore a named forest. so than this year.
John Heaton writes: ‘My appointment as the President Graham Andrews reports that most of the seven members
of the ICSA (Institute of Chartered Secretaries and of the 1973 Maths & Medics group were meeting up regularly
Administrators) in the British Isles and Ireland should have until the lockdown; the last beer and curry evening being
lasted two years but was extended because the institute on 7 January. Both medics are now retired, though David
(now renamed the Chartered Governance Institute) Melville continues some teaching and consulting work. John
switched CEOs a year ago and I provided some continuity. Myatt has now recently retired from his role as consultant
As you can imagine, the last few months have generated at Royal Bournemouth General. All enjoyed John and Suzie’s
huge challenges for professional bodies so the CEO and I 40th wedding anniversary bash in Bournemouth last
have been speaking regularly. It has been a very rewarding September with the special appearance of ABBA (okay, it
period, with an increased focus on good governance was a tribute band).
across all sectors and types of organisations seeing a rise
in profile and relevance. I shall hand over to my successor The mathematicians, however, are working (and about time
at the end of July but will continue to be involved there too, some readers may be saying). Rob Lewis is trying to
and, having been invited to become a vice-president of the finish writing his PhD thesis on extremal circulant graphs (i.e.
global institute, will continue to engage with governance filling gaps in the analysis that he thought were complete)
professionals around the world. Not something I would and otherwise he has been going out for an ‘exercise’
have expected to be involved with ten years ago, but it run most days and also playing in a weekly virtual bridge
keeps the mental cogs ticking over in a worthwhile way. As session. Bill Souster was working in the City as a consultant
Mark knows, living close to the sea and the South Downs, actuary with weekends spent at his home in South Wales,
makes exercising during lockdown a real pleasure. On the though obviously such international travel between the
other end of the scale a group of the classes of 71/72 have two countries is now banned. Roger Urwin is working for
been meeting for Zoom cocktails each Tuesday evening: pension and sovereign wealth funds in Europe, USA, Australia
Andy Trotter, David Riddiford, Colin Carmichael, Robin and New Zealand for Willis Towers Watson and enjoying a
Pellow, Patrick Francis, Harry Bush (1971) and Tony Boote growing family now numbering 18 spread out across the UK,
(1971) from Montana.’ China and Singapore. Richard Veryard is now working for
Inmarsat as a data architect and is writing a book on data
As always, it’s infinitely fascinating what people we drank strategy. Graham himself is working on various projects,
with during those interminable lazy days of summer in the mainly as before in the oil and gas and mining industries,
1970s have achieved. In these weird days more than ever, it’s but is now turning green and working on the financing of
great to hear from everyone: Please keep the news coming: several renewable energy and conservation projects.
it’s welcome all year long.
No longer in the classroom during the coronavirus
I hope you all have a wonderful healthy post-Covid autumn lockdown, John Bowers is still on the active faculty at
and 2021. University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and launched his seventh
and most attention-grabbing book at the end of last year.
Based on his discovery of an unpublished, unknown volume
1973 by the author of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien’s Lost Chaucer
was published by Oxford University Press. It was featured
Year Representative: Gary Backler in the display window of the Press’s bookshoppe on High
Tel: 07939 074462 Email: [email protected] Street, and received a full-page review in the TLS. John’s
182
future plans for a follow-up volume called for a research everyone else, this year’s travel plans have been cancelled
Mertonians | 1972-73
visit in Oxford during summer 2020 as a Merton Visiting anyway. A happy side-effect of the trips to Belper is that Phil
Scholar, but the epidemic has put a temporary (we hope) has resumed playing bridge on a regular basis, and this is
end to those plans. He anticipates that conducting research continuing via online options. His early resolution to contact
remotely over the next two years will become a significant old friends more regularly was fairly successful and with the
challenge for himself and other scholars. limitations of the lockdown has been given an extra boost.
The isolation-related de-cluttering has also revealed a few
Andrew Chowns retired last month as CEO of Directors items of College memorabilia that have reminded him of the
UK (the professional body for film and television directors) mid-70s and the final shaping of his formal education.
and is now the chair of trustees of its charity, the Directors
Charitable Foundation. His many fans will be glad to learn Simon Pallet reports that having retired from Newcastle
that he is still playing the saxophone. University on 31 July 2019, he is now an Emeritus Professor.
Since retirement, he has been busy with his trustee/director
While acknowledging that in the scheme of things he is very roles in the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne,
fortunate, Peter Ghosh expresses some frustration at being Joseph Cowen Lifelong Learning Centre and a-n, the Artists’
confined to online material for his researches during the Information Company, all of which have become rather more
lockdown, and looks forward to a time when he will be able challenging in the past few weeks because of the impact
to access his preferred sources freely. of coronavirus on their finances. He is missing his normal
cultural fix of theatre, concerts, adult education classes and
choral singing, but is enhancing his digital skills so as to be
able to access what is available online. He became a first-
time grandparent in May, although it may be some time
before he can meet the baby in person depending on when
restrictions are eased.
183
Steve Williams formally retired from Manchester University has still not happened as we reach June. We did not expect
in July 2018, but still remains active in scientific research by to be seeing the next cycle of fireflies, 17-year cicadas or,
collaborating with other researchers who are still salary-men heaven forbid, the 2020 hurricane season. But here we are
and -women. He is able to pursue his interests in measuring and thankful for perfect days like today when we climbed
brain chemicals in people using magnetic resonance Hanging Rock in North Carolina to gaze out under clear
spectroscopy (pioneered by Merton’s George Radda, among blue skies over the folds of hills and mountains towards the
others, in the late 1970s/early ‘80s) without having to take Blue Ridge and Appalachians. By the time Postmaster goes to
on any of the other responsibilities of a senior academic! press I hope that we will have made it back home to the UK.
This has led to him making a number of visits to Oxford to
work with colleagues in Warden Irene Tracey’s department. As always I am indebted to Nick Allard for his own news
These trips are unfortunately on hold due to coronavirus, and that of several North American Mertonians. He writes:
but he is looking forward to resuming his Oxford trips as ‘On 3 May 2020 the 1974 Rhodes Scholars held a virtual class
soon as possible. reunion that Mertonians Kyle, Hamer, MacIver, Mitchell
and yours truly attended. During the call Rhodes Warden
Having already been self-isolating and socially distancing for Kiss noted how the importance of personal protective
some six decades, Gary Backler is keeping calm and carrying equipment has soared during the pandemic. Speaking for our
on. Lockdown has enabled him finally to start a much- Merton group I said we always suspected that there would
postponed family history project, and he is very grateful to be some use and demand for PPE. In that vein, we shared
Bob Burton for his expertise and generous practical support unforgettable memories of our iconic Philosophy tutor John
of his research. Lucas who had passed away only days before. Mr Lucas
was much more impressed with Pete Kyle, Rob Mitchell,
I hope all 1973 Mertonians are managing to cope with the the late Peter McCarthy, Crispin Drummond, Andrew
impacts of Covid-19 on themselves and their families, and I Chowns and Nick Hollins than me. I reminded them that he
wish you all well. I look forward to receiving news from you, once said that I not only knew nothing but also suspected
especially from those who haven’t yet been in touch, at any nothing about Philosophy. Once not too long ago I ran into
time of the year. him in the College with my kids in tow. When I gushed, “Mr
Lucas, you cannot imagine how to this day how much what
we discussed long ago often comes to mind.” He replied, “Mr
1974 Allard, for the first time you are correct”. Ouch! My kids were
not impressed.’
Year Representative: Mike Hawkins
Tel: 001 252 4318 Nick continues, ‘Several of my planned trips to Merton have
Email: [email protected] been cancelled but I was fortunate to represent the Merton
College Charitable Corporation (MC3) at the incredible
At the time of writing this account of your news and events, installation ceremony of our 51st Warden, Professor
the world is beginning to ‘open up’ after several weeks, for Irene Tracey (1985). It was a rare privilege to observe her
many, of enforced isolation from friends and neighbours, traditional loud knocks to open the locked College door, her
if not always from close family. While each of you has shaking hands with every gowned Fellow on the cusp of the
been touched by the coronavirus to varying degrees and entrance to Front Quad, the spectacular stylised installation
in different ways, a common theme has been a sudden ceremony in the Chapel using the words of every one of her
and complete change of plans or, at the very least, a 50 predecessors, and a raucously fun celebratory lunch in
postponement until next year. For my wife Sara and me, Hall. The whole was made more poignant by the deserved
our planned return to the UK after ten years in the United gesture of the College flag flying overhead at half-mast in
States was beautifully ahead of schedule in February but memory of the late John Kirby. John had been the long-
184
serving President of MC3. Since then it has been asked of As usual Neil Downie has been busily helping others
Mertonians | 1973-74
me, as all too often heard on the streets in Brooklyn, to despite this year’s particular circumstances. He writes, ‘The
“assume the position”. I will try my best.’ pandemic has affected both me and my wife Diane hugely
and personally. Tragically, my beautiful sister Ann Heuberger
Paul Bate tells me that ‘I cannot bring myself to stop died from Covid-19. Her funeral had to be a small and sad
working and in my spare time have become a tennis fanatic. affair, so unlike her exciting life in the fashion world of
I am just brushing up on my chemistry because I have to Swinging Sixties London, then across Africa and in Brussels
help my daughter with her A-level studies. Physics and politics using her many languages.’
maths, no problem, but the chemistry is all new to me. She
had the amazing opportunity to do a summer project at ‘I have been doing pieces for Engineering & Technology
Oxford Physics, under Professor Ian Shipsey last summer. As magazine, in particular the “Lockdown Challenges”, where
for staying healthy, my wife Nicola was a health minister in I write fun science things to do for youngsters and their
the government until February, when she chose to step parents locked down at home with the pandemic. The photo
down. So we have been acutely aware of the risks of shows me with the Very Remote Control, where youngsters
coronavirus and the need to be careful. So far we have been can take over the control of TVs and other gadgets from
lucky but I know a few victims and near-casualties. This is 150m away. Social distancing for TV sets!
not a disease to be treated lightly.’
185
already built their own pre-prototype so that they can test Life Course and Medical Sciences. I’m also Director of the
NPV with healthy volunteers and understand all the issues.’ Liverpool Magnetic Resonance Imaging Centre, a university
research facility with the satisfying acronym LiMRIC.’
In his own words David Hamer has spent the last year
in happy retirement from his law practice, enjoying life Peter Kyle is another Mertonian with anecdotes of the late
with his wife Jane, their two daughters and their young Fellow John Lucas. He writes: ‘John Lucas was one of my all-
families, who live nearby in Toronto. Travel has taken Jane time favourite professors. He was very English. I remember my
and David to Mexico and the North Shore of Lake Superior first tutorial with him. “You are an American”, he said. “Let me
for photography workshops, to Washington for the 2019 make the room warmer.” Mr Lucas managed to increase the
Merton North American Reunion, to Albania with an Oxford/ temperature from about 50 degrees to a toasty 52 degrees F.’
Cambridge group to tour ancient ruins, and to Rome and
Sicily for more of the same just before the virus struck. In reflecting on the current situation surrounding the
David has finally started to read his complete set of the pandemic, Rob Mitchell writes: ‘There are opportunities in
Oxford History of England acquired in Oxford over 45 years times such as this to appreciate graces, large and small. For
ago. He is beginning with the earlier Tudors, a subject he me, these include sharing life with Grayce and having our
largely managed to do without while reading for Schools children and grandchildren close by. Emily joined Grayce
in Modern History back in those days. He also spends far and me for three weeks in Italy in September, a marvelous
too much time on Twitter, keeping Canada’s conservatives in visit that makes watching what’s happening now there even
their rightful place, while promoting the Liberals under Prime more painful. A January Board retreat in Austin, which gave
Minister Justin Trudeau. us a chance to visit the LBJ Library, and a visit to my sister
in North Carolina with Carrie and the kids in February, loom
Guy Johnson was one of those who offered ‘to return to larger as great memories when future travel plans have had
the medical workforce, five years since retirement’, an offer to be scrubbed.’
that, ‘has, so far, not been taken up by the Scottish NHS.
When we were still allowed to travel, last year, I had very It was good to hear from Clive Ruggles who contacted me
enjoyable meetings in London with Crispin Southgate and after the publication of the 2019 Postmaster. ‘I continue to
Tom Millest (1975), whom I hadn’t seen for many years.’ Guy be busier than ever in retirement, not only on academic and
shares the view that the current crisis was indeed predicted, consultancy projects but also running the Alice Ruggles Trust,
but that climate change remains a far greater threat. ‘Let which I set up together with my family following the murder
us hope that we can learn from our new-found ability to of our younger daughter Alice in 2016. The Trust aims to raise
act quickly, reduce CO2 emissions and enjoy breathable city awareness of the dangers of coercive control and stalking and
air at last and embody some of these changes in whatever my wife, Sue, and I spend a lot of time these days travelling
future we make for ourselves. But we must not forget the around the country telling Alice’s story at training and CPD
other big threat to humankind – that from nuclear weapons sessions for the police, CPS and judiciary as well as social,
and nuclear war. The US withdrawal from one agreement health and probation services. When we’re not doing that
after another is deeply worrying but, on the plus side, the we’re focusing on raising awareness among the young adults
Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is receiving of the future: some of our PSHE-accredited lesson materials
new ratifications at the UN, even during the pandemic, and are already being used across the country and our “UnFollow
should become international law by 2021.’ Me” video, produced by Broadly UK, has been watched by
more than a million young people via social media as well as
Graham Kemp is ‘soldiering on at the University of being shown in schools. Our ultimate goal is to fundamentally
Liverpool, working entirely from home at the moment. change perceptions so that stalking is instantly recognised
Following a restructure I’m now Head of the Department by both professionals and the public at large as the seriously
of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science in the Institute of distressing and potentially highly dangerous crime that it is.
186
‘In some ways I feel I’ve become a student again: our efforts
Mertonians | 1974-75
to bring about better integration between academic research 1975
and real-world practice has brought me into contact with
academic fields that were completely new to me, such as Year Representative: Robert Peberdy
criminology and forensic psychology. We held our first Tel: 01865 798107 Email: [email protected]
Trust conference in 2019 at my university in Leicester, In 2019-20 Merton suffered the deaths of three ‘giants’ who
which brought together a wide range of practitioners and in different ways left strong impressions on 1975 Mertonians,
academics and, from the feedback, proved inspirational for namely Sir Rex Richards, John Lucas and Barney Henderson.
all involved. There has been real progress in recent years Sir Rex is remembered as a hospitable Warden who concealed
in tackling stalking but the problem is huge and global and eminence behind outward modesty. John Lucas towered
there is so much more for all of us to do. intellectually and physically over undergraduates, although
his arguments against the admission of women (e.g., that it
‘When I’m not working for the charity I’m still doing some would cause men’s rowing to deteriorate) failed to convince
archaeoastronomy. My book Heiau, ‘Āina, Lani (Temples,
Land and Sky) on Hawaiian temples, written with Polynesian a majority. Simon Babbs, who is relatively short, remembers
archaeologist Pat Kirch, was published by the University of meeting Mr Lucas outside Rose Lane one rainy Sunday evening
Hawai‘i Press in June 2019 and I am currently writing a guide as they were both going to chapel. Mr Lucas accepted an
on Stonehenge astronomy with a colleague from Historic offer to share Simon’s umbrella but did not remove his mortar
England. On the heritage side, 2019 brought the first tangible board. The two then paraded awkwardly along the length of
products of UNESCO’s Astronomy and World Heritage the College, with Simon straining to hold the umbrella high
Thematic Initiative, which I have been coordinating on behalf enough so as not to displace the mortar board. ‘We must
of the International Astronomical Union for the last ten have made a splendidly ridiculous sight’, he recalls. Stephen
years. These are World Heritage List inscriptions for Jodrell Gardiner remembers Mr Lucas’s lusty singing in chapel,
Bank Observatory as well as a cultural landscape containing especially the aplomb with which he hit high notes. Lt.-Col.
a number of important ancient astronomical sites in Gran Henderson, on arriving as Domestic Bursar in 1976, sought to
Canaria, Spain. I’m confidently predicting more to follow! toughen up Merton’s then male junior members with quasi-
military initiatives. Most famously he introduced military-grade
‘In our copious free time Sue and I continue piecing together hard toilet paper, provoking howls of protest which eventually
segments of our long-term ambition to walk from Land’s achieved some reinstatement of softer paper. He also tagged
End to John O’Groats, albeit not sequentially or to any college kettles for fear they were disappearing (an episode
particular deadline. Vital sections of the South West Coast lampooned in a college review). Undergraduates also witnessed
Path and Great Glen Way are scheduled for completion in the bursar’s demonstrations of fire-escape equipment which
early 2020. All of which leads to one inevitable conclusion: had been installed on his initiative. An attempt to evacuate
the back garden is still a mess!’ from a Mob Quad room was foiled by his inability to squeeze
through a mullioned window; and when he descended by
If you read and enjoy this update but haven’t thought to rope from one of the College’s highest windows he ended
contribute, I normally send out a request for news by email up six feet short of the ground. Soon after the colonel’s
in April or May. If you didn’t receive the reminder this year it arrival a shady ex-squaddie also joined the College staff as
may be because the College does not have an email address a maintenance man. Nicknamed ‘Jock’ by undergraduates, he
for you. No matter, please send me your news at any time: it inevitably prompted much speculative gossip.
doesn’t need to wait until next spring.
For many 1975 Mertonians, life in the last year was starkly
Andre Gren published The Grimy 1800s: Waste, Sewage, and changed by the coronavirus emergency. In 2019 Arif Ahsan
Sanitation in Nineteenth-Century Britain in October 2019.
187
ventured to the Galápagos Islands and the stunning Inca by the BBC in 1924 of Beatrice Harrison playing the cello
citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru (roughly contemporaneous accompanied by a nightingale. He has almost completed the
with Merton’s bell-tower). But from March 2020, back in transcription into braille of The Study of Orchestration by
Nottingham, his routine cardiac surgery was cancelled so Samuel Adler, which extends to around 1,000 pages. Dorian
he could concentrate on emergencies and Covid-19 patients. Gerhold has added another magnificent publication to his
Simon Babbs, who with his wife Sue has undertaken impressive oeuvre of historical writings, namely London
voluntary work in Madagascar, became concerned about Bridge and its Houses, c.1209-1761 (published by the London
the emergency’s impact on the country’s poor population, Topographical Society). It reconstructs, in amazing detail,
particularly the loss of income from tourism. In early 2020 the properties on the bridge until the mid-eighteenth
Joseph Bacal, son of Glenn Bacal, visited the grave of his century, and includes numerous contemporary illustrations
father’s former Merton tutor Sir Martin Gilbert (Fellow as well as modern reconstructions. It was launched on
1962-2015) near Jerusalem. Back in Arizona, Glenn’s law firm Monday 8 July 2019 with a party at the church of St Magnus
was honoured to provide the USA chapter for the ‘Chambers the Martyr which stands near the former north end of the
2020 Global Practice Guide’ on Trade Marks, and in January bridge. At Eton College John Harrison, who was President of
2020 it celebrated its tenth anniversary. Soon afterwards, the Oxford Union in 1978, has appropriately been appointed
however, the staff were required to transfer most of their Master-in-Charge of Debating. Success has followed: an
work to home because of the health emergency, and Glenn Eton team won the Cambridge Union Schools’ Debating
feared that it might prove hard to combat the virus in ‘the Competition and two teams reached the final of the Oxford
independent west’ of the USA. Union Competition, only for it to be cancelled because of
the emergency. Eton also had to be closed physically, though
John Claughton, former Chief Master of King Edward’s John Harrison then found himself enjoying online teaching
School, Birmingham, has written Transforming Young Lives: via ‘Zoom’.
Fundraising for Bursaries for the Independent Schools
Council (published in January 2020). In September 2019 he The health emergency also forced the closure of St Anne’s
was greatly saddened by the death of his close Mertonian Church, Wandsworth, where Revd Dr Gordon Jeanes is the
friend Sir Christopher Dobson (Senior Scholar 1971-3, JRF vicar. But its community quickly organised support for the
1973-6). In September 2019 Alan Dolton belatedly visited elderly, sick and others. Special prayers were issued, and
Venice for the first time, taking advantage of an expedition to also a service for people who were prevented from attending
nearby Jesolo to compete in the European Masters Athletics a funeral. Meanwhile work progressed on a new crèche/
Championships (a meeting for older athletes). The 2020 meeting room and other facilities. Back in summer 2019 Ed
‘lockdown’ then curtailed his athletics coaching and ‘physio’ Martley experienced a new high-point in golfing when he
work in Croydon. Ian Doolittle has completed an edition of played at the Bull Bay course on Anglesey. Opened in 1913 and
some of the decrees issued by the London ‘Fire Court’, the situated by the coast, it offers spectacular sea and mountain
court established by Parliament after the Great Fire of London views. In 2020 the health policy research unit directed by
(1666) to resolve disputes, or record agreements, between Professor Nicholas Mays of the London School of Hygiene
landlords and tenants. William Ford visited Cambodia in late and Tropical Medicine was redirected into studying the impact
2019, but travel and golfing (including activity by the Merton of the Covid-19 pandemic on the English population and on
Golf Society) were then halted by the emergency. Meanwhile its health and care systems, including the public’s response
he has updated the history of the London Iron and Steel Golf to the ‘contact tracing smart-phone app’. He has also
Society to mark its centenary in 2020. published a fourth edition of Qualitative Research in Health
Care, of which he is co-editor with Catherine Pope of Oxford
During 2019 musician Stephen Gardiner was delighted to University. Over in Florida, Professor Ed Myers has had to
stumble across nightingales at a remote spot in Romney convert his undergraduate course for remote teaching, and
Marsh. They reminded him of the famous recording made also had to cancel a planned visit to (of all places) Wuhan.
188
Robert Peberdy first encountered the Merton Fellow Philip in Oxford, where he prepared for ordained ministry in the
Mertonians | 1975-76
Waller in December 1974 when he was interviewed in the early 1970s. His recent publications include New Testament
Breakfast Room on his entrance-examination papers. (He Perspectives, three volumes of collected essays, and in 2020
remembers being grilled about the 1909 ‘People’s Budget’.) the Association of American Publishers awarded a category
Their names have now been yoked for eternity as co- prize to his book History and Eschatology: Jesus and the
editors of A Dictionary of British and Irish History, which was Promise of Natural Theology (2019).
published by Wiley Blackwell in September 2020. Members
of the Merton history school were recruited for the project.
Its academic advisers include: James G. Clark (Lecturer 1976
1995-6), Professor Martin Millett (1977), Professor Andrew
Pettegree (1976), Dr J.S. Rowett (1969), and Andrew White Year Representative: John Gardner
(1986). Dr Jason Tomes (1985) is a major contributor, and Email: [email protected]
other contributors include: James Clark, Susan Skedd
(1988), Ann Swailes (1984) and Matthew Vickers (1990). Just when you thought it was over, and we could shake
hands again. The Brexit thing, I mean. As friends resumed
Crispin Poyser, one of the Mertonians at the House of civilities after four years of civil war, it all kicked off again
Commons, has contributed to the new (25th) edition of with similar formations of hard and soft zealots arguing
Erskine May’s Parliamentary Practice and Procedure. In what’s best. We were either giving up our ancient freedoms
spring 2020 he was a member of the team that enabled and cowering timidly indoors, or staying sensibly at home.
the Commons to operate in ‘hybrid’ form (part ‘virtual’, So, as Bob Cotton suggests, ‘We’ve all had enough of it.
part physical) during the coronavirus lockdown. Despite its Let’s talk about something else’. Here goes.
reputation for resisting change, the Commons was in advance
of other national Parliaments in making adaptations for the While lockdown meant for many of us a comfortable
emergency. Professor David Salter has expanded his work diet of banana bread recipes and Zoom yoga, some were
with Coptic Christians in Egypt by starting a project ‘to assist more ambitious. For Ian McVeigh, now retired from fund
learning-disabled young people in the Luxor area’. Products management, it meant catching up on his reading. A big fan
from the scheme are being displayed at the local Hilton of the Universal Short Title Catalogue, which brings together
Hotel, though when David visited the project in January 2020 information on every known book printed in Europe up to
he stayed ‘as usual … in a local mud-brick village’. 1650, he’ll need a while to get through its 1,500,000 listings
and digital editions. The USTC is an astonishing project to
Neil Smith continues to work for the defence and aerospace preserve the world’s rarest books, run by Andrew Pettegree,
company Thales. Recent projects have included a noise survey Professor of History at the University of St Andrews.
of Oxford Airport. He is also a regular attender at Theoretical
Physics days in Oxford, which he considers to be ‘uniformly The normally energetic are getting itchy feet. Laurence
good’. Down in south-east France, Graham Whittington has Ormerod only managed two of three ultra marathon runs
been elected to the council of his commune, Rochefort-en- (50+ miles) he had planned recently. With energy left to
Valdaine, for a customary term of six years. Chris Wickham, burn, rather than climbing the walls he has taken up rock
who was Merton’s young Lecturer in Medieval History in climbing. Jeremy Horton’s planned triathlons, a bike ride
1975-6, turned seventy in 2020. He remains hard at work from Land's End to John O’Groats and cycling trip to Mallorca
examining the economy of the Mediterranean in the long have been put back to 2021, but Adrian Schweitzer managed
eleventh century, especially the interaction of regional and to wag off from Tonbridge School to attend a ‘40 years on’
long-distance exchange. Bishop Tom Wright (JRF 1975-8), hockey varsity match reunion. Ian Coote, who opens the
also now in his seventies and the author of over eighty books, batting for the Gloucestershire over-60s team, has played
has been appointed a Senior Research Fellow of Wycliffe Hall no cricket this year. Looking forward to concluding a (part-
189
completed) walk of the South West Coast Path, enforced engagement with street furniture’. He advises start-ups
spare time activities include tinkering with his motorhome, targeting Generations X and Y, which means that Zoom calls
which saw service last year across the length of the Outer with his own generation sometimes need an interpreter. FR.
Hebrides from Barra, through South and North Uist and on Hundo P! When not in pinstripes and Guccis he is a trustee
to the top of Lewis. of an Abbeyfield home for the elderly, helping to keep the
virus out and the residents in. Wife Fran (St Anne’s, 1976), a
director at the Medical Research Council, manages research
funding for the Covid response nationally. Charles Manby
also scrutinises spending like this, as a member of the
committee that reviews donations and research funding for
the University of Oxford. He became Chairman of Motability
this year, and was appointed MBE for services to medical
research and people with cancer, after chairing Cancer
Research UK’s campaign for the Francis Crick Institute.
John Gardner emigrated to New Zealand in February. Wife
Tracey, due to follow a few weeks later, is stuck in England
after NZ closed its border. Geoff Lee and wife Jane, a more
settled couple, are usually in France, with some wintertime
in Spain. They enjoy living at either end of the Via Augusta,
Simon Eyre on the island of Iona, off Mull banging paella pans from a Spanish balcony and planting
drought-resistant olives in France. Also looking forward to
Nearby, Mike Taylor’s daily routine since moving to a small a change of scenery is IT consultant Tony Brown, who
Scottish burgh reminds him of boarding school. The early has now retired and plans to cross Europe by train as soon
rising, porridge for breakfast, walks around the playing as he can.
fields to avoid runners in the streets, the lack of outings
and the ongoing academic work (another book on 19th- Others are happy to soldier on at work. Tristan Needham,
century fossil collectors is out soon). But the food is better, Professor of Mathematics at the University of San Francisco,
pheasant and apricot burgers being the current favourite. has a new book out this year, Visual Differential Geometry
Simon Eyre provides a photo taken on the island of Iona, off and Forms: A Mathematical Drama in Five Acts. Over on a
Mull. Some way from Eastbourne where he spent 30 years visit recently he stayed with Anthony Levy and managed a
as a GP and further still from Kenya and Uganda where he trip down memory lane, including an afternoon at Merton.
worked periodically in ‘resource-poor conditions’. A Fellow Charles Wookey at A Blueprint for Better Business and
of the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal Peter Truesdale at Corporate Citizenship continue to prick
College of Physicians, he is a trustee of a charity for orphans the conscience of big business. Serial watchdog Antony
in Uganda and author of three books so far: Surgeons of the Townsend’s portfolio now includes being an independent
Royal Navy in the First World War, Let the Fruit Grow: A General investigator of bullying and harassment in the House of
Practitioner’s Guide to the Holy Spirit and The Distinguished Commons. Richard Dendy, Professor of Physics at the
Service Medal: 1914-1938 –The First 25 Years. University of Warwick, has been elected to a second four-
year term as Chairman of the European Physical Society’s
You know it’s time to leave the boardroom when you laugh Plasma Physics Division. An obituary for his father-in-law,
out loud at the annual report. Neil Craggs, who invests Brian Carr (1943), is in this edition of Postmaster.
in small businesses, didn’t make it to the end of a pitch
recently by HelloLampPost, a company which ‘encourages Otherwise, for this year no news is good news.
190
Mertonians | 1976-79
1977 1978
Year Representative: Edmund Wright There is currently no Year Representative for 1978. Please
Email: [email protected] contact [email protected] if you are interested
in the position.
Graham Brown has stepped down as Principal of St Paul’s
University College at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Hugh Tyrwhitt-Drake has published a book about former
Oxford don CS Lewis, the fruit of nearly ten years’ work.
and has been researching and writing on indigenous It is entitled The Thought of CS Lewis and a preview may be
rights and on the theological problem of the ‘Fate of the seen online at www.amazon.co.uk/Thought-CS-Lewis-Hugh-
Canaanites’. His marriage of 43 years to Janet continues in Tyrwhitt-Drake-ebook/dp/B085XSNQ8T
good shape, although Graham’s idiosyncrasies have tested
her during the prolonged self-isolation due to Canada’s Martin Glenn left his role as CEO of the Football Association
Covid-19 social distancing requirements. in September 2019. In January 2020 he became Chairman of
the Football Foundation, a public private partnership which
Ashley Knowles has joined the board of trustees of Ditchling improves sports facilities in England.
Museum of Art + Craft (www.ditchlingmuseumartcraft.org.
uk). This is home to a nationally important collection of arts
and crafts, created by Eric Gill and many others during an 1979
explosion of artistic activity in the village from the first half
of the 20th century. Year Representative: Noel Privett
Email: [email protected]
Edmund Wright has signed up with the Open University
to begin a BSc in Mathematics later this year. He has long In last year’s Postmaster I noted that it was the tenth year
regretted giving up maths after O-level, in part because that I had been collating the contributions for the 1979
of timetable conflicts with those subjects more useful for matriculands and said that I was glad to report that ‘we have
his then priority of reading Modern History at Oxford, and managed to retain the feverish levels of excitement that have
wants to see how far he can take it. been manifest in all previous reports’. So thanks, Covid-19,
for lowering the stakes by bringing us the exhilaration that is
And finally, we have some small vignettes of the Covid-19 lockdown. This year, we have seven contributions, including
my own, down from ten last year, which may or may not be a
lockdown: from Adam Southwell, whose work with signal of lockdown ennui. Actually, for quite a while I only had
vulnerable children has moved online; from Tim Reading,
whose travel plans have been curtailed but whose garden is two contributions, from Jeremy Black and John Girkin. I’m
‘looking somewhat better prepared than in previous years’; glad we got more, not least because Black Girkin sounds like a
and from the Revd Eric Kemball, whose daily offering of Mass failed early draft of a Dumas novel. Our collective listlessness
is reflected, I think, by the inclusion of the word still by three
with nobody else physically present reminds him of the life of our contributors – still meaning without change, alas, and
of a medieval chantry priest. not tranquil. At least it wasn’t used in the sense of not moving.
And perhaps next year one of our cohort will inform me that
he has set up an apparatus for distillation, just to cheer us up.
191
Jeremy Black informs me that his new books (I assume
these are books he has written and not ordered from
Amazon) include ‘histories of Spain, Portugal, the English
press, fortifications, the causes of war, and strategy’.
Jamie Barr tells me that his planned long holiday and open Speak of the devil: David ‘of the Road’ King has, in his
house in Italy to mark his 25th wedding anniversary has, own words, ‘bucked the retirement trend and continues to
inevitably, been rescheduled for 2021. work for the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR),
although he is now in receipt of a Civil Service pension and
Jonathan Weaver is still enjoying the privilege of retirement is the proud owner of a 60+ Oyster card giving him free Tube
and the opportunity it affords to set his own agenda. He is travel, which is sadly not much use in the current lockdown’.
enjoying volunteering two days a week for church work, As part of his 60th birthday celebrations in February, David
even with the lockdown. Apart from that he spends what informs me that he subjected his work colleagues to a DJ set
time he can outdoors in Southern California or in his wood with what he regards as classic tracks from the past 50 or
shop making turned objects from local trees. You can see so years (playlist available on request). Despite being stuck
some at Instagram.com/weaverwoodart. at home, he is currently busy fighting coronavirus, as NIHR
is funding research into vaccines, diagnostic tests and new
treatments for COVID-19 (www.nihr.ac.uk/covid-19/).
192
The Kodachrome Book of the Dead
Mertonians | 1979-81
By Mark Fiddes 1980
Frozen in their Kodaks, Year Representative: Laurence Reed
our old folks wear slippers c/o The Development Office, Merton College, Oxford, OX1 4JD
to protect the carpet from their feet. Email: [email protected]
Colours leech. A tap drips.
Dinner lingers in another room.
A yucca erupts on the lawn. 1981
The lounge is an orgy
of fakery: leatherette armchairs, Year Representative: Graham Dwyer
plaster dogs, silk orchids, c/o Asian Development Bank, 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong
mock encyclopedias City, Manila, Philippines
and more fringe than necessary Tel: +63 999 999 4961 Email: [email protected]
on lamps, hairdos, lips, pelmets
plus random tassels This section was compiled as much of the world still faced
wherever there is dangling various stages of lockdown from the Covid-19 pandemic.
and come-hither velvet. By the time Postmaster is printed, hopefully the worst will
If a grandparent smiles be behind us. But never in our lifetimes has there been so
it is like a wolf had stopped by much uncertainty concerning the state of the world or how
for tea and a slice of Battenberg. the coming months will pan out. Under these traumatic
Parents vogue in folky circumstances and terrible disruption, I am grateful as ever
knitwear surrounded by cigarettes for the updates and encouragement from Mertonians of the
and the Sixties. class of 1981.
Is this how they will see us,
our early years tucked into albums For Mike Below, as for most people, Covid-19 has been a
balanced on the knee like babies? time of disruption. His daughter Claire was finishing her
Will pages crackle as laminates geography degree at Exeter and faced her finals online.
separate and we stare back red-eyed In the meantime, for his son Jonathan, whose A-levels
as hounds from blind pubs? were cancelled, there is a question mark over his start of
Whereas our last few decades university. ‘Other than that, life is really remarkably similar to
will click past in seconds on a screen, normal without the grind of a daily commute into London,’
backlit, cropped and cherry-bright. he writes. ‘For us the open question is really whether people
There they can find us, will truly want to return to commuting and how much is
between swipes, catching our breath, gained from meeting face to face.’
wiping the joy from our sleeves.
Meanwhile, David Clapp was saddened to hear of the death
[Reproduced with the permission of Mark Fiddes] of the legendary John Lucas. ‘I have much to be thankful for
from his three years of philosophical and moral guidance.
The Italian lockdown is bearable. I didn’t have a job anyway.
Time and space to muse?’ We can but hope so.
193
and is an honorary research fellow at Birkbeck College, ‘Mountaineering skiing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing
London, in the same field. He has been spending the and hiking were on the menu,’ she writes. ‘The landscapes
lockdown looking after six dependent motorcars (with are breathtaking. It turned out that our group arrived just
a combined age of 226 years) and 3.3 acres of woodland after a heavy fall of snow, followed by four whole days of
near Guildford, as well as examining PhD theses, reviewing sun. A successful trip all round, getting home just as the
and writing papers, and dabbling with programming. During corona nets were being thrown over borders and airport.’ I
the lockdown while tidying the house he unearthed a file am sure that was a last chance for a while for many to travel
from his final year at Merton when he was Secretary of in a relatively carefree manner.
the Oxford University Astronomical Society. ‘The society was
then trying to find a suitable location for an observatory As of time of writing, my old tutorial partner Nicki Paxman,
and the College very kindly agreed to this, shortly before I a senior producer with the BBC, reported she was working
left. It led to an observatory being built by the society on from her garden, except on studio recording days, when
Merton Playing Field, behind St Catz, which I gather is still they were still attempting to provide some upbeat arts-
there today and has been refurbished recently.’ related entertainment for the world via BBC Radio. ‘Travelling
with our show The Arts Hour on Tour is clearly off the table
for now,’ she writes. ‘I was due to go to China this year, then
in January that changed to Sweden and then they closed
too. My son is not now in the middle of taking A-levels
but playing a lot of international Monopoly online with his
friends overnight. Partner is cooking nice casseroles and my
weekend treat is Zoom parties with friends.’ I truly hope she
is back on the road with her show soon.
194
For Jesse Norman, the Covid-19 pandemic has put weighty along with his mother an Award of Merit in person from HRH
Mertonians | 1981
matters on his shoulders. He was made Financial Secretary Princess Sirindhorn for their respective donations for the
to the Treasury last May, responsible for HM Revenue and construction of the Bhumisiri Mangkhalanusorn Building at
Customs (HMRC) and for national infrastructure strategy. King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital (a charity-based
But, as he writes, ‘since March I and my colleagues have hospital) in Bangkok. Also before the Covid-19 lockdowns,
been almost totally absorbed by the overwhelming need from July to December 2019, he attended a senior business
to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. In particular, leaders’ course on sustainable economic development
that has meant turning HMRC around by 180 degrees in a (BhumiPhalang Class 5) at Chulalongkorn University –
matter of weeks, into an organisation that also now directly Thailand’s oldest university. ‘A major part of the course
supports the jobs and livelihoods of more than 10 million focused on the agricultural and environmental conservation
people, through the new furlough and self-employment and projects of the late revered Thai monarch, King Bhumibol
sickness pay and other schemes. But we are also very much Adulyadej, who was a big proponent of sustainable economic
focused on the future, and on what we can do to steer the development and environmental protection long before it
economy through this huge shock and on to recovery and became fashionable,’ Tira explains. ‘Indeed Kofi Annan
renewed growth.’ I am sure everyone would wish him and commented that some of the late king’s ideas had helped
his colleagues every success in this work. influence the thinking behind the United Nations sustainable
development goals.’
Like everyone else, Graham Tebb and his family have
experienced plenty of disruption, with his travel plans for
birdwatching put on hold and his elder daughter stranded in
Durham and facing problems in planning her year abroad,
which is supposed to be split between France and Russia.
The other daughter is about to finish school in Vienna and
is concerned that the traditional alcohol festival afterwards,
planned to take place on a beach in Croatia, may be
cancelled. Making the best of things, Graham had a virtual
dinner with Peter Phillips and his family. ‘We agreed a time
and set up our laptops on the dining tables, which enabled
us to chat away on Zoom almost as though we were in the
same room. The children had schoolwork to do and so came
and went but we did get to see them. Peter’s daughter was
supposed to be coming to stay with us for a few days in July:
maybe she’ll manage to reschedule.’
Meanwhile, closer to my neck of the woods in Thailand, Tira (centre) receives the graduation certificate and pin from the
President (left) and the former President of Chulalongkorn University
congratulations also go to Tira Wannamethee who received
195
As for me, as of time of writing I have been working from postponement of a number of work commitments. However,
home for 11 weeks in Makati, central business district of the some of Susanna’s hospital clown work has resumed,
capital of the Philippines, under one of the world’s longest performed in the gardens and on the balconies of hospitals
and most severe lockdowns (transgressors of the 8pm and old people’s homes. Susanna has been very gratified to
curfew are liable to be shot!). My organisation, the Asian experience the delighted reactions of people who have had no
Development Bank, has earmarked a $20 billion fighting outside contact for weeks. Theater Giessen has commissioned
fund to help developing Asia in the pandemic and most of Susanna to create a piece for its dance company based on
our work is oriented to that end now. My daughter made it the mechanicals from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Susanna
back from boarding school as the lockdown was tightening has also been involved in the planning of projects that
and has spent the duration safely with me, while my son has should come to fruition if Nuremberg wins its bid to become
been stranded in London finishing off his university term. European Capital of Culture 2025.
Like everyone else, I hope that there are better times ahead
and this time next year the trauma will all be behind us. Richard Dawson now lives in Surin in Thailand, although
he has had to spend some time in Bangkok due to travel
restrictions due to the coronavirus outbreak. Richard has been
1982 working as an English teacher and also a legal consultant.
Year Representative: Nick Weller Janet Edwards enjoyed attending the Merton Mathematicians
Tel: 01403 269883 Email: [email protected] event, seeing the work of current students as well as hearing
from former students from different decades. Janet also met
up with Susanna Curtis in Glasgow in January 2020 when
Thank you to everyone who’s been in touch, for your kind Susanna was rehearsing her Madame Bovary production.
enquiries about how I am and how I’m coping with the
consequences of the coronavirus epidemic. I’m pleased to Rupert and Hilary Evenett celebrated their 30th wedding
have news to report, even though there have been many anniversary in April 2020. Hilary continues as a partner
things planned but not done this year. at Clifford Chance, specialising in insurance and financial
sector law. Rupert has continued to grow his governance
David Brown is an Associate Professor at the University of portfolio, adding being a governor of Benenden School to
Adelaide Law School, specialising in insolvency. David came his board roles at Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Royal
to England for a long holiday in 2020 that had to be cut Naval College, Greenwich, as well as chairing the board of a
short due to the coronavirus outbreak, although he did have 2,000 student-strong London Sixth Form College. Their two
a day in Oxford. David also taught in Ontario in January daughters are due to take A-levels and GCSEs next year and
2020. David’s daughter graduated from a postgraduate are coping with remote full-time teaching for these exams.
degree in international relations and is now working for the
New Zealand government as a policy adviser. David’s son is Peter Kessler will be returning to Oxford later in 2020. Peter’s
studying Law and PPE at the Australian National University wife, Dinah Rose QC, has been elected as the first female
(ANU) in Canberra. David has connected with other President of Magdalen, her college as an undergraduate.
Mertonians in Adelaide: Marnie Hughes-Warrington, Don Peter will be dividing his time between Oxford and their home
Markwell and John Newton. in Cumbria, and will also be involved in fundraising trips.
Susanna Curtis was able to finish the run of her production Randall Martin has been involved in the launch of a new
Madame Bovary, it’s me too before the coronavirus outbreak. website for the international eco-theatre research project
Lockdown in Germany has meant the cancellation or he is leading, Cymbeline in the Anthropocene (www.
cymbeline-anthropocene.com), funded by the Social
196
Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. So far
Mertonians | 1981-83
it has participating theatre companies on four continents. 1983
Some performances were scheduled to begin in May and
June, including one in Wales, but these have been postponed Year Representative: Meriel Cowan
to 2021. Meanwhile the project is keeping going with blogs, Tel: 01865 762458 Email: [email protected]
videos, a playlist and other resources.
This unusual pandemic year provides a strange background
Simon and Catherine Noonan moved from Beverly Hills to for a report. Gratitude for having family members home and
Nashville, Tennessee in January 2020. They took a scenic safe is an overarching theme.
route to get to their new home, going through the Grand
Canyon before heading down close to the Mexican border, Philippa Baker (née Ghaut) continues as a primary school
stopping in New Orleans before heading north. Simon and teacher and reports that it is proving hard to replicate the
Catherine have been doing a lot of bike riding since the teaching experience online. ‘I have got a lot better. Not yet
lockdown started, exploring a number of leafy cycle trails CBeebies standard but children seem to be appreciating our
nearby. Their younger son, George, has been studying abroad efforts.’ Andrew Baker is dispensing justice from their spare
in Hong Kong and Sydney, while their older son, Henry, may
be moving from London to Chicago later in 2020. bedroom. The rest of the family just have to avoid using the
loo or shower while this is happening, as it is next door and
Peter Roberts appreciated the chance to meet the new creates a potential courtroom distraction.
Warden at the reception last autumn. He also enjoyed the
celebration of Kent County Cricket Club’s 150th anniversary Richard Baxter is locked down in Cyprus, where his business
– a service in Canterbury Cathedral and reception in the hall is based. Simon and I enjoyed a memorable dinner with him
of the King’s School, Canterbury. earlier in the year in London, and hoped to see more of him
later in the year, but our plans are sadly on hold. Richard
Mark Shuttleworth is now a professor in the Department writes to me from the Fat Fish restaurant in Limassol in
of Translation, Interpreting and Intercultural Studies at Hong the sunshine where he is enjoying wonderful seafood but
Kong Baptist University. missing his family. He’s hoping his son Nick will come out
and work there in the summer. On the other side of the
Ben Slocock’s daughter, Anne, is studying Chemistry at world, Earnest Cheung writes from Hong Kong, where the
New College, Oxford.
law courts were shut down in February because of Covid-19,
James and Clare Thickett both retired last year and also which resulted in a huge backlog of cases. Fortunately the
became grandparents. James has been keeping busy walking, courts are due to reopen in May.
travelling and learning Spanish as well as maintaining his
charitable role as a trustee at the National Centre for Social The Oxford medical students who graduated in 1989 had a
Research (NatCen). James keeps in touch with Steve Walsh, reunion in November and I was really delighted to catch up
Richard Ryder, Martin Giles, Dave Holbrook, Andrew with fellow medic Jonathan Ingham, who I had not seen
Corrie and John Holland. for many years. He is a consultant anaesthetist in Torquay,
Devon, and recalls the recent busy few months. ‘All calming
Switching to a home-based working regime hasn’t made down here now having bashed our hospital to bits to create
much difference to me so far. Exam production and marking
is still keeping me occupied. Covid-positive and Covid-negative areas. Now roped in to
help at Nightingale Exeter Hospital as an insurance policy
I hope everyone and their families stay healthy and safe. against a second surge once the M5 opens up to caravans.’
He says this is all virtual as there are currently no nursing
staff to run ventilated beds there anyway. Jon has been busy
197
with cycling and yoga to keep ‘moderately sane’ and he is A heritage property on a different scale, the extraordinarily
delighted Boris will now let him play golf. His daughter Freya beautiful Waddesdon Manor where Pippa Shirley is Head
is grumpy as her gap year is curtailed, but son Sammy has of Collections and Gardens, is also shut. Pippa reports that
not realised there has been a lockdown yet. her husband (Giles Clifford, 1982) is working from home,
but she is still going into the office at Waddesdon. ‘Most
‘I was already working from home before the virus struck so staff are furloughed apart from a tiny team in the house
no change in that regard,’ writes Michael Jager. ‘I still work and garden who are making sure that the collections are
for Qualcomm based in San Diego but now I work remotely safe and not deteriorating, and (outside) that the weeds
from the UK.’ He and Bridget Jager (née Mills) live in Surrey. aren’t taking over. We are very hopeful that we will be able
to open the garden soon, as part of the easing of lockdown,
but are waiting on the Government to give us the go-ahead.
The National Trust as a whole is very keen to reopen with a
limited offer, where it can be done safely with all the correct
guidance in place.’ I learned from Pippa that the public can
still visit Waddesdon through its website. ‘There are all sorts
of things to explore, including little lockdown diaries of what
we are up to at the moment, virtual backgrounds for Zoom
calls, virtual tours and so forth, which are all good fun:
waddesdon.org.uk/explore-waddesdon-online/’
198
distanced and all extraneous articles have been removed. he hopes to take up in 2021. This means he’ll be spending six
Mertonians | 1983-84
PPE (the medical sort) is tedious but necessary, and the late weeks at Canterbury teaching physics and chemistry in July
effects of Covid are common and difficult to manage. It is hard and August of that year. The only fly in the ointment is that
to know what will happen next. Simon Cowan is very busy his younger daughter graduates in July so he might end up
in his role of Head of the Economics Department here; the doing a ‘round the world’ flight in order to attend it.
financial and practical pressures on Oxford departments are
great, and he spends a lot of time on MS Teams while being Andrew Davis reports from Edinburgh that, after 15 years at
based at home. All departments and colleges are currently Lloyds Banking Group, he has moved to become Commercial
shut, and exactly what will happen with reopening in October Director at TSB Bank and has also joined the Board at
is still unclear. Nevertheless Oxford looks very lovely without Historic Environment Scotland – responsible for things like
many cars, the air is very clear and bicyclists are happy. Edinburgh and Stirling castles. Meanwhile, his wife Anna has
been grappling with the complications of exams in a world
I do hope this letter next year will be brighter and the new of Covid-19 as a board member at the Scottish Qualifications
normal, whatever it may be, will feel positive. Authority while his elder son, Alistair, is on the receiving end,
having had his Higher Exams cancelled. Andrew is discovering
there are worse cities to endure lockdown in, with acres of
1984 countryside within the city itself, but the loss of the cricket
season will be especially hard for his younger son, Aidan.
Year Representative: David Clark
Email: [email protected] Elsewhere, David Smith got in touch from Michigan where
he’d been isolated at home for several weeks already but
Many thanks, as always, to those who responded to my making the best of it. His main piece of news is that the book
annual plea for news from the class of 1984, especially in from a major research project that he has been involved
these unusual circumstances when we’ve all had lots of in has just been published: Digital Life Together (www.
other things on our minds. eerdmans.com/Products/7703/digital-life-together.aspx). It
is based on a three-year study of digital technology use in
As I mentioned in last year’s entry, two of my erstwhile Christian schools, focusing on how technology is changing
chemistry contemporaries and I had planned a reunion with school culture, relationships, goals, and the articulation and
our Organic Chemistry tutor, Laurence Harwood, to mark experience of faith.
35 years since matriculation. But Covid-19 put paid to that
for the time being, sadly. Nonetheless, it does mean I have Adam Levitt emailed to say that he and his family are finding
news from them I can share! the lockdown acceptable as they seem to have more time
for walking/biking/running their over-active dog!
Stephen Ashworth writes that he has been promoted to
Professor of Chemical Physics and Science Communication Congratulations are due to Andrew Phillips, who has
at UEA. In 2019, he was the Curator of the National Science completed a master’s at the Cambridge Institute of
Festival in South Africa (Scifest Africa) and also heavily Sustainability Leadership. Graduation in the Senate House
involved with Norwich Science Festival. He also spent a couple reminded him of the Sheldonian, but this time Amanda (née
of weeks giving lectures and attending a conference in New Braddock, 1985) and their three daughters were there to
Zealand in July 2019 in addition to trips to Bangkok, Hong celebrate. Andrew’s research focused on natural capitals and
Kong and Brussels. What gets him out and about is Kitchen on modern slavery in UK agriculture, work he is continuing
Chemistry (www.kitchenchemistry.eu). As a result of a talk as a Visiting Research Fellow at the Rights Lab, University
given at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New of Nottingham. He continues to work at the Duchy of
Zealand, Stephen was awarded an Erskine Fellowship which Cornwall, living in Somerset.
199
From a personal point of view, I’ve had great fun setting up
and managing the Merton College Biomedical and Life Sciences
Network on LinkedIn (you can read more about this on page
139). It’s been a welcome distraction during the lockdown. My
wife and I very much enjoyed the Warden’s Welcome Drinks
in November and were sorry that the current crisis prevented
the Merton Society Weekend. On a more positive note, the
second meeting of the Old Mertonians’ Progressive Rock
Society was last October when Michael Chapman and I went
to see Steve Hackett in concert together in Southend.
1985
Year Representative: Ben Prynn
Email: [email protected]
Andrew Phillips after graduating in the Senate House, Cambridge Mark Medish continues to work as president of a boutique
strategic consultancy called The Messina Group, which was
Ruth Taylor writes that 2020 has been an interesting year founded by Barack Obama’s former re-election campaign
so far for her and her family. January and February were manager. His recent short publications include ‘The looming
dominated by the floods, as they live overlooking the River crisis of emergency powers and holding the 2020 election’
Severn in Worcestershire. They watched as the back garden in Just Security; ‘Paradigm shift by pandemic’ and ‘Cicero’s
turned into a lake and the water rose towards their sandbags. lessons for life’, both in Counterpunch. He and wife Sue
One lunchtime they were rung by the police who said ‘We have a son doing a postgraduate degree at Georgetown, a
are just checking on those residents who have decided not daughter entering her senior year at Harvard, and another
to evacuate.’ This surprised Ruth and her family as nobody son entering Form IV (10th grade) at St Albans School in
had told them to evacuate! Ruth is now senior partner in Washington. They care at home for their disabled eldest son,
a general practice in Worcester that is very busy rising to now 26, who was stricken with a rare auto-immunological
the challenges that Covid-19 is presenting, and continually disorder several years ago. Mark has made one resolution
learning new ways of practising medicine, often with the for life after the pandemic: to visit Merton in 2021.
help of technology. The meaning of ‘PPE’ has changed from
her son’s university application to something far different. In Adam Broun reports he has been holed up at home in
quieter times, Ruth also teaches and examines at Birmingham Lexington, Massachusetts for almost three months now. He
Medical School. She is working with the team tasked with has been learning to bake bread, doing more cycling, and
setting up the Three Counties Medical School in Worcester, spending too much time on video calls. His son Daniel is
which will admit only graduate applicants to medicine, about to start his fourth year at Northeastern University,
something Ruth was herself. When not busy with medicine although the shape of campus life is unclear for him. Adam
in these unprecedented times, she relaxes by walking along is disappointed he won’t be doing his usual trip to Europe
the Severn with her trusty companion, Barney the labrador. this summer with Jon Little and family.
200
Chris Hehir sits at Southwark Crown Court, which is at home until she starts nursery in the autumn. My eldest
Mertonians | 1984-86
currently closed to the public due to Covid-19. This has daughter Caterina (21) graduated from Royal Holloway College
meant having to adjust to remote court hearings, including last summer and is dipping her toes in the world of work at
sentencing defendants from the spare room over Skype a recruitment business run by Avirup Chakraverty (1986).
for Business. He says if he has learned anything from the
lockdown, it is that he is not cut out to be a primary school
teacher. He has found homeschooling three kids under ten 1986
‘rather challenging’. I know how he feels!
Year Representatives: Simon Male (undergraduates)
Chris Aston has been furloughed from his work in the Tel: 001 845 548 7825 Email: [email protected]
European construction industry. His wife Marion’s teaching
and most of her voluntary work has been suspended apart and Daniel Schaffer (graduates)
from that with Homestart, the family support organisation. Tel: 07711 927122 Email: [email protected]
So there’s been a lot of time to do work in the garden. They
live in what used to be a garden nursery in the Staffordshire Undergraduates
Moorlands and this year have it looking better than ever.
They take time out to sit and enjoy it and have also had Sarah Fretwell (née Ramsden) has started working for
time to give the outbuildings a thorough clear-out. Their Young Carers, a UK charity that aims to support young
son Peter is working remotely for EY near London; Joseph, people by giving them the skills and confidence to deal with
who works in the food industry, is continuing to attend the challenges of a caring role – and a safe space in which
the workplace near Nottingham. Their third son, Thomas, to be children. She is finding her role challenging, given the
is finishing off the fifth year of his engineering master’s in impact of the pandemic on the charity sector, but rewarding.
Sheffield, before starting in engineering consultancy later
in the year. He’s working on projects in isolation and doing Dominic Minghella’s path through the coronavirus has
exams online, which seems an odd way to draw such a long been documented in a piece published in The Observer and
commitment to a conclusion. Chris has also been taking The Daily Telegraph: www.minghella.com/from-the-dark-
part in services with our local Methodist church on Zoom, end-of-the-street. Thankfully he is fully recovered.
doing a bit of decorating, and chilling out with books and
films. He thinks it’s going to be very challenging to adjust Simon Portman is married to Jacqui, living in a Cambridgeshire
when the time comes to get back to normal! village, working as an intellectual property lawyer for
Marks & Clerk. He heads the virtual reality (VR) team as
Simon Steel is now the Director of Education and Outreach VR companies are really coming into their own during the
at the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute. lockdown period, and also advising healthcare companies
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, California, the SETI on contracts for PPE and test kit supply and antiviral and
Institute is the only research centre in the world dedicated vaccine development.
to the search for life in the universe in all its forms, from
microbes on Mars to advanced alien civilizations. Dominic Meiklejohn has spent much of lockdown in his
kitchen, helping to organise repatriation flights for British
Back down on earth I am adjusting to life working from home travellers on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
while my wife Victoria has returned from maternity leave to
her job as a consultant specialising in infectious diseases at Nancy Dawrant walked the 50km Jurassic Coast, 100k
University College Hospital London. Unsurprisingly Covid-19 London to Brighton and 100k Thames Path Ultras last
looms large in her working life. Fortunately, school has year. She was thrilled to complete the last-mentioned in 16
reopened for Izzy (5) and Chloe (1) is being looked after hours 33 minutes, way faster than her target. Covid-19 has
201
scuppered her long-distance walking for the time being, but daughter, Robbi, is in her second year reading Chemistry at
she has been totally immersed in planning and delivering New College. She’s a bit miffed that virtual study from home
online Maths and teaching to all her senior school classes in London means no Pimm’s, punting or Eights Week.
online. Her son Jake (9) is doing his virtual lessons also
online, which has lifted her IT learning curve exponentially. Simon Ancliffe lives in Berkshire with Emma, a harpist, Sam
(11) and Ottolie (7). He sold his crowd dynamics/analytics
company, Movement Strategies, to GHD in December while
staying on. After pivoting away from stadia, arenas, events
and mass transit towards social distancing, he is now as busy
as ever. He has taken up karate again for the first time since
his first year at Merton, so that Sam can practise on him.
202
in the waste sector has been unaffected by the pandemic, grateful if anyone who did not contribute something for
Mertonians | 1986
other than clients demanding video calls. His fingers are this report this year would please do so next year, because
crossed that he will have some cricket to watch this summer. that makes his job much more rewarding. Please feel free to
contact him if you are passing through New York, or at any
After a couple of years as Permanent Secretary at the time during the year on the phone/email above.
Department for International Development, Matthew
Rycroft is now the Permanent Secretary at the Home Office. Graduates
203
transferring to Cornell for his junior year. My wife Karin’s I pursued journalism positions in the United States. After
most recent book, Goethe and Judaism, which Northwestern a heady summer interning at The Economist, I moved from
University Press published in 2017, has just been published London to Louisville, Kentucky, to work for a respected
in a German translation by Wallstein Verlag. So far, all of newspaper there. Talk about culture shock: the grocery
four of us have remained healthy. We’ve spent most of the store in my new neighbourhood devoted an entire aisle
pandemic sheltering together in Norman, Oklahoma (it was to lard. I covered the courts in Louisville and came to see
lovely having both kids home again for so long). My daughter the dark side of the American judicial system. The racism
is currently on a WWOOFing (Worldwide Opportunities on embedded in the criminal justice system – typified by the
Organic Farms) gig in Wisconsin (which seemed relatively administration of the death penalty – revealed to me that I
safe), while my son is doing a remote internship with had the soul of an advocate.
Samantha Bee’s TV show from home.’
‘And so I went to law school with the ambition of becoming
Ricardo Bianconi is a professor at the Institute of a public defender. That is exactly what I did. Although it would
Mathematics and Statistics in the University of São Paulo have been a greater public service to return to the South, I
where he was an undergraduate. Ricardo writes: ‘I have elected to move to Seattle because of my health. I spent
posted a preliminary version of a translation into English seven years as a public defender, representing poor people
of Georg Mohr’s Euclidis Danicus (1672) on arxiv.org. I am charged with serious crimes, and then I moved to Washington
adapting my teaching to the Covid-19 requirements (online Court of Appeals to do a job that is similar to being a judge,
teaching) and starting research on continuous logic.’ but designed to take some routine or pre-trial matters off
the judges’ plates. In 2007 the Governor appointed me a
Aaron Byerley is a professor and director of the propulsion Judge of the King County Superior Court. This is the 13th
discipline in the Department of Aeronautics at the US largest court in the United States; state trial courts are where
Air Force Academy. He has also served as an adjunct the vast majority of criminal cases are heard, as well as many
professor at the USAF Test Pilot School. Aaron teaches civil matters (such as medical malpractice, disputes about
and conducts research related to the aerodynamics and wills, and business conflicts), all family law matters, and cases
thermodynamics of jet engines and jet engine design. You where a mentally ill person is committed to an institution. For
can watch an address he gave here: www.youtube.com/ three years I served as the Presiding Judge of this very busy
watch?v=lh6AQuKoY34 court, but now I am back to trying cases and just enjoying
the drama that each day brings me on the bench. I live in
Susan Craighead is a judge in the Superior Court of Seattle with my adult son and I would welcome visitors,
King County, Seattle. You can watch an interview with whenever we can all travel again.’
Susan on Youtube entitled 15 Minutes: www.youtube.com/
watch?v=Y-G216AeIms. Susan reports: ‘Greetings from
Seattle, in the Pacific Northwest corner of the United
States. I chose to live here because the climate is similar
to Britain’s, believe it or not. I have a medical condition
that does best in cool, wet weather and I’ve never felt
healthier than when we were at Oxford. When I was
debating foreign policy in the MCR, I imagined a career
as a journalist covering the developing world. During the
two years I spent at Oxford, it became clear to me that I
needed health care available only in the developed world
– and insurance to pay for it. This would not have been Lionel Hogg giving the 2019 Seldon Society lecture
available had I freelanced from Senegal or Malaysia. And so
204
Lionel Hogg is a solicitor in Brisbane at the law firm Gadens
Mertonians | 1986
and is head of its Corporate Advisory Group. He writes: ‘I
have enjoyed a satisfying year professionally, working on a
number of challenging and intellectually interesting matters
of some (local) significance. I also delivered a lecture to
the Selden Society on Oliver Wendell Holmes and the First
Amendment [www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9BvqMeQAKM],
in celebration of the centenary year of his most famous free
speech dissent, a topic of abiding interest even in Australia
(which does not have a bill of rights). My eldest, Lauren,
has graduated university and started her own business;
James enjoyed a stint of US college basketball but has now
bunkered down to studies back in Australia; and Alex (at 12)
will keep me young and gainfully employed for a few years
yet. There is a quite large community of Oxford graduates
in Brisbane, particularly in legal circles, although not many
Mertonians. The University of Queensland Law Alumni
Association last year commenced a program to encourage
graduates to undertake postgraduate study overseas, and I
have enjoyed meeting some enthusiastic and highly talented
young men and women about to embark on studies at
Oxford and elsewhere. The life experience of attending one
of the world’s great universities, particularly on foreign soil,
has so much to commend it, not least of which are lifelong
friendships. Please pass on my best wishes to our cohort.
I hope everyone is travelling well and it certainly would be
nice to reconnect personally sometime soon.’
205
Mari Izumi reports that she is well and living in Tokyo.
206
Merton and I guess that my interactions are more like near- Chris Parker qualified in medicine in 1989. After a research
Mertonians | 1986
misses. Both boys studied at Warwick, where I now find out fellowship in Toronto, he was appointed Senior Lecturer and
there is a Professor Mark Newton in Physics; the boys were Honorary Consultant in Clinical Oncology and Prostate
in Chemistry and Biochemistry. My trips to Oxford these Cancer Translational research at The Institute of Cancer
days tend to be to play hockey, and I recently saw that a Research and The Royal Marsden in 2001. Chris is a past
Mike Tappin was captain of one of the Oxford teams though Chair of the National Cancer Research Institute Prostate
not the one we were playing. Whether this is the same Mike Clinical Studies Group. He has published over 250 articles on
Tappin (1987) who sat at the other end of a boat to me all prostate cancer. You can watch Chris on Youtube at: www.
those years ago I do not know.’ youtube.com/watch?v=Q6wQyFZlS5c
Antoine Lebel is a dealer in antiques and fine art in Brussels,
Belgium. Antoine specialises in Chinese Export porcelain. His
gallery was established in the Carré Rive Gauche in Paris
for nine years, and then moved to Brussels. Watch an
interview with Antoine (in French) here: www.youtube.com/
watch?v=C67tK9dlt98
207
focus on projects related to aging, as well as studies on semester and has carried on from his bedroom albeit in a
sexual selection, natural genetic variation, networks and different time zone. He will hopefully return in August for
metabolomics. Daniel is the Principal Investigator of the Dog his junior year to start his major in computer science. The
Aging Project, an NIH-funded long-term longitudinal study youngest, Louis, repurposed the second half of his gap year
of the biological and environmental determinants of healthy by volunteering for the NHS and raising money for a food
aging in companion dogs. You can watch Daniel here: www. bank. He starts in September at the University of Chicago.
youtube.com/watch?v=cW--Q-tIRyw Marianne and I will then be à deux again with the company
of our Labrador (the daughter we never had) Roxy.’
Daniel reports: ‘I live in Seattle, Washington, and have been
keeping busy with the launch of the Dog Aging Project
(dogagingproject.org). I and a team of researchers from
around the US are studying the genetic and environmental
factors that influence aging and age-related disease in tens
of thousands of pet dogs. The project is just launching, and
all are welcome to sign up their dogs on the Dog Aging
Project website. As a citizen science project, this work
is helping me realise an aspiration I had when I came to
Merton in 1986 of serving as a liaison between scientists
and the non-science community. In 2018, my wife Leslie took
on a leadership position at Boston Children’s Hospital, so
we now divide our time between the two coasts. When in
Boston, we enjoy spending time with our daughter Carly, an
MD/PhD student, and when in Seattle, with our son on Joey,
a musician and student of acupuncture.’
208
David Wright is a journalist with ABC News. David has
Mertonians | 1986-87
interviewed six US presidents. He has worked in London,
Washington, DC and LA, and now works in New York City.
1987
Year Representative: Simon Male
Tel: 001 845 548 7825 Email: [email protected]
209
1988 1989
Year Representative: Tim Gardener Year Representative: Matthew Grimley
c/o The Development Office, Merton College, Oxford, OX1 4JD Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Last summer Beth Williamson (née Jackson) was promoted Although it was disappointing that our year group was
to Professor of Medieval Culture at the University of Bristol. not able to reconvene as planned for the Gaudy in March,
In December she was awarded a Leverhulme Major Research several members have been in touch with news.
Fellowship, to run for three years from September 2020,
working on an interdisciplinary project called ‘Describing After many years in Cambridge, Tadashi Tokieda moved
devotion’. to Stanford in 2017 as Professor of Mathematics. Jonny
Woodward was promoted to full professor at the University
Meanwhile, Jonathan Treml was appointed as Clinical Service of Tokyo in 2019. Stephen Walton is still working at Christ
Lead of Healthcare for Older People at the newly merged Church, Dusseldorf, and recently completed a ThM from
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. This Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. Dave
means that he is responsible for geriatric medicine services Swinnerton has been appointed as a Circuit Judge, based in
at four hospitals. Lately he has been kept busy contributing Liverpool. Chris Bunting’s co-authored and updated book,
to the medical response to Covid-19 at the main hospital The Complete Guide to Japanese Drinks, was shortlisted for a
site. He has also worked with Public Health England to prestigious James Beard Foundation Award.
develop a programme to promote activity in older people
rendered housebound by the lockdown. Singing and playing Steve Barge reports that he is still teaching, though latterly
the ukulele take up the remainder of his time.
via a computer screen. In his spare time, Steve is a crime
David Gartside joined McKinsey last year to lead its digital fiction historian, and has been instrumental in bringing a
transformation after four years at Google. He continues to long-forgotten mystery writer, Brian Flynn, back into print.
reside in New York with Archana and Arya, and persists in The first ten volumes were published last year by Dean
pretending that he is not actually a New Yorker. Street Press, with introductions by Steve, and ten more are
on their way in October. You can find out more on Steve’s
Toby Nicholson writes: ‘As we are all turning 50 a group blog, classicmystery.blog.
of us all started planning parties and we did manage to
get together at the first one then got locked down. So I’m 1990
staying officially 49 until this is all behind us and I can have
a delayed party.’ Year Representative: Christine Barrie
Tel: 01223 501598 Email: [email protected]
Peter Howe has happy news to report: his engagement and
putting his house up for sale. He observes ruefully that he Jayne Joyce continues as Project Lead at Oxfordshire
has chosen perhaps the worst time for a century to do Breastfeeding Support, which was awarded a large grant (the
these things!
largest ever given in infant feeding) by the National Lottery
Communities Fund at the end of 2019. Infant feeding is really
important during a pandemic when supplies of formula
milk may be unreliable and keeping babies out of hospital
210
is a priority. The charity had already moved to 100% virtual infections and how immunological memory is established.
Mertonians | 1988-90
working before the official lockdown and the team is very She is a member of the Nobel Committee for Medicine or
busy, not least because many health visiting team colleagues Physiology since 2018 and of the Swedish Royal Academy of
have been redeployed. Dominic (1986) has finally installed Sciences since 2020. She lives with her husband Jan, daughter
that home office he’d not got round to for years and is quite Jenny, son Alexis and husky/collie dog Greta in Stockholm.
happy working from home rather than the Maths Institute, She keeps in touch with her Oxford friends as much as
though he does miss his better computer. Tilly continues as possible and keeps fond memories of Merton College.
a second-year Cambridge NatSci from home, Kitty is kept
busy with virtual year 12 work and Daisy (year 7) is going to Philip Wilson continues to work as a freelance theatre
find it very strange not to be able to chat to her friends on director. Recent shows have included a major revival of This
her phone during every lesson, when school finally resumes. Island’s Mine by Philip Osment at King’s Head Theatre in
London (which he also designed – reminding him of days
Zaid Al-Qassab is now Chief Marketing Officer for Channel working on Merton Floats productions at the Burton-Taylor
4, at time of writing working to ensure the country has Theatre and Old Fire Station). In addition, his adaptations
something to keep them all entertained while stuck at home of Philip Pullman’s Grimm Tales have been performed at the
in lockdown, not to mention the news they have come to Unicorn Theatre – for which he is writing a new piece of
depend on. Claudia Drake (1991) has started a new role theatre. His website, for those interested in following his
as an advancement manager at the University of Surrey in work, is philipwilsondirector.com.
the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences. What else
would a PPEist do?! Ralph Parfect is still living in northeast London, has two
boys in secondary school, and is still working for King’s
Since September Daniel Morley is on leave from Deutsche College London, currently as Head of Administration for the
Bank to take up a role as a senior advisor within HM Treasury. School of Security Studies. Pastimes mainly relate to music
and beer, and he’s always glad to make contact with fellow
Howard Harding still lives in Prague and is now a Czech Mertonians on Facebook.
citizen. His 13-year-old son is almost bigger than he is. He
has been working for the last couple of years in Ukraine on Mark Cockcroft and his family are seeing the lockdown
strengthening local governments and related development through in Zurich which is where they have been living for
issues. Howard is so far surviving in the new normal, during the past four years after three years in Qatar. Mark’s role
which he has been discovering the joys of online bridge with has changed during that time as he is now CEO of three
old friends with whom he hasn’t been in touch for over 20 Gibraltar-based insurance companies: Zenith, Markerstudy
years. and St Julians.
Katie Banister (née Bingham) is still based in Stonehaven in Michael Szonyi is the Director of the Fairbank Center
Aberdeenshire, running clinical trials at the health services for Chinese Studies and Frank Wen-hsiung Wu Professor
research unit at the University of Aberdeen and supporting of Chinese History at Harvard University. His recent
public involvement and engagement with research. She’s books include The China Questions: Critical Insights into
currently working from home along with her husband and a Rising Power and The Art of Being Governed, a study of
three teenagers and, when not working, managing to fit in the lives of soldiers in the Ming dynasty. He also advises
a good deal of dancing and gardening. the US government on China policy, but assumes no
personal responsibility for the current crisis in the
Gunilla Karlsson Hedestam is currently a professor in bilateral relationship. He is married to Francine McKenzie,
immunology at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm. She an international economic historian, and they have two
investigates how the immune system responds to virus children, Robert and Katie.
211
his interest in neurodegenerative disease and its treatment.
1991 He was happy to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal College
of Physicians in London.
Year Representative: Anna Smith (Chairman of the Year
Representatives) Colin Marsh is living in Spain, running a translation business.
c/o The Development Office, Merton College, Oxford, OX1 4JD
Email: [email protected] Elizabeth Tollfree reports: ‘At time of writing I’m in full
lockdown mode (it’s hard to be an osteopath at a two-
metre distance). So I’m dabbling in baking, insomnia and re-
1992 learning the piano. Doubtless a sourdough starter will be
next. I hope everyone is safe and well.’
Year Representatives: Andrew Davison
Email: [email protected] Hadrian Wise has had a turbulent but not unenjoyable life
since leaving Merton. He got married in 2001 and divorced in
and Steve Maxwell 2015, and has three wonderful daughters. He did a number
Tel: 001 510 4425 Email: [email protected] of office jobs before landing a job running the tobacconist
on Oxford High Street, which he enjoys; he has published
Kelyn Bacon Darwin writes: ‘The Bacon Darwins have been articles in several obscure periodicals and has completed one
fortunate enough to be able to carry on more or less normally novel he hasn’t got round to trying to publish and is using the
lockdown to write a second. He reads a lot and now describes
during the lockdown, save that all the music lessons are now himself, with characteristic incoherence, as a Tory socialist. In
on Zoom and I am now doing virtual court hearings, which due course he hopes to retire to the south of Italy.
have shown both the capabilities and the limitations of video
conferencing. We’ve hosted virtual dinner parties and games
nights, and have participated in virtual choral and orchestral
recordings. We benefit from an active and supportive local
1993
community and have engaged in enthusiastic swapping of Year Representative: Joanna Cooke
domestic utensils through our newly formed street WhatsApp Email: [email protected]
group. And our older relatives have now become adept at
using Skype and FaceTime! I’m enormously thankful for the Jonathan Young (45) has moved out of London to live
many blessings in our life at this time that is so difficult for and work in Andover, Hampshire. Martha is now five and
many people around us and indeed further afield.’ at primary school. He humbly claims ‘no [other] major
contributions to the world’.
Andrew Davison is back at the Faculty of Divinity in
Cambridge after two terms of research leave. He will Helen Powell (née Tesh) updates that ‘all is well in the
become a senior lecturer in October of this year. His Powell household and our three-year-old daughter is due
book Participation in God: A Study in Christian Doctrine and to start school in September’. Team Powell are moving to
Metaphysics (Cambridge, 2019) has been doing pleasingly Wales sometime between now and January, where Helen will
well. He has had a year of adding Dean of Chapel to his be taking up a new teaching post and her husband, Will, will
roles at Corpus Christi, and is much enjoying that. be exploring his burden for ministry in the area and doing
some brass teaching on the side.
Damian Crowther was appointed Head of Early Drug
Discovery, Neuroscience, AstraZeneca where he continues Anna Jones is sanguine about these strange lockdown times
pointing out that ‘if Postmaster is still going, there’s hope for
212
us all!’ Anna was ordained as a deacon in the Church of As for me, the kids are still trying desperately to persuade us
Mertonians | 1991-94
England last year and began to serve as a curate in five rural to buy a dog. And apparently the middle two have a £50 bet
parishes between Soham and Newmarket. on that Rob and I will be divorced by 2021. Watch this space.
213
Helen Bray is now a Chief Inspector with the West Mercia
1995 Police, with responsibility for Shropshire’s 999 response,
firearms and custody functions. She writes that the
Year Representative: Tom Brown pandemic has made for some interesting challenges. When
Tel: 0207 827 4008 not at work, Helen’s ‘downtime’ involves home-schooling
Toby (10) and Noah (8) to give husband Nick a well-deserved
At the time of writing, lockdown is slowly being lifted in the break. Helen and Nick are looking forward to getting back
UK; it will be interesting to see where things are at the time of out to pursue their newfound love of mountain biking, and
Postmaster’s publication. Thanks to all who responded, even hoping that they can keep up with the kids. Please don’t
if it was just to say hello. I hope that you are all keeping well. break anything Helen – Shropshire needs you!
Tamzen Isacsson is now CEO of the Management Irasema Sarmiento has been home-schooling her son and
Consultancies Association and is living in Wiltshire. daughter from Rome, where she works as an integration
specialist for an IT firm specialising in digital transformation.
Congratulations to Noel Cross on the publication in March
of Criminal Law for Criminologists (Routledge). I have bought Why my interest in Noel’s book, you ask? I’m now sitting
part-time as a Crown Court judge on the Western Circuit, and
my copy; no joke. Noel writes that he is in his 18th year on it’s been a long time since I studied crime. Meanwhile, my first
the staff teaching Criminal Justice at Liverpool John Moores book, Employment Law, was published by Macmillan in April.
University.
1996
Year Representative: Maria Pretzler
Email: [email protected]
For the 1996 cohort, this year started out with various
professional and social activities.
214
Eugene Goh is still running his own small start-up, Yugoslavia. “Everyone is coming to my house,” he lamented,
Mertonians | 1995-96
TalentKraft: talentkraft.com. His company does HR “and if I catch just one more of them coming to me and
consulting, but they also build their own tools for assessing acting like he knows everything, I’ll hit him over the head
business skills. Eugene writes: ‘One of the world’s largest with the book.”
consulting firms is our client, so that is kind of exciting!’
‘As Handke’s biographer, I was invited to attend the Nobel
James Hatt attended the Memorial Service of David Bostock ceremony and banquet in Stockholm. Even by Mertonian
(his philosophy tutor) at Merton, which was a wonderful standards, it is a feast like you’ve never seen before. The
opportunity to meet Mertonians of many generations. And silverware and plates were made especially for the occasion
he was pleased to find that his most recent pupil barrister is and, my Swedish friends told me, half the country has dinner
a Mertonian (Anna Hoffmann, 2009). in front of the TV to watch the king and queen of Sweden
lead the procession of Nobel laureates into the dining hall
For Malte Herwig this year brought some exciting news. followed by a three-hour meal and dance in the Egyptian Hall.
He reports: ‘I still haven’t won a Nobel Prize, but the man
whose biography I wrote has. Last October, Peter Handke ‘But enough of feasts and frolics, for the biographer had to
was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. The news was met work. I added a new chapter to the biography including a
with acclaim but also widespread criticism because of his fly-on-the-wall report of the Nobel party and surrounding
advocacy for Serbia during the Yugoslav Wars. controversy. Because of Covid-19 the book will come out
two months late, in July 2020, and if there’s interest in
‘As his biographer, I’ve always had two goals: To observe publishing an English translation I’d love to hear from you.’
as closely as I can, and to dig deeper than anyone else to
uncover new facts about my subject. So I had one question And then 2020 changed all our lives. We have at least one
when I visited Handke in Paris after the news was announced: Mertonian in our year group who worked in a hospital in the
What is it like to be in the middle of a Nobel shitstorm? middle of the crisis.
He answered with a line from Shakespeare’s The Tempest:
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here.” The next day, Another, My Chi To, had been working at the same law firm,
I visited Handke at his home in Chaville, an unremarkable Debevoise & Plimpton, which she joined in 1998, fresh out of
suburb ten miles from Paris. I had been to the old house Oxford. But a few months ago, she joined the administration
many times before and, as I turned from the main road into of New York Governor Cuomo as his Executive Deputy
the overgrown alley of trees, I felt reminded again of how Superintendent for Insurance. In that role, she oversees all
Handke’s home has always seemed like a refuge, surrounded life, property and casualty and health insurers doing business
by towering hedges and filled with piles of books, feathers in the state. Thanks to the pandemic, a global recession and
and other flotsam that he collected on walks through his now anti-racist protests across the US, her first few months
“No-Man’s-Bay” on the outskirts of the French capital. have been very intense, extremely interesting and more
rewarding than she could have imagined.
‘But this time seemed different. He had glued the wings
of an owl and half a dozen boar tusks to his front door For many of us, the pandemic meant dealing with changed
like protective charms. I slipped through the old iron gate circumstances in our daily lives. Anna Hatt noted that
and found Handke peeling chestnuts in the garden, which she and James were enjoying the time at home, while also
a few weeks ago had been filled with journalists. After his struggling to find enough hours to combine work and
impromptu press conference on 10 October, Handke had childcare. Lisa Cater, too, talks about juggling working from
complained that all everyone wanted to talk about was home and home-schooling. She lives in Jersey with her family,
Serbia without having read any of his actual texts on the where they could access beaches and the countryside and
subject. On his dining table, I found a copy of his essays on enjoyed the beautiful weather. She also reports that some
215
Mertonians have been meeting up for monthly pub quizzes Oxford. It was great to visit Merton and see Dr Gunn. Kate
on Zoom: the lockdown meant that she is actually in more and Emma still talk about the SCR ‘crystal’ doorknobs and
regular contact with some than before. delicious flapjacks. More recently, we have unfortunately
been navigating the complexities of lockdown as my lovely
Many Mertonians are academics who moved their activities Gran, who some of you will remember as a regular visitor to
online. Maria Pretzler, who is still teaching Ancient History Merton, sadly passed away aged 99.
at Swansea University, found the shift to online teaching
both exhausting and exhilarating. Her experience makes It has been great to receive some updates, including baby
her confident that old dogs can, in fact, learn many new news, from around the UK and overseas.
tricks, and within days, too, if necessary. While visiting
family abroad suddenly became impossible, for academic Congratulations to Helen Barugh who reports: ‘During
work, distances suddenly do not seem to matter so much lockdown we have welcomed a new baby into our family.
anymore. This means that at the moment, Maria is running Little Bobby is a brother for Anna who is taking big sisterly
a seminar series with international speakers and audiences, duties very seriously – lots of cuddles! Sadly he has yet to
organised on the hoof in a matter of a few days, and she meet any of his wider family but hopefully that will have
hopes that this is something we can continue doing after changed by the time Postmaster comes out.’
the crisis.
Thanks to Ben Warth for his update. Ben, his wife Annie
Lucy Allais still has her joint appointment at San Diego and their four-year-old twins Owen and Alys have finally
(UCSD) as the Henry Allison chair in the History of left London. They moved to Penarth, just outside Cardiff,
Philosophy and at the University of the Witwatersrand in to be nearer to both sides of their family, and as yet have
Johannesburg where she is professor of philosophy. She absolutely no regrets.
writes: ‘All I’ve done is continue teaching, publishing, living in
two countries, giving lots of talks. And possibly had Covid!’ Thanks to Dan Hertz for getting in touch from the US.
She also has a new book out, Kant & Animals, co-edited Dan is working as a private tutor and living just outside
with John Callanan (OUP, 2020). This is an edited volume, Washington, DC, with his wonderful wife Beth, a primary
but it is the first volume ever on the theme – which is an care paediatrician, and his two daughters Eleanor (4) and
achievement, Lucy adds, because there is so much written Katherine (1). They are fortunate not to have been too
on Kant in relation to everything! directly affected by Covid-19 and look forward to being able
to spend time with friends and family once again.
1997 Hopefully life will have returned to normal by this time next
year and Catherine and I hope to receive more updates then.
Year Representatives: Catherine Sangster
Email: [email protected]
1998
and Jill Davies
Email: [email protected] Year Representative: Alex Edmans
Email: [email protected]
2020 has been a challenging year so far and my thoughts
are with everyone affected by the coronavirus. Last May, Alex Edmans’ book on responsible business, Grow the Pie:
before lockdown could have been imagined, we enjoyed a How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit, was
week in published in March 2020 and headed the Financial Times list
of Business Books of the Month.
216
Ben Garner is currently a program director for 2U, a Karen McAtamney is continuing to establish her own
Mertonians | 1996-99
company that partners with universities (including Oxford) practice KJM Legal Ltd (kjmlegal.co.uk), dealing with special
to offer its degrees and short courses online. Once the education needs, disability and related areas. When not in
Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, Ben was planning to move lockdown, she enjoys being the closest babysitter for her
from Baltimore back to the Oxford area this summer with his nephew and new tiny niece. Like many of us, she has been
wife and kids, Grace (10) and Tony (8). using lockdown time to improve her house.
Year Representative: Andrew Tustian Myself, I have felt like I’ve been in the epicentre of Covid-19
Email: [email protected] as the tri-state area has been the hardest hit in the USA
so far, but I guess a lot of people feel that way wherever
Heenal Rajani’s daughter Anika Raven Rijnen Rajani was born they are. I continue to work at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals,
in May 2019. He currently lives in London, Ontario, Canada although I have switched from working on antibody- and
with his wife Kara, two children and two step-children. They bispecific-based therapies to viral vector production for
run a zero-waste shop called Reimagine Co and are active in gene therapy. I continue to raise my two small boys just
the climate change movement. upstate of New York City.
217
Marc Stoneham informs us that he spent most of 2019
2000 rebuilding a decrepit house in Putney to house his now
three-generation household of six. Marc continues to
Year Representative: Alex Perry pursue his passion for building Africa’s leading private sector
Email: [email protected] businesses across the continent.
A big ‘thank you’ to all those who have taken the time to Paul Trippier had a busy 2019, welcoming a new baby (a
contribute their news in these chaotic times. Wherever third girl – Abigail Hope), receiving tenure and moving to
they might be living, it is clear that all of our classmates’ a new position as Associate Professor at the University of
lives have been affected by Covid-19. As we approach the Nebraska Medical Center, incidentally where a lot of early
20th anniversary of our matriculation, I hope we can all research on Covid-19 was performed.
look forwards to celebrating better times together again at
Merton soon. As ever, feel free to reach out with your news Not all of the class of 2000 have ventured quite so far.
however trivial it might seem to you. Andrew McDonald writes from closer to Merton with a
confession: ‘I never managed to leave Oxford. After 15 years
Ben Sparks is living in Bath and working around the country in the video games industry, working on titles such as Aliens
(and occasionally around the world too when allowed to vs Predator, Guitar Hero Live, and the Sniper Elite series, I
travel) as a mathematician, musician and speaker. He crops am now a software engineer at Oxbotica, which spun out
up occasionally on the Numberphile YouTube channel. He of the University’s robotics group a few years ago. We are
is also due to be married in the summer of 2020, though developing autonomous vehicles, and you can see our test
fears his lockdown hair may cause his fiancée Jen to call the fleet self-driving around Oxford. It is exciting to be part of
whole thing off. something which could revolutionise transport for decades
to come. I live in a village just outside town, and work in
Nancy Zhang has double helpings of baby news: her first Cowley. Anyone passing through Oxford should feel free to
daughter Arya Leung arrived in March 2018, and at time of get in touch.’
writing in May 2020, Nancy was on maternity leave expecting
her second child imminently. Nick Hine lives with his wife Hattie and their two children
Bobby (born 2016) and Alice (born 2018) in Kenilworth in
Joanna Kenner is still living in Paris with her husband and Warwickshire, having joined the University of Warwick in
two daughters, Alessandra (5) and Scarlett (2). She continues 2015. He has recently been promoted to Reader in Physics
her political advisory work for clients in the financial sector and is Director of Studies for the HetSys Centre for Doctoral
and this year began working with the Institut Montaigne, Training.
a French think tank, writing on international politics and
trade issues. Rebecca Ansell (née Thomas) writes: ‘My husband Richard
and I welcomed Mary Rosalind in May 2017 and Elizabeth
Jana McPherson (née Schulz), husband Duncan, son Alan Faith in October 2018. They keep me busy, as does my work
and daughter Flora relocated from Calgary to Vancouver as a consultant rheumatologist in West Yorkshire.’
last summer after her husband had commuted weekly for
18 months. The family is enjoying being together in one
place, as well as making the most of the milder climate and
proximity to the ocean. Jana continues to work (remotely)
for Calgary Zoo, coordinating projects that combine
conservation and sustainable development in various parts
of Africa.
218
Mertonians | 2000-02
2001 2002
Year Representative: Katherine Millard Year Representative: Ben Zurawel
Email: [email protected] Tel: 0207 832 0500 Email: [email protected]
Dan Botting, currently Deputy Head Academic at Royal
Thank you to those who responded to my request for news Russell in Croydon, will be taking up the role of principal at
this year. It was great to hear your updates and be able to the Bobby Moore Academy in Stratford in September 2020.
submit an update from the 2001 intake for the first time in The academy, which opened in 2017, is a 4 to 18 all-through
a while. I would love to hear from more of the group during school in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It is a member of
the year if you have news to share. the David Ross Education Trust, an advocate of education as a
vehicle for social justice. Dan is ‘looking forward to leading the
Michael Pounds married GuoLiang Yin in 2016 at the growth and development of primary and secondary phases,
British Ambassador’s Residence in Beijing. They now live and helping them to become firmly established at the heart
in Coventry where he is Associate Professor of Physics at of the local community’. He remains a governor of Stillness
Warwick University. Infants School in Brockley Rise, but his most important recent
achievement has been honing his lockdown skill of ‘junk
Stephen Burgess is still living in south east London and modelling’ (mainly architectural, with occasional warships) as
working on financial stability policy at the Bank of England. well as finding time to tinker in his bike shed (which Sarah,
Edward and Alice have painted in rainbow colours).
Also in London, Hinesh Rajani writes that the capital is
After three years as Head of Maths at his alma mater,
treating him well. He is still at the FCO, working on the UK–EU
Watford Grammar School for Boys, Phil Matthews is taking
relationship, while looking for his next adventure overseas.
a slightly different tack, becoming, in addition to his teaching,
Stephanie Meats has spent the year on maternity leave. the school’s first lay chaplain. Phil is also in the Church of
She and partner Paul welcomed Esther Rose into the world England selection process for ordination training and looks
forward to the combination of teaching and ministry he may
in April 2019, a little sister for Stuart. end up doing in the future.
Paul Boswell and Louise (née Powell) have had a busy year Madeleine Brook has managed to find that rarest of beasts, a
both professionally and personally. Paul has moved roles at permanent full-time job in academia. She will be starting in
American Express to become director of the UK’s lending card the research department of the German Literature Archive
portfolio, and Louise has recently been promoted to partner Marbach in Baden-Württemberg in September – which will
in the litigation and arbitration team at international law firm be her first permanent job since stacking shelves in Tesco
CMS. Alongside that, they juggle looking after their twin sons when she was 16!
Alex and Luke (aged 2), who keep them on their toes!
A ‘Grüezi!’ from Joe Noss who lives in Basel, Switzerland,
I moved to Melbourne, Australia in January this year with
my family to take up a Neonatal Fellow post at the Royal where he works for the FSB. Disappointingly, that’s the
Women’s Hospital. We plan to return to the UK in early Financial Stability Board, the international body that
2021, international travel restrictions permitting. monitors and makes recommendations about the global
financial system, and not the successor agency to the KGB.
Roxna and Joe are expecting their first child in October 2020.
219
Joe and Mark Brighouse visited Oscar Scafidi in Tunis
for what Joe describes as ‘a few days of undergrad-style 2003
irresponsibility’. Oscar is currently working on the first
Bradt Travel Guide to Tunisia, having been amazed to Year Representatives: Andrew Godfrey and Helen
discover, upon moving there in August 2019, that there was Nicholas
no up-to-date English-language guidebook to the beautiful c/o The Development Office, Merton College, Oxford, OX1 4JD
North African country. Alongside travel writing, Oscar is Email: [email protected]
an African risk consultant, an international educator and a
documentary film maker: you can follow him on YouTube at In our first year as your correspondents, Andy Godfrey got
‘Scafidi Travels’. engaged to his partner Jerry (though wedding plans are on
hold till some normality is restored), and Helen Nicholas
TengTeng Xu and Eric had a little girl, Elizabeth Aili, on 29 returned to work following maternity leave, managing a
October 2019: at time of writing she (Elizabeth, that is) had couple of months in the office before the world went into
‘two shiny new teeth’. TengTeng works at the International lockdown. Andy is still living and translating in Cardiff, while
Monetary Fund in Washington, DC. Helen is still a pensions actuary in Leeds.
Paul Hollands and Gemma welcomed their third child, Jamie, We also both had the pleasure of attending Rebecca
in November 2019, a little brother to Harry (5) and Finlay Molyneux’s wedding to Jonathan Middleton in October 2019,
(3). Unsurprisingly, he reports that lockdown was ‘pretty which was not only a joyful occasion, but also an excellent
challenging’! opportunity to catch up with some fellow Mertonians.
Emily Fildes and Steve Buckley welcomed baby Iris in July
Rachel Huckvale (née Turvey) had her second daughter, 2019, and Emily has started a new job at the Bodleian. Fleur
April, last year – a much longed-for and adored little sister Willson and Olivia von Wulffen are both working for the
for Caroline (6). Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Fleur is based in Tripoli,
while Olivia is hoping to move to Rabat once lockdown
A belated announcement that Claire Chee and Chiin-Zhe restrictions permit. Rob Bradley is currently back in Leeds
Tan welcomed Julian into the world in 2018. Claire reports sheltering from the pandemic.
that she has now finally emerged from the fog of parental
sleep deprivation. Many other Mertonians from our year are thriving in places
right across the world, albeit in various states of lockdown.
Finally, Dave Bird, Krizia Li, Rachel Mumby (née Curtis) Tomas Furlong has relocated to the Herbert Smith Freehills
and Mel Orchard all say ‘Hello!’, while modestly claiming Singapore office as a partner in the disputes group, and
that they have nothing newsworthy to report – which, welcomed his first baby, Astrid, on 15 September 2020. Rami
knowing them, almost certainly isn’t true. Chowdhury is still in Washington, DC with wife Kat and
Wesley the dachshund, and has just joined a new company
working on open-source tools to make sense of the floods
of data that surround us. Closer to home in Europe, Brian
Melican and Caroline Taylor are continuing to maintain a
Merton Germanist enclave in Hamburg, while Mike Lightfoot
is still doing well in Amsterdam.
220
rural Shropshire with their son Connor, and taking advantage Gabriel Ling is also in Hong Kong, and says he hopes
Mertonians | 2002-04
of Andrew’s knowledge of vertical farming to maximise crop everyone is safe and well. ‘A few other Mertonians are here
production in the garden while under lockdown. Kirsten too. Let me know if you ever visit the city and we can come
Claiden-Yardley has had a book published, The Man Behind together for a drink,’ he says.
the Tudors: Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk (Pen &
Sword Books, 2020). She and Nat Merry are still running Hui Mun writes: ‘I’ve been working as a civil servant with the
a heritage consultancy business. Former year rep Simon Singapore government since 2011. I was with the Ministry of
Beard is living with his family in Histon, near Cambridge, and Foreign Affairs, posted to Bangkok during the coup d’état
continuing to work and publish on global catastrophic risk. in 2013/14. Went on to the Ministry of Law in 2015, then
was sent to work with the unions in 2018. I’m currently at
We have set up a year group Facebook group so that we the Ministry of National Development, overseeing public
can all keep in touch throughout the year. Please email us housing. Some Covid-related busy-ness, as you can tell from
if you haven’t already received a link and would like to join. the bad press on Singapore’s foreign workers situation!’
221
Across the pond, the impact of the pandemic has also launching collections for independent designers across
been strongly felt. Gabriel Gann says: ‘We’re weathering New York, London, Milan and Paris fashion weeks. A clear
the lockdown in California’s Bay Area with our 8-month highlight being that time we put Romesh Ranganathan
and 3-year-old girls. My tenure case at UC Berkeley was and Rob Beckett on the runway in New York. In 2019 we
approved the same week the lockdown was announced. introduced Voussoir, our own fashion house, with a show at
California hasn’t started to reopen yet, but we’re looking the Royal Opera House during London Fashion Week. The
forward to being able to go out to celebrate once it does!’ current situation, while undoubtedly challenging, has been
a catalyst for rethinking and challenging the industry. This is
And others are finding the lockdown is strangely familiar. something we had already begun doing and are now more
energised to continue with.’
Tash Beth (née Zitcer) and her husband Ian welcomed their
daughter Matilda (Tilly) on 16 September 2019. Tash has just And there are other positives. ‘In very recent news Oxfordshire
about adjusted to the world of new motherhood, but says Youth, a 71-year-old charity that I have been on the board
‘it turns out that maternity leave and lockdown have an for since 2013 and chairing since 2017, has been awarded £9.8
awful lot in common!’ million over seven years to take an innovative youth work
approach to supported housing in Oxfordshire,’ Carl tells
Tilly is not the only new arrival for the Mertonians of 2004. us. ‘Covid-19 is challenging a generation of young people.
Rory Holmes and his wife Esme had a son, Santiago, on 19 The team and I will be putting to use the relationships and
May 2019 and Tom Hanna welcomed his third child, Eleanor, expertise of Oxfordshire Youth to support and strengthen
into the world in December 2019. ‘Two weeks before she some of the most vulnerable young people in this challenging
was born, a tree fell on our house. Since coming out (as time and for years to come. The project is in partnership with
it were) she has lived through drought, bushfire, flood and mental health charity Response. Tiffany and I also ran the
the Covid pandemic. She doesn’t seem bothered, and there Oxford Half in October 2019, our first half-marathon and yes
is much to learn from her outlook on life. Still running a in the pouring rain, raising funds for Oxfordshire Youth.’
small business (four employees now!) and busier than ever,
pandemic or not.’ Finally, Mikhail Kizilov tells us he received a fellowship grant
from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture (USA) for
Gregory Peter has also had a number of highlights, telling the project focusing on the relations between the Russian
us he is now married with a one-month-old son and a new Old Believers (Raskolniki) and the Jews during the Holocaust.
job – director at The Riverside Company, a lower middle He also signed a contract for a book about the history of
market private equity firm with global footprint. the concentration camp Krasnyi in the vicinity of Simferopol
(the Crimea), which he is going to write in Russian.
There have also been other developments.
Carl Anglim tells us that he has big news. ‘In November 2019 2005
my partner (Tiffany) and I won the International Tray Racing
Association Doubles World Championship at the Olympic track Year Representative: Emma Bullimore
in Igls. The competition is held annually by the International Email: [email protected]
Sliding Club. We first won the doubles title in 2017 and have
held on tightly ever since. Which is pretty much how you win. Fiona Walker and her husband Chris welcomed their baby
Hoping to be back competing on the track late 2020.’ Glenn Christopher Morgan into the world.
Carl says the Oxford Fashion Studio is also doing well. David Pritchard writes: ‘I got married last year to Dr Shoko
‘2020 marked our tenth international season of shows Sugasawa who I met during my PhD in St Andrews. We had
222
two weddings: one in Glasgow (where many of my family live) small research firm doing China big data and investment
Mertonians | 2004-06
and a traditional Shinto ceremony at a shrine near my wife’s analytics. The company was acquired by his largest client,
home town in Japan. We currently live near Stirling, where and so he is now working mainly in finance, albeit still doing
I am a postdoc studying bee behaviour, while my wife is a some writing. Ryan notes that a DPhil on Chinese public
research fellow at St Andrews studying how birds build nests.’ health has proved surprisingly relevant this year! Social
distancing is fairly real in post-SARS Hong Kong, although
he self-deprecatingly comments that his less-than-winning
personality still does more to keep people away than the
government’s public health messaging. (Hong Kong’s Chief
Executive closed all bars for a couple of weeks, declaring
that ‘alcohol encourages intimacy’. Oh, the memories…)
Although Ryan doesn’t really see anyone from Merton, he
recently raised a couple of glasses with some friends in
honour of James Upcher, whom they all miss.
223
2007
Year Representative: Alistair Haggerty
Tel: 07809 357351 Email: [email protected]
For most of us, the year 2020 marks the ten-year
anniversary of our graduation from Merton. Having
dusted off our yearbook, I can see that while some of
us made quite prescient predictions about what the next
decade would bring, nobody had anticipated the bizarre
turn of events resulting from Covid-19. However, in these
uncertain times, it has been really encouraging to hear of
the positive life events that have been taking place over
the last year. Thank you to all of you who responded to
my request for updates.
At the cutting edge of the response to Covid-19 is Christian
Jorgensen, who is working at Johns Hopkins University in
Baltimore. He is currently doing virtual screening to ascertain
whether he and his team can identify a therapy for the virus.
224
to plan a wedding following her engagement to her fiancé Haggerty, less than two weeks ago. Rachael and I are delighted
Mertonians | 2007
Daniel Frank last September. and hope that the lockdown will soon ease sufficiently to
enable our families to get to meet him. Incidentally, in our
In October, Harry Spencer married Carolina at a wedding yearbook, I had seen myself ‘in the car waiting at traffic
ceremony held in her home city of Londrina in Brazil. lights outside Ikea’ ten years after leaving Merton. If only I
had been less ambitious in my prediction…
225
to investigate the history of safe visa pathways for refugees.
2008 The idea for this research was first sparked during her
doctoral study in History at Merton. Claire would like to
Year Representative: Alice Salvage thank her fellow Mertonians in Australia, Nyrie Palmer and
Email: [email protected] Andrew Cichy, for their help writing the grant application.
Claire is now based at the Kaldor Centre for International
Rosie Birchall continues to cohabit with Niall Allsopp Refugee Law, at UNSW Sydney.
in the same house in Peckham where Alice Salvage and
Prakash Parameshwar also live. As a wise woman once Bevil Luck was awarded his PhD in English Literature from
said, ‘nothing has changed’, except that we are now the University of Southampton at the end of June last year
enjoying much more of each other’s company, for obvious with a thesis on the South-African born British poet F.T.
reasons. Niall’s first book was recently published: Poetry Prince called ‘The Froward Master; or, F.T. Prince and the
and Sovereignty in the English Revolution (OUP, 2020) is Poetry of Time’.
available in all good bookshops. Alice continues to spoil her
housemates with her culinary delights, having regained her As announced in last year’s update, Finola Austin’s debut
evenings and weekends after graduating from the National historical novel Bronte’s Mistress is now available to order.
Film and Television School in February 2020 with a diploma Deliciously rendered and captivatingly told, the book
in Script Development. The household is debating whether reimagines the scandalous affair that has divided Brontë
to get a dog or a cat; at present, the consensus is it is hard enthusiasts for generations and gives voice to the woman
enough looking after Prakash. vilified by history as the ‘wicked elder seductress’ who
allegedly brought down the entire Brontë family. Do get
After spending three years in America (Boston and San your copy asap!
Francisco) to complete her Master’s in Public Policy, Corinna
Fehst recently moved back to London and is now working Congratulations to Joshua Baldwin and Eloise Barker
on technology policy issues at Google. (2008), who report that they have ended up engaged (to
each other). They’re delighted! They recently moved to
Elsa Ryder (née Paroissien) welcomed her third child, Iseult, Bristol after Joshua accepted a director role at Aardman.
on 27 December 2019. Iseult is her second daughter, sister
to Julia (8) and Aurélien (7), and is a great source of joy and Max Boulet-Audet has, this year, joined Impossible Foods
hope in these troubled times. as a Principal Materials Scientist to lead the development of
biomimetic tissue for food product technology. The mission
is to drastically reduce humanity’s destructive impact on
2009 the global environment and public health by completely
replacing the use of animals for meat by 2035. Impossible
Year Representative: Stephanie Cadoux-Hudson Foods intends to accomplish this by creating the world’s
Tel: 07814 951309 most delicious, nutritious, affordable and sustainable meat
and dairy foods directly from plants.
Hello all, I hope you are all keeping safe and well in these Edmund and Amber Hood Highcock welcomed their son,
strange times. Hopefully we will get a chance to see each Giles Galahad Philip (Gally), on 18 August 2019. Gally was
other again sometime soon but until then here’s some news. born in Sweden where his parents have lived since 2016. His
interests include robot vacuum cleaners and rabbits, both
Claire Higgins has won a prestigious three-year Australian real and illustrated. He is frequently to be found sharing a
Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award, book with Bodley (the dog).
226
Mertonians | 2008-10
Reunions in the time of Covid-19: Zoom catch-up from across
the world during lockdown of (from top left): Stephanie Cadoux-
Hudson, Phil Entwistle, Francesco Fermani, Julie Bastianutti, Wolf
Rittershofer, Pari Kritsiligkou, Claire Higgins, and Edmund and Amber
Hood Highcock with Gally
2010
Year Representative: Martin Schmidbaur
(undergraduates)
Email: [email protected]
And finally, your Year Rep is still living and working in Writing this update in 2020 – a decade since we first met
Oxford (will I ever leave?). As a Principal Scientist/Team – would have been impossible without chronicling the
Lead at Oxford Biomedical it has been an extremely busy impact of a global pandemic on the crowd of 2010 Merton
few months with our growing involvement in the Covid-19 matriculands. I asked you about your experience of living
vaccine production. Wandering around Oxford during the through the days of quarantine, lockdown, self-isolation and
lockdown, empty of tourists and students, has been a weird sheltering-in-place – and here’s what you all had to share.
and surreal time but Oxford remains stunningly beautiful
and magical as always. Will Bennett wouldn’t be Will Bennett if he hadn’t found a
way of doing outrageous things even when he was literally
told to stay at home and sit still. Instead, Will cycled all
the way from London to his home in Hull, (inexplicably)
packing books and a laptop for the journey and thus almost
collapsing from exhaustion. As at time of writing, he was
227
quarantining in Yorkshire. Says Will: ‘Far nicer [than a bike
ride along the M11, presumably] and being only a few minutes’
drive from the national parks, we belong to the select few
who are allowed to walk in areas of natural beauty.’ Will
expects to finish his (second) degree because, in his own
words, ‘basically they have just decided to pass everyone’.
228
– her words not mine. At a time when we’ve seen mass fiancée Yuhao were planning to spend their honeymoon
Mertonians | 2010
demonstrations about social injustice and discrimination, in California this summer, but they’ve unfortunately had to
Jess continues to do her bit to make the tech industry more postpone the wedding until next year. We keep our fingers
diverse – while her employer has helped the NHS to develop a crossed for them to have a fantastic celebration next year.
more data-driven response to Covid-19. Jess has in fact seen
Tiger King (presumably enjoyed it), is spending lots more Hearing your stories, as ever, has been humbling and
time cooking, and staying in close touch with Catriona Hull incredibly interesting. On behalf of the entire year, I wanted
and Sarah Harrison. to recognise that 2020 surely will have been a difficult year
for many with its own ups and downs, but it was heartening
Much like Laura, Catriona Hull also works in education to hear that many of you found your own moments of joy.
and as Sarah Harrison put it, ‘the educational resources We owe a huge debt of gratitude to each and every one
Catriona is providing are proving to be in high demand now of you – as well as the essential workers and healthcare
all the kids are having to learn at home.’ professionals all around the world – who has been working
to keep us safe. Our heartfelt thanks!
Sarah herself says her job in the science directorate at
the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care suddenly Graduates
became a lot more intense at the outset of the pandemic,
as the UK government rediscovered their trust in experts Alkiviadis Ginalis writes: ‘Although we are facing a
(her words not mine) and Sarah’s bosses appeared in daily challenging time with constant unpleasant news, I am glad
news conferences. They have been doing a lot of work on to inform you that I recently got appointed to the position
research into vaccines, treatments etc. and some fascinating of Curator for Late Antique and Byzantine Archaeology at
behavioural science to try and get us all out of lockdown. the German Archaeological Institute in Istanbul. Also in
terms of personal life I have the exciting news that my wife
Jess Odone has been enjoying the appropriately named and I are expecting a child.’
Oddono’s ice cream in East Dulwich. Outside work, she’s
been keeping up with her keepy-uppies in a way that befits Eleni Siskou and her husband Feiran Long and were very
a former Merton College girls’ football captain, and ran her happy to welcome their baby boy, Heikki, in November 2019.
fastest-ever half marathon in under 1hr 40mins. Her view from
quarantine is of the sourdough loaves she’s been making. Jay Lu reports: ‘After completing my DPhil at Merton College
in 2015, I returned to Taiwan for mandatory military service.
George Lockett, also working in hospital, has been Then I joined an immunology research lab at the University
delivering babies throughout the pandemic. As at time of of British Columbia as a postdoc, working on various topics
writing, he said he was in desperate need of a haircut as his including gene editing, immunotherapy development and
hair is ‘worse than during Freshers’ Week.’ creating a monoclonal antibody biologic to target certain
types of cancer cells. After my postdoc, I joined a local start-up
He can go head to head with Matt Constable, who shaved his (in Oxford), called MappingLab as a Global Sales and Business
hair for charity and reports that it looked shocking, apparently. Development Manager. I focus on expanding our business to
the rest of the world and introduce our latest cardiac mapping
It’s only fitting that we close with an update from another technology to the research community, helping them to
of the many Merton medics this year. Ruth Mitchell shared advance their research fighting against diseases.
two views from quarantine – sunny afternoons in her little
back garden and night shifts on neonatal intensive care, ‘In response to Covid-19, one of my recent interesting projects
where she tried to capture the sunset from the window with MappingLab is to evaluate the cardiocytoxicity of the
of Royal Oldham Hospital in Manchester. Ruth and her controversial drugs hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin,
229
with our electrical and optical mapping systems. Hopefully, plans, but that he and his fiancé Andrew are to be married in
this will provide a comprehensive insight into current June 2021. In other nuptial news, Imogen Allred (née Large)
therapeutic suggested doses of both drugs. was married to Stephen in late 2018, with Mertonians Roland
Armstrong, Arne Bruyneel and Youxin Kong in attendance.
‘For more information, please feel free to check out the
blogs I wrote earlier for cardiac mapping technology:
mappinglab.com/cardiac-electrophysiology-mapping-
system and mappinglab.com/why-ipsc-technology-is-vital-
to-cardiac-research’
2011
Year Representative: Timothy Foot
Email: [email protected]
230
founding Blingby – a company that makes interactive digital
Mertonians | 2010-16
content from video, live streaming, and podcasts.
231
In
Memoriam
In Memoriam | FELLOWS & EMERITUS FELLOWS
of Andrew McMichael FRS to create a strong collaborative
Fellows environment with a positive and inclusive culture which has
directly contributed to its success. He brought together
people from different disciplines and took enjoyment in
seeing investigators thrive in such a warm environment.
233
precision. It was presented in a way that compelled the Hall songs and knew them by heart. We did not agree about
reader’s interest – very often the reader’s consent as well. religion but he knew far more about the Bible and religion
His lectures and tutorials had the same character. Students than I did.
found him demanding, but also effective in arousing their
interest: he was good at presenting difficult issues in the right ‘David loved entertaining and we managed to combine that
way for the particular audience. Colleagues found him an in poetry evenings, covering a huge range of poems, long
excellent person with whom to discuss philosophical issues and short, sad and harder to find, funny. In his last few years
of any kind. Again and again, he would resolve a complicated David was stoical, never complaining about his increasing ill
issue in a manner that was both clear and compelling. health, enjoying each day.’
He had a great many other interests outside academic By his family and Dr Ralph Walker (Balliol, 1964)
life. These included sailing, hill-walking, theatre and opera,
interests he shared with his first wife Jenny. Their two
children, Tim and Penny, have inherited many of their
parents’ qualities. Jenny’s death from breast cancer in 1996
was almost certainly the worst thing in David’s life. But he
married again and had many happy years with his second
wife Rosanne. Latterly she looked after him increasingly, as
he suffered a wasting illness. But he continued to think about
philosophical issues until perhaps a year before he died.
Then he decided that he had not read enough literature,
and undertook a programme of reading all the books on his
bookshelves, in the order in which they happened to have The College was sad to learn of the death of Emeritus Fellow
been placed. Dr John James (Jim) Coulton on 1 August 2020. A full
obituary will appear in next year’s edition.
Rosanne writes: ‘I have known David since I was first married
and he was first married to Jenny. In those days David looked Jim was an undergraduate and postgraduate student at
and sounded like the film star Michael York. Cambridge, and he taught at the Australian National
University and the Universities of Manchester and Edinburgh.
‘I partly wanted to marry David because he had been happily In 1979, he was appointed to the Readership in Classical
married to Jenny and as he said to me “Expect nothing.” His Archaeology at Oxford and to a Fellowship at Merton, from
daughter-in-law, Mel, said to me “The house was filled with which he retired in 2004. During his Oxford career, he was
love.” He was very easy to be married to, met one halfway. Director of the Institute of Archaeology (1990-93), chaired
David was a modest man. Everything he did, he did to the the Sub-Faculty of Archaeology, and was instrumental in
best of his ability, whether it was writing his books, learning the creation of the BA in Classical Archaeology and Ancient
his lectures by heart, or ironing a shirt, it was all done History. Jim also served the College on committees, as
beautifully, his confidence was built on very solid ground. Secretary to the Harmsworth Trust, and as Sub-Warden.
He excavated in Greece, Turkey, Libya, Jordan, and Iran, and
‘We had some very good times together, travelling to visit published several important monographs.
David’s family in Hawaii and Australia and exploring those
countries, but also Europe and India. David was good to go Jim was a world expert on the study of ancient Greek
to art galleries with as he was interested and observant. architecture and published widely on the subject. His book
His knowledge and collection of music was extensive and Ancient Greek Architects at Work: Problems of Structure and
covered a wide range. He particularly liked Old Time Music Design, first published in 1977, remains a classic for the study
234
In Memoriam | EMERITUS FELLOWS
of Greek architecture; his monograph The Architectural at all. It is an activity, rather than a set of propositions.’ This is
Development of the Greek Stoa is another example of his perhaps the key to understanding his philosophical method
profound understanding of the subject. His meticulous study as well his teaching style. In both cases, he sought to apply
and publication about the monumental building at Toumba, the dialectical method first associated with Socrates, where
in Lefkandi (Euboea) changed our knowledge of early respectful dialogue between individuals probing each other’s
architecture during a period that was previously assumed arguments leads to clearer understanding of the central
to be a Dark Age. He taught a large number of students at issues. In his writing, John was at pains to rescue reason
all levels and was much appreciated for his dedication and from the narrow straitjacket of deductive logic or the search
great care. for infallible explanations and certain knowledge. If reason
is to help make sense of a multifaceted and complex world
Jim will be deeply missed by the Merton community. Our and provide us with reasons for action – despite our inability
thoughts are with his family. to know everything relevant – it must adopt the two-sided
nature of reasonable dialogue. Given the different layers of
reality and the limitations of any single perspective, every
scheme of explanation has questions it cannot answer and will
benefit from qualification and complementary perspectives.
No matter how illuminating a model or explanation is, there
always remains more to be said.
235
the entry of women to Merton) that seemed calculated Bob’s approach was always collaborative, and he found
largely to provoke. He used archaic language and yet wrote stimulating colleagues at Imperial College and elsewhere. He
with astonishing clarity. He was old-fashioned in many of his was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1979 at the age
habits and yet embraced modern technology much sooner of 43. After 15 years at Princeton, he agreed with Richard
than many – an early adopter of personal computers and Southwood that it was time to move to the UK. From 1988
famously relishing the freedom an electric razor gave him onwards, Bob was a Fellow of Merton College and Professor
to shave while pacing the Fellows’ Garden. John had an of Zoology jointly at Oxford and Imperial College.
almost monastic conception of academic responsibilities, but
encouraged many of his students to use their Oxford training While continuing his teaching and research, Bob began
to enter public service. He was even tolerant of the large his public roles, serving as a Chairman of the Trustees of
number of those he taught who became bankers – though, as the Natural History Museum and as trustee or committee
Mustafa Abbas remembers, he was prone at reunions to ask member of many other similar bodies. It still came as a
the compelling question: ‘How are you treating the world?’ surprise to some when he was appointed Chief Scientific
Adviser to the Government (1995-2000), first under Prime
John will be remembered by many for his kindness and Minister John Major and then Tony Blair. This was followed by
generosity – whether taking groups of over-anxious finalists the Presidency of the Royal Society (2000-05), a life peerage,
to walk among the bluebells of Wytham Woods, sharing his and appointment to the Order of Merit. He was the recipient
home-made cider, or discussing career possibilities. He was of many prizes and more than 30 honorary degrees.
also a deeply loyal family man, married to Morar for 59 years
and with two sons, two daughters, and a fine collection of Through all this he spoke his mind, sometimes with
grandchildren to whom he was devoted. memorable effect, and continued to help and inspire students
for which he is remembered with affection and respect.
Richard Bronk (1979)
In the words of a colleague, ‘Over five decades, his work
transformed mathematical ecology by posing new questions
and introducing analytical approaches adapted from his
training and early research in physics. Those who had the
good luck to know and work with him knew that their world
was vastly larger and better because of his presence in it. And
thanks to his engaging and lucid writing (and his enormous
output) he will remain effectively present for many future
generations of scientists and scholars.’
Bob leaves behind his wife Judith who was his constant
Robert May, Baron May of Oxford, passed away on 28 April companion for 60 years, and their devoted daughter Nome.
2020.
Judith May
Robert was born and educated in Sydney, Australia, where he
began his academic career as a theoretical physicist. In the
late 1960s he became interested in environmental issues and
began the work in theoretical ecology that made his name.
236
In Memoriam | EMERITUS FELLOWS & HONORARY FELLOWS
protein lysozyme (derived from egg white) inside a laboratory
Honorary Fellows instrument over the weekend, and found on his return that it
had set like a jelly. On closer inspection it proved to contain
amyloid fibrils, structures that until that moment Dobson
had known only from descriptions of disease.
237
demonstrate dynamic change in the structure of a protein
molecule (lysozyme) using nuclear magnetic resonance.
238
Corporation’s symphony orchestra and director of music at László returned to England in 1967, taking up the musical
239
is how wives were still expected to be a significant part of
their husband’s work and how in 1991 he made a formal
recommendation to lift the ban on homosexual diplomats.
It was accepted by Douglas Hurd, the foreign secretary,
endorsed by Major and came into effect just after Wright’s
retirement later that year.
240
needs teacher, whose husband Sir Simon McDonald has since English gentleman never felt comfortable with the local
241
been the unclassical Ernest Bevin who, on seeing ‘mutatis cast Walter Pidgeon, Gregory Peck or possibly Edward
mutandis’ in an official document, scribbled the tetchy reply: Everett Horton Jr (in lifts) to play the part.
‘Please do not write in Greek.’
His authentic Yankee roots originated from a bit farther
This obituary was first published in The Times on 9 March south than New England. Prosser was born on 16 May 1929
2020. It is reproduced with permission of News Licensing. in New York City, the only child of Barbara Prosser and John
Archer Gifford. He was the grandson of Constance Barber
Prosser and Seward Prosser, Chairman of Bankers Trust
Bodley Fellows Co and philanthropist, and Helen Conyngham Gifford and
Charles Alling Gifford, of Newark, New Jersey, an architect who
designed the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods,
New Hampshire and numerous armories and courthouses
along the northeastern coast of the United States.
242
In Memoriam | HONORARY FELLOWS & BODLEY FELLOWS
writing, and discussion of national and world issues. The a trip that became known as the ‘Annual Stress Test’ for
Wilson Quarterly described Prosser as an ‘exemplar of the its unpredictable weather and mechanical mishaps, For
strenuous life’. He was tireless in his pursuit of knowledge, unsuspecting crews it was not a pleasure cruise up or down
reading three to four books a week and amassing a library the East coast.
of over 9,000 volumes in his home, organized using his
proprietary Gifford Decimal System. Prosser was married to Deedee for 56 years until her death
in 2010. He is survived by his three daughters, Barbara, Paula
Prosser left the Wilson Center to become the Director of and Heidi; their respective spouses Bill Shimer, Chris McKenzie
Scholarly Programs at the Library of Congress, a position and George Melas-Kyriazi, and his six grandchildren: Eliot
created for him which he held for 15 years until his retirement and Sophie Shimer; Jessica and Melanie McKenzie; and Luke
in 2005. He was the first director of the John W Kluge Center and Lily Melas-Kyriazi. The interests and chosen occupations
at the Library of Congress that brought together some of of Prosser’s children and grandchildren reflect the broad-
the world’s eminent thinkers and supervised the selection ranging passions of their grandfather: environmental
of the $1 million Kluge Prize for lifetime achievement in the affairs, medicine, healthcare strategy, computer science and
humanities and social sciences. Over the course of his artificial intelligence. One grandchild, Luke Melas-Kyriazi, will
long productive career Prosser wrote a series of books on follow his grandfather’s early voyage across the Atlantic and
British and German colonialism in Africa and had extensive then to Oxford, although Luke's trip may be at least initially
experience as an editor of books on African history and made virtually. He begins Michaelmas term as a 2020 Rhodes
United States policy. Scholar at Oxford this fall.
It is an understatement to note that in ‘retirement’ Pross Pross served from 1998 to 2006 as the second president
remained busy. In 2005, he and his wife Deedee moved from of MC3 succeeding Roderick Richards and eventually
Washington, DC to Woods Hole, Massachusetts as the handing over to John Kirby. He remained a life trustee of
third generation of their family to live on the water there. the organization until his passing. He and Deedee, his
Prosser spent his time writing and serving on the board enthusiastic constant companion, attended and livened up
or volunteering with numerous local institutions. He was College and MC3 events until the end of their lives. Pross
Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Marine Biological was a great friend of the College which he loved and served
Laboratory for 13 years, was an Honorary Member of the so well. The College flag was flown at half-mast on receiving
Corporation of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution the news of Prosser’s death.
(WHOI), President of the Woods Hole Public Library and
served in varying capacities for a dozen other organizations Prosser Gifford, whether family, friends or anyone privileged
including the Falmouth Chorale, Falmouth Academy, to know you, we all miss you. We need to remember and
Highfields Hall and the Church of the Messiah. emulate your virtues and your steady hand navigating
through a contentious period in our collective history. Your
Since he was a young child, Prosser’s great passion was life’s beacon light can help us steer through our present
sailing. He met his vivacious athletic wife named at birth storms to a better and safer world.
Shirley, but known to all as Deedee, in a sailing race in
Woods Hole when he was 11 years old and she was 9. They Nick Allard (1974)
were active members of the Ensign fleet in Quissett. Many Bodley Fellow
claim Deedee was the better skipper. Prosser crewed for the
Bermuda Race half a dozen times and raced trans-Atlantic
twice, and once a hurricane-filled trial from New York to
Spain. He captained his own boat the Windhover 28 times
between Woods Hole and Solomons Island, Maryland,
243
Former Warden, Dame Jessica Rawson, writes:
Wyliot Fellows
Ian Taylor arrived at Merton one afternoon with an
unexpected offer. He wanted to encourage students from East
Asia to come to Merton to read for an undergraduate degree
in PPE. He came to my office with one of his former tutors,
Vijay Joshi, who was Sub-Warden at the time, and spoke
with what I came to recognise was his usual enthusiasm
and conviction about his objectives, in this instance to bring
students from an entirely different world to gain, as he
had done, from an engagement with their tutors and with
It is with great sadness that the College learned of the death life in Oxford. I have never forgotten his enthusiasm and
of Ian Roper Taylor, alumnus, Wyliot Fellow, and great friend sparkle on a rather grey afternoon in 1995. The tutors made
of the College, as well as a distinguished businessman and alternative proposals, trying to persuade Ian to fund a post
philanthropist. He died of cancer, on 8 June 2020, aged 64. or perhaps more local students. Vijay Joshi, who had known
him as an energetic, popular and very effective President of
Born on 7 February 1956, Ian was educated at King's School, the JCR, recognised the Ian of his undergraduate days and
Macclesfield, and came up to Merton in 1975. He was elected was, therefore, convinced that we should follow his lead.
as JCR President during his time at the College and was central
to student life. After completing his degree in Philosophy, Ways to reach into East Asia were not at all clear to me. An
Politics and Economics in 1978, he joined Shell and spent time advertisement for the scholarship was drafted and circulated
working in South America and Southeast Asia. through the British Council. And in the late autumn of 1996
Shengyan Fan, a student from the prestigious Tsinghua
In 1985, Ian moved to the energy and commodities trading University in Beijing, came for interview. We are fortunate
company Vitol, where he gave the company strong leadership that her visit to Merton and the discussions at the interview
as CEO from 1995 to 2018. Over this time, Vitol became the captured Shengyan, as she was also offered opportunities in
world’s biggest independent oil trader. Ian most recently the USA. In 1997, Shengyan arrived and embarked on three
served as the company’s chairman, managing to maintain a years of PPE. This was a life-changing experience for her, and
busy schedule despite his ill health. her tutors were not entirely sure what to make of this lively
Chinese student. But Ian proved absolutely correct. With
Through the Taylor Family Foundation, Ian and his family Shengyan, Merton and Oxford gained a strong foothold
have supported a wide variety of organisations involved among the huge and vigorous populations of the Far East;
in social inclusion, arts, music, education and other areas. someone who held fast to the teaching and values she had
Among his many philanthropic and voluntary endeavours, gained, while building her life in East Asia, married to another
Ian served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Mertonian (Stephen Lee, 1998). And probably Merton should
Opera House. also thank Ian for that, for while Shengyan was at Merton,
he visited her, encouraged her and made sure that she
Ian was a major supporter of Merton’s 750th Anniversary enjoyed her life with us.
Campaign, and his gifts have enabled the College to develop
vital financial help for undergraduate students in need. Thereafter, Ian supported other students and other schemes
at Merton, always enthusiastic and generous. But Ian clearly
He retained strong links to his roots in the north of England, enjoyed most of all the unusual, with a slight element of risk.
and Manchester in particular, and was a keen supporter of As Oxford has discovered, exploring China to find students
Manchester City Football Club. who will appreciate what the University has to offer is not
244
In Memoriam | WYLIOT FELLOWS & FORMER FELLOWS AND LECTURERS
straightforward. But Ian’s suggestion triumphed, perhaps magnificent title The State of the Universe with state-of-
because it was a rare adventure in its time. And Shengyan the-art papers by such leading researchers in his field as
proved willing and more than able to take up the challenge. DW Sciama on ‘The origin of the universe’, DE Blackwell on
‘The stars as suns’, and R Penrose on ‘Black holes’. He left
In the years that followed, Ian came to Merton from time to a somewhat less familiar legacy to Merton College in the
time. But meeting him in London was a greater pleasure, often shape of the sundial on the northeast corner of the Chapel.
somewhat fleetingly, sometimes unexpectedly at exhibitions. As he explained in a typically erudite article for Postmaster
His office displayed his large and often very unusual collection 1972 (pp. 15-20) the positioning of the gnomon of this, which
of art, one of his passions. And in Ian I found a friend who had become detached many years ago, had defeated the
recognised my quest to see China through its early relations best efforts of architects and mathematicians in finding the
with Siberia, Mongolia and Central Asia. Ian of course correct position to replace it – situated on the northeast
understood how important that part of the world was for corner of the building, which is obviously not the ideal
resources, trade and above all politics. I shall always remember orientation for a sundial, its design and construction drew
Ian’s wonderful, lively and glamorous 60th birthday party in on the mathematical skills of former Savilian Professors.
the heart of London, where he made sure I was at a table In his Postmaster article Dr Bath outplays all of them by
with like-minded guests. But away from the excitement and starting with Socrates and calculating logarithmically the
glamour, what was so special was Ian’s understanding of historical position of the heavenly bodies at the date of the
distant places and different peoples and of the ways to reach sundial’s construction, research which allowed the College
them and indeed of the imperative to do so. to replace the bullet-shaped gnomon in its present position.
May it, and the 1972 Postmaster article, thus long remain as
a lasting tribute to the memory of this former Fellow.
Former Fellows and Lecturers
His wider interests included photography, mountaineering
It is with great regret that we report the death on 30 and sailing. His early passion was rock-climbing up the
December 2019 of a former Fellow of Merton, Geoffrey Purbeck cliffs, which he only decided to give up following
Bath, lecturer in physics during the 1970s, whose research in fatal accidents involving prominent mountaineers, including
astrophysics won him an enduring international reputation friends of his. His photographic skills survive him in the
in his field. jacket illustration for Jan Morris’s book of Oxford. His
work in Oxford was, however, sadly interrupted in middle
One of three brothers who grew up in Poole, where he age by mental illness, though following this he moved to
was educated at Poole Grammar School, Geoffrey chose Weymouth, where he worked for his remaining years before
to follow his elder brother Michael to Keble College after retirement with the defence contractor QinetiQ. He never
achieving passes with three straight ‘A’ grades at A-level (an lost his astronomical interests, however, and in 2008 he
achievement somewhat rarer in those days than it has since chose, in a typically eccentric manœuvre, to demonstrate
become). He confessed only recently that it was the good his theories of ‘the way gravitational fields are formed in
time he saw his brother having at Oxford that drew him to cataclysmic variable stars’ to his local friends in Weymouth,
follow his example, even though his brother’s subject was and to the general public, by setting up a demonstration,
not science but Eng. Lit. On graduating he completed his using vessels filled with water, elastic and a siphon, on the
doctorate in the University of Sussex before returning to pavement outside the Red Lion pub in Hope Square. An
research in astrophysics at Merton and Wolfson colleges; account of this, with photograph, appeared in the local
he also worked as a research fellow with NASA at Princeton. newspaper (Dorset Echo, 17 June 2008).
In 1980 he edited for Clarendon Press the 1979 Wolfson As a research astrophysicist at Oxford (1972-91), Geoff
College Lectures in astrophysics, which appeared under the published more than 100 papers, many of which were
245
immediately ground-breaking and influential. Of particular back then to recruit high-ranking ex-servicemen. Univ
note are four papers on the evolution of viscous discs had Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Gretton, Magdalen Brigadier Eric
published between 1981 and 1983, the first three of these Darlow, Wadham Rear-Admiral Philip Edwards, and so forth.
being in collaboration with Jim Pringle (University of What the Fellows’ thinking was is difficult to capture, like so
Cambridge). Mass transfer, viscous variations, giant discs much Fellows’ thinking; but it will be remembered that the
in symbiotic stars and stream penetration effects were the College was still a single-sex male institution. It was known
topics covered; of specific concern were the consequences of that boys, even the best and brightest, would be boys; that
viscous disc formation for the later stages of stellar evolution. is, prone to occasional outbursts of boisterousness and
The four papers on viscous disc formation continue to puerility, when reversion to a prehensile state occurred. In
attract citations nearly 40 years after their publication, the extremis, therefore, to prevent mayhem after a JCR Entz
continuing interest arising from the contemporary interest thrash, a club dinner or bump supper, the capacity to muster
in planetary systems outside the solar system. a defensive formation might not go amiss; besides, many
Fellows and College staff had seen war. They understood that
A commemorative service in Weymouth, Hope United Reformed good officers were resourceful, took matters in their stride,
Church, following his death brought together at least some of liked a bit of spit and polish about the place and, above all,
his many friends and family. He is survived by the daughter, were adept at handling miscellaneous bodies of men.
Emily, of his first marriage and by his second wife, Penny.
Barney fitted that image. He was a child of Empire, born
Michael Bath in Sumatra in 1929 to a rubber planter and his wife, both
parents originally from Edinburgh. He spent his first six
years there, before going to prep school in Stirling and on
to Melville College. He won a place at Edinburgh University
and considered reading Geography. Instead, he passed into
Sandhurst in 1948; his father had been in the Great War, and
Barney had an appetite for service, mixed with adventure. He
enjoyed Sandhurst, both the training and all-round education;
he also played rugby there. Commissioned in 1949, he was sent
out to Hong Kong in 1950 with the 1st Battalion King’s Own
Scottish Borderers. Their task was twofold: to repel a potential
Chinese attack on the colony, and to stem the tide of illegal
James Barney Henderson died on 28 March 2020, aged 90, border crossings by economic and political refugees. Neither
at Barton-on-the-Heath, Gloucestershire. A man of great objective was remotely feasible. Here were valuable lessons
vitality, he was Domestic Bursar from 1976 to 1990, a Fellow to absorb: retaining a sense of perspective, maintaining good
from 1979. order and morale, digging in, perseverance and dauntlessness.
Merton’s future challenges were all minor by comparison.
Barney, as he was familiarly called about College, initially
manifested himself as Lieutenant Colonel Henderson. He Clearing scrub, cutting trenches and laying barbed wire in the
was Merton’s second full-time Domestic Bursar, the post New Territories to forestall a feared Chinese invasion proved
previously shouldered by a tutor on top of academic duties. perfect preparation for withstanding the actual Chinese
The new arrangement had begun in 1961 with Rear-Admiral onslaught in Korea. Barney, now a platoon commander,
Derick Hetherington. Accordingly, in 1976 the College simply was shipped there in April 1951, to relieve the Argylls. His
switched armed services. Whereas nowadays domestic first serious action occurred across the Imjin River on 3-4
bursars are commonly drawn from the world of business, October, the assault on Hill 355, which was taken. About
hotel and catering management especially, it was the norm 25 miles north of Seoul, which Barney recalled as a pile of
246
In Memoriam | FORMER FELLOWS AND LECTURERS
rubble rather than a capital, Hill 355 was nicknamed Little metal fittings bolted to a wall by a window. These being
Gibraltar because of its strategic prominence. It would be viewed with suspicion and not a little trepidation, Barney set
the focus of fierce combat for the rest of the war, with about reassuring inmates. A fire drill was scheduled, and the
opposing front lines solidifying around the 38th Parallel. College marshalled one morning in Fellows’ Quad. It was a
predictably motley Merton crowd, huddled in groups, several
Barney thus fought in what was dubbed ‘The Forgotten seizing on the fag break, all grumbling: random students,
War’. He was posted to Malaya in 1955-57 and Sarawak, sundry secretaries and assorted staff, a sprinkling of tutors,
Borneo in the 1960s, conflicts that register even less in their impatience spiced by curiosity. Exactly on the appointed
popular memory. Like many a veteran, Barney remained hour, the window of a top room alongside the Tower of the
phlegmatic about seeming public indifference. Pressing Four Orders was flung open by Barney, who began to address
might get him to talk about past engagements but wasn’t the waiting mob through a loudhailer. He had their attention.
guaranteed. Characteristically, he omitted his service record What followed would pass into College lore. He leapt onto
from his entry in the Merton College Register II, 1891-1989 the ledge, rope in one hand, megaphone in the other, and
(1989), except for his rank. Fortunately, he was interviewed proceeded to abseil down the stonework. Magnificently, he
in 1999 for the Imperial War Museum, in which he delivered paused half-way, leaning out to his full height, still booming
an archetypal Barney performance: clear, calm, precise, instructions, before completing the descent. It was impossible
downplaying his personal contribution, awarding credit to not to be impressed. Merton had its very own Action Man.
others, and exemplifying a soldier’s stoical acceptance that At the same time, his awestruck audience silently vowed not
their fate was ultimately decided by politicians. Barney’s faith even to dream of touching the lethal device.
in the regimental system also shines out, through which
individuals from diverse backgrounds pull together. Barney was no martinet, though not inclined to mollycoddle
undergraduates. As a fresher, Steve Gunn tentatively raised
Colleges bear some resemblance to regiments, however with Barney whether anything might be done about the
indistinct. This explains why Barney was drawn to Merton. Once heat coursing out and the breeze blowing into his room at
here, the differences slightly puzzled him and continued to do 20 Merton Street, because the window was permanently
so, albeit to a diminishing degree. Barney rightly suspected clamped open by a scaffolding pipe. He got the drift
that academics constitute a rare breed and that it’s easier of Barney’s probable verdict as they marched upstairs
to herd cats; but quite what their chain of command was or together: ‘Strapping lad like you, you should be glad you’re
whether any structure existed at all, seemed mysterious. It was not in a tent on the Afghan plain.’ It was January 1980, when
emphasised to him at the outset that a Domestic Bursar held the USSR invaded; but at home we could be consoled that
great responsibility and virtually no power. That took getting Oxford’s weather was less severe than during the previous
used to, but Barney was adaptable, endlessly affable, and Winter of Discontent.
came to appreciate this new-found atmosphere of freedom
and independence. Further, he was equipped with an essential The rest of Barney’s tenure does not call for elaboration,
asset, a sense of humour, even if the abstruse scholarly stuff although the admission of women and expansion of student
was lost on him – as it is on most of us. numbers – almost one in three were graduates by 1987 –
imposed demands for rooms and amenities that had to be
He made a stunning start. The Cold War remained chilly, and met. Likewise, to cater for unforeseeable extras, including
Barney quickly ascertained that Merton had no nuclear fall- suitable accommodation and services for the Crown Prince
out shelter. The Fellows were a trifle dubious, but a bunker of Japan and for a new Merton Vice-Chancellor, Sir Richard
was duly established in cellars beneath the west flank of Southwood, the first since the 17th century who was not a
Fellows’ Quad. Barney did not stop there. New regulations Head of House. Barney expected staff to do their duty; in turn,
demanded fireproof doors and means of escape. Upper- he repaid them with his loyalty, solicitously looking after their
storey rooms were installed with thick ropes coiled around welfare and delivering kindly tributes on special occasions.
247
Among the many College clubs to which he gave unstinting Edwards at the University jazz club and they married in 1964
help, he grew closest to the boat club. He became a long- and had two sons: Mark, born in 1968, and Richard in 1972.
standing President of the Friends and driving force behind the
golden jubilee celebration of the 1951 Headship of the River, He began his teaching career at Merton College, and
organising an Old Mertonian Eight (and rowing as Five) on 24 switched to Magdalen in 1969, following in the footsteps
June 2001 during the Merton Society Weekend. The warmth of John Betjeman. He would later become Chairman of the
of this relationship is epitomised by the MCBC naming a Betjeman Society. Also a member of the Victorian Society,
shell Barney Henderson. More transient, yet perhaps more the Ecclesiological Society and the Trollope Society, he had a
extraordinary, was his achievement in cajoling members of long-standing interest in Victoriana and family holidays were
the SCR onto the river in 1978. The SCR Eight broke no records, often punctuated by visits to churches.
but their presence alone underlined Barney’s leadership gift.
Anyone who can make a crew of such inveterate soloists As well as helping to re-found the Oxford branch of the
as Mike Bowler and John Lucas deserved every medal going. Betjeman Society, he served as its national chairman from
2008 until 2014. He contributed a piece on the poet’s
Barney Henderson is survived by his second wife, Caroline. conflicted relationship with Magdalen and particularly with
his tutor, CS Lewis, to the College publication Floreat in 2009.
Philip Waller
Emeritus Fellow A lover of trains and music, his spiritual homes were the
cross-country service from Paris to Spain and Magdalen’s
chapel, where he attended evensong several nights a week
before dining.
248
When he was asked to give the President’s Friends’ Lecture As an undergraduate he attended Pembroke College, Oxford
This obituary was first published in The Oxford Mail on 11 George’s exacting philological standards secured his
October 2018. It is reproduced with permission of its Editors. international reputation as a scholar of medieval Latin as
well as of Middle English. His editions included the poems
of Walter of Wimborne (1978), his controversial edition of
the Z-Text of Piers Plowman (1983, with Charlotte Brewer)
and a glossed epitome of Geoffrey of Monmouth, A Book of
British Kings (2000). The last was published as volume 30
of the Toronto Medieval Latin Texts, a series that George
established and for which he served as general editor for its
first 30 volumes. His many articles included a signal series
of codicological studies of medieval Latin poetic anthologies
which appeared in Mediaeval Studies. Medieval Latin: An
Introduction and Bibliographical Guide, co-edited with Frank
We acknowledge with deep sadness the death of Professor Mantello, remains an invaluable resource for students of
Arthur George Rigg on 7 January 2019. the field, while his magisterial survey, A History of Anglo-
Latin Literature, 1066-1422, published in 1992, will remain
George, as he was known universally to friends, colleagues the definitive reference work for decades to come. He was
and generations of admiring and grateful students, died elected Fellow of the Medieval Academy of America in 1997
peacefully at home, in the presence of his beloved wife and of the Royal Society of Canada in 1998.
Jennifer, after a period of declining health.
His passionate advocacy for reading competence in medieval
George was born on 17 February 1937 at Wigan, Lancashire, Latin as a central feature of serious advanced training in
and received his secondary education at Wigan Grammar medieval studies led to the creation of the Committee for
School, which was known for its strong reputation in Classics. Medieval Latin Studies, which he chaired from its inception
249
until his retirement, and to the system of examinations ‘excellent contribution to the knowledge of and achievement
that remains a hallmark of a Toronto training in the in the field of cardiology’ in 2006.
field. It was his tireless and exacting but endlessly patient
encouragement of students in their pursuit of a notoriously He obtained his MBChB (first class honours) in medicine from
rigorous standard that exposed the greatest number of the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 1955 and completed his
Toronto graduate students to his teaching over the years. DPhil in physiology at the University of Oxford on a Rhodes
Those who took his seminars, and above all those who Scholarship. He then left for Harvard Medical School to work
benefited from his kindness, enthusiasm and bonhomie as in the Metabolic Research Unit at the Brigham Hospital and
their doctoral supervisor experienced even more abundantly returned to UCT in 1962 to complete his MD in biochemistry
his rare combination of extraordinary erudition, good and, in 1994, his DSc. He subsequently went on a scholarship
humour, genuine humility and quiet empathy. to train further under two Nobel laureates: Professor Sir
Hans Krebs, who described the Krebs citric acid cycle, at
We are all of us the poorer for the loss of this kind, good Oxford; and Professor Sir Ernst Chain, who co-developed
and brilliant man. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer, sisters- penicillin, at Imperial College of Science and Technology,
in-law Joanne Hope and Ann Nicholson, and by his nephew, London. In 1969 he was appointed Consultant in Medicine at
Rupert Hope. the Royal Postgraduate Medical School in London.
David Townsend He returned to UCT Medical School in 1971 to develop the
MRC Unit for Ischaemic Heart Disease. During sabbatical
This obituary originally appeared on the University of periods he was a Visiting Fellow at Merton College and the
Toronto’s Centre for Medieval Studies website. It is reprinted Department of Biochemistry at the University of Oxford, and
with permission of its Editors. later Visiting Professor of Medicine at Stanford University,
California. In 1998 he co-founded the Hatter Cardiovascular
Research Institute at UCT.
Former Visiting Fellows
Professor Opie’s major interest was in the field of cardiology
in relation to the application of metabolic therapy to heart
disease as well as research concerned with acute heart
failure, cardiovascular drug therapy and hypertension.
250
In Memoriam | FORMER VISITING FELLOWS & 1934-41
Stellenbosch and Copenhagen. He was a Fellow of the Royal with Plant Protection Ltd (a subsidiary of ICI) before entering
Society of South Africa, the Royal College of Physicians the civil service examination, following which he was posted
(London) and the American Heart Association, and a Life to the Public Record Office. Like many of his generation he
Fellow of UCT. spent the rest of his working life in the same organisation,
rising to be Deputy Keeper of Public Records in the years
He was respected as a scientist, as a mentor and as a friend before his retirement in 1982.
to many and his legacy will continue to be felt far into the
future. His work colleagues saw him as a realist with an ability to get
to the nub of any problem and to ask awkward questions, but
This obituary was first published on South Africa’s National always with the intention of helping to find an appropriate
Research Foundation website. It is reproduced with permission and viable solution. He could be extremely kind while at the
of its Editors. same time deliberately provocative (in Who’s Who he listed
his hobby as ‘armchair criticism’). Outside the day job, he
returned to academia part time as lecturer in palaeography
1934 and diplomatic teaching on the archives course at University
College London from 1957 to 1973.
Postmaster was sad to learn of the death of Alan Henry
Coburn, who died peacefully in a care home on 31 May 2018 In 1957 Denny married Penelope Gregory, with whom he set
at the age of 101. We have not been able to trace his family. up home in Hertfordshire, where they brought up their two
If you knew him and would like to write some words for children, Giles and Julia, in a very stable and secure family
next year’s edition please contact the Development Office: environment. The family moved later to Northwood, where
[email protected]. Denny lived for the rest of his long life. Unfortunately,
Penelope suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for over 40
years and as the disease progressed Denny patiently took on
1941 the responsibility of being her carer until her death in 2009.
Ernest William Denham died on 27 August 2019. Denny (as Denny retained his enquiring mind well into his nineties, and
he preferred to be known) was born on 16 September 1922 was always capable of springing surprises. Despite doubting
and grew up in Dalston, east London. He attended Wilton the value of computers in his working life, in retirement he
Street Primary School, where he already showed his academic took to the internet, making use of the opportunities offered
qualities, winning a scholarship to the City of London School by email, online banking and social media. After many years
for Boys. From there he won a Classics Postmastership to as a sceptic, late in life he embraced the Christian faith. He
Merton, where he took an outstanding first in shortened was fiercely independent, gradually accepting in the last five
Honour Moderations in 1942 and was then recruited to naval years of his life more support from family, neighbours and,
intelligence. After a course in basic Japanese at Bletchley eventually, daily carers. After his final admission to hospital
Park, he worked as a translator alongside the codebreakers with an infection, he remained aware and communicative
first at Bletchley and then at HMS Anderson in Colombo, until the last few hours before his peaceful death. He is
Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Needless to say, he kept his specific survived by his children and five grandchildren.
duties a close secret until the role of Bletchley Park and
its codebreakers became public knowledge in the mid-1970s, Giles Denham
and even then remained reluctant to discuss them.
251
1942
Lawrence Daniel Lyle died on 12 December 2019, aged 96.
He was born in Maidstone in 1923 and educated at Maidstone
Boys Grammar School before gaining a scholarship to Merton
in 1941 to read History. He had two terms in Oxford before
being called up for War Service with the RAF as a navigator
with Lancaster bombers. He was one of the first to return
to his studies at Merton in September 1945, graduating in
John Alfred Griffiths passed away peacefully on 18 April 2019 1947 with an MA. His working life was spent as a teacher,
aged 96. John was born on 22 October 1922 in North Wales mostly in Canterbury where he was Head of History at the
and his family moved to Southbourne, Bournemouth when Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys from 1955 to 1983.
he was a child. In retirement he continued to take classes for the U3A.
He went to Bournemouth School where he made lifelong Archaeology was always one of his interests and he was
friends, and then went on to attend Merton College where instrumental in the founding of the Canterbury Archaeological
he studied law and always spoke very fondly of it, saying Trust, serving in a voluntary capacity in many roles for more
they were the best years of his life. than 40 years. He was the longest serving member of the Kent
Archaeological Society (he joined in 1958); on the Governing
After this he qualified as a barrister. He did this for a short Council from 1968 to 2005 and as treasurer from 1970 to 1986,
time before taking his post in the House of Lords as a law for a record 16 years – the longest serving treasurer in the
report writer, where he remained until he was 75 years 160-year history of the society.
old: a position he loved and which provided him with many
riveting tales to pass on to his family and many friends. John He joined the Historical Association in 1949, serving on the
remained a bachelor and split his time between his childhood council and as Tours Officer, leading a total of 39 tours over
home in Southbourne and his lodgings in London. the years.
After retirement, he spent his time enjoying the many In recognition of his services to history and archaeology in
restaurants of the Bournemouth area and indulging in his Kent and Canterbury, he was awarded an MBE in 2012.
passion for books and classical music. John unfortunately
lost his sight in his late eighties and moved into a nursing My father kept up his connections with Merton, regularly
home, where he was very well cared for and kept the staff attending alumni events, including both the 700th and 750th
and his visitors amused with his many and varied stories. He anniversaries of the foundation of the College.
remained there until his passing.
Catherine Drewett
John had a diverse and fascinating life with too many parts
to mention in an obituary – he should have written a book!
252
Brian was admitted as a solicitor in 1953, and in 1959 embarked
In Memoriam | 1941-43
1943 on his life’s work as a partner at Downs Solicitors in Dorking.
It was then a two-partner entity, but under Brian’s guidance
Brian Carr died peacefully, of old age, in a Covid-constrained as senior partner in the 1970s and 1980s, Downs expanded
environment at his care home in Dorking, Surrey on 18 greatly in scope and scale, to its present pivotal role in the
April 2020. With him at the last were his beloved daughters legal and commercial life of the Mole Valley. In parallel, with
Felicity Dendy (St Hilda’s, 1979) and Miranda Nutt. Brian’s immense energy and commitment, Brian assisted the work
wife, the professional singer Doreen Murray (St Hilda’s, of the Surrey Wildlife Trust, Dorking Preservation Trust, St
1945), predeceased him by five years. Martin’s Church, Cancer Research UK, Age Concern and the
United Nations Association, together with many private and
Born on 19 November 1925, many of the events that shaped understated acts of kindness. Brian was awarded the MBE
Brian and his career occurred before his second matriculation in 2003 ‘for services to the community in Dorking, Surrey’.
at Merton (1947) and his graduation in law in 1949. He followed
his older brothers, Lieutenant Peter Carr RA (died 1941) and Both at Downs and more widely, Brian is remembered with
Brigadier Bob Carr RA, DSO DFC, to Marlborough. Called up immense affection. The singularity of his approach to life is
at 18, his initial matriculation at Merton was to a short course perhaps encapsulated by his role in local politics. Pressed to
officially intended to provide ‘a scientifically trained officer stand for the Liberal Party in a 1970s district council election,
corps’ but, in Brian’s view, intended more to avoid some of in order to ‘give the voters a choice’ in a then political
the mistakes of the First World War in relation to subaltern monoculture, Brian was – to his own surprise, but no one
casualty rates. Commissioned into the 3rd (The King’s Own) else’s – duly elected. While the associated workload was not
Hussars, Brian was training for the seaborne invasion of sustainable into a second term, Brian, with his daughters,
the Japanese home islands at the time of its unexpected remained a stalwart of Liberal bazaars for several decades.
cancellation in August 1945. Thereafter his armoured car It is characteristic of Brian’s sense of fair play that, as a
reconnaissance unit was attached to the 6th Airborne committed internationalist, he nevertheless resigned from
Division in Mandate Palestine. Based near Mount Tabor, Brian the party in his 94th year because he considered that its
would have witnessed much human suffering. Of this time he 2019 general election manifesto breached democratic norms.
seldom spoke, beyond mentioning that the required switch
from the brown beret of the hussars to the maroon beret of In his final years, Brian enjoyed researching the life of his
the paras was not universally welcomed – an intriguing item great-grandfather, also a lawyer: John Carr, born in Trinidad
of oral military history that departs with him. in 1810 to a slave-owner of the same name and to a woman
of colour who remains unidentified; later Chief Justice of
Returning to Merton in 1947, Brian opted for an accelerated Sierra Leone, the first person of colour to attain this rank.
two-year degree in law, graduating with ‘a very safe
second’, to quote a letter from his tutor, John Jones (1942). Brian was a devoted husband to Doreen, who pursued a
A hockey Blue, on a tour of the South African universities demanding career involving much international travel, a
with a joint Oxford-Cambridge team in 1948, Brian was loving father and grandfather, and an admirable father-in-law.
introduced both to outgoing premier JC Smuts (in the Boer
War, a commando leader; subsequently a member of Lloyd Richard Dendy (1976)
George’s war cabinet) and incoming premier DF Malan, a
founder of apartheid. In this way, as in so many others – for
example, Brian’s recollections of the Silver Jubilee procession
of King-Emperor George V in May 1935, which he viewed Postmaster was sad to learn of the death of William
from a stand in Green Park – with Brian’s departure we lose Goodchild on 7 October 2019. We have not been able to
a human link to a world that is utterly vanished. trace his family. If you knew him and would like to write
253
some words for next year’s edition, please contact the As its chief executive and deputy chairman from 1979 to 1987,
Development Office: [email protected]. Hopkinson – widely known as ‘Hoppy’ – pursued a mission to
make equity investments accessible to people at all levels of
wealth. By the end of his tenure M&G was the market leader
1944 in its sector, managing unit trusts for half a million savers.
The Revd Canon Bernard Herbert Vincent Brown passed Hoppy was particularly alert to mismanagement and
away on 10 September 2018, aged 91. boardroom excess in listed companies in which M&G funds
were invested: his skill in spotting bad apples was legendary. His
Bernard Brown was born on 4 December 1926, the son of team were encouraged – more so than many fund managers
the Revd CHV Brown. He attended Lancing College before of the era – to make close contacts and frequent visits
coming up to Merton in Trinity 1945 as a naval cadet, and throughout British industry; underperforming chief executives
then studied theology from 1947 to 1950. While at Merton, would receive sharp reprimands from Hoppy himself.
he was involved in the Merton Floats.
A man of many kindnesses, he was also combative when
Bernard took his theological training at Westcott House, interests he cared about were threatened. He distrusted the
Cambridge, and spent his years of curacy in Rugby before City establishment, prized M&G’s independence (protected
moving to Bristol as the Diocesan Youth Chaplain. He was by a charitable trust as its major shareholder) and had
Industrial Chaplain in the Rochester diocese and Chaplain no truck with tycoons such as Robert Maxwell and Tiny
to the Bishop of Rochester from 1962 to 1973; then Rector Rowland when they sought M&G’s support for their deals.
of Crawley. He moved back to Bristol to become Industrial
Chaplain in 1983, and Social and Industrial Adviser to the After the ‘Big Bang’ Stock Exchange reforms were unveiled in
Bishop of Bristol. In recognition of his services to Bristol 1983, heralding the creation of Wall Street-style investment
diocese, he was made an Honorary Canon of Bristol banks in London, he warned against ‘financial conglomerates
Cathedral in 1985. He was also Rural Dean of Bristol City … using their petty cash’ to acquire excessive power ‘at the
from 1985 to 1991. expense of the smaller institutions and the smaller men’.
Bernard married Erica (née Cullen) in 1954, and they had a son David Hugh Laing Hopkinson was born in London on 14
and a daughter. Their son, QPV Brown, was at Merton (1977). August 1926, the son of Cecil Hopkinson, a Welsh-born
engineer-turned-bookseller, and his wife Leila, née Laing.
254
In 1963 he moved to M&G – then a small, old-fashioned was its chairman from 1983 to 1987. To his dying day he
In Memoriam | 1943-47
firm with just £25 million under management – to become maintained that the Arundel and Portsmouth line was slower
its first investment director. He recruited a talented team than it had been before the war.
who attracted new customers and achieved remarkable
investment returns; by the time he retired, funds under His contributions to the life of the Church of England
management had grown to more than £4 billion. ranged from playing the organ for 50 years at his parish
church of St Nicholas, Poling to membership from 1970 to
Outside M&G, Hopkinson was chairman of Harrisons & 1990 of the General Synod and Central Board of Finance.
Crosfield – a trader in tea, rubber and palm oil which he He was chairman of the Church Army board, chairman of
helped to reposition as a chemicals and building supplies Chichester Cathedral’s finance committee and a trustee of
conglomerate – and deputy chairman of English China Clays. its Development Trust.
He was a non-executive director of Wolverhampton & It was principally for his work as a Church Commissioner
Dudley Breweries and of Lloyds Bank’s southern board, a from 1973 to 1982 that he was appointed CBE in 1986.
member of the Housing Corporation and an adviser to the
Bank of England. His marriage to Prue Holmes in 1951, at Udimore in East
Sussex, was conducted by the Bishop of Chichester George
Among his many projects beyond business was the Bell (1883-1958), who was a friend of Prue’s parents. When
expansion of the Pallant House Gallery of modern British art Bell was posthumously accused of sexual abuse, Hopkinson
in Chichester. During his chairmanship of its trustees from was one of a group who remained loyal to his memory and
1992 to 2002 the gallery doubled in size and added greatly campaigned for the unproven allegations to be set aside.
to its collections.
Prue survives him with their two sons and two daughters.
He was also a trustee of the Royal Pavilion, Brighton;
chairman of the Edward James Foundation, which provides This obituary was first published in The Telegraph on 2
arts education at West Dean College near Chichester; and December 2019. It is reproduced with permission of its Editors.
a deputy lieutenant and former High Sheriff of West Sussex. © Telegraph Media Group Limited
255
15 and the fourth severely disabled by encephalitis. David’s where he later went up to Merton College, Oxford to study
passion for botany and love of plants was inspired by a Chemistry.
deep-rooted family enthusiasm for the natural world and in
particular by his parents’ love of gardening and wildflowers. As well as a love of plants, from boyhood David had a
David’s mother Ruth, like her own mother before, was a great love of messing about in boats, a hobby begun on
well-respected botanical illustrator, and his father Guy had the millpond in his parents’ Sussex home and that he and
an interest in plant breeding, naming a hellebore that he Christopher had been able to pursue during their castaway
raised while stationed in Stoke-on-Trent ‘Potter’s Wheel’ summer in the States.
and naming a rose for his wife Ruth. Later, after Ruth’s death,
Guy also named a rose for his second wife ‘Toby Tristram’, of At Merton David’s boating skills stood him in good stead
which there is an example at the Old Rectory. as he became ‘stroke’ for the legendary rowing eight of
1951 which won Head of the River for the onlytime in the
His Uncle Jack encouraged David’s interest in botany in College’s entire history to date.
the 1940s by taking him on botanising motorbike tours to
Scotland to find uncommon wild flowers and photograph It was at Oxford that David and Rosemary met through
them with plate-glass film cameras. David’s friend and fellow botany enthusiast, Rosemary’s
cousin Guy Harris. Some women might have been put off
The war was to deprive David of the only brother with whom by a courtship of long motorbike rides in pursuit of random
he had a real fraternal relationship. He and Christopher, wildflowers and pottering about in boats on the Broads but
three years older than David, were sent to stay with a family happily Rosemary was made of sterner stuff.
friend in the USA during the war years to keep them safe.
They were married in 1953 at Woodham, Surrey and moved
Sadly ‘Uncle Toby’, as their guardian was known, died not to Dublin for 20 years where David worked as a manager for
long after their arrival and the boys were deposited on an Guinness. In Ballybrack village David and Rosemary created
island on the Puget Sound for a summer where, despite a a warm and loving home and a truly glorious garden for
natural homesickness, they had great adventures before each themselves and their three children. An endlessly practical
being fostered into separate families. David always spoke very and inventive man, David conjured up no end of wonders
warmly of his years living with the Mills family in Portland, from simple materials and infected all of his children with his
Oregon with whom he kept in touch throughout his life. outdoor spirit; Ruth, Mike and Fran have very fond memories
of their idyllic Irish childhood.
Guy and Ruth sought to bring the boys home in 1943 and
hoped to secure passage for them both to travel together. In 1971 David and Rosemary decided to return to England
Places were hard to come by, however, so priority was given because of the Troubles. They looked for a place where they
to his brother Christopher who was approaching 18 and could make a new home for the family. David’s deep Sussex
could be enlisted into the army. Tragically the ship in which family roots naturally drew them to the area, and eventually
Christopher was travelling was torpedoed and he never they found their way to Binsted where they settled at the Old
made it home. Rectory with Rosemary’s parents next door at Stable Cottage.
Christopher had been learning to play the flute as a boy and In 1973 David bought the six-acre Homestead Nursery which
David later took up Christopher’s flute and went on to develop later became Walberton Nursery and is the seed from which
a musical hobby which gave him pleasure for many decades. Tristram Plants grew to its present form.
David finally returned to England himself a little later where Their early days at Binsted fell at a difficult time economically
he resumed his English education at Radley College, from but David and Rosemary resourcefully rose to every
256
challenge, finding ever more inventive ways to tighten belts
In Memoriam | 1947-48
and make something from nothing. David was a sound 1948
businessman, but not a ruthless one and he earned great
respect and affection from employees and colleagues alike John Duncan Cloud, one of the most senior members of
for his kind and generous spirit. Leicester University, died on 24 June 2020.
From their arrival in Binsted, David and Rosemary and Duncan Cloud had taught at Leicester since 1957, the year
Rosemary’s parents, Hubert and Emily, immersed themselves in which the university received its charter, and rose to be
in community life. David took over the role of churchwarden senior lecturer in Classics. He taught mainly Latin literature
from his father-in-law Hubert and, together with Rosemary, and Roman history, while his research focused on Roman
started the now much celebrated Binsted Strawberry Fair law, early Roman history and the Latin satirists. He published
primarily in order to keep this church building viable. Their many distinguished papers as well as a chapter on Roman
efforts and energies were rewarded many times over by deep law in the Cambridge Ancient History. A complete devotee
friendships they made in this community. of Classical learning, he also sought to make its arcana
accessible to both specialists in other areas and non-
All of you will at one time have been familiar with David’s experts wanting to learn more. He was more amused than
horticultural take on fashion – rarely seen without his dismayed by the times he lived through, but never detached
signature green wellies and blue bobble hat! H e never really from them.
retired from plant breeding and went on pursuing it right
until his final days. His plants won accolades and awards Duncan grew up in Godalming and attended Stonyhurst
including Royal Horticultural Society gold medal winners, but College before winning a Postmastership (senior entrance
he was not one to shout this from the rooftops; his plant scholarship) to read Classics at Merton College, Oxford.
breeding was born out of creative passion and interest far After graduation in 1952, he completed three years’ National
more than by any real desire for plaudits. Service in the Royal Army Education Corps with the rank of
sergeant, helping service personnel prepare for civilian life.
One of his recent great successes was the upward-looking
pink hellebore which he called Rosemary; there is a beautiful After taking his research degree at Glasgow, Duncan was
photo of Rosemary herself standing by a wonderful display of appointed assistant lecturer in Classics at Leicester, being
Hellebore Rosemary in full bloom at RHS Wisley and there are confirmed as lecturer in 1960 and promoted to senior
many also planted on her grave at Sompting. These will soon lecturer in 1974. Eight years later he became head of the
be doubled in number as David will join her there today. Department of Classics, at a time of growing crisis. The
Barron Report of 1987, set up by the University Grants
Rosemary truly was the love of David’s life and there has Commission, recommended the transfer of Classics staff
not been a day since her death that he has not missed her from Leicester, as from several other universities, to larger
… and that profound loss also recalled for him latterly the departments elsewhere. In Leicester’s case, however, there
sadness of losing his brothers and parents so early in his was an unusually strong tradition of Ancient History
life. David was never maudlin, however, and despite so much teaching and research, and the Barron Report left the door
experience of loss he always lived h islife with an impressive open for Ancient History to be maintained at Leicester.
spirit of gratitude. Only days before he died, when already
very weak and barely able to speak he said these words: ‘I’m At this point, the imaginative decision was taken to merge
the luckiest person the world has ever produced.’ What a this aspect of Classics with the equally small Department of
wonderful example to us all. Archaeology. Duncan played an important role in designing
the combined unit, and in 1990 he duly became an enthusiastic
Michael Tristram founding member of the School of Archaeological Studies.
257
The last Classics graduates left in 1991, but Duncan taught included a memory of puritanical members pushing through
Roman history and Roman law until he retired in 1993. He a resolution banning alcohol; this was soon rescinded, no
remained an active contributor to many areas of the social doubt facilitating the leading role Duncan would play for
and intellectual life of the school (renamed the School of many years in the staff Wine Club. Fond of country walks,
Archaeology & Ancient History in 2000) for many years. His Duncan and Jean enjoyed introducing younger colleagues to
research flourished, too: nearly half of his 40 or so academic the best pubs around Leicestershire and Rutland.
papers appeared after retirement.
Beyond the county, he was a well-liked figure at the Institute of
Duncan’s ironic humour, and a gift for the apophthegm, Classical Studies in London, to whose library he made regular
stood him in good stead in difficult times, and he often visits, and had strong academic connections with scholars in
wondered whether he should write a comic novel of academic Germany. A devout Catholic, he played an active role in the
life. He would have had a wealth of material, for his memory life of the Church, writing letters to the Tablet and for many
for incidents, especially the absurd, was phenomenal. A years visiting housebound parishioners. On the professional
first-rate linguist, he had a marvellous sense of rhythm level, after the inauguration of the Second Vatican Council
and timing, once being heard to remark of a colleague (1962–65), he was invited to make expert contributions to the
elsewhere that they had been appointed to a post during International Commission on English in the Liturgy, attending
a period of expansion ‘when it was almost impossible not meetings in the UK and North America. Sometimes irreverent
to get a lectureship’. Colleagues recall his urbane speeches, in private, he would confess to liberal (with a small ‘l’) leanings,
particularly his retirement oration, in which he pretended being tolerant of different opinions and lifestyles. He always
that soon after coming to Leicester and after sharing an looked for the best in those around him.
office with a certain young lady classicist for a prolonged
period, he felt it was only decent to make her an offer. That Duncan is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jean, and their
young lady was Jean Allison, who became Duncan’s wife and daughters Frances and Elizabeth.
co-author of one of his papers.
Adapted, with permission, from an obituary written by
As head of department he was wise, realistic and humane. Graham Shipley (Wadham, 1974)
He is remembered by former junior staff and part-time
tutors as a supportive and understanding mentor, and by
graduates as a generous host, the kindest of tutors, and an
engaging lecturer with a particular gift for the unforgettable Postmaster was sad to learn of the death of David Jenkins
one-liner. Former students recall the tours of Roman sites in on 9 October 2019. We have not been able to trace his
Britain, led by Duncan, as highlights of their degree. Another family. If you knew him and would like to write some words
remembers his asides during lectures, in one of which, after for next year’s edition please contact the Development
quoting Aristotle, Duncan paused and added, ‘I don’t think Office: [email protected].
Aristotle had much insight into literature.’
Duncan was an influential figure at Leicester University, Professor Frank Palmer, a former Vice President of the
commanding wide affection and loyalty, as exemplified by Philological Society since 1992, passed away on 1 November
his popularity as Acting Dean for a term in the late 1980s. 2019.
Staff in other departments and faculties have paid tribute
to his intellectual generosity, for example in sharing his Professor Palmer was educated at the University of Oxford,
compendious knowledge of both Classics and Catholicism at New College for his undergraduate degree and at
as a background to their own researches in history or Merton College for his MA. He then became a member of
English. His anecdotes about the Senior Common Room the teaching staff at the School of Oriental and African
258
Studies (SOAS) in London, as a lecturer from 1950 to 1960. His chemistry studies under Courtenay Phillips at Merton led
In Memoriam | 1948
He became Professor of Linguistics at the University College to the expected First and he went on to complete his Chemistry
of North Wales, Bangor (now Bangor University) in 1960. Part II and DPhil degrees, under Bob Williams (Professor RJP
In 1965, along with several Bangor colleagues, he moved Williams, FRS). Francis's DPhil thesis on the stability of metal
to the University of Reading to establish the Department complexes in solution formed the basis for his scientific work;
of Linguistic Science, where he was appointed Professor but more importantly, for his future life, he met and married
of Linguistic Science. The department rapidly acquired an Hazel Swaine (née Marsh). Those who knew Francis and Hazel
outstanding international reputation under his headship. In will not be surprised to know that they chose the society
1955 he was inducted into the Linguistics Society of America church of St Peter-in-the-East for their wedding in 1952 –
(LSA). In 1971, Professor Palmer was appointed one of the following the lead of Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane in
Professorship Holders of the LSA. He was later made a Fellow the detective series by Dorothy Sayers. Francis was delighted
of the British Academy and of the Academia Europea. by the later transformation of this beautiful church into the
St Edmund Hall undergraduate library.
Professor Palmer carried out important descriptive research
on Ethiopian languages, and his seminal work on mood Francis and Hazel left Oxford between 1955 and 1961, first to
and modality was highly influential, with his CUP textbook spend 18 months in Professor Lars Gunnar Sillèn’s laboratory in
on the topics being widely used internationally. For further Stockholm, and then to enable Francis to take up a university
information about his life and work, see Linguistics in Britain: lectureship in Edinburgh. Their researches led to a definitive
Personal Histories (2002; Wiley-Blackwell, PhilSoc Publication 400-page book on The Determination of Stability Constants
36) by Keith Brown and Vivien La. He retired in 1987 with the and Other Equilibrium Constants in Solution, published in 1961.
title of Emeritus Professor of Linguistic Science. Somewhat later, after returning to Oxford, he was discouraged
in his research by a failure within the scientific community to
This obituary was first published on The Philological Society recognise the significance of his observations arising from
Blog on 8 November 2019. It is reproduced with permission of the analysis of his complexes by nuclear magnetic resonance
its Editors. (NMR). The phenomena were later independently discovered
by others and attained importance as ‘contact shifts’. They
allowed the detailed geometric shapes of molecules to be
determined in solution by NMR for the first time.
Francis returned to Oxford as a tutorial fellow at St Edmund
Hall in September 1961, which became the focus of his
energy and enthusiasm until his death 58 years later. He was
above all a superb tutor, although not always in the best of
health. One of his earliest tutorial pupils, Francis Pocock (St
Edmund Hall, 1960), writes that: ‘He set high standards but
was a patient teacher who helped his pupils to master the
Francis Rossotti was born on 2 January 1927, the elder more challenging aspects of the subject. Many went on to
son of Carlo and Elsie Rossotti. He grew up in Brixton and complete their Part II and DPhil research projects with him.
attended school at Christ’s Hospital, from where he won He was brilliant in guiding the writing of a thesis: “Argue your
a Postmastership to Merton College, Oxford. The country main conclusions and what you believe in, and then write
was however still under the shadow of war and Francis first about them in good English with short clear sentences".'
did his National Service with the Royal Air Force Regiment
in Palestine during the final years of the British Mandate, Another former pupil remarked: ‘He taught me as much
including the final withdrawal from Jerusalem to Haifa. about marshaling a logical argument and writing good
259
English as he did Chemistry!’ A third Aularian writes of a
‘kind man, first and foremost, although in his three-piece 1949
tweed suits and with a pipe, he sometimes appeared from
a different era and a bit intimidating. Nevertheless, he was Postmaster was sad to learn of the death of Julian Beck on
always very interested in his students and I well remember 29 February 2020. We have not been able to trace his family.
sherry in his room overlooking the quad. I will always be If you knew him and would like to write some words for
grateful to him for giving me a place.’ next year’s edition please contact the Development Office:
[email protected].
The attendance at Francis’ retirement dinner in 1994 attests
to a host of grateful memories.
260
He supervised cricket leagues for many years and was a by his appointment in 1981 to the Cathedrals Advisory
In Memoriam | 1948-49
stalwart of Common Room tennis and theatre. He produced Commission for England. He was also a Fellow of the Society
three staff plays and well over 100 editions of the Uppingham of Antiquaries.
magazine over a period of 31 years.
At Windsor the financing of St George’s Chapel required
In 1957, Geoff married Liz and they had three children: Alastair, some administrative skill, and a good deal of his time was
Tessa and Jeremy. The couple ran Fircroft for 15 years and both claimed by St George’s House, the training centre for senior
worked hard to establish a happy school house, with a no- clergy and meeting place for eminent lay people in industry
nonsense, cheerful and optimistic approach, often joined in and commerce who would gather to discuss the religious
the classroom by his beloved dogs, Jester, then Punch. and moral aspects of their work. He soon became a trusted
adviser to the Queen on church affairs.
This obituary was first published in OU, Uppingham School’s
magazine, issue 47. It is reproduced with permission of its Editors. Patrick Reynolds Mitchell was born in Somerset on 17 March
1930. He was the second son of Lt-Col Peter Reynolds
Mitchell, DSO, of the Royal Artillery, and came from a large
family of Mitchells, who were originally merchants in Doune,
The Very Reverend Patrick Mitchell, who died on 23 January in the parish of Kilmarnock, Perthshire, several of them
2020 aged 89, became Dean of Windsor in 1989, having having interests in Jamaica over many years.
spent 16 years as Dean of Wells. He was, as someone once
remarked, ‘Nature’s own dean’ – tall, handsome, energetic, a Patrick had many cousins to whom he was close, including
gifted musician and a fine preacher, very knowledgeable about Dame Mona Mitchell, the first woman to hold the office of
church buildings and a first-class pastor. Private Secretary to a member of the Royal Family, Princess
Alexandra. One uncle was an admiral, another a major killed
There was scarcely a position in the Church of England that in the First World War.
he could not have occupied with distinction, but he remained
a humble man and was not only a long-serving but also an At Eton Patrick felt called to Holy Orders, but first completed
extremely popular dean. his National Service as a Welsh Guards officer between 1948
and 1949, serving mainly on ceremonial duties in London
His greatest work was at Wells where, with the Prince of and, for four months, at Windsor, where he lived just a few
Wales, he raised £2.3 million during the 1970s and carried out yards from the Deanery he was to occupy 40 years later.
a major restoration of one of England’s loveliest cathedrals.
At Merton College, Oxford, he took a Second in Theology
The work on the 13th-century West Front with its 300 statues and then went to Wells Theological College, where he was
was contentious, for there were those who believed that also a vicar-choral in the cathedral choir.
missing heads should not be replaced and others who objected
to the choice of sculptors for some of the new figures. From 1954 to 1957 he was a curate at St Mark’s, Mansfield – a
coal-mining parish where he lived in a shabby house with a
Mitchell was not deterred, however, and besides the West brothel on one side and an Irish family with 17 red-headed
Front restored the cloisters (turning part of them into children on the other.
an agreeable shop and restaurant) and the Vicar’s Close,
regarded as the most complete mediaeval street in Europe. He then returned to Wells as priest-vicar of the cathedral
and chaplain of the theological college but, after only three
He had in fact a fine artistic sense as well as a comprehensive years in these posts, in 1960 he moved to Portsmouth to
understanding of mediaeval buildings, qualities recognised become vicar of St James’ Church, Milton.
261
In this tough, artisan parish, with a population of 35,000 and they also joined the Friends of St George’s on overseas
and a staff of four curates, he was fully stretched and kept travels, most notably to the Holy Land and Jordan.
exceedingly busy with 450 funerals and many hundreds of
weddings and baptisms every year. Mitchell took a keen interest in the history of St George’s,
and invited the British Archaeological Association to hold
The Somerset market town of Frome, to which he moved in a conference there in 1998. He established a new fabric
1967, was a less exacting assignment and allowed time for advisory committee with the Duke of Gloucester, a trained
him to serve as director of ordination candidates and post- architect, as one of its members.
ordination training for the diocese of Bath and Wells.
He presided at the wedding of Lady Helen Windsor, daughter
In all these spheres he displayed wisdom and pastoral insight of the Duke of Kent, in 1992, the first royal wedding in the
far in advance of his years. Although he was only 43 when chapel for many years, and also prepared Prince William
the deanery of Wells fell vacant in 1973 it soon became for confirmation there in 1997, not long before the death
apparent to the Crown that the next dean was waiting on of Diana, Princess of Wales. When she was killed, he was
the doorstep. summoned to Balmoral to give pastoral care.
Much needed to be done and Mitchell’s youthful energy kept His philosophy was summed up in his last letter to the
Wells alive. Friends of St George’s: ‘Worship must always come first.’
The 800th anniversary of the cathedral was celebrated He was also appreciative of ‘all those self-effacing people who
in great style in 1986. In the same year, he was made an work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the wheels turning’.
Honorary Freeman of the City of Wells.
He loved his dogs and could often be seen heading with them
From 1987 to 1992 he was chairman of the Deans’ Conference for a walk in the Home Park. On his retirement in 1998 he was
and played an important part in the negotiations which led appointed KCVO. He and his second wife retired to Somerset.
to the Care of Cathedrals Measure and subsequently to the
granting of state aid to cathedrals. His first wife Mary, née Phillips, whom he married in 1959,
died in 1986, and in 1988 he married an old family friend,
He was appointed Dean of Windsor, Register of the Order Pamela Douglas-Pennant, who had also been widowed in
of the Garter, and Domestic Chaplain to the Queen in 1989, 1986. She died in 2016.
succeeding the proactive Michael Mann, who retired after
13 years. He is survived by three sons and one daughter of his first
marriage, and a stepson and stepdaughter from his second.
In contrast to Mann, Mitchell is mainly remembered there for
his considerable pastoral care, always finding time to help This obituary was first published in The Telegraph on 27
those in need, systematically getting to know the extended January 2020. It is reproduced with permission of its Editors. ©
community and never forgetting a name, though he was Telegraph Media Group Limited
not the first dean in history to have to contend with some
difficult canons who did not always find it easy to work as
a collegiate body.
262
Oxford had to wait until after National Service, 1947-49,
In Memoriam | 1949
Alan Anthony Price, journalist and author: born 16 August first in the Royal Signals, then the Education Corps, where
1928; died 30 May 2019. Price achieved the rank of captain. After reading history at
Merton he remained in Oxford, where he met Ann Stone, a
As a cub reporter on The Oxford Times in the early 1950s, nurse, and opted for a career in journalism with The Oxford
Anthony Price, who has died aged 90, was asked if he fancied Times, becoming editor in 1975.
reviewing a book for its sister paper, the Oxford Mail. It
was, he was told, ‘only a children’s book but it’s by a local While reviewing crime fiction, he became a friend of the
author’. The local author turned out to be a Professor JRR literary editor, Brian Aldiss. He treated thrillers with the
Tolkien and the book was The Fellowship of the Ring. Price’s respect reviewers usually only showed to traditional
career as a reviewer was off to an auspicious start. detective stories and was an enthusiast for the early Bond
books of Ian Fleming, though he did add the caveat when
He was to specialise in crime fiction, and his reviews in the reviewing Dr No in 1958 that the villain was 30 years out of
date and belonged more to the era of Fu Manchu.
Oxford Mail made him one of the most highly regarded
commentators on, and judges of, the genre, so much so that In the 1960s he welcomed the arrival of writers such as Len
in 1968 the publisher Livia Gollancz asked him to consider Deighton, Dick Francis, Gavin Lyall and John le Carré, the
writing a history of the crime novel. Price turned down the last of whom he particularly admired. It was a source of wry
offer, feeling it would involve too much work, but added that amusement that his favourite Le Carré novel, Tinker Tailor
he did have an idea of his own for a novel, if Gollancz might Soldier Spy, was pipped to the 1974 Gold Dagger award by his
be interested. own Other Paths to Glory.
They were; and when The Labyrinth Makers was published For two decades Price juggled careers as a newspaper
in 1970, it was to ecstatic reviews (from Edmund Crispin and editor, book reviewer and author, with Ann acting as his
Marghanita Laski among others) and won the Crime Writers’ unofficial business manager. The success of his first novel
Association Silver Dagger award. The book introduced resulted in rapid election in 1971 to the Detection Club, where
Dr David Audley and Colonel Jack Butler, respectively he met and befriended many of the authors he admired,
an academic and a solid military man working for British including Eric Ambler, and gained international recognition
counter-intelligence, who were to feature in many of Price’s with the Martin Beck Award from the Swedish Crime Writers’
19 novels over the next 19 years. Academy in 1978.
Anthony was born in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, his All his novels reflected his deep interest in military history,
parents having recently returned from India where his father, and sub-plots and background settings could contain
Walter, had been a civil engineer. His mother, Kathleen (née elements of Roman legions on Hadrian’s Wall, the Camelot
Lawrence) died when he was seven and he was brought of King Arthur, Napoleonic warships and the battlegrounds
up first by an aunt and then, when his father remarried, a of the American Civil War and the First World War. In his
stepmother from whom he was quickly estranged. research for Other Paths to Glory he visited the Western
Front battle sites well before there was an established
He was educated at the King’s School, Canterbury, where visitor trail there, and taped interviews with survivors in the
he prospered academically and came to the attention of Oxford area.
the headteacher, Canon Frederick Shirley. When Anthony’s
stepmother wouldn’t pay his last year’s school fees, Shirley’s The Second World War got the Price treatment in two
wife paid and Anthony returned her faith in him by winning thrillers: The Hour of the Donkey (1980, Dunkirk) and Here Be
a scholarship to Merton College, Oxford. Monsters (1985, D-Day).
263
Price also used military history in his Cold War spy thrillers This obituary was first published in The Guardian on 9 June
as, in effect, long diversions, – almost ‘shaggy dog stories’ 2019. It is reproduced with permission of its Editors.
– providing red herrings for the characters, and for readers. © Guardian News & Media Ltd 2020
The actual espionage in his plots, which Price always insisted
were straightforward and simple, would be resolved in
last-minute flurries of action and recrimination. It was a
technique which, as one reviewer pointed out, put him ‘in
the upper IQ spy story bracket’. With such praise, and the
constant use of the adjectives ‘ingenious’ and ‘intelligent’ by
the critics, Price’s books were never likely to appeal to a mass
readership, which preferred more blood with their thunder.
264
Night’s Dream. Another piece he wrote while at Merton (and
In Memoriam | 1949
had performed) was a setting of 1 Corinthians 13, which was Hugh Sackett and his family must be the most Mertonian of
subsequently performed at his wedding and also recorded for all Mertonians. Hugh’s father, two uncles, a cousin and three
his funeral. This is available to view at youtu.be/YzDltHlFlM0 brothers were all at the College. His father and uncles married
three Salter sisters of the Oxford boat-building family, which
Gordon claimed that his room had the last coal fire in today operates steamers from its base at Folly Bridge.
Merton. While at Merton he married Marie Withers whom
he had met at a tea dance in Dudley just before his National Hugh was born in the Salters’ house on the Banbury Road,
Service. He was always amused to relate that in those days, but grew up in Bath at Kingswood School, where his father
on marrying you lost your Postmastership award! was headmaster from the time of Hugh’s birth in 1928 to
1959, and he was a pupil, winning an Exhibition to Merton.
Gordon qualified as a teacher and taught music and classics. After Greats and a DipEd, he went to the British School at
He was noted for arranging spectacular large-scale semi- Athens (the UK’s oldest research institute abroad) in 1954-
professional school music productions, such as Britten’s 55, which confirmed a budding interest in Greek archaeology.
Noye’s Fludde and Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.
He was able to continue this for the rest of his life, becoming
With the encouragement of Marie, Gordon was accepted a leader of British fieldwork in Greece, thanks to being
into the Catholic Church. He wrote a series of folk masses appointed to a post at Groton School in Massachusetts
for their local church, firstly the Pilgrim’s Mass, followed by (on the recommendation of his Mods tutor Robert Levens).
others such as the Missa de Saeculis, the Sinner’s Mass and There he taught classics and archaeology from 1955 to 2018,
the Mass for All Seasons. This music became enormously introducing these rare subjects in secondary education to
popular worldwide in the Catholic community and beyond, many generations and taking boys, and then girls and boys,
being probably the best known folk masses of the 1970s and on study trips and excavations — and producing several
1980s, recently relaunched with their own website. archaeologists. Groton was rightly generous with study
leave. In 2014 Hugh was honoured with the Gold Medal of
Gordon’s career culminated in becoming headmaster of the Archaeological Institute of America, the highest award in
Duston Upper School, Northampton and he retired in 1985. the USA for Old World archaeology, and the only time it has
In retirement he was appointed a Teacher Fellow at Nene gone to a schoolteacher.
College, Northampton and was also Director of Music at
Northampton Catholic Cathedral. In Greece he took part in, and led, excavations and
archaeological surveys from the 1950s till the 2010s. When
In 2018 Gordon was diagnosed with cancer and died after he was a director of a project, it was always as co-director.
a short illness. Marie survived him but sadly herself died Almost everything he tackled was in partnership with
a few months later following a severe stroke. They are colleagues from the school and reflected his generosity, his
survived by their three children, 11 grandchildren and 12 love of Greece and its continuity from the Stone Age till
great-grandchildren. today, his emphasis on precision (he was a master of the art
of excavating) and his readiness to share with others of all
Simon Rock ages: qualities that also made him such a star schoolteacher.
265
and Early Iron Age Euboea (Lefkandi, following survey) to
Classical Attica and back to Roman Crete (Knossos). This is 1950
an extraordinary list of major contributions.
Palaikastro produced the largest chryselephantine statuette
of a young male yet known in the Aegean (now the
centrepiece of the Siteia Museum) and a rich report. His
masterpiece study of early Roman Knossos a millennium and
a half later increased understanding of the whole island (and
the fact, extraordinary in today’s world, that the Romans
had a united province of Crete and Cyrene) and made a
valuable counterpoint to Gortys in the south of the island. Hugh ‘Harry’ Martin Chase Quick was born in Carlisle
in March 1930. He was the fourth child of the Revd Canon
Lefkandi on Euboea has proved revolutionary for virtually Oliver Chase Quick, who became Regius Professor of Divinity
every period from before 2000 BC to around 700 BC. Among at Oxford in 1939, and Frances Winifred Pearson. He was
the team with Hugh was Irene Lemos, then a graduate educated at Shrewsbury School and left to study Chemistry
student, but now leading the project as Professor of Classical at Merton, after first completing 18 months’ National Service.
Archaeology and a Fellow of Merton. And the excavation in
the 1950s of the Dema House in Attica gives us a snapshot Already an accomplished oarsman from school days he rowed
of people’s state of mind around 420 BC (when the house for Merton and the University, winning three Blues, and was
was probably built) and the optimism that the Peace of president of OUBC in 1954. The friendships he made within the
Nicias of 421 would end Athens’ war with Sparta. Nobody Oxford crews remained for the rest of his life. He continued
builds a nice house in the country that would be easy for rowing after university in America and later with Leander.
invaders to attack unless there is a sense of security.
On leaving Merton, Hugh won a bursary to Harvard Business
Hugh was a quiet, controlled and outstandingly generous School and set sail for the United States on board the Queen
person and, for his colleagues, pupils and co-directors, a Mary. While studying at HBS he got a holiday job in an oil
rock of stability. He had a happy and creative marriage with refinery in Houston which ultimately influenced his career
Eleanor Davis (née Childs). I first met Hugh when I was put choice on return to the UK. Despite studying, working and
to be his trench assistant at Knossos in the summer before rowing Hugh managed to visit 34 of the 50 states in the US
I came up. in his short time there. On his return to the UK, seeking
the excitement and challenges of working overseas Hugh
Gerald Cadogan (1960) joined Royal Dutch Shell and was posted to Sarawak, Borneo.
Shortly before leaving for Borneo he met his future wife,
Margaret Joy Hayes, but did not see her again for three years.
266
Hugh immersed himself in the culture and ways of whichever with abstract results and conclusions by themselves, but
In Memoriam | 1949-51
country he was living and working. He would try to learn the always sought to democratise his findings, first to the biological
local language and become familiar with the local customs. sciences community and then to the huge population of lay
people fascinated with birds and their flight escapades.
Hugh fell in love with the sea after spending his summer
holidays sailing on an old gaffe ketch. He built two boats Pennycuick was an expert glider pilot, and gained some
while living in Sarawak and Thailand. His pleasure in sailing notoriety by piloting his craft in and around flocks of
came from the independence and self-reliance it offered vultures, storks and eagles in Africa, and condors in Peru.
and demanded. He delighted in the wildness and solitude of
the west coasts of Scotland and Ireland with the occasional The son of Brigadier James Pennycuick and his wife, Marjorie,
more ambitious cruises into the Arctic Circle. Pennycuick was born in Windsor, Berkshire. His family
followed his father’s army postings, which in 1938 took
On retiring Hugh and Joy moved to Somerset. Sadly, Hugh them to Singapore, which they left in 1941 shortly before
had a stroke in 2001 which restricted his mobility but gladly the Japanese invasion. Pennycuick was later sent as a
not his intellect. He died in November 2017 at the age of 87. boarder to Wellington College, Berkshire, studied zoology
as an undergraduate at Merton College, Oxford, and worked
He is survived by his wife, his son David and by three on his PhD at Peterhouse, Cambridge. There he studied
grandchildren, Miles, Juliette and Eddie. muscle mitochondria, whose task of converting oxygen and
nutrients into energy he viewed as the basic engine of flight.
David Quick
During two years’ National Service with the RAF, he flew
Provosts and Vampires, early jet-powered aircraft. He
subsequently worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Animal
Postmaster was sad to learn of the death of Esmond Behaviour Laboratory in Madingley, Cambridge, and in 1964
‘Patrick’ Roney on 26 January 2019. We have not been began a long association with the zoology department at
able to trace his family. If you knew him and would like to Bristol University as a lecturer.
write some words for next year’s edition please contact the
Development Office: [email protected]. He used the first computer at the university to design a
tiltable wind tunnel, which he built from scratch and hung in
a stairwell. He developed and adapted aeronautical ideas from
1951 helicopter theory to bird flight and tested their application
based on meticulous observations of the free-flying pigeons
Colin James Pennycuick, zoologist: born 11 June 1933; died 9 that he kept in a loft on the roof of the building.
December 2019.
In 1968 he travelled to Nairobi, which he made his base for
Colin Pennycuick, who has died aged 86, was the pre- three years, installing his tilting wind tunnel between two
eminent researcher in animal flight over the last century. He acacia trees to study bat flight in the same manner as he
focused on the flight of bats and birds (and their possible had previously done with pigeons. He then spent another
ancestors), and asked the question: how do they work? To two years in the Serengeti National Park as deputy director
answer this deceptively simple question he brought to bear of the research station there. He learned how to fly his
a mix of sharp logic and original and practical invention. powered glider alongside pelicans, storks and vultures,
documenting for the first time their extraordinary and
Though he sought to ground his work in the rigorous essential abilities to travel economically over large distances
application of physics and mathematics, he was not satisfied by exploiting thermals.
267
From here on, his career was not so much a list of academic could then be used to predict and understand how and why
positions and research topics as a restless migration birds and bats do what they do. Many of his inventions,
(frequently aerial, frequently self-piloted) of his own. He flew in techniques, procedures and instrumentation, were
back to Bristol in 1973 via Addis Ababa, Cairo and Crete, in and absolutely novel because he thought his own thoughts and
around the Shetlands, France and Sweden, and down to Bird proceeded by himself, according to the rigorous rules of
Island in South Georgia, Antarctica. There he first used his logic and scientific inquiry.
‘ornithodolite’, an instrument he designed for measuring birds’
flight paths and speed, to track in detail the soaring flight of A rich and exuberant publication history burst from his
albatrosses. He found that the standard explanation – that activities, starting with the first practical flight theory papers
they could power their flight by following a specific trajectory in 1968 and going on to include the books Animal Flight
through a wind shear profile – was only partly responsible for (1972), Bird Flight Performance (1989) and Modelling the Flying
their ability to fly continuously, without flapping for very long Bird (2008). In later years he increasingly focused his efforts
times, and that instead they used the wind in different ways. on his flight software package, which grew from a small
custom Basic program to a rather versatile application with
In 1983, he left for Miami University, which became a handy graphical interface. As well as biologists, engineers wanting
launch point for expeditions to the Everglades, Tennessee, to know how birds manage to achieve the things they do
Pennsylvania and Idaho, and further afield in Puerto Rico, with apparent economy of effort and energy expenditure
the Bahamas and Peru. In 1992 he left Miami, via Greenland, used the program, and both groups learned from it, which
Iceland and Sweden. He began a continuing association with gave Pennycuick particular pleasure.
the animal ecology group at Lund University in Sweden,
tracking migratory birds by radar, and in 1994 the bird flight He was appointed research professor in zoology at the
wind tunnel was inaugurated there by the king of Sweden. University of Bristol in 1993, and senior research fellow in
1997. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1990, and
In the late 1990s he collaborated with the Wildfowl & was made honorary companion of the Royal Aeronautical
Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge, in Gloucestershire, in tracking Society in 1994. In 1996 he was awarded an honorary
whooper swans which, as the largest flapping bird, can provide doctorate by Lund University.
a stringent test of aerodynamic theory at relatively large
extremes of scale. He appeared in the 2003 BBC radio series In 1992 he married Sandy Winterson. She and his son, Adam,
Swan Migration Live, which tracked six Bewick’s swans and a survive him.
whooper swan from Arctic Russia to the UK, with updates on
their progress on the Today programme each morning. Geoffrey Spedding
In 2008 Pennycuick took part in an even bigger and more This obituary was first published in The Guardian on 24
ambitious Radio 4 project, World on the Move: Great Animal February 2020. It is reproduced with permission of its Editors.
Migrations, which tracked brent and white-fronted geese © Guardian News & Media Ltd 2020
from the UK to Canada. With the aid of very accurate
meteorological data, combined with measurements of wing
beat frequency and wing shape, he modelled a gauge that
could estimate the fuel consumed while these geese were
migrating: this would give audiences, and the scientific
community, some idea of the effort involved.
268
That same year Tony Bailey joined the staff of The New
In Memoriam | 1951-52
1952 Yorker. His body of work includes many articles and 24
published books. Some of them describe adventurous
walks in Wales and on the Isle of Wight, as well as along
the Iron Curtain, the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and
the Cote d’Azur. He was a passionate sailor, and other
books recounted voyages that he took along the Eastern
Seaboard of the USA and down the River Severn, the
longest river in Great Britain, in a coracle. His account of a
walk along the Boyne with the Irish poet Seamus Heaney
was one in a series of articles written for The New Yorker,
Anthony 'Tony' Cowper Bailey was staff writer at The New published later as a book: Acts of Union: Reports on Ireland
Yorker magazine for more than 35 years, and the author 1973-79.
of noteworthy books about the lives and works of master
painters JMW Turner, John Constable, Johannes Vermeer and Tony’s autobiographies include America, Lost & Found and
Rembrandt. He died on 13 May 2020 at the age of 87 in England, First & Last.
Harwich, Essex, of Covid-19. He had been living on nearby
Mersea Island, Colchester. Between 1960 and 1970, Tony and his wife lived in the seaport
town of Stonington, Connecticut. While there, he wrote In
Anthony Bailey was born in Portsmouth, England on 5 January the Village, a book that describes life in a small American
1933. As a boy during the Second World War, he was evacuated village and the sense of community that village life fosters.
to the United States and lived in Dayton, Ohio with American
industrialists and art collectors Otto and Eloise Spaeth and He moved to Greenwich in London in the 1970s, where he
their family from 1940 to 1944. At the end of the war, he was involved with the Greenwich Historical Society and the
returned to England, at the age of 11. After his secondary Turner Society.
school years, he went on to study history at Merton College,
Oxford, and completed National Service as an officer with the Tony is survived by his wife Margot and their four daughters:
British Army in the Royal West African Frontier Force, Ghana. Liz Bailey-Connor, Annie Bailey, Katie Bailey and Rachel
Bailey, and his sister, Bridget Sojourner. He also leaves nine
Anthony came up to Merton in 1952 to read History. While at grandchildren.
Oxford he was literary editor of the Cherwell and Isis student
publications. Isis was originally a literary magazine, re-inventing Annie Bailey
itself as a student newspaper in 1953. He also contributed to
Clarion, a magazine edited by his friend at Merton, Jeremy
Isaacs, who recalls some ‘rather striking poems’.
Postmaster was sad to learn of the death of Robert Hardy
At Merton, he met some of his greatest friends and literary on 12 October 2019. We have not been able to trace his
colleagues, including former Reuters correspondent, Rhodes family. If you knew him and would like to write some words
Scholar Cyril James Fox and American author John Updike, for next year’s edition please contact the Development
who attended the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art. Office: [email protected].
In 1955, Anthony returned to the USA, where he began his
career as a writer, and met his wife, Margot Speight, an artist
and writer, who was also from England.
269
Edmund remained at York for 20 years, eventually as Reader,
1953 teaching American politics throughout his time there and
extending both his research and teaching in foreign relations
and conflict resolution. In addition to a number of scholarly
books on American political history, he wrote his military
memoir A Call to Arms (1972). Under his pen name, Edmund
Aubrey, he used his research into the assassination of
President Kennedy in his book Sherlock Holmes in Dallas – a
persuasive alternative account of what happened.
270
Alex was born in Hendon on 14 March 1932 to Arthur and Alex spoke Hebrew, Aramaic, Spanish, Italian and French, and
In Memoriam | 1953
Charlotte Keller. Both were Jewish immigrants, who had by could read Latin and Ancient Greek.
chance converged in Ireland – Arthur from Germany and
Charlotte from the Polish territory now part of Ukraine. He was a prominent figure of the history of science
During the war, he was evacuated to a variety of different community, including as editor of the International
places, from Harrogate, to the Lake District, to Criccieth Committee for the History of Technology’s journal ICON
in Wales. It was during the final years of the war that his until 2009. A colleague at the University of Leicester wrote:
bar mitzvah took place, and he joined Habonim, of which ‘Since hearing of his passing, colleagues in this international
he remained an ardent member for the rest of his life. This community have been quick to praise his friendliness, good
time also saw the loss of his mother. With the end of the humour and commitment to international collaborations as
war in 1945, he was sent to Clifton College. He partook in well as his scholarly contributions.’
an extracurricular car mechanics course, and would later
describe it as the most useful thing he learnt at school. At home, he enjoyed being patriarch of a large Jewish family.
His recitations at Passover, including of Chad Gadya – in
He earned a first-class degree in Classics from Peterhouse, the original Aramaic – were legendary. He represented the
Cambridge, before moving to Merton, where he studied Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation on the city’s
Byzantium. He would talk about his close connection with Council of Faiths. He was a Councillor of Thurnby and
the History of Science Museum, and studying under the Bushby, was well known to the area’s walkers, and even
infamous Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History, Claude served as a tree warden.
Jenkins. His fondest memories were of the ‘fascinating’
people he met. His grandson also went to Merton, and Alex Alex had the aura of a great wizard, a mythic sage with
attended Merton’s 750th Anniversary celebration in 2014. a knowledge and wisdom that spanned ages. He inspired
his students, friends and families to remain curious and to
After Merton, he fulfilled a childhood dream by joining the uncover the beauties and ironies of life that can be hidden in
Israeli army. It was there he met his wife, Hannah – who what we know about yesterday, and what we observe today.
outranked him. He courted her undeterred, and they were While we are sad to say goodbye, it is with fondness that we
married in Tel Aviv in 1959. He aimed to continue his studies remember the life he lived. He is survived by his wife Hannah,
at the Hebrew University, but history of science was not his three children, and his seven grandchildren.
offered at doctorate level in Jerusalem. Thus, with a new
family, he returned to Peterhouse to earn his PhD. By the Robert Stemmons (2014)
time he finished, he had been offered a position as lecturer
in the history of science by the University of Leicester.
An illustrious academic career followed. He published There had to come a time in Australia’s development when
many works on the history of science. His speciality was its academia, steeped in the British scholastic tradition,
Renaissance engineering, such as A Theatre of Machines would have to confront the reality of history and literature
(1964), an anthology and commentary of historical diagrams. on their own doorstep. Manning Clark was a pioneer of
He was an authority on many periods, such as the 20th- academic specialisation in Australian history and Gerald
century nuclear era, authoring The Infancy of Atomic Physics: ‘Gerry’ Wilkes did the same for Australian literature,
Hercules in his Cradle (1983). His most expansive publishing becoming Australia’s first Professor of Australian Literature
achievement was the translation of the massive 16th- at Sydney University in 1962.
century manuscript The Twenty-One Books of Engineering
and Machines of Juanelo Turriano, 1500-1585 (1996) – a feat Where the ordinary Australian, asked to give an account
that earned him an award from the Spanish Government. of Australian literature, would have likely trotted out Henry
271
Lawson and Banjo Paterson, Wilkes brought to attention the he believed ‘the corpus of writing we call literature is a
works of Henry Handel, the pen name used by Ethel Florence figuration of experience that in its range and depth far
Lindesay Richardson, Katharine Susannah Prichard, Joseph exceeds [a critic’s] own’, so that the latter’s aim should be
Furphy, Patrick White, Judith Wright and R D Fitzgerald. ‘to bring out the singularity, even the uniqueness’ of a text;
these ideas had been expressed at length in his Studying
Later appointed Challis Professor of English Literature Literature (1985).
(in 1966), Wilkes enjoyed a 30-year career in the post,
writing prolifically on British and Australian literature and In the 1950s there was little scholarship offered on Australian
contributing to an international understanding of the writers and many 19th-century texts had never been
Australian idiom. reprinted. Wilkes changed all that and was instrumental
in introducing a Major in Australian literature to Sydney
Gerald Alfred Wilkes was born on 27 September 1927, son of a University. Wilkes also served as editor of the literary
poultry farmer, Thomas Wilkes, and Annie, both immigrants magazine Southerly in 1963-87. While publishing a significant
from England. He grew up in Greenacre in Sydney’s south- range of literary criticism, Southerly also featured early
west and attended Canterbury Boys’ High, where he won work by writers such as Les Murray, Jennifer Maiden, Frank
an exhibition for tertiary study. He enrolled at Sydney Moorhouse, Marion Halligan, Kate Grenville, Michael Wilding,
University to study Arts, with the ambition of becoming a Robert Adamson and Vicki Viidikas.
secondary school teacher. Graduating with honours in the
BA and in the MA that followed, he won the University Medal Wilkes produced the volume on R D Fitzgerald (1981) for
and found a place in the university’s English Department. Oxford University Press’ series Australian Writers and Their
Work and edited a collection of essays on Patrick White
In August 1953, Wilkes married Marie Pauley, who had been a (1970). Among earlier writers, he revived the work of Charles
fellow student. He also won an ANU travelling scholarship to Harpur, Henry Kendall and Adam Lindsay Gordon in The
Merton College, Oxford. Wilkes wrote his doctoral thesis on Colonial Poets (1974), and he produced editions of early poet
late-16th-century poetry, one of his main subjects being Sir Charles Tompson and novelist Catherine Helen Spence.
Philip Sidney’s friend, Fulke Greville.
A major focus of Wilkes’ research was Australian poet
Returning to Australia in 1956, Wilkes and his wife settled Christopher Brennan (1870-1932), on whom he published
in Eastwood in Sydney’s north-west, where they had three from the early 1950s up till 2008, including a Selected
children. Wilkes re-joined the staff of Sydney University and Poems in 1973. He related Brennan’s writing to the European
undertook significant administrative roles. He was also active tradition in which he was steeped. Aware that Australian
in the Australian Academy of the Humanities, including as writers of the 19th and early 20th centuries drew on a
president in 1983-85. variety of traditions, Wilkes challenged the common belief
that Australian literature of this period was dominated by
Wilkes was a master of the formal university lecture. He a nationalist orientation. Such was the argument of his
is remembered by students and aspiring academics as Australian Literature: A Conspectus (1969) and The Stockyard
providing a model of intelligent explication and judicious and the Croquet Lawn: Literary Evidence for Australia’s Cultural
evaluation. His academic colleagues recall, too, his dry wit Development (1981).
and his helpfulness in times of difficulty, while he inspired
loyalty among administrative staff. In his work on British literature, Wilkes pursued his interest
in Fulke Greville, producing editions of Greville’s poetry in
Over his career, Wilkes witnessed the heydays of various 1965 and then of his poetry and drama in 2008. He published
critical trends, including ructions that divided the department on John Milton too, with The Thesis of Paradise Lost (1961).
in the 1960s. But as he wrote soon after his retirement, Wilkes was co-editor of the Challis Shakespeare (editions of
272
the plays geared to Australian readers) and edited the plays When he arrived as an undergraduate at Merton College in
In Memoriam | 1953-55
of Shakespeare’s contemporary Ben Jonson, for Oxford the 1950s, many academics dismissed efforts to understand
University Press. what had happened in Germany since the fall of the Third
Reich. In 1958, the year Nicholls graduated, the dons – swayed
Wilkes was energetic in creating avenues for publishing by the theories of AJP Taylor – voted to deny Theodor
literary criticism, such as the Sydney Studies in Literature Heuss, the president of the Federal Republic, an honorary
series of books. The journal Sydney Studies in English degree on the grounds that although he may not have been
strengthened links with secondary schools, often featuring a Nazi, the West German state had failed to shake off its
articles on HSC set texts. For many years Wilkes was involved Nazi past. The University’s decision was an embarrassment
in setting the syllabus and examinations for HSC English. to the British government, which was keen to court the
West German state to boost trade with Europe.
Wilkes’s knowledge of Renaissance language made him
aware that some uses lost to British English survived in For Nicholls, the suspicion – widely propagated in Oxford
Australian idiom. His Dictionary of Australian Colloquialisms and Fleet Street – that West Germany was probably an
first appeared in 1978 and, unlike similar books, offered embryonic neo-Nazi Fourth Reich, was as untrue as it was
actual evidence for uses, with sources encompassing early contrary to British interests, which he believed lay not just
printed texts through to current newspapers and radio/TV in cordial relations with West Germany but also in accession
programmes. In the Times Literary Supplement, idiom expert to the European Economic Community. He was convinced
Eric Partridge called it ‘a book not only to be consulted by that the Federal Republic was a genuine democracy.
the learned for its quiet, unobtrusive scholarship but also to Together with Alan Bullock (whose pupil Nicholls had been)
be read with delight by the general intelligent public’. Wilkes he worked the academic circuit to forward the view that
had an exchange with Gough Whitlam over the ‘Darwin German history was as important to the UK as British or
stubby’. The fifth edition came out in 2008 as Stunned American history.
Mullets & Two-Pot Screamers; Wilkes’s related monograph,
Exploring Australian English, appeared in 1986. Anthony James Nicholls was born in Carshalton, Surrey, in
1934. His father, Ernest, worked in the banking section of
Gerry Wilkes died on 15 May 2020. He was predeceased by Thomas Cook, and his mother, Coleen (née Moore), was a
his wife, in January 2004, and his elder sister, Florence, who homemaker. He attended Sutton County Grammar School,
died in 1977. He is survived by his three children Joanne, then spent his National Service training as a pilot in Canada.
David and Geoffrey. His elder brother, Ivo, had been a pilot in the war, and it
was talking with him about fighting the Nazis that sparked
Joanne Wilkes and Malcolm Brown Nicholls’ interest in German history. That interest deepened
under the supervision of the historian John Roberts at
This obituary was first published in The Sydney Morning Merton, the college to which he won an exhibition in 1955.
Herald on 8 June 2020. It is reproduced with permission of its
Editors. He was made a research fellow of St Antony’s College in 1961.
In its unusual and eccentric surroundings, Nicholls found an
academic home. He was made a fellow in 1968.
1955
Founded in 1950, St Antony’s was led at the time by Sir
That the teaching of modern German history is now one of William Deakin, one of Churchill’s researchers and an officer
the jewels in the crown of the University of Oxford is in no in the Special Operations Executive in the Second World
small part due to Professor Anthony (Tony) Nicholls of St War. Deakin gave Nicholls the backing he needed, aided by
Antony’s College. another highly influential college fellow, Sir John Wheeler-
273
Bennett (who was widely believed to have been an MI6 agent In 1993 Nicholls was awarded the German Order of Merit (first
in the Weimar Republic, spying on its army, the Reichswehr). class) for his contribution to British-German relations. He was
the author of several key books on modern German history,
Sir Raymond Carr, Deakin’s successor as warden, was including a history of the Weimar Republic (Weimar and the
equally supportive of Nicholls’ German projects. Perhaps Rise of Hitler) that ran to four editions and is still in print.
the most impactful of these was a programme sponsored
by Volkswagen inviting some of the most famous German Nicholls was married to Dr Christine Nicholls (née Metcalfe),
academics to spend a term or more at St Antony’s and one of the first four female students at St Antony’s, and the
give talks about their studies. They included Karl Dietrich first to lend credence to a prophecy grumbled by the dons in
Bracher, Wolfgang Mommsen and Gerhard Ritter. the senior common room that they would wed the younger
fellows. She also became a distinguished historian and editor
Nicholls’ most celebrated and controversial guest was Fritz of the Dictionary of National Biography. They had three
Fischer. His thesis that Germany started the First World War children: Alexander; Caroline, a BBC Radio 4 newsreader; and
to set up an empire in Europe ran counter to the accepted Isabel. His last 17 years were overshadowed by the severe
view that the war was either an accident or all powers brain damage suffered by Isabel, for whom he was carer.
were equally to blame. It echoed Taylor’s line that Germany
wanted war to gain ‘mastery in Europe’, but this was a Except for watching the occasional football match on
German voice making the claim, not a British one. television, study was Nicholls’s sole hobby. It was only the
second day of his honeymoon in Munich when he announced
Frau Fischer became a college character in her own right. She to Christine that he simply had to go to the archives.
had been a leading member of the Nazi League of German
Maidens and been received by Hitler at Berchtesgaden. More Anthony Nicholls, historian, was born on 2 February 1934. He
than once the phrase, ‘As I said to Hitler,’ caused a frisson died from the effects of Alzheimer’s disease on 26 January
round the dinner table. The VW Beetle donated by Volkswagen 2020, aged 85.
for use by the German professors was written off when she
drove the wrong way round a North Oxford roundabout. This obituary was first published in The Times on 28 February
2020. It is reproduced with permission of News Licensing.
Nicholls worked with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation to
organise lectures by leading West German politicians. When
Helmut Kohl first visited Oxford in 1981, while still the leader
of the German opposition, he outlined his dream for German My father, the Reverend Richard Price, who has died aged
unification in front of a stunned audience. Kohl’s first wife 85, was a strong advocate of church unity, having spent
sat outside the room knitting – she had evidently heard this his formative years at city parishes in Manchester and
more than once. Most who heard him thought that he was Leeds witnessing the divisions in his local communities. He
a fantasist; one or two of the Germans there regarded his never aspired to anything more than being a parish priest
words as dangerous and provocative revanchism. and supporting others through the strength of his own
unshakeable faith. His service was recognised in 1986 when
Some of the UK’s most distinguished university teachers he was made a canon of Chester Cathedral.
were Nicholls’ students, notably Professor Sir Richard Evans,
who not only became the Regius Professor of Modern Born at East Keswick, near Leeds, Richard was the third of four
History at Cambridge but also Britain’s leading historian of children of Stanley Price, secretary of the Yorkshire Council
the Third Reich and the doughty defender of the American for Further Education, who established colleges throughout
author Deborah Lipstadt in her successful legal fight against the county, and Kitty (née Thornton), a health visitor and
David Irving. midwife. During the Second World War, aged nine, Richard was
274
evacuated to Buckden House, in Wharfedale. He retained an He is survived by Mary, their children Elizabeth, Rosemary,
In Memoriam | 1955-56
affection for the Yorkshire Dales and eventually retired there. Andrew and me, four grandchildren, and his sister, Helen.
In 1948 the family moved south to Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, David Price
and Richard became a pupil at Watford Grammar School.
While a teenager he became a gifted pianist, and continued This obituary was first published in The Guardian on 20 May
to play throughout his life. 2020. It is reproduced with permission of its Editors.
© Guardian News & Media Ltd 2020
During Richard’s National Service in the RAF he studied
Russian, later taking his first degree at Merton College,
Oxford, in modern languages (including Spanish). After this 1956
he found his true vocation in the church and was ordained
in 1961. A year later he married Mary Briggs, a farmer’s Peter George Dickens passed away peacefully at home on
daughter and childhood friend from East Keswick. 1 October 2019, aged 87.
His first posts were as curate at All Saints and Martyrs Peter Dickens was born in Sheffield on 30 September 1932,
in Langley, north Manchester (1961-62), St Peter’s with St the younger son of former elementary school teacher Mabel
Margaret’s, Bramley (1963-66) and All Hallows’ (1966-74), and retired army captain Ernest. From the city’s King Edward
both in Leeds. On the night of the FA Cup Final replay VII grammar school, after two years of National Service,
between Chelsea and Leeds in April 1970, All Hallows’ caught Peter went up to Queen’s in 1952 to read Chemistry as a
fire due to a wiring fault and was completely destroyed. It Hastings Scholar. At Oxford, he played cricket for the county
was a traumatic event for the community, and Richard took and was on the Queen’s soccer team. Peter was awarded a
on the challenge of building a new church. top first in 1956 and that year married his wife Mary, a happy
union that produced three children.
After a period at Christchurch, Birkenhead (1975-78), Richard
spent two terms as rural dean at St Michael and All Angels, Peter moved to Merton College for his DPhil, which he
Mottram (1979-88). While there he established links with completed in 1959 under the supervision of Jack Linnett with
the Methodist, Catholic and other clergy and together they a thesis entitled ‘Problems in interactive forces and energy
set up a weekly matins service so that the congregations transfer and some studies of atomic reactions’. The same
could also get to know each other. year, he was appointed Junior Research Fellow at New College
and was an official Fellow of the college from 1962 until his
The culmination of his career was at St Mary’s, Nantwich (1989- retirement in 1997, serving as Domestic Bursar in 1960-61 and
99), as a senior member of the Chester diocesan clergy. He as Sub-Warden in 1971-72. Peter took up golf in his thirties,
then retired to Cowling, near Skipton, and immediately became played off a two handicap at the height of his game and was
immersed in the life of the church and was instrumental in the treasurer to the University Golf Club for several decades,
provision of a new village hall for the community. becoming an honorary life member of Southfield Golf Club.
Important University business was conducted every Friday
In retirement, Richard was able to indulge his passion for afternoon; everyone knew this would be on the golf course.
walking in the Dales once again; it was an area that was
permanently mapped out in his mind. Peter was a classical music and film buff, an atheist and
socialist, whose wide-ranging interests included literature,
Richard was kind, patient and a true gentleman. With a great history, mathematics, physics, philosophy, genetics, religion,
love for other people, a twinkle in his eye and an unassuming comedy series and TV dramas. When they retired, he and
character, he was well appreciated by all who knew him. Mary settled in North Cornwall, where Peter played a lot
275
of golf, captained the St Enodoc Seniors, continued to Whenever Peter was asked about his research interests,
read voraciously and to ‘wrestle with scientific problems he could always reply: ‘Oh, they’re as pure as the driven
of immense difficulty’. In 2014, Peter and Mary returned to snow.’ His research was a purely curiosity-driven search for
Oxford, where Peter was widowed the following year and knowledge with little thought to applications. Yet Peter’s
lived until his death. He is survived by two children, two research provided the essential foundation for others to
grandchildren and his older brother. explore more commercial applications which led to smart
windows, photochromic displays and the lithium battery.
In 1959 the theoretical and physical chemist Hinshelwood, The lithium battery of course has changed the world: where
the all-powerful Professor of both Inorganic and Physical would we be without our mobile phones?
Chemistry, had devolved the running of the Inorganic
Chemistry Laboratory to Freddie Brewer who, as Mayor of Alison Dickens and Steve Davies
Oxford, was more interested in politics. No doubt encouraged
by Linnett, Brewer saw Peter and said: ‘I understand you are This obituary was originally published in the 2019 New College
a good man on the cricket field – there is an inorganic job Record. It is reproduced with permission of its Editors.
going if you want it.’
One pupil, Stanley Whittingham, read Chemistry at New Alexander 'Sandy' Ferguson came up to Merton from
College from 1960 to 1964, doing his Part II and DPhil Glasgow Academy in 1956 and read Greats. He always spoke
with Peter, and began the first work in Oxford on sodium with great affection of his time at Merton where he was well
tungsten bronzes. News of Wittingham’s Nobel Prize for the known for his witty conversation and dry sense of humour.
first functional lithium battery came only days after Peter’s
death. In his Nobel lecture, Whittingham described Peter as Born Alexander Colin Campbell Ferguson on 29 April 1937 in
one of the people who played a key role in his scientific life. Glasgow to Alexander and Barbara Ferguson, he was always
known as Sandy to differentiate him from his father.
Peter was a very generous person. His summer parties
with plenty of wine and Mary sometimes having to rustle On leaving Merton in 1960 he joined Turner & Newall as a
up pasta at a moment’s notice are fondly remembered. management trainee with Ferodo in Chapel-en-le-Frith in
276
Derbyshire, where he was to spend the whole of his business Classics. He did his National Service in the Navy, putting it
In Memoriam | 1956
career. Ferodo is a supplier to the automotive industry and to good use by learning Russian, the first of a clutch of
best known to the general public for its advertisements, still difficult languages, the others being Turkish, Modern Greek
seen on so many railway bridges. Sandy’s quiet persuasive and, above all, Arabic, which he honed at the Middle Eastern
manner helped him rise through production control and Centre for Arab Studies (MECAS) at Shemlan in the Lebanon.
distribution management to sales director, managing director
and then to chief executive. He oversaw major overseas After taking a First in Mods, Oliver switched to Oriental
expansion into Germany, France, Spain, Czech Republic, Studies in Classical Arabic and Turkish, in which he again
South Korea and the USA, and travelled a great deal. took a First, but not before also winning the Craven
Scholarship, thus marking himself out as the University’s
In 1995, a little earlier than planned, he retired due to ill health. outstanding classicist that year, an achievement that could
This gave him more time to indulge his interest in trains and well have turned a lesser person’s head. But not Oliver’s. As
paddle steamers, visiting Scottish lochs and watching cricket. Steward, and later President, of the JCR, and as a member of
the College rugby XV, he certainly stood out, but always as
Living in Derbyshire there were several visits to Chatsworth someone who was quietly helpful, with a dry humour that
where he would always recall his first occasion, with defused disputes before they could become acrimonious. He
Merton contemporary Richard Thomas, when their tour was was President of the Blessed Cuthbert Mayne Society, an
interrupted by the arrival of US President J F Kennedy in a indication of the firm Catholic faith that would guide him
helicopter. throughout his life.
In 1968 Sandy married Jennifer Kennett from Buxton and He was musical, a flautist and a singer. When László
they lived variously in Buxton, Chapel-en-le-Frith and finally Heltay, newly arrived as a political refugee from Hungary
Marple, the last for its convenient access to Manchester after the Budapest uprising, took hold of our run-of-the-
Airport and the West Coast Main Line at Stockport. mill college choral society and shaped it into something
special, it was Oliver who drafted László’s letter, in Latin,
Sandy died on 29 May 2019 and is survived by Jennifer, their to the latter’s mentor Zoltán Kodály to ask his permission
daughter Helen and their three grandsons. to name the revamped choir after him. And years later, as
a scarcely conventional British ambassador, he went on a
Richard Kenyon (1956) tour to Disneyland in Florida as a member of a Luxembourg
town band.
He was adventurous, visiting Moscow on a student exchange
at a time when the USSR, at the height of the Cold War,
was virtually off limits to western tourists. Those who did
manage to get there were obliged to do as they were told,
accompanied always by minders. By convincing his that he
needed to go to church, Oliver managed to give them the
slip and spent a Sunday with Boris Pasternak, desperate to
get Doctor Zhivago published, after it had been banned by
the Soviet authorities.
Oliver Miles, diplomat, died on 10 November 2019, aged 83.
In 1960 Oliver joined the Diplomatic Service, having earlier
Oliver was born on 6 March 1936 and was educated at fended off an approach by an MI6 recruiter, who used an
Ampleforth, from where he won a Postmastership in assumed name but later turned out, as a fellow student at
277
MECAS, to be George Blake, subsequently unmasked and ministers during their frequent visits to this small but pivotal
convicted as a Soviet spy. This acquaintanceship meant that EU capital. In her memoir The Ambassador’s Wife’s Tale Julia
Oliver could never be posted to Moscow, where Blake was recounts how in February 1986 Mrs Thatcher and the Foreign
ensconced after his escape from Wormwood Scrubs. Secretary Geoffrey Howe had come for the signing of the
Single European Act. They were guests in the Residence, and
Members of the Diplomatic Service, even near-contemporaries, over a whisky nightcap discussed whether or not to sign the
often know each other by repute rather than personal Act. Mrs Thatcher was reluctant, but Oliver argued in favour
acquaintanceship, as the nature of their job means that they and was told that it was none of his business. The argument
are just as likely to be serving hundreds of miles apart as in continued the next morning in the car on the way to the
the same post or in the FCO in London, and that is how it ceremony. And Mrs Thatcher signed.
was for Oliver and me. Our career paths never converged. He
was an Arabist, and thus a member of one of the Service’s Another guest was Alan Clark, the Trade Minister, who
elite specialist groups, in which he had a deservedly high in Tom’s words was ‘bollocked by Mrs Thatcher after
reputation, built at first on service during the still semi- somebody dobbed him in for undermining government
colonial era in the Gulf, in the run-up to independence in policy on Europe’. Tom was proud to read in Clark’s diaries
Aden, and in Jordan, whereas I veered between development that ‘It could only have been that fucking ambassador in
assistance and East-West relations. But I knew enough about Luxembourg.’ As Tom has said, his father was principled
him to be sure that he was someone on whom the Service and honest to a fault, with unquestioning loyalty as a civil
could rely to take on hard and often dangerous jobs, in which servant, ‘a cause of occasional domestic friction’. And he
clear judgement, a cool head, leadership and physical bravery was fearless in speaking truth to power.
would be essential. And so it had been, in 1970s Cyprus and
in what we now know as Yemen, where he was involved in After a spell as Director-General of the newly combined
a successful military incursion to prevent an Egyptian take- FCO/DTI Overseas Trade Services Directorate, Oliver’s
over of the island of Socotra, and would be in Libya, and final posting, from 1993 to 1996, was Athens, where he had
during a brief spell in Belfast, and even in Luxembourg, where earlier served as Counsellor. He loved Greece, so this was a
his time as ambassador coincided with Red Brigades terrorism, perfect way to end his career, and he went out on a high
some of it directed at the British embassy. note, boosting trade and cultural relations with a notably
successful ‘Britain in Greece’ festival, though not before, in
A few months after Oliver’s arrival in 1984 as ambassador in his last month of service, he had had to intervene in a Greco-
Tripoli someone leant out of a window in the Libyan embassy Turkish boundary dispute in some uninhabited skerries in the
in St James’s Square and shot WPC Yvonne Fletcher. Aegean that was threatening to develop into armed conflict.
Diplomatic relations were severed and, as Oliver’s son Tom Oliver spent a long, active and scholarly retirement, living in
has put it, ‘our family was the public face of the scramble North Oxford. He was deputy chairman of the Libyan British
to leave Tripoli’, with the world looking on as files were Business Council (2004-19) and president of the Society
shredded and cypher machines dismantled, wives and for Libyan Studies (1998-2004). Meanwhile, as his son Tom
children reassured and evacuated, under the morale- put it, his decades of civil service loyalty gave way to a
boosting leadership of Oliver and his wife Julia, whom he wry, independent and increasingly vocal take on diplomacy.
had married in 1968. Incensed by Tony Blair’s policy on Israel and Iraq, he organised
the famous open letter that was signed by 52 former
While the Luxembourg appointment may have been intended ambassadors, thereby hitting the headlines once again.
by the FCO at least in part as balm after the Libya bruising,
it would also have been part of a career plan to give this He became a regular media commentator on Middle Eastern
Service ‘flier’ abundant opportunities to work directly with affairs, notably as a familiar and expert voice on the BBC’s
278
Today programme and as the author of opinion pieces in The Weary from trying to defend an empire in decline, the British
In Memoriam | 1956-57
Guardian, and was much in demand at the Royal Institute of chose not to contest Hay’s secession and the town became
International Affairs (Chatham House). a free state – at least in the mind of its philosopher king,
whose crown was created from tin foil and whose orb and
He was appointed CMG in 1984 but, to the puzzlement and sceptre were made from a discarded toilet cistern.
disappointment of his friends and family, denied advancement
to the KCMG that he so deserved by a brief capricious change The arrival in 1988 of the Hay Festival, with its A-list names and
in honours policy by the then prime minister John Major. corporate sponsorship, was in stark contrast to the obscure,
arcane and dusty world of books that Booth inhabited and
Oliver died from pancreatic cancer at home, after an evening drew his wrath, even though he had helped to create the
reading Pushkin, surrounded by his family. He is survived by conditions in which it was to flourish. The festival, he argued,
Julia, children Joe, Tom, Hugh and Lucy, and 11 grandchildren. was exploiting the town’s reputation as a second-hand book
centre while ignoring the traders who had put it on the map.
Richard Thomas (1956) During one early festival he decorated the castle with a neon
sign that read ‘arts’ with a flashing ‘f’ before it. ‘If anyone
objects I’ll tell them it stands for fine arts,’ he declared.
1957
Yet there was a serious side to Booth. In using his quixotic
Long before the Hay Festival began drawing the literati to a energy and shrewd business sense to promote Hay and its
small bucolic market town at the foot of the Black Mountains books, he helped to revive an economy that had long been
in Wales, Richard Booth was selling books there. From Hay withering. ‘Since the First World War Hay’s population has
Castle, a crumbling Norman pile looming over the town, declined from 3,000 to 1,500,’ he explained at the time of his
the self-styled and idiosyncratic King Richard Coeur de Livre unilateral declaration of independence. ‘And whereas there
(Bookheart) reigned over what became the biggest centre in used to be 200 shops, now there are about 50. Central
the world for second-hand books. government has ignored us for too long.’
On April Fool’s Day 1977 he declared the town’s independence, Richard George William Pitt Booth was born in Hay in 1938,
printing Hay passports and issuing local banknotes. There the son of Philip Booth, a mechanic who served as an army
was even a national sausage, and Goldie, his horse, was officer, and his wife, Elisabeth (née Pitt). He claimed to be
appointed prime minister. ‘I bent over backwards to get descended from William Pitt the Younger, and had three
publicity,’ said Booth, who relished both his drink and his sisters. Richard was educated at Rugby, but left in disgrace
status as a bibliophile celebrity. Edible currency was an early after being caught cheating. Redeeming himself at a crammer
innovation, printed on rice paper so that people could put in Guildford, Surrey, he read history at Merton College,
their money where their mouth was. Oxford, and, at his parents’ behest, joined an accountancy
firm, though only stayed for three weeks. It was not his
To demonstrate his visceral hatred of the Welsh Tourist strongest suit, as his many creditors would attest when
Board and all those he considered to be meddlers, Booth referring to him as ‘King Richard Rubbercheque’.
erected a monstrous 30ft bureaucrat to be burnt on Guy
Fawkes Night. A Hay patriotic machine was built: put 10p in Inheriting the Brynmelyn estate in Wales from a wealthy
the slot and you could hear a rendition of the Hay national uncle provided Booth with the opportunity to open his
anthem as a portrait appeared of King Richard with flashing first bookstore in 1961. Over the years he employed dozens
eyes. The sale of Hay-on-Wye dukedoms (£25), earldoms of townspeople, many of whom went on to open shops of
(£15) and baronetcies (£5) was said to exceed the number their own. He turned the castle grounds into an ‘honesty
sold by James I, Charles I and David Lloyd George combined. bookstore’, with open-air shelves and a large red box by the
279
gate into which buyers were invited to deposit their payments. Stuart, helped with the production of My Kingdom of Books, a
colourful memoir published in 1999. By then a brain tumour
Despite his privileged schooling, Booth was sceptical about had been removed, leaving him slightly disabled, and later he
education, arguing that it disadvantaged rural areas. ‘If suffered a stroke.
you’re from a small town and only have one O-level, you’ll
stay in that small town,’ he said, arguing that the brighter Booth certainly looked the part of the monarch, at least of
people left and never returned. ‘Which is why so many one of the minor European kingdoms. He was podgy and
Welsh towns are run by stupid people.’ balding with dandruff-covered shoulders on his sagging
suits; big rectangular glasses fell down his nose. Merely the
The remainder of Booth’s inheritance went on buying mention of his name is still enough to spark an animated
premises around the town that he filled with thousands of discussion in the town’s pubs. At various times the council
books that no one else wanted, including entire libraries and the local booksellers’ association felt obliged to
shipped from the US. ‘Even a bad book about the First World disassociate themselves from his antics.
War has a buyer somewhere,’ he said with a shrug.
Claiming to be a friend of Arthur Scargill, Booth stood for the
He recalled the mayor at the time saying that his business Socialist Labour Party in the 1999 Welsh Assembly elections
ventures would not last six months, but he began attracting and at the 2009 elections to the European Parliament, but
book-buying students from Bristol, Birmingham, Oxford and attracted less than two per cent of the vote.
Aberystwyth. By the start of the 1970s the second-hand
book business was successful enough for the king to have a Today Hay-on-Wye is renowned as the used-book capital
Rolls-Royce Phantom V parked outside his castle. of the world. Visitors can obtain maps featuring dozens of
important stops in the way of used bookstores, as well as
In 2011, with Booth in declining health, the castle was sold to artisanal and traditional bookbinding companies. Booth’s
a trust and its king retired to a large house at Cusop, near shop was sold about ten years ago but continues to trade
Hay, where he had a fishpond divided in two: English goldfish as Richard Booth’s Bookshop, an artful blend of books, café,
on the right, Japanese carp on the left. cinema and other facilities.
He was adamant that he never wanted children, and in his As for Booth, he had greater ambitions than Hay. He created
early twenties he had a vasectomy. He was generous with his the concept of the ‘book town’, which led to more than
affections, however, and claimed to have had an affair with 20 others around the world, many of them members of
Marianne Faithfull, while a mysterious Kentucky heiress once the International Organisation of Book Towns, and in 1998
saved him from bankruptcy. An early marriage lasted a year, Booth promoted himself to ‘Emperor of all the world’s
until his wife took her mother’s advice and left. His second, in book towns’. The occasion was celebrated with jugglers,
1977, to Victoria del Rio, a Spaniard from a wealthy family in the stilt walkers, buskers and mime artists, while the main
Canary Islands whom he had known from university, was even procession was headed by an ambling band rather than a
shorter. ‘She was heavily into the hippy thing, which I wanted marching band. Funny? Yes. Silly? Definitely. But there can
no part of,’ he said, admitting that he had realised his mistake be no doubt that King Richard of Hay put his small Welsh
after only a few days. Queen Victoria hit back. ‘He’s put me in town on the map.
exile because I would not join in sex orgies with women and
pop stars at his castle,’ she told one newspaper. ‘He promised Richard Booth, MBE, bookseller, was born on 12 September
I would be a queen, but I finished up washing dishes in a café.’ 1938. He died from multiple causes on 20 August 2019, aged 80.
His third marriage, in 1987, was to Hope Stuart (née Barrie), This obituary was first published in The Times on 23 August
a photographer, who survives him. His stepdaughter, Lucia 2019. It is reproduced with permission of News Licensing.
280
Joanna, moved to Australia with Michael’s four grandchildren
In Memoriam | 1957-60
Michael Earling Hewitt died on 13 December 2019 in and Elizabeth subsequently followed her out there. His son,
Portsmouth after a short illness. After a private cremation Tom, runs a travel company in Borneo but, in recent years,
his life was celebrated with a wake at the Royal Naval Club, he spent quite a lot of time with his father in Portsmouth.
Portsmouth on 8 January 2020.
Michael's family and his friend, Richard McGregor
Michael was born on 28 March 1936 in the Isle of Wight. He
was educated at Christ’s Hospital, Horsham, Sussex, where
he distinguished himself academically, at rugby and at chess. 1960
After two years’ National Service in the Army, Michael went
up to Merton College, Oxford in 1957. There he read Classics
initially, achieving an Upper Second degree in Mods. He then
switched to Modern History, in which he also achieved an
Upper Second before graduating in 1961. At Merton he played
hooker for the College rugby team, captaining the side in 1960.
He also made a few appearances for the Oxford Greyhounds.
He then commenced his career with the Bank of England, Ian Donaldson passed away on 18 March 2020.
which lasted from 1961 to 1994. Early on he obtained an
external degree in economics. In the 1970s he was seconded To me, Ian was always a wonderful and remarkably gentle
to Bermuda for four years as economic adviser to the person; academic achievements were taken for granted,
Government. In his career at the Bank of England he rose to though he achieved more than most of us.
the rank immediately below the main board.
Ian was a Harmsworth Scholar at Merton from 1960 to 1963.
He continued to play rugby for the Old Blues (the old boys He lived above me in the Old Warden’s Lodgings and I saw
of Christ’s Hospital) until the late 1960s. He also played him a little.
chess for the Bank of England and for Hertfordshire and
became chess champion of Bermuda during his time there. It was only when he got together with his wife Grazia, who
was at Monash University in Melbourne like me, that we grew
Michael married Elizabeth Batchelor in 1961 and they lived in closer. Over the succeeding years we met intermittently but
Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire and then in Berkhamsted, we enjoyed a number of wonderful dinners together at each
Hertfordshire. They had a son Thomas, born in 1970, and a other’s places. They were always an absolute delight.
daughter Joanna, born in 1974. The marriage was dissolved
in 2000. John Crossley (1960)
After he retired from the Bank of England, Michael became The following is reprinted from the Australian Academy of the
a project manager for the International Monetary Fund and Humanities:
carried out assignments in a number of countries, including
Russia, the Ukraine, Egypt, Macedonia and Romania. One of the world’s finest Ben Jonson scholars, Ian was
an international authority in the field of early modern
Latterly Michael lived in Southsea, Portsmouth. He became a English literary studies and a highly influential leader and
social member of the Portsmouth Chess Club and Royal Naval advocate of the humanities in Australia. He was elected to
Club where he participated in the quiz teams. His daughter, the Academy in 1975 and served as Vice-President from 1980
281
to 1982 and from 2005 to 2007. He was President of the Throughout his career, Ian produced a range of ground-
Academy from 2007 to 2009 and Immediate Past President breaking and comprehensive studies on the English
from 2010 to 2012. playwright and poet Ben Jonson. His books include The
World Upside-Down: Comedy From Jonson to Fielding (1970),
Charles Ian Edward Donaldson was born in Melbourne Ben Jonson: Poems (1975), The Rapes of Lucretia: A Myth and
on 6 May 1935. He was educated at Melbourne Grammar its Transformations (1982), Ben Jonson (1985), Jonson’s Magic
School; he completed his Bachelor of Arts (English Language Houses: Essays in Interpretation (1997) and Ben Jonson: A
and Literature) at the University of Melbourne in 1957, Life (2011). He was a general editor, with David Bevington
teaching briefly in the English Department at Melbourne the and Martin Butler, of The Cambridge Edition of the Works of
following year. Ian completed a second Bachelor of Arts and Ben Jonson, published as a print edition in seven volumes in
a Master of Arts at the University of Oxford, graduating in 2012, and as an electronic edition in 2013. These two later
1964. During his time at Oxford, Ian was tutorial fellow in studies of the life and writings of Jonson are the culmination
English at Wadham College and Common University Fund of a lifetime of work. Ben Jonson: A Life has been widely
Lecturer in English, before becoming Chair of the Oxford praised as ‘exemplary’ and ‘definitive’ for its authoritative
English Faculty from 1968 to 1969. mastery of primary and secondary sources, and Ian was
praised for his deep knowledge and understanding of
Ian returned to Australia in 1969 to take up a position as Jonson. The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Ben Jonson
Professor of English at the Australian National University includes over 500 contextual documents, 80 essays, several
(ANU). In 1974 he was appointed Director of the ANU’s newly hundred images, details of stage performances and a cross-
established Humanities Research Centre (HRC). During his linked bibliography of over 7,000 items. A monumental
directorship of the HRC, Ian helped to organise more than feat in Jonson scholarship, it is also a testament to how
80 international interdisciplinary conferences, often working the publication of print and online editions can lead the
in collaboration with the Australian National Gallery, the way in the combination of scholarly excellence and digital
National Library of Australia, the Australian Academy of accessibility.
the Humanities, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
and other institutions throughout Australasia. Under his As a Fellow of the Academy, Ian led two major ARC
leadership the HRC acquired a substantial international Learned Academies’ Special Projects: ‘Promoting scholarly
reputation and became the model for subsequent humanities writing in the public sphere’ (2005), which aimed to
centres overseas. encourage scholars in the humanities to acquire the skills
to write accessibly for non-experts; and ‘The humanities
He remained in this post until 1991, when he moved to the in Australian life since 1968’ (2009), which resulted in a
University of Edinburgh as Regius Professor of Rhetoric and significant publication entitled Taking Stock: The Humanities
English Literature. In 1995 he was appointed Grace 1 Professor in Australian Life since 1968 (2012). He chaired a number of
of English at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of colloquia held by the Academy including a highly successful
King’s College, becoming in 2001 the founding director of symposium on ‘Philanthropy and the humanities’ (2007),
Cambridge’s new Centre for Research in the Arts, Social and the Colloquium of Australian Tertiary Language
Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH). In 2004 he returned to his Teachers, ‘Beyond the crisis: Revitalising languages in
old post at ANU as Director of the HRC, and in 2007 returned Australian Universities’ (2009). In his voluntary position as
to the University of Melbourne as an honorary professorial President of the Academy, Ian set up the Lalomanu Library
fellow in the School of Culture and Communication. He Fund – a fund to build a library in Lolomanu, Samoa after
also taught at the University of California, Santa Barbara; the 2009 tsunami. In addition to being a Fellow of the
Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge; Cornell University; Australian Academy of the Humanities, Ian was a Fellow of
the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC; and the the British Academy and the Royal Society of Edinburgh,
University of Melbourne. elected to the two latter institutions in 1993.
282
We extend our deepest sympathies to Ian’s wife Grazia, in an avenue that was opening up in Britain at this time,
In Memoriam | 1960
his children, and his friends and family here and around teaching a new CNAA degree programme at Hendon College,
the globe. His passing will be felt deeply by the Fellowship which later would become Middlesex Polytechnic/University.
and the broader humanities community, but his major At home Steve and Lynda enjoyed watching the children grow
commitment to advancing the humanities over some 60 up. They took house-swap holidays with Italian families,
years will not be forgotten. and the marriage was a happy one. Lynda throughout was
a hard-working teacher in North London comprehensive
This Vale was first published on the Australian Academy of schools. In later years, as Steve rose in position, he had
the Humanities website. It is reproduced with permission of the opportunity to work again on laid-aside projects, and
its Editors. eventually gained a PhD (1976-81) from University College,
London, on Angus Wilson and the modern novel. He rose in
position at Middlesex to become Head of English.
283
This period was also one of home-building for the couple, First at Hertford College, now works in business. Rohan is
whose children Alya (born 1989) and Rohan (born 1995) a geographer from St John’s now working through a family
thrived in their adopted country. After 14 years, however, it connection in Malaysia, on environmental matters.
was time to turn thoughts to Britain, particularly since Rohan
now required British schooling in preparation for university Steve was always delighted when old Merton contemporaries
entrance. The couple returned to settle in Essex, at Chelmsford. were on hand and wrote warmly in the 2015 Postmaster
of such a reunion on Hydra, Greece. All four Merton 1960
Steve had one further appointment before he finally English contemporaries were together for the first time for
hung up his hat. He was appointed examiner (later Chief many years: Roger Green, Steve, Bruce Walter and myself.
Examiner) for the London College of Music’s suite of spoken
performance exams (2008-19), a role which saw him make Mike Hind (1960)
often gruelling trips with heavy schedules, to places such as
India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Health began to be a serious
concern; increasingly, with Steve retired, Usha was now living
with the fact of his dementia. He had a serious stroke in April I met Charles ‘Chuck’ Lister on my first day at Merton, we
2019 and succumbed to his illness on 10 October that year. having discovered ourselves billeted nearby to one another
in St Alban’s. His being three years older than me, a lifetime
In later years, Steve had kept his intellectual interests at that age, coupled with the majestic trappings of a Rhodes
fresh through his reading, and sometimes online news and Scholar, placed him apart as a figure of respect, which his
ideas from Oxford. However, with dementia more marked retiring nature only augmented. It was therefore indubitably
he was unfortunately less and less able to bring his own cheering to come across him one evening, when he could
Shakespeare research to fruition. only be described as cheerfully sozzled, and to be able, young
as I was, to assist this fine gentleman somewhat unsteadily
Steve was deeply fond of his children, each of whom spoke back to base. That allowed me access to the impish nature
movingly at the Life Celebration of his different sides as beneath the dignified surface, which was very much apparent
person. Kate spoke of the loving father, but also the person many years later when we resumed our companionship.
who was competitive and ambitious, the ‘play to win’ man.
Libby spoke of Steve’s intellect and how he enjoyed the He took his three-year Jurisprudence degree in just two
good things of life. Rohan mentioned his wise guidance and years, during which time he achieved not only a First but
motivating concern; Alya spoke of Steve’s open heart and also, in 1961, the start of his lifelong happy marriage to Sara.
hospitality, playing some of his favourite music, Tom Wait’s They stayed on in Oxford to enable him to take his Bachelor
Come On Up to the House. of Civil Law degree, whereupon he promptly proceeded to
get another First. Returning to the USA he earned a graduate
I gave my own personal tribute, and Bruce Walter was also law degree at George Washington University and then
present, as of course were Lynda and Usha and friends. clerked at the Supreme Court of the USA for Justice John
Marshall Harlan II, who has been described as one of the
So we joined in saying our sad farewells to Steve, on a sunny most influential Supreme Court justices in the 20th century.
October morning last year in North London. Leaving the Supreme Court, he was an Associate Professor
of Law at Yale for two years before going into private
Each of the children has done well and three were at practice, being given the responsibility in 1988 of establishing
Oxford. Kate bypassed university to go straight into the film the London subsidiary of his US parent corporation.
industry where she now has notable credits for aspects of
production. Libby is in New Zealand where she is an award- Though he had given up his position as managing partner
winning special effects/location producer. Alya, who took a of the London office by the time I caught up with him in
284
2006 via my role as Year Representative, I was delighted to them created somewhat of a furore when they arranged an
In Memoriam | 1960
discover that he was still overseeing the UK operation on unauthorised picnic on behalf of Merton’s L’Ancien Régime
behalf of its holding company, which entailed his visiting dining club in the grounds of Bletchley Park. This was well
several times a year. From then on until not long before he before its clandestine role in the Second World War had
died we used to meet regularly to put the world to rights, been made known to the public, which probably accounted
and I remain indebted to him for introducing me to the series for why they fell so out of favour with the authorities, but
of books aimed towards understanding philosophy using in the end all was resolved amicably.
the medium of jokes (vide ‘impish’ above). Happily for my
education these gatherings always involved lunch, and as a I can boast of sharing one distinction with Julian: he and I
practising bon viveur Chuck introduced me to many splendid were the first Oxford chemists to tackle Part II theses outside
London watering holes which hitherto had only been viewed the laboratory. Julian’s dissertation became the cornerstone
by me with awe from afar. One of these occasions, greatly of his life’s work, as its rather formidable title implies: ‘Some
enhanced by having Sandy and Sara join us, afforded me the aspects of chemical warfare: an investigation into the
opportunity of sharing with him the most expensive bottle influence of the Second World War on the development of
of wine I have ever drunk. Thank you, Chuck. chemistry, with particular reference to the war gases’.
Chuck will probably be remembered by most of his colleagues After Merton he underwent training in patent law,
and friends as an altogether exceptional advocate, but for which afforded him insight into how to trace the covert
me he will always be remembered for just what he was: a manufacture of chemical and biological weapons via the
truly, truly nice man. informed analysis of public records. This led him in turn
to determine to devote the rest of his life to the non-
Keith Pickering (1960) proliferation of chemical and bacteriological weapons,
a path upon which he set out towards the end of the
1960s, when he joined SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute) as a research scholar, while at the same
Julian Perry Robinson passed away on 22 April 2020. time beginning his lifelong collaboration with Matthew
Meselson of Harvard. Their many years spent together
For my part, Julian quietly established himself as una clase in the persistent pursuit of the suppression of chemical
aparte within a few days of arriving at Merton, when he and biological weapons led to the 1993 Chemical Weapons
appeared in the College 1960 matriculation photograph as Treaty, for which it was later proposed to nominate them
the only freshman sporting a bow tie, as opposed to the for the Nobel Peace Prize. Both demurred, Julian for the
many sub fusc and standard ones on display. There he was, splendid reason that it would be ‘an awful distraction’ from
back row, establishing a persona that would stay with him his main work. They counter-proposed that consideration
both at Merton and for the rest of his life: quiet, confident, be given to the treaty regime itself, and in 2013 the prize
impeccably well-mannered, rather diffident. A colleague was duly awarded to the Organisation for the Prohibition of
noted he displayed an impressive set of hockey skills and Chemical Weapons.
later he was to arm himself with an HRG car – the perfect
motoring weapon for a man of his disposition. Otherwise, Being patently devoid of hubris I hope Julian would
he maintained a moderately low profile. nevertheless be happy to learn that I speak for all his fellow
1960 Merton chemists when I say it was both a pleasure and
Only once did the even tenor of his ways drift marginally off a privilege to have known him, no matter how briefly, well
course, but then only in the manner befitting. He was very before he made his mark so meaningfully on the world stage.
friendly with John Dingeman (1960) and Nigel Stenhouse
(1960), both sadly no longer with us, and the three of Keith Pickering (1960)
285
better turned out than most of us, a man in my view born
Nigel Malcolm William Stenhouse passed away suddenly to wear a pinstripe suit, so I was delighted to see him thus
on 16 October 2017. accoutred on the day, and have a splendid photograph to prove
it, along with absolutely the appropriate show handkerchief to
I knew Nigel only briefly when we were up, though in later set off the Nigel as I knew him: debonair, that’s the word.
life as Year Representative I was very grateful for his cheerful
and consistent correspondence. I am therefore indebted to Keith Pickering (1960)
The Chelsea Society’s warm obituary of him, happily in the
public domain, from which I draw upon freely below to cover
Nigel’s life after leaving Oxford 1961
Nigel read Modern History at Merton and, as befitted him, My father John Peterson sadly died on 18 December 2019,
became a member of the College’s L’Ancien Régime dining aged 77 years.
club. A friend from those undergraduate days, Maria Perry,
Born in 1942, John was educated at St George’s School,
said: ‘He was rather an aesthete and belonged to a group Harpenden and Shrewsbury School. He followed in his
who arranged picnics.’ Those taking part included the future father’s footsteps when he went up to Merton, to read
Professor Julian Perry Robinson, founder of the Harvard- Maths. (And rowing and drinking. Or so I have been told.)
Sussex peace project (who sadly died earlier this year); John
Dingeman, a lover of Bugatti cars; and the Hon. Christopher Upon graduating, John became a maths teacher, and with
Lennox-Boyd, the renowned collector and antiquarian scholar. his interest in the wider world and his sense of adventure
Like his friend Lennox-Boyd, Nigel would go on to collect art, soon found himself teaching in a government school in
becoming an authority on English watercolours, buying and Kisoro, Uganda. In Uganda he met my mother Anne who was
selling works on the European and English markets. a pharmacist with Voluntary Service Overseas. They travelled
home together in 1968 and settled in London where John began
Following the news of Nigel’s death The Chelsea Society working in computing for ICL. John and Anne were married in
recorded the sudden passing of its former Vice-Chairman, 1972 and moved to Leeds where my brother and I were born,
Nigel Stenhouse, a lawyer with a specialist interest in planning then Edinburgh, before settling in Norfolk in 1979. John joined
law, a subject on which he lectured. He had previously been the School of Computing Studies at the University of East
an adviser to the London County Council. Damian Greenish, Anglia (UEA) and was employed to manage its IT services at a
former Chairman of The Chelsea Society said: ‘I was deeply time when there were only two computers in Norwich! That
saddened to hear of the untimely death of Nigel Stenhouse. quickly changed and John kept up with all developments with
He had been a member of Council since 1989 and was the his natural curiosity and intellectual abilities.
Vice-Chairman for some 20 years. I was always grateful
for his support and guidance during my period of office as Archaeology was always one of John’s many interests and
Chairman. His love of Chelsea (particularly its connections in 1993 he was awarded his PhD at UEA, on ‘Computer-aided
with the river), and his knowledge of the Society and its investigation of ancient cadastres’. A cadastre is a grid laid
history, were wide and deep; he will be sorely missed.’ out by the Romans for administrative purposes, no evidence
of which had been found in the UK before John’s pioneering
I last met Nigel in 2010 for a lively conversation when we of the research. His exceptional and brilliant work combined
1960 Merton intake were celebrating our Golden Anniversary computing and mathematics in ‘computational archaeology’
lunch – he being instantly recognisable and not having to prove their existence. John continued his research over
appeared to have aged at all when compared to all the old almost 30 years, presenting his cases with great conviction,
buffers around him. As an undergraduate he had always been and supporting his arguments with detailed evidence. John
286
made a valuable contribution to his field and his work and constant father to me and my brother, a loving loyal
In Memoriam | 1960-62
has been published in prestigious academic journals. He husband, and a cheerful grandfather. He is remembered by
presented papers at conferences at home and abroad and us and the many who knew him with great affection and
was a member of several European research groups. Locally, respect, and is much missed.
he belonged to the Norfolk Archaeological and Historical
Research Group (NAHRG) and edited its yearly Annual. Jo Drake
John was a skilled model engineer and built working steam
locomotives for which he won prizes at exhibitions and 1962
International Model Locomotive Efficiency Competitions.
He even built models in Uganda with a treadle-powered Tim Archer passed away on 14 September 2019. The below
lathe. He was a member of the Norwich and District Society is a eulogy given at his Memorial Service at the Church of St
of Model Engineers for which he was both Treasurer and Botolph without Bishopsgate, London, on 29 October 2019.
Chair and spent many summer Sundays hauling trolleys full
of happy passengers around the track (for which he had The only person I know who would be surprised that a
designed and built the points) at Eaton Park in Norwich. memorial service for our friend Tim Archer might generate
a full house would have been Tim himself. For Tim self-
John’s strong sense of fairness and the importance of helping deprecation was an art form. I think living in Essex for so
others led him into local politics and he was a Liberal Democrat many years reflected a lack of pretension that appealed
councillor on South Norfolk District Council for 20 years to him. Although on occasion he would call it South
before standing down in 2007. John served as the Cabinet Cambridgeshire.
member responsible for Planning and the Environment.
His close college friend, Martyn Hurst, who has thus known
In 2011 John was made an Honorary Alderman in recognition him for more than 50 years, remembers skiing with him. Tim
of his services. He was also a school governor and a member appeared on the nursery slope lift clad in a loose anorak,
of the parish council. John remained throughout an active cavalry twills, leather boots and yes, wooden skis. Terrified
member and was treasurer of South Norfolk Liberal Democrats. skiers noticed that he didn’t do turns, so they retreated
to the sides of the piste in an act of self-preservation. He
John was a keen gardener, initially designing and planting would finish his run in a flourish of snow, skis and poles into
a beautiful garden with many different trees and shrubs, a the middle of the lift queue or into the restaurant at the
Japanese water garden, orchard and large vegetable plot; foot of the mountain.
and then happily growing interesting vegetables and trying
to keep the trees and shrubs in check. Always unassuming, As some of you may know, Tim read Geography at Oxford.
John was quietly pleased when visitors complimented him on Perhaps as a result he didn’t see himself as an eminent
the beauty of his oasis. scholar, and he frequently made fun of his degree choice.
It didn’t help that he was farmed out to a college on the
John loved music and sang tenor with the UEA choir for 40 other side of the University, because Merton didn’t have a
years, was a reasonably accomplished piano player, and liked geography tutor.
Mozart, Bach and Beethoven, among others.
After final exams Tim went to say goodbye to his distant tutor.
John’s was a rich and fulfilling life. He was always busy, The man didn’t remember him, which makes him probably the
right up until he fell ill with cancer just ten months before only person Tim ever interacted with who didn’t remember
he died. He had a lively, enquiring mind and accomplished him. Tim went on to become a senior partner in a prestigious
much, and found joy in many things in life. He was a kind law firm in London, but he first made an attempt to join
287
Unilever. He took one of those ghastly psyche evaluations. family is of course paramount and profound. He was so
The next day Tim got a corporate letter suggesting that he devoted to all of them. I hope there is comfort knowing
might better consider becoming a missionary. So much for that Tim will be sorely missed by everyone at the memorial
Unilever. So much for psyche evaluations. service and by so many friends in the United States as well
as England. All of us are united by love for this ‘lovely man’,
Two years ago, my wife and I invited Tim and his wife Gill to this irreplaceable colleague, this very special friend.
stay with us at a winter holiday rental in Barbados. As usual,
they arrived laden with bottles of wine to share with us. Sir Howard Stringer (1962)
Tim was already in a vulnerable state, with his pulmonary
disease advancing. Even so, being close to the sea and a
swimming pool he boldly staggered each day to both. One
afternoon he passed out. His eyes were closed as we lifted
him onto the sofa. For a moment, I thought the rum punch
and I had killed him, but he was brave and tough. Our wives,
both doctors, got him into an ambulance and he rallied.
Immediately he began to profusely thank everyone who had
helped him, the doctor, the nurses, the ambulance driver,
the medical team, the traffic cop and several passersby. That
was so typical of him.
John Joseph Kirby, Jr died on 2 October 2019, a little shy of
Tim was always mindful of others. When a friend fell on hard his 80th birthday later that month.
times, or had HR issues, it was Tim who provided practical
and moral support. Martyn suggests that if you wanted to John had been battling myelodysplastic syndrome, a blood
describe him simply you would say ‘He truly was a lovely man’. cancer, with grace, courage and the loving tireless support
of his wife Susan Cullman and children. Despite difficult
In recent years Tim modestly told me that he had played for circumstances he continued to engage with his family,
his school cricket 1st XI at just 14 and was a Junior County many friends and interests including his beloved Merton.
player. This explains his enthusiasm for the England fast John even somehow managed to attend and speak at the
bowler Jofra Archer who he admits was not a relative. He Merton Washington, DC, April 2019 reunion. During the
played scrum half for the College rugby team every year reunion, many months before the outbreak of Covid-19, he
he was at Merton. He was voted President of the JCR in was an early adaptor and prescient exemplar of masking
1964. After he graduated he was his year’s representative and the social distancing which has become so prevalent.
for alumni news and fundraising and he raised money Although John was cancer free for almost a year he
enthusiastically like the Merton missionary he was. ultimately succumbed to complications linked to a failure of
his immune system.
Many of us at about the same age as Tim now read the
obituary page in the newspaper before the sports page. It John Kirby led an extraordinary, almost impossibly
is axiomatic that old age comes at a bad time. Friends like kaleidoscopic long life of achievement and service. All of
Tim are also companions, advisers and role models, and thus the biographical details likely were not fully appreciated by
they are irreplaceable. Fortunately we are now less self- many people outside his immediate family. Even those who
conscious about reflecting on the value of such friendship. justifiably felt they knew him well often were not completely
aware of the complex gem of a human being he was beyond
We can say without embarrassment that we loved Tim. the sparkling facets of his life that they touched. Yet we are
His loss to Gill, Caroline, Richard and the rest of the Archer more fortunate than those six blind men in the well-known
288
ancient story who encountered an elephant at a crossroad. form the basis of the historic breakthrough Voting Rights
In Memoriam | 1962
In that old parable they were so close that each could only Act of 1965 and earned John commendations from Attorney
sense the different part of the elephant that they happened General Robert F Kennedy. Later, as Special Assistant to then
to feel. They were unable to comprehend the entire nature Assistant Attorney General John Doar, he personally escorted
of the enormous animal without listening to each other’s African American children into newly desegregated schools,
experiences. Our reflections and shared, poignant and often surrounded by federal marshals in circumstances of great
hilarious stories by John Kirby’s classmates and children since physical peril. On one occasion, John asked a small black child
his passing afford us a greater appreciation of his rich life. In a he was escorting what desegregation meant to him. John was
sense we are getting to know and see all of John even better moved beyond measure when the young boy told him he
at a distance. On a personal note, it is a privilege and heavy hoped that at last he would be able to eat a hamburger at
responsibility to attempt here to encapsulate on behalf of so the popular Bob’s Big Boy fast food chain restaurant just like
many others the highlights of what we all should remember other children. After leaving Justice, John was called back to
and can celebrate. For me, on top of everything else, more serve as Deputy Director of the President’s Commission on
than being my long-time law partner, mentor, friend and Campus Unrest created in the aftermath of the infamous
fellow Mertonian, John was a big brother I never had. Albeit a killings of four students at Kent State.
warmly respected older brother with whom a frank discussion
of each other’s imperfections was possible and not rare, and In private practice John Kirby soared. His clients ranged from
who never quite got out of the habit of acting as if I was the the video game maker Nintendo to Pepsi and America Online.
junior law associate I once was long ago. John argued before the United States Supreme Court, served
as chairman of the historic Wall Street law firm Mudge,
John was born in Washington, DC, the eldest of five children, Rose, Guthrie, Alexander & Ferdon, and headed the New
to John Sr, a lawyer with the federal government, and Rose, a York litigation department of Latham & Watkins where this
homemaker. John spent his childhood in Falls Church, Virginia, writer first met him. His successful defense of Nintendo in a
attending Gonzaga College High School before heading to copy infringement suit concerning Nintendo’s Donkey Kong
Fordham University in New York City. He was proud to note arcade game was, as he noted, a career highlight for his own
that Fordham awarded him a full scholarship including room children as well as video game fans around the world. John
and board. There he distinguished himself with exceptional represented Nintendo for many years, and the company
academic achievement, notable leadership initiatives honored him by naming its popular video game character
including winning election as student government president, ‘Kirby’ (which John was a bit self-conscious about because
and considerable epic hijinks. John graduated in 1961 with the pinkish character was rather rotund). Nintendo also
scholarship offers from 11 law schools and chose to return gave John a sailboat aptly named the Donkey Kong which he
home to the University of Virginia. After his first year he was captained with great pleasure on outings with his family in
selected as a Rhodes Scholar and spent two years at Merton the waters by his homes in Westhampton Beach, New York
before returning to Virginia to finish his J.D. Upon graduation and later Shippan Point, Connecticut.
John became the youngest law professor in the history of his
alma mater since its founding by Thomas Jefferson. In his spare time, John served on the boards of directors
of Georgetown University, Fordham University, the Legal
John had a storied legal career including exceptional public Aid Society of New York, the Fund for Modern Courts,
service. Working on voting rights issues at the United States and for many years as President of the Merton College
Department of Justice in the tumultuous 1960s as a 21-year- Charitable Corporation (MC3). In that role he was a talented
old aide to Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Doar, administrative leader and friend to all Mertonians. He and his
John uncovered and documented insidious discriminatory wife Susan made all Mertonians feel welcome and embraced,
techniques in so-called literacy aptitude tests that had been including those participating at their first event. The Kirby-
used to disenfranchise African Americans. This work helped Cullman Sunday morning brunches at their beautiful triplex
289
penthouse Park Avenue home during reunions in New York
City were always well attended and thoroughly enjoyed. As one
of his fellow trustees said, ‘They will always be remembered
as the genial heart of the organization [MC3].’ Upon John’s
death Acting Warden of the College, Stephen Gunn, described
John as a ‘loyal friend to the College and to many generations
of North American Mertonians’. Gunn ordered the College
flag flown at half-staff in his honor. A few days later during
her historic installation observations, Merton’s 51st Warden
Professor Irene Tracey, who had earlier opportunities to get
to know the Kirby-Cullmans, embraced and expanded upon Dr Clive Edmund Nockolds died on 20 November 2018 at
these remarks. During John’s beautiful memorial program held Springwood in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales after
in Fordham’s Rose Hill Campus Duane Library on 15 November a battle with dementia, leaving his wife Mary, who he met in
2019, after tributes by leading academics, dignitaries, judges Oxford, his daughter Jessica and sons Edmund and Thomas.
and family, Merton’s 50th Warden Sir Martin Taylor offered a
warm and heartfelt concluding remembrance on behalf of the Clive came to Merton in 1962 on a scholarship from the
College, his wife Lady Taylor and himself. University of Western Australia to study for his DPhil
in X-ray crystallography at Dorothy Hodgkin’s world-
renowned unit on South Parks Road. It was during his time
there that Hodgkin won the Nobel Prize in 1964 for her work
on protein structures. Clive was working on the Vitamin
B12 family and it astonishes us these days to think of the
effort in analysing layer upon layer of shadowy X-ray plates
with only primitive computing resources to build up three-
dimensional pictures of these complex molecules.
From left: Nick Allard (1974), John Kirby and Bob McKelvey (1959) at
the MC3 AGM in 2015. Photo: David Hamer (1974) Together with fellow Merton postgraduate alumni, nuclear
physicist the late John Simpson (1962), historian Malcolm
John’s passions extended to voracious reading, often of Kitch (1959) and chemist me (1959), Clive made up the full-
an entire book at one sitting, vigorous travel including time core of residents at the house in Sunningwell village
hiking expeditions with Susan at the most dramatic and that we rented for a year or more. The liveliness of this
scenic locations around the world, the cultural offerings household, to which Clive added his down-to-earth good
and best restaurants in the leading cities on the planet, nature and acerbic wit, was described in the obituary to
enjoying family and friends at their home in Jamaica’s Tryall John Simpson in Postmaster 2017. My friendship with Clive
community, and especially attending performances, sporting was paralleled by our respective wives-to-be sharing a
events, and sharing milestones of each and all his children house just off the Iffley Road around the same time. We
and grandchildren. beat Clive and Mary by a few months to the altar.
Thinking of the powerful words of fictional Sergeant Lewis, Unsurprisingly for an Australian Clive was keen on cricket and
as he bent over and kissed the forehead of his recently played a game or two for the College. He kept a bat in his lab
departed boss Inspector Morse, we say: Goodbye John Kirby. and I had perfected an indoor cricket ball of countless rubber
bands stretched ever tighter over some core in an expanding
Nick Allard (1974) sphere. With somewhat unpredictable movement off the
Bodley Fellow seam shots were not always quite as intended but all was
290
well until an intended straight drive was caught somewhere Dr Clive Edmund Nockolds (15 May 1940 – 20 November
In Memoriam | 1962
in the region of extra cover by an intricate molecular skeletal 2018) was farewelled by his family and a large number of
model made of wire heterocyclic rings fielding on top of a friends and colleagues at the Leura Memorial Gardens last
cupboard. With this elaborate conformation of benzene November.
rings, pyridines and pyrroles tumbling to the ground, and
protein crystallography set back a year or two, we decided Julie Cairney writes:
to relocate net practice to the more conventional facilities at
the College ground in Mansfield Road, then so conveniently Clive joined the EMU in September 1971 as the second
close to our respective labs. assistant electron microscopist, bringing the total number
of academic staff in the unit to four. Although the number
of academics stayed at four for the next 25 years, there
were a few changes. Dr Drummond retired in September 1973
and Dr David Cockayne was appointed as the new director
in June 1974. Clive was the Acting Director of the Centre in
2000, after David Cockayne moved to Oxford, and before
the appointment of Simon Ringer in 2001. He retired later
that year, after 30 years of dedicated service.
291
Guy Cox writes: Australia given that the other members were the European,
American, Japanese and Chinese societies.
Clive won a Winthrop-Hackett scholarship from the
University of Western Australia to study for a DPhil at Clive was a very hands-on innovator in SEM techniques,
Oxford University. He was accepted into Dorothy Hodgkin’s and in collaboration with colleagues Ken Moran (and
lab, which was in the academic stratosphere. Dorothy was sometimes me) and our technical team of Alan Phillips
the first person in the world to establish the structure of a (mechanical) and Eric Dobson (electronic) made many
protein, and by this time was already a Nobel prize-winner. technical advances. I will just mention one. Specimens for
She just moved on to more and more difficult proteins. Clive the SEM often need to be coated with metal to make them
was there, based in Merton College, from 1962 to 1966. It electrically conductive. Clive realised that chromium gave
is funny to think that I could easily have met him back a much finer-grained (and therefore higher resolution)
then since I was a good friend of Dorothy’s youngest son, coating than the metals (gold and silver) then in current
Tobias (Toby), and was often at the Hodgkin house on use. He designed a magnetron sputter coater to do the
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament business. After gaining job, and eventually Eric and Alan left the unit and set up
his doctorate, Clive returned to Australia, taking with him a company, Microvac, to manufacture it. Unfortunately,
his new bride Mary. He took up a postdoc position, still in they didn’t patent it and in due course the big companies
protein crystallography, with Professor Hans Freeman at muscled in.
the University of Sydney. One skill he learned there, which
proved very useful in his later career, was programming the When David Cockayne, our second director, left for a
primitive mini-computers of the time. chair at Oxford, Clive became Acting Director in 2001. He
was looking for retirement, and retired once Simon Ringer
In 1971 Clive joined the Electron Microscope Unit to run its became the new director. Clive’s 30 years of service marked
new scanning electron microscope (SEM). This was a major a crucial stage in the development of our facility. It now is
change of direction for him, but it also marked a very major larger than he could have imagined, but he set the stage for
change of direction for the unit. Given Clive’s background, what followed.
it is not surprising that he was interested in the chemical
analytical abilities of the SEM, and that first instrument,
the JEOL JSM U3, was fully equipped for analysis as well as 1965
imaging. The unit had hitherto been exclusively biomedical,
but now it was open to a much wider range of users,
particularly earth scientists, but also anthropologists and
archaeologists. I have had many tributes from users of the
unit about how Clive went above and beyond in supporting
their research, and I think it is fair to say that he often put
that above his own research career.
292
a Senior Scholarship at Merton in 1969, then to a Junior Tragically his retirement was cut short when he was
In Memoriam | 1962-67
Research Fellowship (JRF) at St John’s from 1970 to 1973. He diagnosed as suffering from Lewy body dementia soon after
was a JRF at Corpus Christi College between 1973 and 1979 he retired, and he died aged just 72 from complications of
during the tenure of an IBM research fellowship and then that illness.
a Beit Memorial Fellowship. In 1979 he was appointed to a
University Lectureship in the Zoology Department and to a He was buried in a woodland grave in the Cotswolds, with
tutorial fellowship at St Hugh’s where he was to remain until the funeral service at St Hugh’s on 30 June 2019 and there
his retirement in 2014. was a University Memorial Service at the University Church
in November the same year.
His research took him from cockroach nervous systems via
cats to human beings, and he was particularly interested in Susan Iles
the control of muscular movement via both the spinal cord
and the brain together with associated reflexes. He tutored
not only biologists but also medical students, and lectured
in both the Zoology and the Physiology departments. Tom Morris-Jones passed away peacefully at home on 5
April 2018, aged 72, having been suffering from lymphoma.
He made a leading contribution to St Hugh’s throughout
his time there, holding posts of Senior Tutor, Acting Senior Tom was born on 17 March 1946, the son of TH Morris of
Bursar, Vice-Principal for Development, Vice-Principal and Oswestry, Shropshire, and attended Oswestry Boys’ High
Acting Principal. The college garden was a particular passion School. He came up to Merton in 1965 where he read PPE
and he held the post of Custos Hortulorum for many years, and was also a great sportsman. He captained the College
taking the opportunity to plant many trees he had grown soccer team and played soccer for the University second
from seed. The college orchard has been dedicated to him, team. He was also in the College cricket XI.
and a Catalpa tree has been planted in St Hugh’s garden in
his memory. He also contributed to the management of the Tom became a partner in the stockbroking firm of Albert E
college’s wine cellar. Sharp in 1976. He married Carol Kennard in 1968; they have
two daughters.
He served as Senior Proctor (1992-93) and played a leading
role in the setting up of University ID cards and in shaping
the regulations limiting excessive celebrations outside the 1967
Examination Schools.
Postmaster was sad to learn of the death of Colin Michael
His activities outside his academic life included woodwork McGill in 2017.
(not only furniture but a harpsichord and a clavichord), bee-
keeping, music and cooking. He was renowned for his dinner Colin was born on 30 September 1948. He went to school
parties. He spent many family holidays in France and Spain at Cheltenham College and then came to Merton in 1967
but travelled further afield as the years went on, including to study engineering. While at Oxford he gained a Blue in
to Africa (Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe for the wildlife), skiing.
India, the USA, Japan and New Zealand.
After graduating, Colin spent a year in the RAF before joining
In 1971 he married Susan, a fellow Zoology undergraduate the stockbroking firm of Fox-Pitt, Kelton in 1971. He became
from St Hugh’s. They would have been married for 50 years director in 1978. The following year, he married Sally Grob,
in 2021. He is survived by her, their three children Nicholas with whom he had a son and a daughter.
Matthew and Sophie, and four grandchildren.
293
Courtauld lectures and seminars, and spoke of ‘this physically
1968 beautiful place, specialist and eclectic, sometimes eccentric,
sometimes iconoclastic and always inspiring’.
James Hughes-Hallett, who died on 10 October 2019 aged 70,
was the first non-family chairman of John Swire & Sons, the James Wyndham John Hughes-Hallett was born on 10
Far Eastern trading, transport and real estate group. A man of September 1949, the eldest child of Michael Hughes-Hallett
deep cultural passions, he was also chairman of the Courtauld and his wife Penelope, née Fairbairn. Michael was the land
Institute and the Esmée Fairbairn grant-giving charity. agent of the Cornbury Park estate in Oxfordshire, and
the childhood home of James and his siblings – Lucy, who
Hughes-Hallett spent the bulk of his career with the Swire became an author and journalist, and Thomas (now Sir
group in Asia and Australia, culminating in his appointment Thomas) who became a leading figure in medical charities –
in 1998 as taipan (resident director) in Hong Kong – where was a remote estate house in the Wychwood Forest.
he was also chairman of Cathay Pacific, the airline of which
Swire is the major owner. A teenaged dandy in velvet jacket and high-heeled green
boots, James was also a fearless horseman, riding to
His patience, diplomacy and penetrating intellect saw the hounds and in point-to-points. He was educated at Eton
group through a series of difficult episodes, including the and Merton College, Oxford, where he read English, and
aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the impact of went on to qualify as a chartered accountant with the
Hong Kong’s 2003 SARS epidemic. city firm of Dixon, Wilson, Tubbs and Gillett before joining
Swires’ elite management cadre, known as ‘House Staff’,
Those qualities also won him the trust of the Swire family as in 1976.
the right person to take the chair of their London holding
company, John Swire & Sons, when Sir Adrian Swire retired Specialising on the shipping side of the business, he served
from that role for a second time in 2005. in Taiwan, Japan and Hong Kong before promotion to
managing director in Australia in 1989 and director of John
The Swire corporate model of arm’s-length stewardship Swire & Sons in Hong Kong in 1993.
from London over a vast portfolio of operations around
the world continued to prove its resilience under Hughes- He retired as chairman in London in 2014, to be succeeded
Hallett’s calming hand. by Sir Adrian’s nephew, Barnaby Swire. In later years, he was
a non-executive director of HSBC and chairman of Clarkson,
On his return to England he also joined the trustees of the shipping services group. He was also a trustee of
the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, one of the UK’s largest Dulwich Picture Gallery, deputy chairman of the Attingham
charitable funds, which had been created in 1961 by his Trust (which runs courses in fine arts and architectural
great-uncle, the City financier Ian Fairbairn. heritage), a founder of the charity Art History in Schools,
and a governor of SOAS.
As chairman from 2013, Hughes-Hallett brought a new focus
to its distribution of some £40 million a year in support of Hughes-Hallett combined a roistering reputation in his expat
arts, environmental and social projects, particularly for the bachelor days and a lively sense of humour with a profound
benefit of young people. fascination for Asian cultures and a lifelong appetite for
learning. A discerning collector of Chinese and Japanese art,
At the Courtauld Institute of Art, where he was chairman he spent his weekends during a posting to the funless city
from 2012 to 2017, he presided over a period of expansion and of Osaka learning from Japanese masters how to make pots,
accolades for the school’s teaching and research. A generous touring remote regions on his motorbike and walking to
personal benefactor, he was also a frequent attender of hilltop monasteries.
294
When cancer confined him to his London flat in recent presence within the College. He had been awarded a
In Memoriam | 1968-74
months, he set himself to studying classical literature, Postmastership to read PPE but, in time, found that his
beginning by comparing two translations of The Odyssey. intellectual interests were mainly philosophical and in later
His sister Lucy recalled ‘a subtle-minded autodidact who years he rather wished that he had read Greats. Even so, he
sought out learning for the pleasure it gave him, and … valued, in particular, tutorials with JR Lucas, with whom he
whose refined aesthetic taste and compendious knowledge corresponded intermittently for many years. His preparation
brought him joy’. for these tutorials was always highly focused with no time
wasted on superfluous detail.
He was appointed CMG in 2012 and held the Silver Bauhinia
Star of Hong Kong. He married first, in 1991, Lizabeth Hall; Glyn was ever a popular and friendly presence in the College bar,
the marriage was dissolved and he married secondly, in 2016, generally available for conversation or a game of cards, chess
Katrina Repka, who survives him with two daughters of his or darts. His rooms were remarkable environments, in which
first marriage, and a stepdaughter. an apparently disorganised mass of books and papers jostled
for space with a microbrewery, boxes of cigars and Disque
This obituary was first published in The Telegraph on 24 Bleu cigarettes, refreshments, which always included freshly
October 2019. It is reproduced with permission of its Editors. © ground coffee, and a pile of battered LPs. Mozart, Schubert
Telegraph Media Group Limited and Beethoven were much the most favoured composers,
played on an equally battered portable gramophone.
295
In later years, and when his own health had deteriorated, he medievalist, was himself moving into more modern Hispanic
was a steadfast support to his wife, Nova, who suffers from a studies. Cathy, with characteristic loyalty, maintained her
serious health condition, and a gentle and supportive father friendship and correspondence with Roger until his death in
to their children, Eleanor and William. 2017. In a letter to me Cathy noted that Roger was one of her
most regular correspondents and he, in turn, appreciated
His friends will remember and miss his convivial presence. He her ‘lively personality’ and admired her writing. He once
never lost his appetite for intellectual inquiry and he always told me how useful he had found her critical assessment
made light of any difficulties that he was experiencing. of the writing of Carlos Fuentes, the famous Mexican writer
who had died in 2012. Cathy was exceptional in her ability to
William Hoskins (1974) establish friendships across social and status divides.
1981
296
much cited in the work of other historians and in 2017 the stamps. In one of her letters Cathy wrote ‘friendship is one
In Memoriam | 1974-87
publishers asked her to revise the book for a second edition, of the most important things for me’ and the way she lived
but she did not live long enough to complete this. her life made good that claim.
Caroline M. Barron
1987
Emmanuel Q Fernando, who passed away on 27 November
2018 at the age of 64, was a scholar, academic and lawyer.
Crown Prince Hiro and Catherine Rendon on a summer boat trip on the He is distinguished as the second Filipino to earn a DPhil in
Thames below Oxford in 1985. © Jonathan Madden (1971) the Philosophy of Law, awarded in 1992.
Cathy’s academic achievements were, however, only part of Emmanuel, or Toto, as he was known to his friends, was
her life: she was also a creative writer, a literary critic, a born on 24 June 1954, the third of five children to former
translator, a teacher, an artist (she provided wood and lino Supreme Court Chief Justice Enrique M Fernando and
engravings for an edition of the poems of Azael Rodriguez Attorney Emma Quisumbing-Fernando. Growing up, he
published in 1997) and a poet. Cathy found it hard to focus was noted for his prodigious mathematical acumen and
on any one of her talents to the exclusion of the others. outstanding athletic skills, representing his alma mater in
She lived and taught in many countries: Istanbul, Costa Rica, softball and baseball competitions while setting batting
Marrakesh, Georgetown, Mexico City, even on a Norwegian records along the way. While still at university, he also won
sailing ship and in Savannah where she lived for 12 years a silver medal in the javelin event at the Palarong Pambansa,
when married to her husband Paul Work, whom she had met the Filipino National Games.
while working in Istanbul. But wherever she was living, Cathy
made new friends and maintained old friendships. I have a Emmanuel graduated with a BA in Philosophy from the
box of 50 letters and cards from Cathy dating from 2003, University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) in 1975, and an
and there will have been others that have escaped the box. MA from the same institution in 1980. He taught philosophy,
Some were just postcards and others arrived in elaborately mathematics and physics for more than 40 years there,
decorated envelopes which left little room for the postage attaining the rank of full professor. He was Chair of the
297
Department of Philosophy from 2004 to 2005. During his throughout his career. As an educator, he fervently
early years as an instructor, he was known for teaching championed training students in the analytic tradition of
courses in mathematical logic. Later on at UPD, his interests philosophy despite the strong hold that the continental
and research shifted towards topics in philosophy of law, social tradition had taken in tertiary institutions throughout
and political philosophy, and ethics. His academic inclinations the Philippines. As a legal professional, he served as Vice-
led him to view the world through the eyes of logical clarity. Chairman of the Department of Jurisprudence and Legal
He taught his students that structured, nuanced and careful Philosophy of the Philippine Judicial Academy and practised
reasoning could dissolve both conceptual and practical as a partner of the Quisumbing, Fernando & Javellana Law
problems that plague modern society. Office. He was also a professorial lecturer at the UP College
of Law. As a prolific writer, he contributed several articles to
He was inspired to follow in the footsteps of his father (who academic journals and had a newspaper column, Philosophy
earned his Master of Law as the first Filipino Sterling Fellow Matters. He also published a number of textbooks, including
at Yale University in 1948) by pursuing his own scholarly A Course in Legal Theory, Vol. 1 (Natural Law Theories) and
ambitions abroad. As a British Council Scholar in 1980-81, he Vol. 2 (Legal Positivism), Environmental Ethics and Law, and
pursued further studies in mathematical logic at Gonville & Business Law and Ethics.
Caius College, Cambridge, and then proceeded to enrol as a
DPhil student at Merton. He cited John Lucas as a mentor from On the morning of his death, Emmanuel set out for his daily
whom he ‘learned immensely regarding general philosophy and jog and decided to rest upon returning home. He fell asleep
thesis writing’, and Professor Joseph Raz of whom he wrote he and never woke up; his passing was quiet and peaceful,
‘owed a tremendous debt of gratitude’ as his adviser ‘from much as he had lived most of his life. He passed away in the
whom [he] gained whatever skills and expertise [he enjoyed] house in which he grew up, in the room where his parents
in the Philosophy of Law’. His dissertation, titled ‘A model of stayed, on the bed where his father slept. On a table by the
adjudication’, was successfully defended in 1992. He graduated bedside were pictures of his childhood. On another were
from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1994 pictures of his family. And on the wall directly behind him
and passed the Philippine Bar Examinations a year later. hung a portrait of his father.
Emmanuel fondly recalled his years at Oxford as some of A few years before his passing, Emmanuel was asked how he
the happiest of his life. He balanced his time there playing would summarise almost 50 years of philosophical study in
tennis, training in powerlifting, and playing guard for the a single sentence. Instead of characteristically sharing some
Merton basketball team. He was a regular tennis doubles strictly academic maxim as was expected of him, he quoted
partner of the Crown Prince, now Emperor Naruhito of a line from Hamlet: ‘There are more things in heaven and
Japan. Prince Hiro and he matriculated the same year. It was earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.’ It
the simple pleasures of Oxford that Emmanuel treasured was a surprising and rare glimpse of his literary and spiritual
most dearly. He would recount taking morning walks alone sides that were cultivated in his teenage years and always
by the Bodleian, reading on a quiet bench in the College remained. The passage is engraved on his tomb where he lies
gardens in the afternoon, and sharing supper with friends at rest beside his brother, Enrique Jr.
at a local pub in the evening. The tranquil charm of the city
and the intimate company of like-minded scholars provided He is remembered by his family and friends as a loving father,
him with the perfect environment to satisfy his introspective an exemplary son, and a devoted brother and uncle. He is
disposition and intellectual curiosities. He is remembered as survived by his two children Miren Sofia and Emmanuel Juan
a spirited and cordial fellow by his peers. Jose, his mother, now 97 years of age, and siblings Estela
Anna, Emma Maria and Enrico.
That Oxford never left his heart was reflected in his substantial
contributions to academe and Philippine jurisprudence Enrique Benjamin R Fernando III
298
Eckhart Tolle, Emmanuel’s friend at Cambridge, shared some
In Memoriam | 1987-88
of his memories with Postmaster. 1988
Despite the 40 or so years that have since passed, I have
fond and vivid memories of the times Toto and I spent
together when we were both pursuing postgraduate studies
at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge.
299
2016 completed a coast-to-coast walk, raising money for
The Harbour, a Bristol counselling service for people with
life-limiting illness and their families. Jason walked the West
Highland Way in 2017 with his daughters, having just received
the news the cancer was advancing again.
300
observed brightness. Mikko came to Oxford for his DPhil Mikko hugely enjoyed his time at Merton: his many happy
In Memoriam | 1988-91
studies in theoretical physics with Professor James Binney. At memories of Oxford included punting trips with friends and
Merton, Mikko continued his work on shape reconstruction, living in Holywell Street. Mikko’s wide interests included
completing his thesis, ‘On the construction of invariant tori history, literature and music, particularly that of JS Bach. He
and integrable Hamiltonians’, in 1994. had an enormous enjoyment of life (with a special place for
a good gin and tonic). Sanna and Otto were the centre of
After postdoctoral posts in Denmark and France, Mikko his life. Mikko described his own life as fortunate and happy,
returned to the Helsinki Observatory, and thereafter led and particularly fortunate in always realising his happiness.
major research projects in inverse mathematics. Mikko His family, friends and colleagues miss him deeply.
played an important part in establishing the Finnish Centre
of Excellence of Inverse Modelling and Imaging in 2006. As This obituary draws upon one written by Mikko’s close
vice-director, he helped develop Finland into a world leader in colleagues at the University of Tampere, used with their kind
inverse mathematics. These were also personally very happy permission.
and fulfilling years: in 2000, he married Sanna (now Director
of the Department of Navigation and Positioning at the Elina Screen
Finnish Geospatial Research Institute, National Land Survey
of Finland). Their son Otto was born in 2005, completing
the family. Mikko took up his professorship at the Tampere
University of Technology (now part of Tampere University)
in 2009, where he was a caring and inspiring colleague.
301
Alumni Events 2020-21
Further details of all events are available from the Development Office ([email protected]). We add
events to the schedule throughout the year and regularly update the Merton website with information as it
becomes available: www.merton.ox.ac.uk/events
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we are unlikely to hold in-person events until at least 2021. Details of any online
events organised in 2020 will be sent out by email. If you are not receiving emails from the College, please get in
touch with the Development Office to update your contact information.
We have outlined a provisional events schedule for 2021. Please note that these dates are amendable and subject to
change due to government and University regulations.
302
Events | Alumni Events 2020-21
2021: Provisional Schedule of Events
January May
9 Merton 2020 Celebrations (40 Years of Merton 9 Town & Gown 10k
Women): First Decade Alumnae Lunch Location: Oxford & Merton College
Location: Merton
15 Merton 2020 Celebrations (40 Years of Merton
February Women): Study Day and Garden Reception
TBC Merton in the City Location: Merton
Location: London TBC Merton Society London Lecture
March Location: TBC
20 Gaudy for the years 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 & 1991 29 Boat Club Summer Eights Dinner
Merton Society Council Meeting Location: Merton
Year Representatives’ Meeting
Location: Merton June
26-27 Merton Society Weekend (details TBC)
26-28 Passiontide 2021 Location: Merton
Location: Chapel
April
TBC MC3 and University North America Reunion
Location: TBC
303