The Eagle 2020
The Eagle 2020
Photo: Emma Dellar, Lead Clinical Nurse, living on-site during the lockdown Credit: (2017) VOLUME 102
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Published in the United Kingdom in 2020 by St John’s College, Cambridge First published in the United Kingdom in 1858 by St John’s College, Cambridge Cover photo credit: Jo Tynan Designed by Out of the Bleu (07759 919440; www.outofthebleu.co.uk) Printed by CDP (01517 247000; www.cdp.co.uk) The Eagle is published annually by St John’s College, Cambridge, and is provided free of charge to members of the College and other interested parties.
2 Photo: Komorebi Credit: Paul Everest WELCOME
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Contents
Welcome
Contributors ...... 6
Editorial ...... 7
Message from the Vice-Master ...... 8
Articles
Research at the Centre for Misfolding Diseases ...... 14
A word for Wordsworth ...... 18
Dyslexia, poetry, rhythm and the brain ...... 21
Portrait of a Lady ...... 24
The Cambridge Carthaginians ...... 27
Innovation and entrepreneurship at St John’s ...... 31
The academic year 2019/20
Director of Education & Senior Tutor’s summary of the academic year ...... 36
New Research Fellows ...... 38
In conversation with: the President ...... 40
In conversation with: the Tutor for Undergraduate Admissions ...... 43
Tea with the Chaplain ...... 46
Changes to the College’s Community Hub plans ...... 51
The Master and Fellowship ...... 54
Members’ news
Connecting the community ...... 60
The latest news from students, alumni, Fellows and Honorary Fellows ...... 62
Larmor winners ...... 70
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Obituaries
Professor Sir Christopher Dobson FRS, 1949–2019 ...... 74
Sir Jonathan Miller CBE, 1934–2019 ...... 84
Professor Louis Cha GBM OBE, 1924–2018 ...... 89
Alumni obituaries ...... 94
Societies and sports
Aquila taking flight ...... 148
The Johnian Society ...... 150
The JCR ...... 152
The SBR ...... 156
The Chapel ...... 159
The Choir ...... 161
St John’s Voices ...... 163
Music Society ...... 165
Student society reports ...... 167
Student sports team reports ...... 183
LMBC reports ...... 197
Donors
Sir Christopher Dobson PhD Scholarship ...... 210
Donors 2019/20 ...... 212
Wordsworth at 250 ...... 236
Donors to the Library ...... 239
The last word
Goodbye and thank you ...... 244
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Contributors
Thanks to all who have helped shape this issue of The Eagle, including:
PAGE KADI LIIS SAAR PAGE ANDREW CHEN 14 Kadi joined St John’s as a Junior Research 24 After studying at Harvard as an Fellow in 2019. Before her university undergraduate, Andrew completed an studies, she was a world-ranked junior tennis MPhil and a PhD in History of Art at Cambridge. player and won ‘Estonia’s got talent’ for her mental Since 2016 he has been a Research Fellow at arithmetic skills. As a Schmidt Science Fellow, Kadi St John’s, working on a book-length study of now works between the Centre for Misfolding Renaissance allegories of navigation in a global Diseases and the Maxwell Centre, and her context. More broadly, his interests include research focuses on developing new experimental medieval and early modern art; Renaissance methods and predictive computational tools chapel decoration and contemplative practices; for understanding the behaviour of biological and allegory and the history of travel. Andrew molecules and systems in particular proteins. She lectures second-year History of Art students for is also the mother of two children and has worked the University, and in 2019 he was instrumental on several projects concerning Estonian diaspora in identifying a College-owned portrait of Lady abroad, including co-founding the Oxford & Margaret Beaufort as the work of sixteenth-century Cambridge Club Estonia. Netherlandish artist Meynnart Wewyck.
PAGE RICHARD BROWN PAGE JOHN HOYTE 18 Richard is a veterinary surgeon who 27 John was born in China to medical divides his time between the North missionary parents and was in a Japanese of Scotland and overseas. His diverse research concentration camp as a boy during WWll. He led interests reflect the variety of his veterinary work. The British Alpine Hannibal Expedition in 1959, He jointly discovered a nervous condition in during which he took Jumbo, an Indian elephant cats called ‘Robotic cats’, worked on the first field from the Turin Zoo, over the Alps in a quest for research on haptoglobins in cattle and managed Hannibal’s route. After two years in the Army as the first 3D printing of a complete Omura’s an instructor in electronics, he worked in British whale skeleton. Richard is one of the founding industry for three years and then settled in Silicon veterinarians of Hong Kong’s first veterinary Valley, California, where he held patents at Hewlett school. He has also contributed three collections Packard. He founded his own company, Spectrex of tropical butterflies to the Boothe Museum in Corp, designing and manufacturing optical Brighton, and he is a keen amateur photographer instruments, and he has now retired to Bellingham who has contributed to past covers of The Eagle. in Washington State, USA.
PAGE USHA GOSWAMI PAGE LIISA VAN VLIET 21 After graduating in Experimental 31 Liisa is an entrepreneur and a Psychology at Oxford with the top First postdoctoral researcher at the in her year, Usha trained and worked as a primary University of Cambridge. After obtaining her PhD school teacher in London. Noticing a significant in Biochemistry from St John’s, she worked at research gap to inform teaching practice, she Accenture in project management. She returned undertook a PhD instead. She joined St John’s as to Cambridge in 2009 and founded Drop-Tech, a Fellow in 1990, and her research as Professor a microfluidic droplet design and consultancy of Cognitive Developmental Neuroscience company. She is currently developing microfluidic focuses primarily on reading development and systems for drug discovery and diagnostics. Liisa is developmental dyslexia. She founded and directs particularly interested in helping social enterprises. the world’s first Centre for Neuroscience in She gives ‘Innovation & Entrepreneurship’ Education, and in 2019 she was the first academic workshops across Europe and facilitates or mentors at Cambridge to be awarded the Yidan Prize. for programmes run by the Cambridge Judge Business School.
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Editorial
Although 2019/20 was undeniably exceptional, the truth is that no year at St John’s is typical. Fellows constantly break new ground with their research, and the hundreds of students who arrive each October bring enormous individual and collective potential to make a distinctive mark on the College and the world.
Last October St John’s appointed a her personal account in the Last Word on Vice-Master for the first time, and Tim page 242. Elsewhere in the issue we discover Whitmarsh has led the College through this that the pandemic, while presenting untold interim year with characteristic dynamism. challenges to so many, has also created As he steps down, we thank him and warmly opportunities for innovation, inclusion, and welcome Heather Hancock into her role as the implementation of interactive online the 45th Master of St John’s. teaching methods.
In January the Chapel was filled on two As always, we are very grateful to all the occasions with a multitude wishing to alumni, Fellows, students and staff who remember and celebrate the life of the late have contributed to this issue. If you are Master Professor Sir Christopher Dobson. interested in submitting an article, or if Memoirs from his colleagues and friends you have an enquiry or feedback on the begin on page 74, and the research that he College’s annual record, please email and his colleagues have carried out at the [email protected] or write Centre for Misfolding Diseases is described to The Eagle, Development Office, St John’s on page 14. On page 210 you can learn about College, Cambridge CB2 1TP. the PhD Scholarships that the College is setting up in his name. You can read previous issues of The Eagle and Lent term saw the 250th anniversary of share the publication online at johnian.joh. Wordsworth’s birth, and on page 236 Library cam.ac.uk/theeagle. All issues, dating back Projects Assistant Rebecca Watts writes to the 1850s, can be found at joh.cam.ac.uk/ about the related exhibition that she curated eagle-scanning-project. in College. The article by Richard Brown (1975) on page 18 may convince anyone who Editors: Professor John Rink (1985) and Hannah Sharples has not yet read Wordsworth that it isn’t too late to begin. Editorial Assistant: Sophie Hill (2017) Obituaries Editor: Colin Greenhalgh (1960) At Easter students returned home for distance learning, virtual get-togethers With special thanks to Fiona Colbert, and remote examinations, and this issue’s Biographical Librarian Editorial Assistant Sophie Hill (2017) shares
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Message from the Vice-Master
Whenever one takes up a new post, one is His death on 8 September 2019 was a always asked: ‘Are you sure you know what devastating blow, not just to his family and you’re getting yourself into?’ I remember the College community, but also to the huge my moment, soon after I had assumed networks of friends and colleagues that he office as Vice-Master on 1 October 2019. had built up across the world. It was clear At the time it was small talk, but in that commemorating Chris and celebrating retrospect that comment has come to seem his legacy in an appropriate way would be prophetic. None of us could possibly have one of the year’s major tasks. In January predicted how this academic year would 2020 we held a Memorial Service twice, play out. on consecutive days — an unprecedented arrangement, reflecting the unparalleled St John’s does not usually have a Vice- demand. Master: this is an extraordinary position, which, as far as I know, I am the first The two Memorial Services were the largest person to occupy. The Statutes, those Acts logistical exercise in the College’s history; of Parliament that underpin the College’s the attention to detail and preparation, governance, tell us that when there is a particularly on the parts of the Domestic sudden vacancy in the Mastership the Bursar and the Catering and Conference Governing Body can choose to elect a team, was staggering. Although these Vice-Master to cover until a new Master occasions were terribly sad, they also offered is elected. The process of electing Chris a powerful reminder of how much one Dobson’s successor was already under person can achieve: personally, intellectually way when, in February 2019, he sent a and professionally. These were deeply characteristically unostentatious email moving occasions, both stately and intimate. around the Fellowship informing us briefly The Dean, the speakers and the musicians that he had been diagnosed with cancer were magnificent. but intended to continue in the role. Before the Memorial Services came the It is hard to believe, as I write this in May terrible events of 29 November on London 2020, that only one year ago Chris was Bridge, when two graduates of the University looking forward to conferring degrees on were killed. They had been involved in hundreds of students in the sweltering Learning Together, a prisoner rehabilitation heat of a June General Admission. That programme co-founded by Dr Ruth would prove to be his last major public Armstrong, one of our Research Associates. engagement, although he and Mary The events of that grim day will never be continued to host garden parties through forgotten, and they underline the need for the summer. the humanity and vision at the heart of this pioneering project.
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(2017)
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Michaelmas and Lent terms were beset by Sferruzzi-Perri, who were admitted to the industrial action: a substantial number of Fellowship via Zoom in May: our first academics chose to protest against pay and ever Fellows to be inducted electronically conditions of work. The strike did not touch (an event that narrowly preceded our the College directly (the dispute was with the first electronic meeting of the College’s University, not with St John’s). Our students, Governing Body). In May we elected however, were of course affected by the four new Honorary Fellows: Dr Heidi- shutdown of lecture halls and labs. Ann Doughty, President of the Blood Transfusion Society; Dr Claire Craig, At the start of January, reports started to Provost of The Queen’s College, Oxford; arrive of a novel coronavirus circulating writer and feminist activist Laura Bates, in Hubei Province in central China, and founder of the Everyday Sexism Project; by the end of the month the first two and Dr Eben Upton, founder of the cases in the UK had been identified. In Raspberry Pi Foundation. All of these are February the College began intensive pioneers in their fields, women and men of advance planning for the onset, but it was courage and vision, and we look forward impossible to anticipate the extraordinary to seeing them in College as soon as some speed with which developments occurred semblance of normal life returns. from early March onwards. In the first week life was normal; in the second it was not. Sadly, we also bade farewell this year We took the decision to cancel swathes of to a number of distinguished Johnians, events, including the Cripps Feast, which including Fellows Dr Gilbert Lewis (1972) traditionally closes Lent term. Students were and Dr Peter Linehan (1961), Honorary encouraged to return home where possible, Fellow Sir Jonathan Miller (1953), and Sir and the College was rapidly shut down. Stephen Cleobury (1967). As I write we have only forty students resident on the main site, and seven Fellows. Our talented students have once again The College looks as magnificent as ever excelled in every field. Esther Luigi (2015), but is bathed in a surreal calm. who graduated with an MPhil in Political Thought and Intellectual History, was There have been high points too. It was a awarded the 2019 Quentin Skinner Prize. great pleasure to meet our new intake of Sam Willis (2016, now a postgraduate students in October and welcome them to student studying for an MPhil in Modern the College. We have also greeted a number British History) won the History of of new Fellows. The Reverend Andrew Parliament Trust Dissertation Competition Hammond – a former opera singer, and for his undergraduate dissertation about as humane as he is talented – joined us the political history of the 1990s. The Men’s in January as Chaplain. Our most recent First Boat finished Head of the River in arrivals have been Dr Victoria Harvey the Lent Bumps, reclaiming their position (as Tutor for Admissions) and Dr Amanda of 2017 and 2018. The Women’s First
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Boat had strong row-overs every day and Although the turn that the year took was finished fifth on the river. Musically too unexpected, I have enjoyed, and continue to this was a rich year, at least until the virus enjoy, every minute. It is a great privilege to hit. We were treated to a number of stellar serve in this role and, in particular, to work performances. In January, St John’s Voices, with such wonderful people. The College the College’s mixed choir, released their first has an exceptional team of women and men. CD (featuring music by William Mathias) I have found it eye-opening and enriching in collaboration with the Gentlemen of to get to know well many of the dedicated, St John’s and brilliant pianist Aïda Lahlou. brilliant staff who make the place work, in Shortly afterwards the College Choir offices and on the ground. The inspirational released Ash Wednesday, to rave reviews: qualities of our Fellows and affiliates are it went straight into the Classical Top 10. humbling. Our students are by turns witty, joyous, ingenious and profound. Our alumni The Fellowship have also been making are humane, open-hearted and inspirational. waves. The Reverend Canon Mark Oakley, Dean of Chapel, won the 2019 Michael For me, however, the highlight of the year Ramsey Prize for Theological Writing for was the election of Heather Hancock as The Splash of Words. At one point in the Master. Heather is currently Chair of the year – rather selfishly – he occupied both Food Standards Agency; she has in the past the no. 1 and the no. 2 spots in the Amazon been a managing partner at Deloitte, and she best-seller list for theology. Dr John Taylor has worked closely with the Football League, won one of the University’s Pilkington the World Athletics Championship and the Prizes for his superlative maths teaching. Prince’s Trust. When she joins us in October Professor Mete Atatüre, Director of she will be the College’s first female Master, Studies in Physics and Astrophysics and and the first Master not elected from within in Mathematics for Natural Sciences, the Fellowship for over 200 years. I have been won a massive grant from the European in regular contact with her this year and Research Council for his research on have seen her qualities for myself. She will diamond-based quantum technologies. bring wisdom, vitality and a deep passion Most spectacularly of all, Usha Goswami, about the College’s academic standards, its Professor of Developmental Cognitive governance, its community and its values. Neuroscience, won the $3.9m Yidan Prize The next few years will not be easy, for reasons at a major conference for leading education we all recognise: there will inevitably be researchers. Usha’s research focuses on unpredictability, disturbance and difficult understanding brain function to enable choices to be made. But there could be no one educators to design different teaching better than Heather to lead us through this techniques and tools to help children with chapter in the College’s history. dyslexia and special needs learn languages more effectively; you can read more about Professor Tim Whitmarsh, her findings on page 21. Vice-Master
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12 Photo: The Bridge of Sighs illuminated in blue to commemorate the contribution of key workers during the pandemic Credit: Martin Bond ARTICLES
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Research at the Centre for Misfolding Diseases
Kadi Liis Saar (2010) is a Junior Research Fellow at St John’s and a Schmidt Science Fellow, conducting her research at the Centre for Misfolding Diseases (CMD) and the Maxwell Centre. Here she looks at the work in which Sir Christopher Dobson was involved at the CMD and provides an update on the Centre’s research goals and findings.
I remember talking to Chris during the 2019 summer, a few months before he passed away. A recent development that he seemed very pleased about was the completion of the new Chemistry of Health building, which was opened in late 2018 and is the most recent addition to the Chemistry Department of the University. It is also the new home for the Centre for Misfolding Diseases (CMD), a research centre that Chris had been co-directing together with his colleagues Professor Tuomas Knowles (2004) and Professor Michele Vendruscolo since its Credit: foundation. Everyone closely familiar with the execution of this modern Gabriella Bocchetti, ©University of Cambridge multi-storey research facility at a precious location in central Cambridge knows that it is hard to overstate Chris’s contribution in ensuring its completion. His charm and passion were paramount to raising donations – such as a £5m personal gift from Cambridge alumnus Derek Finley, which Derek made after hearing Chris talk about his scientific work. These donations, in combination with funding from the UK Research Partnership and Investment Fund (UKRPIF), ensured the timely completion of this state-of-the-art Kadi Liis Saar (2010) research centre.
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The CMD, currently comprising nearly 100 can be obtained into questions that we, as researchers, some as permanent members a society, have been struggling to address. of the University community and others Thus, it comes as no surprise that this as short-term visitors from various leading same collaborative mindset and culture to scientific institutes across the globe, had develop new cross-disciplinary methods already been an active research community is a characteristic feature of the research for a number of years, but it lacked a activities of the CMD to this day. dedicated building for its activities. Since its foundation in the early 2010s, a key One example in this context is an array of research direction of the CMD has been to mathematical methods that can be exploited advance our understanding of the onset and to describe the dynamics of the protein progression of ageing-related diseases, in self-assembly process, a pivotal hallmark for particular neurodegenerative disorders. Such a number of neurodegenerative disorders. disorders are proliferating rapidly in Western These methods were first described by society, with hundreds of thousands of new Tuomas Knowles over a decade ago, and cases recorded annually: that equates to one they have since been expanded by a number case every three minutes. People living to of CMD researchers to govern even more eighty-five years of age or above have a 50% complex scenarios. Today they are being chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease, used by thousands of researchers across one of the most prevalent of the wide variety the globe to elucidate the molecular steps of neurodegenerative disorders. As a result, that underpin the onset of biomolecular almost every person above this age is either misfolding and assembly. They also suffering from such a condition or looking remain highly relevant for the CMD’s own after a relative so afflicted. activities, for instance in the context of guiding the design of molecules that would To tackle this enormous challenge, the be capable of binding the diverse array of CMD brings together an extraordinarily highly heterogeneous protein species that interdisciplinary community of scientists: are linked to the onset and progression of physicists, chemists, biologists, engineers, neurodegeneration – a research direction mathematicians and people with medical led by Michele Vendruscolo. Over the past training. Chris himself is remembered few years, key players in the pharmaceutical by many as a scientist who not only saw industry have been all the more active enormous value in cross-disciplinary in using these mathematical models to scientific interactions and in bringing state- examine the mechanisms through which of-the-art methods from one research field potential drug candidates inhibit the to another, but also very strongly supported malfunctioning and aggregation of protein the development and establishment of molecules. This insight informs them how new methods. He believed firmly that to design compounds that could suppress it is through new and interdisciplinary all the routes by which protein self-assembly approaches that new and orthogonal insight may occur.
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In late 2018 a new microfabrication facility, disorders progress. These new approaches the Sweetnam Laboratory, was opened in the have allowed us to gain a more complete Department of Chemistry. Supported by the understanding of the cascade of Frances and Augustus Newman Foundation, malfunctioning events that our bodies the laboratory is named in memory of undergo when such disorders set in and late Sir Rodney Sweetnam, an eminent evolve. orthopaedic surgeon and the President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Last but not least, an undeniably active The Sweetnam Laboratory is a custom- focus of the CMD research today is the built microfabrication facility where CMD development of approaches that would allow researchers, under the leadership of Tuomas neurodegenerative diseases to be cured. Knowles, bring state-of-the-art micro- and Alzheimer’s disease was first medically nanofabrication approaches together with described over 100 years ago, but, regrettably, a variety of physical chemistry techniques, a person developing this condition today is such as single molecule detection and no more likely to receive a cure than they spectroscopy. It is widely acknowledged that would have been back then. Out of the top at the onset of neurodegeneration, as well ten causes of death, Alzheimer’s disease as the majority of other diseases, molecular is the only one that we cannot prevent or markers indicative of the onset of diseases cure. As such, recent research of the CMD are present at ultra-low concentrations. The has also focused heavily on designing new tools devised in the Sweetnam Laboratory and effective reagents that would have the allow the molecular events at the heart potential to stop the spread of pathological of ageing-related disorders to be probed neurodegeneration. on the level of an individual molecule. This development is now allowing CMD In addition to being the home of the CMD, researchers to examine the very first events the Chemistry of Health Building houses on the full cascade of protein misfolding and the Chemistry of Health Incubator – the aggregation. first incubator in Cambridge to be directly integrated into a University department. A Simultaneously, it is becoming increasingly few years ago, Chris, Tuomas and Michele, evident that it is not only a handful of the three founding directors of the CMD, molecules that are central to the onset of together with a highly acknowledged neurodegeneration but the full homeostasis Swedish protein chemist Professor Sara that becomes affected when diseases as Linse, established Wren Therapeutics: a spin- complex as these progress. Under the off company led by Dr Sam Cohen (2005 leadership of Michele Vendruscolo, CMD Trinity), the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at St researchers are developing computational John’s. Having recently raised £18m in Series methods with which to study the A funding, the company is working in close transcriptome- and proteome-wide effects collaboration with the CMD to establish a that occur while neurodegenerative broad pipeline of therapeutic and diagnostic
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tools for neurodegenerative disorders. addressing the challenges brought by There are high hopes that by relying on the COVID-19. While the aforementioned research performed by members of CMD methods were originally developed to for over a decade, Wren Therapeutics has study neurodegeneration, a notable the potential to create platforms that will proportion of them can be used to radically advance the drug discovery of these examine other biological systems where complex diseases, which are often viewed as proteins play a key role, including not only one of the biggest medical but also the immune system and our immune one of the biggest societal challenges of our response to COVID-19. Results from this generation. work are only beginning to emerge, but there is hope that they will shed light on On a final note, over the past few months fundamental questions, such as why the the CMD research community has been immune response develops faster in some proactive in lending its expertise to patients than in others. Credit: Cambridge Independent
Left–right: Tuomas Knowles, Chris Dobson and Michele Vendruscolo
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A word for Wordsworth
It took Richard Brown (1975) sixty-two years to read Wordsworth for the first time, and now he wishes he had started sooner.
A confession: I am a sixty-three-year-old and English literature was therefore outside Johnian who, until last year, had never my expected field of interests. I shared a read Wordsworth. Wordsworth is notable study at the end of a long corridor with among the Johnian pantheon, and while Martin Dickens (1975) and Nick Webster the work of other Johnians such as Dirac (1975, Corpus Christi), and we enjoyed our may well be inaccessible to many of us, all of status as ‘science students’. Evening prep Wordsworth’s work is in accessible English. lasted two hours, but it was common for us So, really, there is no excuse. three to be finished after twenty to thirty minutes. At that point a queue of folk would Yet I do have my excuses: four, in fact. come down the corridor to our study with their insoluble prep problems: Nick helped First, my school culture was such that the supplicants with the mathematics, we were expected to concentrate on our Martin with physics or chemistry, and I strengths to the exclusion of other subjects. covered biology. For us there was no time I excelled in the maths and science stream, for literature.
Wordsworth/Folder 6
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Secondly, I did in fact get a taste of My addiction to Shakespeare started in Wordsworth at school, but only such lines a seaside holiday camp, of all places. I as ‘I wandered lonely as a cloud’ (‘Daffodils’) had nowhere to stay between school and and ‘Bliss it was in that dawn to be alive, But university, since my parents were working to be young was very heaven’ (The Prelude). abroad, and so my housemaster found This unfortunately immunised me against me a job as the youngest of the helpers at him. I mistook him for being like Bunthorne the camp. This provided a roof over my from Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience or Basil head, food and some cash, but it was not Fotherington-Tomas from the Molesworth a congenial environment. On the advice books. Wordsworth appeared to me to be an of one of the ‘matrons’, I went to the local untrustworthy man: up in the air and not at library and, clueless, took out Henry IV, all grounded. Part 1. I quickly forgot my surroundings: I was hooked on Shakespeare. The library Thirdly, the preparation offered by the stocked all the Shakespeare histories, and academic system of the time for the ‘Use I went through them all consecutively. I of English’ exam (needed to enter Oxford loved both the turn of phrases used and and Cambridge) compounded the science the descriptions of the scheming, the stream’s lack of empathy towards the subject. betrayals and the brutality. The Tragedies The exam was approached as though it followed, and I was among the Comedies were an engineering project. We knew the when my time was up. main aim was to assess our understanding of the English language and grammar, and In 2019 my wife and I decided to winnow we thought that it did not matter what you our books. I have many surplus copies wrote about so long as your answer showed of Shakespeare books and dutifully went understanding of the text’s meaning and had to the relevant shelves. Suddenly, out no grammatical errors. This engineering popped a light blue Penguin paperback. approach of following instructions used Untypically for our house, there was no words as though they were nuts, bolts, inscription inside, no clue at all as to cantilevers, beams and girders to make why it was there. Even after asking all the a satisfactory construct. The end result, family, no one knew its provenance. It was however, was that many of us were not Selected Poems by William Wordsworth. enamoured with English. We needed to dispose of more books, so this became a prime candidate. But some My fourth excuse for neglecting Wordsworth sixth sense stopped me. The way the book is that by accident I became hooked on had presented itself, almost innocently Shakespeare, and this addiction lasted for out of nowhere, was intriguing. And four decades. ‘If you can drink champagne besides, Wordsworth was a Johnian – why look at claret?’ was my reasoning. how could I dispose of him? I put it to Wordsworth and others barely had a chance. one side.
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I now have some understanding about why I would encourage you to read authors create a mundane object as a doorway Wordsworth’s work. It would be for entering a new world. Alice travels ridiculous for me to attempt to through a looking glass, and in the Narnia write cogent prose explaining why books the children disappear through the Wordsworth is great. Others can do back of a cupboard. This book in front of me better. I can, however, introduce you to was plain in the extreme. Yet as I read it, I one of his poems. Wordsworth was a discovered a new world. There was no sudden strong believer not only in the intrinsic ‘Silent, upon a peak in Darien’ moment; value of the rural life but also in the long- instead, I underwent a gentle wooing or term health benefits of walking in the drawing in. It was as though the book itself countryside and exposing all five senses knew I had my suspicions that the author was to the rural environment. I already akin to either Bunthorne or Fotherington- spend a lot of time outside working Tomas. The book followed me around the in rural practice, but the surprising house, popping up in the sitting room, the and immediate practical result of me kitchen, the toilet and the hallway. Finally, I reading Wordsworth was discovering a concluded that Wordsworth was brilliant different and novel appreciation of the and, to quote him, I was ‘surprised by joy’. countryside.
To A Young Lady, Who had been reproached for taking long Walks in the Country
Dear Child of Nature, let them rail! — There is a nest in a green dale, A harbour and a hold; Where thou, a Wife and Friend, shalt see Thy own heart-stirring days, and be A light to young and old.
There, healthy as a Shepherd-boy, And treading among flowers of joy Which at no season fade, Thou, while thy Babes around thee cling, Shalt show us how divine a thing A Woman may be made.
Thy thoughts and feelings shall not die, Nor leave thee, when grey hairs are nigh, A melancholy slave; Portrait of Wordsworth by But an old age serene and bright, Henry William Pickersgill (1833) And lovely as a Lapland night, Shall lead thee to thy grave.
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Dyslexia, poetry, rhythm and the brain
At a major conference for leading education researchers in 2019, Professor Usha Goswami (1990) was awarded the $3.9m Yidan Prize for ‘creating a better world through education’. Here she explains the research that led to her receiving this award, and what she is working on now.
Did you sing your baby to sleep with a nursery rhyme like ‘Rock-a-bye Baby, in the tree top’? If you did, you were unwittingly giving your infant the optimal input for language learning. Accurate perception of speech rhythm turns out to be very important for the learning brain. Indeed, there is something inherently pleasing to the human mind in metrical poetry. Repetitive metrical rhythms are musically harmonious – think of W. H. Auden’s ‘This is the night mail crossing the Border, Bringing the cheque and the postal order...’. The internal rhythmic patterning of the words – their Usha Goswami (1990) prosodic structure – creates the rhythm of the train. Yet across languages, children with you can still hear rhythmic fluctuations dyslexia find it difficult to hear such speech at different timescales. Accurate neural rhythms. Children with dyslexia also find tracking of these rhythmic fluctuations is it difficult to hear musical rhythms. These absolutely critical for speech comprehension. difficulties with rhythmic timing have been Brain rhythms arise from networks of brain revealed by modern brain imaging. The cells sending electrical signals and then dyslexic brain is ‘in tune, but out of time’. recovering, so that the networks fluctuate or oscillate continually from an ‘on’ state One of the most interesting discoveries in to an ‘off’ state. The brain computes the brain imaging regarding language processing speeds of the different energy fluctuations is that fluctuations in speech energy (signal in the speech signal, and then re-aligns its intensity) are tracked by our brain waves. intrinsic cellular rhythms to match these Fluctuations in speech energy create the energy patterns, at multiple speeds at once. natural rhythmic patterning that we call When this brain–speech alignment or speech prosody. If you are listening to a rhythmic synchronisation is successful, we foreign language that you cannot speak, comprehend speech.
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My research has shown that children Prosody (strong and weak syllable ‘beats’) is with dyslexia are less sensitive than other part of the hidden structural glue that makes children to the energy changes and rhythmic individual speech sounds into recognisable patterning of speech. The dyslexic brain words. It is this hidden glue that children is less efficient at computing the different with dyslexia find it so difficult to hear. speeds of energy fluctuations (the ‘rise times’ to the peak intensity of energy) and also This does not mean that dyslexic children less efficient at the process of brain–speech cannot speak and comprehend language alignment. Rise times in speech are the successfully, as these children are typically sensory analogue of ‘attack times’ in music. verbally dextrous. However, they are For example, if two musical sounds reach learning language by relying on different peak intensity at different times, such as acoustic cues compared to other children. the note ‘G’ played on a violin (slow attack So when they have to learn to comprehend time) versus a trumpet (fast attack time), ‘speech written down’, that is, learn to read, we perceive one player to be ‘coming in they struggle, and this is true in every world late’. Children with dyslexia find it difficult spelling system, not just for the alphabet. to discriminate rise times in languages as diverse as English, Chinese, Hungarian Our infant research shows that ‘babytalk’ and Spanish. These acoustic processing (variably referred to as ‘caregiver speech’, differences have important consequences ‘motherese’ and ‘parentese’) provides the for their spoken language learning. One way optimal structuring of energy patterns to think about the neural basis of dyslexia is for the learning brain. When speaking that the brain is always coming in either late in babytalk, parents and carers naturally or early. The brain waves are not ‘surfing’ the emphasise the acoustic statistics that are sound waves accurately. hidden in the prosodic structure of speech and which form the bedrock of phonology To imagine what this means for speech (phonology is the sound structure of processing, think about how difficult it speech). The brain seems to use babytalk to can be to listen to a non-native speaker of kick-start its brain–speech alignment system. English. This person may well have learned The language games and rhythmic routines all the individual speech sounds (the of the nursery also provide examples of this ‘phonemes’) correctly and may be saying optimal patterning. Clapping games like them in the right order (the order in which ‘Pat-a-cake’ and nursery rhymes like ‘Ring- they are written). However, they may still use a-ring-o’-roses’ offer metrically structured the stress patterning of their native language. input. They are composed acoustically of If this stress patterning differs from English, geometrically nested sets of energy patterns as it frequently does, it can be very difficult that provide acoustic cues to phonological to understand what is being said. We need units like stressed syllables, unstressed listening experience to ‘train our ears’ to the syllables, rhymes and phonemes. Indeed, persistent mis-stressing of the English words. when we sing, the temporal hierarchy of
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A baby wearing a headcap during Usha’s infant research energy patterning in the speech signal is Winning the Yidan Prize has been perfectly aligned, as we are keeping time very exciting, as it will enable us to with a rhythmic beat. extend this research programme to specific language impairment (SLI) and One implication of our research is that dyspraxia. Children with SLI appear music therapies might be very effective for to have difficulties with syntax and improving speech processing in dyslexia. grammar rather than with phonology. Rhythm is more overt in music than in They make mistakes like ‘She comb language. Coordinating rhythmic movement her hair’ and ‘Yesterday I fall down’. in time with speech may also be beneficial. Behaviourally, however, these children Many playground games naturally provide show acoustic discrimination problems such activities, for example clapping related to perceiving the energy games and skipping games. Interestingly, modulations in speech. They also research with adults who have specific have difficulties with speech prosody. musical difficulties (termed ‘amusia’, or Accordingly, one possibility is that tone deafness) suggests that these adults the SLI brain is also ‘out of time’, but are ‘in time but out of tune’. They are able is coming in early or late at a different to organise rhythm cues but not pitch cues. energy timescale compared to dyslexia. This is the mirror image of our research The Yidan Prize will enable us to find findings with dyslexic children. out whether this is the case.
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Portrait of a Lady
When entering the Master’s Lodge, visitors are greeted by a large portrait of Lady Margaret Beaufort. Until last year, the identity of the painter was a mystery, but the College now knows the story behind the commission thanks to Research Fellow Dr Andrew Chen (2011).
Early on in my Fellowship, I heard that my colleagues from the National Portrait to just this person, and, with the aid of a Gallery had been studying a painting of couple of other archives and my colleague Lady Margaret Beaufort currently held in from the National Portrait Gallery, the Master’s Lodge. They thought it could Charlotte Bolland, I began to piece together be associated with the sixteenth-century a story. Netherlandish artist Meynnart Wewyck, who happens to have been active during Support from the Annual Fund allowed my period of expertise (medieval and early the cleaning, conservation treatment and modern art). Thanks to this tip-off, when new technical analysis of the painting, I decided to explore the College Archive and it acted as a cornerstone for further I crucially knew what name to be looking collaborative research on the portrait, its for. As luck would have it I found an artist and his culture. One of the exciting
Evvia Gonzales (2016) Gonzales Evvia credit: Illustration unpublished document recording a payment ventures made possible by the funding was
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a study day held at the institute where the across our corpus of pictures: he likes to painting was being conserved. This event show his sitters looking slightly up and away, brought together curators, conservators and he tends to paint them with thin, arched and academics, as well as six paintings eyebrows, pursed lips and a long philtrum that are stylistically related to the College’s (the groove between the nose and the mouth). Lady Margaret portrait. It was a wonderful Not only is the painting’s style commensurate opportunity to study these works side by with others from the early sixteenth century, side and to discuss my research with others but also dendrochronological analysis showed who have been working on Wewyck and the panels that form the painting’s support to Tudor culture. be from trees that were felled at the end of the previous century. It seems to me more likely Wewyck was an immigrant painter from that the boards were used right away rather the Netherlands who rose to prominence than stored for a long time. Furthermore, around 1500 and became the preferred the painting has an engaged frame – one painter of the Tudors. We are beginning physically attached to the panels and not to establish, around the Master’s Lodge removable – a type that became much less painting, a corpus of small-scale portraits common later in the sixteenth century. by Wewyck and his workshop. All of them are of members of the royal family: Henry What is unusual about Wewyck’s painting VII, Elizabeth of York, Prince Arthur and of Lady Margaret Beaufort is its large-scale Henry VIII. These small pictures date independent format. It was unheard of at the from both before and after the portrait of time for a representation of such considerable Lady Margaret, and they were functional size to be of a woman alone who was not images that were sent to foreign courts attached to a religious image or paired with for presentation. We know that Wewyck a corresponding likeness of her husband. personally delivered portraits of Henry Lady Margaret was the rare lady whose status VII, Elizabeth, Prince Henry and Margaret made such a commission conceivable: she was Tudor to James IV of Scotland in 1502. a noblewoman of independent wealth and status, and, as the King’s mother, she wielded After the death of Lady Margaret in 1509, great power and influence. Most importantly the executors of her will commissioned for us Johnians, she was also a foundress of Wewyck to paint her likeness, most colleges! This combination of factors provided probably to serve as a form of memorial. both motive and audience for a prodigious There is no way to be absolutely certain standalone portrait. that the Master’s Lodge painting is the one mentioned in the document, but various Art from the past has an impact on us because material and stylistic aspects of the painting we can take pleasure in its mysterious appeal. corroborate our hypothesis of an early A little over 500 years ago, a Netherlandish date. We have identified distinctive features artist was asked to use all of his technical skill of Wewyck’s style that can be observed and mnemonic ability to translate a woman
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from recent memory back into the world, Conservation of the past provides culture and he did this according to the conventions and enrichment to all of society, but in which he was trained. Flemish artists most especially to students on the verge were particularly well-known for their of discovering so much more about observation of detail and for the finesse with the world. I am delighted to have had which they rendered surfaces, especially the opportunity to help re-establish cloth. The support of the Annual Fund has something of such value to us and our enabled essential restorative cleaning (more College’s history. exciting than it sounds!) that will bring the green background fabric, the Tudor rose on the canopy and the lower folds of Lady An abridged version of this article first Margaret’s mantle closer to their former appeared earlier this year in the College’s beauty. In its renewed form, the painting donor magazine The Marguerite, which will provide the kind of aesthetic experience you can read online: johnian.joh.cam. that people around 1500 believed could offer ac.uk/the-marguerite not only joy but also consolation.
The Lady Margaret painting in the process of restoration
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The Cambridge Carthaginians
John Hoyte (1953) describes his experience of receiving one of the early travel scholarships offered by the College and his resulting quest to solve the mystery of how Hannibal crossed the Alps.
The British Alpine Hannibal Expedition group posing during the 1959 trip across the Alps, this time with elephant in tow
To some extent, student life at Cambridge There was also the spirit of adventure. was much as it had been for hundreds of Students seemed to delight in thinking years. True, two world wars had rolled outside the box. When we set out in 1956 over the old town in the previous four to find Hannibal’s route over the Alps, there decades, but the mellow buildings had were over twenty other expeditions that stayed as beautiful as ever. Memories of summer from the University, some financed ancient comings and goings, the War of by colleges and some self-financed. the Roses, the civil war of the seventeenth century and the footprints of the learned – Milton, Erasmus, Newton, Wilberforce, ‘Forward, you madman, and hurry Darwin and other greats – provided layers over those horrid Alps so that you may of history that enhanced the soft light of become the delight of Schoolboys’ autumn when I went up in 1953 to start Juvenal, Satire X, AD 200 my sojourn.
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On one chilly spring evening in March 1956, toponymy, philology, geology, zoology, two friends and I spotted a notice recently astronomy and climate change. The issue was put up on the screens outside the Hall. Travel the question, ‘Which way did Hannibal and scholarships were to be awarded to members his army cross the Alps?’ of the College, and to have the exciting word ‘travel’ next to such an academic word as That he had made it over the Alps with his ‘scholarship’ was not to be ignored! army and nearly defeated Rome was one of the great turning points of history. However, ‘Who gets these kinds of scholarships the mystery of his route remains, and over the anyway?’ and ‘Why can’t we have a bash?’ last 2,000 years or more, scholars, generals we asked after the gas fire was lit and coffee (including Napoleon) and historians have put on in our gyp room. What was clearly puzzled over the evidence and come up with needed was a bright and original idea. Alas, differing conclusions. The battle royal over each brilliant idea seemed to be quashed by Hannibal’s route was certainly raging at a high the two who had not thought of it, but we academic level in England. Sir Gavin had all knew this would be our last long vacation made a first lunge with his Alps and Elephants. before graduation and the need to get a job Dr McDonald replied with a straight-to- in the real world. ‘We have got to think of the-heart stab in The Alpine Journal. Sir something really original’ led to a time of Gavin’s riposte was his television programme thoughtful reflection. produced by the BBC, which seemed to have won over much of the public in Britain. Dr Someone broke the stony silence with ‘How McDonald stuck to his unassailable ‘marching about Hannibal’s trip over the Alps?’ Another times’ argument and the need for a definitive exclaimed ‘Of course, we would have to view of the Po valley. take elephants!’ and invited a few derisive ‘Ha, ha’s. But a seed had been planted, and it And here we undergraduates had landed right began to take hold in our imaginations. in the middle of it all. Neither I nor my friends were classicists, but we all loved history and Although the idea then lay dormant for mountaineering. We began to think that this at least a month, it was awakened by an debate might indeed lead to a worthwhile unusually heated discussion between two summer expedition, and the idea formed to gentlemen of note, Sir Gavin de Beer, curator travel the Alps, hike over the possible passes of the Natural History Museum in London, that Hannibal could have taken and compare and Dr Arthur McDonald, Professor of what we found with the classical texts. Classics and Senior Tutor at Clare College, Cambridge. They were having an intellectual Polybius told us that Hannibal took nine days argument – a philological sparring match from his first encounter with the Alps to reach – and were using the media to make their the summit pass, so one of our challenges was points. The intense debate concerned Roman finding the nine-day stretch that would best and Carthaginian history, topography, fit Polybius’ account. Hannibal and his army
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came from Spain, and he set off in 218 BC each night’s destination, usually a youth with a formidable force of thirty thousand hostel, without any problems. The 1950s were men, thirty-seven elephants and several great for hitchhiking, and the Union Jack hundred cavalry. The sources tell us that attached to our rucksacks inspired friendly the Pleiades, a very distinctive constellation, drivers to give us lifts. was setting over the horizon when Hannibal crossed the Alps, and, after calculating back to Making our efforts as scientific as possible, 218 BC, we found that the crossing must have we drew up a spreadsheet listing the nine taken place in late October. specifics that Polybius gives for Hannibal’s pass. We then awarded up to five points to the At the summit, Hannibal gave his exhausted ones that met the conditions. Our conclusion men two days to recover before making was that out of a total of forty-five points for his famous speech of encouragement and a perfect match, Col de Clapier got forty-two, starting the precipitous descent. This took at Col de Mont-Cenis thirty-three and Col de least two days because of the steepness and Traversette only twenty-six, since it gave no a rock formation that blocked the elephants. view of the Po valley, had no space near or at Once his force was down on the plain of the the pass for an army of thousands to camp, Po river, Hannibal captured the capital of and did not lead down to the Turini capital. the Turini tribe – modern-day Turin – and We knew that Sir Gavin would not like our proceeded to defeat Roman armies in four conclusions but felt sure enough about them great battles. to challenge him to a debate on the BBC. Unfortunately, he declined to accept the offer. As we studied our maps, it became clear that there were five Alpine passes that should Looking back, I now realise how important be considered for Hannibal’s route: Little St our exploratory trip was. If we had not Bernard, Col de Mont-Cenis, Col de Clapier, completed it and thought through the Col de Montgenèvre and Col de la Traversette. implications, we would never have been Whichever pass we chose had to provide an able to consider taking an elephant over expansive view of the Po valley and have room the Alps three years later! at the summit where thirty to forty thousand men could camp. Also, the descent had to be dangerously steep. We agreed that Col Read about John’s second Alpine adventure de Mont-Cenis and Col de Clapier should – this time with an elephant in tow – on really be the focus of our research expedition, our alumni blog: bit.ly/AlpineExped. although we would remain open to Sir Gavin’s John’s writings can be viewed on his website arguments in favour of Traversette. (johnhoyte.com), and his memoirs Trunk Road for Hannibal and The Persistence of Light Happily, the Cambridge Hannibal Expedition can be found in the St John’s College Library of 1956 was a success at every level. The or purchased online: bit.ly/JohnHoyte weather was kind, and we were able to reach
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Innovation and Entrepreneurship at St John’s
Liisa van Vliet (2002), academic lead for the Johnian Entrepreneurship Committee, reports on the College’s vision to provide innovation and entrepreneurship training and support for the Johnian community.
Technology, robotics and the internet of To better prepare students for their future, things are increasingly integrated into St John’s aims to be the leading Cambridge the daily lives of the developed world. college for innovation and entrepreneurship It is predicted that up to 30% of jobs will training, and work has already begun on be replaced by automation in the UK by some exciting new projects. 2030. Artificial intelligence and process automation are transforming industries This vision started in 2016 with the such as management, manufacturing, foundation of the Johnian Entrepreneurship technical support and transport. Career Club for students. It was followed by prospects for the next generation of the appointment of an Entrepreneur- students will therefore need to focus more in-Residence in 2017, and the theme of on creativity, innovative problem-solving, entrepreneurship was taken up by alumni humanity and emotional intelligence. at the Johnian Society Day in 2018. An alumni Entrepreneurship Committee was established, and it developed three initiatives to benefit Johnians:
(i) an academic programme to introduce students to innovation and entrepreneurship;
(ii) work placements for current students to gain hands-on experience of the day-to-day work in entrepreneurial organisations; and
(iii) a mentoring network for students and alumni considering or embarking on an entrepreneurial career.
Liisa Van Vliet (2002) and Sam Cohen (2005) at the Johnian Society Day, 2018
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Richard Reed (1991) and Jon Wright (1991) at the panel event held for students in College
In September 2019 Mark Wells (1981) The five-day residential workshop pilot, and I led the first Innovation and generously sponsored by the Annual Fund, Entrepreneurship residential workshop. was a resounding success. It culminated Thirteen undergraduates and graduates in three team pitches to a panel of alumni were introduced to a series of tools to experts of sustainable businesses, with develop value-based businesses that could students proposing ventures to help save contribute to delivering the 2030 UN dying languages, reduce plastic waste or Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). provide medical care to isolated populations. The students who took part in this pilot were carefully selected by their tutors to represent We followed this with an evening hosted diverse academic interests, and there was a by Julian Mash (1980), who interviewed particular emphasis on those studying arts Richard Reed (1991) and Jon Wright (1991), and humanities who might not otherwise two of the social enterprise pioneers and consider entrepreneurial activities. founders of Innocent Drinks, in front
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of an audience of students at the end of This year’s global pandemic and the Michaelmas term. This Johnian-inspired ensuing lockdown have given many of us start-up decided from the outset to set time to reflect on what we value in life. So aside a percentage of their annual profits many people have altered their lifestyles to invest in building a world where no one to become teachers, artists, IT consultants, goes hungry. As a result, the company has bakers and carers. Local businesses have funded over fifty social projects across four had to transform their operations to offer continents. During Lent term we held a deliveries. Fast-food workers have been workshop for students interested in careers loading shelves in supermarkets. Furloughed in the creative industries, where they had volunteers have started sewing medical the chance to speak to two successful scrubs. Students have helped farmers pick entrepreneurs from the world of arts and their crops. And so on. In short, people have media: Colin Burrows (1978) of Special become entrepreneurs to benefit their local Treats and Carolyn Dailey of Creative communities. At the same time, there is now Entrepreneurs. even greater awareness that, when it comes to health and wellbeing, the world is one With the College firmly supporting all three global ecosystem and community. initiatives, we are now formulating a broader vision for the St John’s entrepreneurship Despite the considerable uncertainty about programme. Our aim is to help the entire what lies ahead, there will inevitably be Johnian community of students and alumni, opportunities to create profitable businesses whether they want to create new ventures that can have a positive impact on society or to innovate in academia or within an and the environment. The Entrepreneurship industry. We plan to organise networking Committee is still in its infancy, but we events and specific practical workshops believe St John’s can be at the forefront of that are open to both students and alumni, making the world a healthier and more and we want to develop entrepreneurship- sustainable place. We aim to help the next specific support programmes for Johnians generations of entrepreneurs to use business beyond graduation. as a force for good, and we hope that you will join us in inspiring them to do so.
Contact the College about entrepreneurship on [email protected]
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34 THE ACADEMIC Photo: Left – The 2020 graduands during their virtual toast Below – Mary, Lady Dobson, YEAR being welcomed with her son William and their dog Jimbo, just before she led the applause for the 2020 graduands 2019/2020
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Director of Education & Senior Tutor’s summary of the academic year
With Johnian support the College awarded 128 studentships this year, enabling over a fifth of our undergraduates to concentrate on their studies without the distraction of financial strain. These studentships are a
Steve Russell Studios major part of our strategy to ensure that students with academic abilities to undertake
Credit: a Cambridge education have opportunities to do so.
The other key element of this strategy Dr Annis May Timpson is reflected in our work to ensure that St John’s contributes effectively through This academic year has been marked by undergraduate admissions to the Access and significant challenges for our students and Participation Plan targets that the University the College as a whole, but it has also been has agreed with the Office for Students. full of accomplishments. I have had the pleasure of welcoming eight new Teaching By 2024/25 the University aims to ensure Fellows and Associates, and I am delighted that among its intake of UK students just that from our Fellowship four have been over 69% come from state schools, more promoted to Readerships and two to than 21% from areas with the two highest Professorships. indices of multiple deprivation, well over 16% from areas with the two lowest Our students have continued to thrive in participation rates in higher education, their academic work and their co-curricular and 7% from areas with the lowest rate of activities, moving these online in recent participation. months. In 2019 more than a quarter of our undergraduates achieved First Class Conscious of this, all colleagues involved Honours, often with distinction, and over in selection and interviews looked carefully three-quarters received a 2.1 and above. It at candidates and increased the proportion will be interesting to see how new forms of of offers over applications to candidates in assessment, introduced this year in the face all four target communities. Moreover, in of COVID-19, impact assessment outcomes, the context of COVID-19, we also provided but early signs are promising. online meetings for all offer-holders.
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I am pleased to report that since 2017 the Centre, with plans being prepared to proportion of our UK undergraduates from enable students, in varied circumstances, the state/maintained sector has increased by to develop key strategies to thrive both at 31%, from areas with the two highest indices Cambridge and more generally. of multiple deprivation by 64%, and from areas with the two lowest participation rates The Lady Margaret Beaufort Intellectual in higher education by 44%. Connections Competition continued in 2020 with a team of postgraduates and While there is still work to do to increase undergraduates examining Food Security admission of students from areas with the in the twenty-first century. It was an lowest participation in higher education, this impressive event in which the students year, for the first time, St John’s exceeded the brought together academic experts, University Access and Participation Plan directors of start-up companies and target for admitting students from areas representatives of NGOs in a fascinating with the two highest indices of multiple conference, providing sustainable snacks deprivation. in the breaks between sessions. In addition, the SBR Graduate Research Forum in Following Brexit, undergraduates and February highlighted the exciting range postgraduates from the EU will have to pay of research undertaken by postgraduates international fees from 2021. In light of this at St John’s. new challenge, Dr Matthias Dörrzapf, as Director of International Programmes, is As this is my final report as Director planning new initiatives to encourage the of Education & Senior Tutor, I wish to brightest EU students to apply to St John’s note how much I have enjoyed my role and to the University of Cambridge. at St John’s. I salute the memory of the late Professor Sir Christopher Dobson, Under my leadership, student engagement note with great appreciation the work of in key College matters has continued to Dr Frank Salmon, Dr Steve Edgley and expand. The meetings I have held with Professor Tim Whitmarsh, highlight the students, alongside their Tutors, prior contributions of our Directors of Studies to Subject Reviews, have enhanced our and Tutors, and thank all colleagues across understanding of effective outreach to the Director of Education & Senior Tutor’s schools and helped us to identify excellent Department. In particular, I wish to thank practices across subjects that enable students Jenni Prior and Emma Clark for their to perform well at key stages of the Tripos. outstanding day-to-day support.
This year SBR and JCR representatives were Finally, it has been a delight to work with directly engaged in a review of our health all JCR and SBR Presidents. I know that and counselling services. This has led to as Johnians they will each go on to make St John’s establishing a Health & Wellbeing important contributions in the world.
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New Research Fellows
Virgil Andrei Lucy McDonald (BSc, MSc HU Berlin, (BA, BPhil Oxford, PhD Cambridge) PhD Cambridge) for Chemistry for Philosophy
After working on I am a philosopher earth-abundant specialising in composites for philosophy of thermoelectric heat harvesting and sensing language, ethics and feminist philosophy, at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, I turned though my work sometimes dips into my attention to solar energy conversion. linguistics and sociology too. My research at St John’s will answer two questions: During my PhD at the Department of ‘What is speech?’ and ‘What can speech Chemistry and Trinity College, Cambridge, do?’ Modern technology has made speech I developed ‘artificial leaf’ devices, which hard to define. For example, can one speak only require sunlight to produce useful by texting a friend an emoji or a meme, or chemicals from small building blocks such by tweeting to no one in particular? I’m as water and carbon dioxide. Prototypes interested in how speech relates to action, combining high-performance perovskite and and what it means to be a speaker or a oxide light absorbers with earth-abundant hearer. I’m also interested in the social molecular catalysts could successfully power of speech. produce hydrogen, oxygen and syngas, a crucial intermediate in the industrial My doctoral research focused on the production of conventional liquid fuels. relationship between speech and gender My work also introduced state-of-the-art norms, examining sexist slurs, cat-calling, fabrication techniques (e.g. 3D-printing) for flirting and shaming. At St John’s I will fast prototyping of versatile solar reactors, explore the relationship between speech which enabled benchtop device testing. and social norms in general, investigating how speech is used to create, bolster and During my Fellowship, I aim to employ undermine social norms, and how power large-scale fabrication techniques and relations affect who can speak and what develop catalysts for direct CO2 to liquid they can say. fuel (e.g. ethanol) conversion. This highly interdisciplinary research may ultimately contribute towards a circular carbon economy based on sustainable solar fuels.
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Jules O’Dwyer Christiana (BA Bristol, MPhil L. Scheib Cambridge) for MML (BA NYU, MPhil, PhD Cambridge) Following a degree for Archaeology in Politics and French, I went to Trinity Hall My research focus to complete graduate is the intersection study in Cambridge’s newly established between genes, diet, and infectious and Centre for Film and Screen. I joined the heritable disease, which I study primarily first cohort of doctoral students in Film using techniques from population genetics, Studies in 2016, and I currently act as biological anthropology, archaeology and Director of Studies in Languages at Corpus medical biology. Christi College. As an MPhil and PhD student at Fitzwilliam My doctoral thesis addresses intersecting College, Cambridge, I explored the complex questions of sexuality and spatiality through genetic history of Native American French visual culture and thought. Engaging populations using ancient DNA (aDNA). with film theory, cultural geography During my postdoctoral research, I retrieved and queer studies, my research tries to and analysed pathogen DNA from medieval understand how we approach cinematic Cambridge skeletons, including those space as an object of aesthetic enquiry and underneath the St John’s Divinity School. how cinematography shapes our spectatorial I discovered the first molecular evidence orientation towards other bodies and the that the Plague of Justinian (Yersinia pestis) built environment. Publications arising reached England and, having mortality from this work have featured in journals rates as high as the Black Death, was including Screen, Discourse and Studies in probably devastating to early Anglo-Saxon French Cinema, and I have also contributed communities. I have become fascinated by to edited collections with Bloomsbury and disease and how diet can affect our health, Routledge. and I am currently integrating aDNA and proteomics for the identification and analysis I am delighted to join St John’s College, of ancient pathogens, dietary components and where I will pursue a project in the field of host immune response. comparative aesthetics. More specifically, I hope to rethink the curatorial capacities of During my Fellowship I will apply my the filmic medium by offering a theoretical approach to early Anglo-Saxon cemeteries account of the relation between cinema, to track the spread and impact of the the museum and the art gallery. First Pandemic (541–750 CE) in the British Isles.
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In conversation with: the President
Dr Steve Edgley has been a Fellow of St John’s for more than thirty years and is Head of Teaching in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience. In 2019 he was elected President of St John’s, representing the interests of the Fellowship. In this interview, Steve gives an overview of his University and College roles and summarises how COVID-19 has affected St John’s and his department.
What convinced you to stand for election as President of St John’s?
You don’t really put yourself forward: others come and use their skills to persuade you to be nominated, and people I respect very much twisted my arm. It is a privilege to be part of St John’s, and I have huge respect for the Fellowship; it is full of amazingly able people who have fascinating stories to tell. I’m more involved in College than I have been for many years, and I never tire of hearing about people’s research, meeting students and staff, and listening to working and social distancing, and it has fascinating talks and incredible concerts. been one of my tasks this year to retain social cohesion without in-person discussions and a physical community. We’ve organised What does the role of President entail? virtual gatherings, where academics share their research, and had drinks via Zoom with At its simplest, the President represents the the Vice-Master. Regularly we have Fellows views of the Fellowship, both within and coming together from all over the world, and without the College. The more complex it’s a nice way to stay in touch. part is standing in for the Master when the Master is not available or is away. No two days are the same in St John’s, and many How has the College responded to varied issues pop up unexpectedly with the the pandemic? dreaded words ‘Have you got just a minute?’ Very early on St John’s set up a coronavirus We’ve lost much of that casual interaction committee comprising key academics and in the last three months because of remote members of staff, and initially this met daily,
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often for two hours. Alongside creating teaching department in the University. new working schedules for departments We teach almost 400 medical and veterinary and deciding on the right balance of on-site students for the first two years of their and remote provision for those resident course and more than 150 natural scientists students and Fellows remaining in College, in their first two years, and we also run the committee had to make decisions about a large third-year Part II Natural Science moving the education programme online and course that develops science skills at an how to handle all of the spring and summer Honours degree level. On an average week, events, many of which are planned years in we have 1,500 students through the door of advance. the department for teaching – and all of this has had to move online during the lockdown. Policies are shared expertly by the College’s Communications Office, despite plans needing to be reworked often to match How has your department responded the ever-changing situation, but much of to the pandemic? the operational work is hidden behind the scenes. It will be an interesting process to Most academics I know feel almost liberated look back on, and it is an amazing logistical by the opportunity to put into place changes experience, but in the moment we just need to their teaching. We had been discussing to respond. interactive online teaching methods like this for a while, but the non-stop, demanding nature of the academic year made it too easy What is the focus of your research and to fall into inertia and continue providing what does your teaching role entail? the same teaching year-in and year-out. The pandemic has provided a much-needed Most of my neuroscience work over the last push to make these improvements a priority. ten years has been about trying to understand Far from seeing these changes as ‘second best’, how we learn to move accurately. Our a lot of us in the department have discovered everyday movements are performed with better ways of teaching. very little conscious thought, and yet they are remarkably precise. Movement control The practical side of teaching has been the is not reactive but proactive – you have to most challenging to deliver. It’s not easy predict what is needed in advance. Human to learn anatomy from a book or from a movement is incredibly sophisticated. Robots two-dimensional screen: you need to think may be able to beat people at chess, but there in three dimensions. Similarly, if you want isn’t a robot yet that can tie a shoelace as well to understand the complex processes of as a five-year-old. physiology or neuroscience, it’s important that you consider dynamic changes in The Physiology, Development and control systems: doing this from static Neuroscience Department is the largest material is challenging.
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However, the difficulty of effectively February and March, and our garden is now conveying these concepts has been a great a riot of colour. drive towards further innovation.
The future is very uncertain right now, What do you like to do in your spare but can you speak to any plans for the time? rest of your Presidency?
Like a lot of academics, my research is The lack of key events such as Graduation, my major hobby, and free time is a rare the May Concert and Matriculation – events commodity at the best of times. If the which for many of us mark the end or the summer workload allows, I’m looking beginning of the academic year – can leave forward to publishing a paper based on College members feeling disoriented, and we data I collected more than ten years ago. need to get used to the fact that the coming The data is still relevant, but it’s been sitting year will be very different. around for that long because it’s been at the end of an extensive list. Although we don’t know what the future holds, we do have several plans prepared, and I’m also interested in the natural world I will do my best to make sure that St John’s and I like walking in remote places – the remains a collegial place. Our students have more remote the better – although visiting phenomenal potential, and I hope that we the Outer Hebrides is on hold this year. can continue our mission to enable them to Planting was a great way to get outside in realise it.
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In conversation with: the Tutor for Undergraduate Admissions
Dr Victoria Harvey (2011) joined St John’s in March this year as Tutor for Undergraduate Admissions. For the previous twenty-two years this role was held by Dr Helen Watson, whose dedication to widening participation has had a large and lasting impact on the College’s outreach programme. In the interview below Victoria talks about her experience of joining St John’s during the COVID-19 crisis, and the innovative ways in which admissions activities in College have adapted to the changing situation.
Tell us about your journey to St John’s.
I actually used to be a windsurfer! Then I had a massive car accident fourteen years ago and went to Exeter to study for an undergraduate degree – aged twenty-six as a single mum with a six-month-old baby. After a Master’s at Oxford and a PhD at Cambridge, researching sixteenth-century French literature and visual culture, I worked as the Schools Liaison Officer for Robinson and Trinity Hall and then progressed to a Fellowship at Lucy Cavendish as their Admissions Director. and the fact that I had a life before academia means that I first applied to study at Working in outreach and admissions at university not all that long ago, which gives Cambridge has given me familiarity with me a better perspective on the process that the system and the specific issues involved, prospective students are going through.
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What are the main responsibilities a big part of my role, and a big part of the of your role? College culture, and trying to replicate these casual yet important discussions virtually is I have overall responsibility for the challenging. admissions and outreach team. The team is really committed to being proactive in our approach to widening participation. ‘Conducting outreach online has opened Part of my role is carrying out a strategic up a whole new world of opportunities review of admissions and outreach in the for reaching people and breaking down College to ensure that St John’s makes a good further barriers’ contribution to the Access and Participation Plan and the University’s commitment to widening participation in higher education. Online platforms have been invaluable, however, in connecting with offer holders. St John’s has already made great progress The support offered by schools during this when it comes to access, thanks to Helen period has been very diverse, ranging from Watson’s commendable focus on widening a ‘you’re on your own’ approach to providing participation, but there is always more a full curriculum online, with everything that we can do to enrich our student body. in between. I sent everyone a survey to see Increasing the diversity of our students what educational support their school was internationally, socially and economically offering and what concerns they had; 200 is great for the intellectual development that out of the 220 offer holders responded. I is at the heart of a St John’s education. have also held two large Zoom calls with offer holders to reassure them and to answer their questions: for the most part they were What has your experience been worried about meeting their conditions of joining the College in such a because of how the assessments are being tumultuous time? done this year, but they were still very hopeful. In fact, most of the questions were It was a bit of a whirlwind: I had two weeks about how accommodation was allocated, on the St John’s site before the lockdown, which put things into perspective! We have and I’d just got used to the lunches, which moved now to subject-specific meetings, are quite special. Working remotely, you which include the Director of Studies, a miss many unplanned discussions that couple of current students and the offer would otherwise take place over lunch or in holders. The support I have received from the College courts. I’m not able to pop into the Directors of Studies and the current someone’s office just to say hello, and most students has been fantastic, especially people don’t sit down and have a chat over considering the disruption they are all facing Zoom: an online meeting has a purpose as they grapple with revolutionary teaching and an agenda. Relationship-building is systems and new exam formats.
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How is the Admissions Office has opened up a whole new world of adapting to the pandemic? opportunities for reaching people and breaking down further barriers, and We’re regarding the current situation as an students who might otherwise not have opportunity to develop some really strong been able to travel to Cambridge for online provisions, including July Open an open day can now join in with the Days and other sessions for students in activities. our link areas. These include ‘Cambridge Explained’, ‘Making Competitive We hope to keep some of these Applications’ and ‘Super Curricular innovations in our future admissions Activities’ sessions with student Q&As. programme. We are actively exploring The online nature of these events allows ways to make our process more effective, them to be accessible to a wider range with a constant eye on environmental of students than ever before. sustainability, potential barriers faced by applicants, and robust selection decisions. During the online July open days, we will be launching a poster competition for Year 12 students with the broad theme of How do you spend your time ‘Green’, which could cover anything from outside St John’s? environmental science to the symbolism of the colour green in the ancient world. Although my position at St John’s isn’t We’re hoping that PhD students can run actively academic, I do lecture and live sessions explaining how to put a poster supervise students in my ongoing role as together, how to carry out online research Director of Studies at Lucy Cavendish, and how to present a poster. Outreach and I delve back into my research during is not just about showing prospective quieter moments of the year. students how suitable St John’s is for them: it is about enriching their academic I am President of the University’s proficiency and giving them the skills to Real Tennis Club, which ties into my bridge that gap between school and what current research into sixteenth-century we’re looking for. representations of Real Tennis. St John’s constructed its first tennis court in 1574, in a spot now occupied by Second Court. How will the next round of The sport is little known now, but in the admissions take place? sixteenth century it was extremely popular – Henry VIII was a fanatical player! – and We are actively considering different it is the game from which all other racquet scenarios for admissions next year so sports originated. that we can react quickly to the situation at the time. Conducting outreach online
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Tea with the Chaplain
St John’s welcomed Andrew Hammond in January 2020 as the new College Chaplain, a role focused on the face-to-face, pastoral function of the Chapel. Just before the Easter holidays and the College closure, co-Editor of The Eagle, Hannah Sharples, visited Andrew to find out more about his position and his personality.
Andrew’s set is accessed via North Court stacked haphazardly – some vertical, some and looks out onto Chapel Court. When I horizontal – for optimum pick-up-and-put- visit on a sunny morning early in March, down-ness. the drawn blinds provide privacy and the lamplight illuminates one of the two As Andrew disappears to make tea, I ponder bookshelves built into the wall. The books the large framed photograph of an Indian themselves are an informal assortment of woman and her son sharing flatbreads in variously coloured spines, showing the wear a shanty. Andrew later explains that this and tear of frequent browsing. They are was gifted to him after he arranged for
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an exhibition to be put on inside St Paul’s Within days of his fortieth birthday, a very Cathedral, where 85,000 visitors then saw clear notion formed in Andrew’s head that it. The exhibition, Being Untouchable, he should be a priest. He spent months comprises photographs in full colour of wrestling against it, but the concept was Dalit people, who used to be treated as non- ‘kind of demanding’ and all the necessary human and were called ‘untouchable’. The people in his church were supportive. humanitarian photographer and a colleague from Christian Solidarity Worldwide spent a ‘I call this my mid-life synthesis’, Andrew whole day with each family to take just a few jokes. ‘I didn’t have a mid-life crisis. Some shots, and the photograph above Andrew’s people buy a leather jacket and a moped, but mantlepiece shows a mother with her only I got ordained.’ surviving child, who is telling her that he wants to be an engineer. Andrew worked in two London parishes, including Neasden – one of the most I choose the smaller, subjectively comfier deprived parishes in the Church of England sofa beside the lamp, and Andrew sits – and St Paul’s. He then returned to opposite me on the sturdier looking Cambridge to take on the role of Chaplain at sofa-bed, the great distance between us King’s College. interrupted by a long wicker table on which to rest our drinks. ‘I discovered that working with students is incredibly challenging and demanding, but it ‘Have you always been a Christian?’ I ask. is also incredibly engaging. One of the things I love is when students say “You can’t say Andrew chooses his words carefully: ‘More that” or “You’ve said all that stuff and it didn’t often than not. I’ve never not been at the make sense at all.” At King’s, this brilliant very least aware of the presence of God, mathematician once said, “You’re answering although at times He may have seemed questions we’re not asking.” And that was so more at a distance.’ He explains that he had helpful! Being held to account by students a very straightforward, rural, middle-of- who say what they think is just fabulous.’ the-road church upbringing and ended up at Clare College in Cambridge as a Choral At King’s Andrew developed a rather Scholar. After his degree he passed through subversive, alternative event called ‘Critical a period of ‘devotional doubt’, during which Mass’, which he has introduced to St John’s he attended church but didn’t get involved. as ‘Wednesday Lates’. It’s a service that rebels That changed when Andrew lived in Covent against the traditional prejudices: there’s no Garden and met the parish priest there, endless standing up, no bits of paper with Mark Oakley, who now happens to be the words on and no singing. Instead, everyone Dean of Chapel at St John’s. sits on the ground, text is projected on a screen, and Andrew gives a talk that relates to the student experience.
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St John’s is known for dignified, formal ‘Most undergraduates are only eighteen and choral worship of extremely high when they arrive (some are even younger) calibre. Andrew is clearly appreciative of and they’re dealing with things for the first this, but he is also keen to open up the time. Many of them are living away from Chapel further and introduce innovative home for the first time. They’re dealing with activities that might attract new audiences. a style of work that’s very different from Ultimately, Andrew wants everyone in how they worked for A Levels. Sometimes College to view the Chapel as ‘their Chapel’ they’re dealing with a level of challenge from and to think that something might be teachers that they’ve not faced before. Then happening there that they want to attend. there are the questions of loneliness and ‘Mark and I both advocate warm-hearted, homesickness, of course, and relationships generous hospitality and allowing people to and finding out about themselves in terms think freely and explore their feelings and of sexuality and even identity.’ convictions.’ Although Andrew gives most of his pastoral There’s always hospitality after the services support one-to-one, he mentions that he had – cheese and wine after Wednesday Lates, the LGBT group over to his house the night and port and hot chocolate after candlelit before for drinks. ‘The LGBT community Compline – where students can mingle and is my community’, he states. ‘And because ask questions. Andrew asserts that this is the church is so completely hopeless on almost as important as the service itself, as that subject, it’s quite important that a it gives people the chance to connect with representative of that group goes the extra one another and take him aside for a chat. mile to be affirming.’ ‘It’s all part of creating little opportunities for visibility and accessibility.’ The Chaplain’s residence is Merton Cottage in the College grounds, on Queen’s Road. Andrew likens being a Chaplain of a Andrew refers to it as his ‘estate cottage’ Cambridge college to being a parish because he has a garden with deer cavorting priest in miniature: there is a geographical about in it, and his enviable morning boundary (the college grounds) and a commute is up the avenue. set number of people under his care (the college members). Parish priests have their ‘Don’t you ever feel trapped “in the bubble”?’ congregations but are also active in the I ask. ‘You live in John’s, work in John’s, wider parish, regardless of people’s beliefs, eat in John’s… You don’t need to leave the and this is true of Andrew’s role in St John’s, grounds!’ too, where he hopes that the wider College community knows that he is there for them Andrew explains that he used to live over even if they don’t share his outlook on life the archway in King’s, and that his home in or religious convictions. St John’s feels rather remote in comparison.
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‘Which is not to say that I can’t wake up worrying about something at 5am’, he admits. ‘Sometimes I get involved in these massive arguments with people who have been annoying me – in the shower, on my own!’
Andrew quickly adds that nobody at St John’s has been part of those internal arguments. In fact, he praises the staff and his welcome to the College. In every department he has visited – either seeking practical support or being introduced by way of induction – the people were friendly, constructive and helpful.
Breakfast in Hall following the Sunday morning service
Being in the midst of things is vital to his Not needing to leave the grounds way of being a Chaplain, however, which has taken on a new meaning in the centres on being immensely available months following this interview, and approachable and being trusted with when coronavirus has forced confidences that will go no further. us all to stay put and physically isolate ourselves. St John’s set up a It strikes me that listening to these raw ‘Virtual Chapel’ to run short daily and sometimes painful student concerns services during the Easter term, can’t be easy, and I’m curious how such as Facebook Live events and Andrew looks after himself. recorded choir performances from the College archive. Although the ‘I have a really high doctrine of distance between Andrew and the holidays!’ Andrew laughs. ‘I can derive students has felt bizarre and difficult enormous pleasure from the thought at times, he has remained available that one’s coming or when I’m on it.’ On for pastoral contact via various a more serious note, he assures me that e-communication platforms. he is reasonably robust emotionally and was taught about psychological care when he was at theological college.
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My own introduction to Andrew as What’s the most eye- Chaplain was in the form of a vlog that opening book you’ve he created when he started in the role. He read recently? ended the video by inviting members of the College to drop by, asserting that he was Toni Morrison’s Beloved, which is the ‘super-available, super-non-judgemental book I chose for the reading group and super-unshockable’. By the end of our this term. To my shame, up until interview, the wind howling outside half- about eighteen months ago I’d never drowns our words, but I am determined to heard of Toni Morrison, who was one test his statement. I thus disclose the mental of the great black women writers in health circumstances that led to me losing America. Beloved is her most famous my Christian faith as a teenager. book and is based on the true story of an escaped slave woman trying to kill Andrew’s response is one of warmth, her children to stop their recapture. encouragement and affirmation – exactly It’s completely unsentimental, in an the kind of Christianity he advocates and eye-watering way, about the slavery strives to embody. If anyone in College is in experience and its continuation in need of confidential, compassionate support, racism and segregation. regardless of faith, Andrew’s door is open and his phone is on. Which book would you recommend for freshers?
Great Sunshine of Wonder by Michael Mayne, who used to be the vicar of Great St Mary’s when I was an undergraduate and then went on to be the Dean of Westminster Abbey. This book is a sequence of postcards to his grandchildren, who were two when he wrote it. It gives the most amazing overview of how he understands the world from a Christian perspective. It’s deeply human, very non-judgemental and incredibly encouraging: all the things I love about the Christian faith. And it is in fantastically manageable chunks, so you can easily read a chapter at night.
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Changes to the College’s Community Hub plans
Student editorial assistant Aoife Hogan (2016) concluded The Eagle 2019 with a look at the College’s plans for a Community Hub in Second Court. Although her description of the project is still accurate, much can happen in a year. In the interview below, the Head of College Buildings, Tim Waters, provides an update on, and explanation of, the progress that St John’s is making with these renovation plans.
Briefly explain what the Community What are the key considerations Hub is and why the College has taken into account when planning decided it is necessary. the Community Hub?
The College Masterplan has identified a The project offers St John’s the opportunity need for a communal space within the to think sustainably about design choices heart of the College for students, Fellows and reduce the College’s carbon footprint. and staff to meet up socially, have relaxed St John’s wants to be the leading college work meetings, and eat and drink. The in Cambridge for sustainability, and it Community Hub project has been designed has therefore set strict environmental to satisfy this need by creating a modern, objectives for this project. Building sustainable and inviting environment Research Establishment Environmental where the College community can all come Assessment Method (BREEAM) is a third- together. party certification of the assessment of an asset’s environmental, social and economic The existing Buttery Dining Room (BDR) sustainability performance, and St John’s is beginning to look very tired: the acoustics is hoping to achieve at least a rating of are poor, the heating and cooling systems are ‘excellent’. at the end of their lives, and the setting is not one that College members generally want to The project is partly new build, but we also relax or have meetings in. Although many need to refurbish historic Grade I fabric. students love the Bar, the look is dated, the This poses certain challenges, especially building services require replacing and the when it comes to achieving the College’s space needs freshening up. While renovating preferred BREEAM rating, and we are the BDR and the Bar, St John’s will also build working closely with Historic England a unisex toilet block and create a new Junior and the local planning authority to create Combination Room (JCR) area in the heart solutions that all parties are content with. of the College that meets the students’ needs and is an attractive asset.
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What role has Historic England played How has the COVID-19 pandemic in this process? affected these plans and your work more generally? The College and Historic England have had three pre-application meetings to date. The It is too early to say for the Community first challenge is the possible relocation of Hub plans. COVID-19 will have a major the gate piers in the patio area – this would impact on the economy of the country open up more space around Kitchen Bridge as a whole, and the College will also be and clearly demarcate the boundaries of the affected. As a design team we are still proposed patio area outside the BDR – and working towards achieving the planning the second is the fabric enhancements within permissions that would enable a summer the historic areas. The fabric enhancements, 2021 start date, but we are not sure what which would help reduce the College’s the future holds. carbon footprint, are proving particularly difficult to resolve because the Community The Maintenance Department have had Hub project will be one of the first to make to work from home while still attending these types of modification. College for emergency calls and statutory maintenance. We are still planning to do our programme of summer works, Why has the College decided to delay however. We are fortunate to have a construction to summer 2021? talented team, who, if they can source materials, may be able to undertake St John’s is setting the benchmark with its additional maintenance work while the sustainability objectives and needs more College is quiet and once we are allowed time to work with the local and national to move freely. authorities to achieve these high standards. The student experience and College life are of the utmost importance, and the project programme needs to fit with the academic calendar, which means that we are limited to starting construction works in the long vacation so that the majority of the noisy demolition works are completed before the start of Michaelmas term. The College therefore made the decision this year to delay construction until summer 2021 as it became clear that the planning process
period could be extended. MCW architects Credit: Architect visualisations for the new spaces
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The Master and Fellowship College Officers
The College Officers as of 1 October 2020 will be:
The Master Mrs Heather Hancock The President Dr Steve Edgley Senior Tutor Dr Mark Nicholls Senior Bursar Mr Chris Ewbank Dean of Chapel The Revd Canon Mark Oakley Dean of Discipline Professor Ernest Laue Acting Dean of Discipline (LT & ET 21) Dr Helen Watson Domestic Bursar Ms Helen Murley Librarian Dr Mark Nicholls Praelector Dr Talitha Kearey Director of Music Mr Andrew Nethsingha Chaplain The Revd Andrew Hammond
College Council Fellowship
The College Council as of 1 October The Fellowship of the College as of 2020 will be (in order of seniority): 1 October 2020 will be (in order of seniority): The Master The President The Master (Mrs Heather Hancock) Dr Helen Watson The President (Dr Steve Edgley) Professor Ulinka Rublack Dr Ben Garling Professor Ben Simons Dr George Reid Professor Christine Gray Professor Patrick Boyde Dr Paul Wood Dr John Leake Mr Chris Ewbank Dr Alan Macfarlane Professor Chris Jiggins Professor David McMullen Mr Stephen Teal Dr Keith Matthews Professor John Rink Mr Ray Jobling The Revd Canon Mark Oakley The Revd Dr Andrew Macintosh Dr Joana Meier Professor Jim Staunton Professor Malcolm Clarke Professor John Iliffe
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Professor Malcolm Schofield Professor Ulinka Rublack Professor Roger Griffin Professor Ben Simons Professor Tim Bayliss-Smith Professor Máire Ní Mhaonaigh Professor Steve Gull Professor Duncan McFarlane Dr Howard Hughes Professor Christine Gray Dr Peter Goddard Dr Ian Winter Professor Peter T. Johnstone Professor Nick Manton Professor Ian Hutchings Dr Neil Arnold Professor Richard Beadle Dr Stefano Castelvecchi Dr John Hutchison Professor Ann Louise Kinmonth Dr Derek Wight Professor Janet Lees Professor Sir Richard Friend Professor Andrew Wyllie Dr Robin Glasscock Professor Stefan Reif Professor Robert Tombs Dr David Stuart Dr Dick McConnel Dr Mark Nicholls Professor David Midgley Dr Matthias Dörrzapf Professor Peter Matthews Dr Pierpaolo Antonello Dr Martin Richards Dr Preston Miracle Professor John Kerrigan Professor Andy Woods Professor Graham Burton Commodore John Harris Professor Geoff Horrocks Professor Serena Best Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta Dr Petra Geraats Dr Hugh Matthews Dr Paul Wood Professor Jane Heal Professor Emily Gowers Dr Tom Hynes Professor Usha Goswami Professor Nick McCave Professor Richard Samworth Dr Andrew C. (Ricky) Metaxas Professor Graeme Barker Colonel Richard Robinson Dr David Williams Professor Simon Conway Morris Miss Sylvana Tomaselli Professor Ernest Laue Mr Chris Ewbank Professor Robert Evans Dr Frank Salmon Dr Sue Colwell Dr Chris Warnes Dr Helen Watson Professor Chris Jiggins Dr Joe McDermott Mr Stephen Teal Professor Christel Lane Mr Andrew Nethsingha Dr Christopher Robinson Dr Tomas Larsson Professor Yuri Suhov Dr Robert Mullins Professor Simon Szreter Professor Tuomas Knowles Professor Deborah Howard Professor Jason Robinson Professor Manucha Lisboa Dr Georgina Evans
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Professor Mete Atutüre Dr Helen McCarthy Professor Zoubin Ghahramani Dr Joanna Meier Professor John Rink Dr Stephanie Mawson Professor Erwin Reisner Dr Dhruv Ranganathan Professor Ole Paulsen Dr Jack Smith Professor Kristian Franze Dr Rebecca Shercliff Professor Austen Lamacraft Dr Kadi Saar Professor Uta Paszkowski Dr Talitha Kearey Dr Nathan MacDonald Dr Morag Morrison-Helme Dr John Taylor Dr Morgan Ng Dr Andrew Arsan Dr Matt Lampitt Dr Meredith Crowley Ms Anna Plumridge Professor Michael De Volder Dr Isabelle Roland Dr Hannah Joyce Dr Victoria Harvey Dr Orietta Da Rold Dr Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri Professor Albertina Albors-Llorens Professor Alexander Bird Professor Tim Whitmarsh Dr Alex Wong Dr Edward Tipper Dr Christiana Scheib Mr Tim Watts Dr Nicholas Friedman Dr Adam Chau Mr Jules O’Dwyer Dr Graham Ladds Ms Lucy McDonald Professor Richard Gilbertson Mr Virgil Andrei Dr Fleur Kilburn-Toppin Professor Eske Willerslev Dr Andy Wheeler Dr Gabriella Santangelo Dr Laura Torrente Murciano Dr Jodi Gardner Dr Ruth Abbott Dr Nick Blunt Dr Adam Bales Dr Tristan Brown Dr Dorian Gangloff Ms Helen Murley The Revd Canon Mark Oakley Professor Eric Miska Dr Jean Abraham Dr John Weisweiler Dr Giuliana Fusco Dr Ester Salgarella
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Honorary Fellows Miss J. C. Egan The Most Revd B. Ntahoturi The Honorary Fellows of the College Professor B. J. Stapleton as of 1 October 2020 will be (in order Mr M. A. Feigen of seniority): Mr T. J. E. Adès Professor M. Castells Dr Manmohan Singh Dame Louise Makin Sir David Wilson Sir Harpal Kumar Sir Bryan Cartledge His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge Sir Derek Jacobi Mr M. I. Coombs Professor Sir Roger Penrose Mrs A. Phelps Professor Sir David Cox Professor S. E. Radford The Hon. Mr Justice R. J. Goldstone Ms L. C. Bates The Rt Hon. Lord Hope Dr C. H. Craig Sir Timothy Lankester Dr H.-A. Doughty The Rt Hon. Lord Browne Dr E. C. Upton Professor Lord King Mr J. M. Brearley The Hon. Mr Justice Frank Iacobucci Ambassador A. J. Jacovides Sir Michael Scholar The Most Revd P. E. Carnley Sir Mark Moody-Stuart Mr D. M. Burt Mr C. N. Corfield Professor E. S. Maskin Professor Lord Renfew The Rt Hon. Lord Justice Aikens Professor Sir John Ball The Rt Hon. Sir Jack Beatson Professor J. G. A. Pocock Sir David Hopwood Sir Roger Palin Sir David Pountney Lord E. N. R. Eaglescliffe Sir Simon Keenlyside Professor R. M. Goody Professor Lord Hennessy Professor A. D. Hamilton Professor D. W. Harvey
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58 MEMBERS’ Photo: London Christmas Drinks 2019 Credit: Owen Billcliffe NEWS
THE EAGLE 2020 59 MEMBERS’ NEWS
Connecting the community
Head of Alumni Relations Susannah Rose provides an overview of how the College and the Johnian community have revised their practices during the pandemic. From sharing career advice online during a global downturn to keeping the community spirit strong, Johnians have stepped up to the challenge and have worked closely with the Development Office to stay connected.
At the time of writing, College traditions bring large groups of Johnians together, are rapidly being adapted to the reality either in Hall or elsewhere, to enjoy these of operating in a global pandemic. Core traditions once again. activities such as teaching, research and assessment have been transformed, In the meantime, thousands of Johnians and so have the practices that enhance are tackling the immediate challenges of the community’s identity as Johnians. the pandemic and supporting their local Communal dining, for example, brings communities and the wider society, from the resident and non-resident community delivering health care and education to together across subject divisions and year managing vital industries. You can stay groups. connected and show support by reading the Johnian stories that we have published While the doors of Hall remain closed, the on our blog during the crisis, including College, like many communities, has tried accounts of rapid reinvention and to recreate these social encounters as best as adaptation to serve new and pressing needs. it can online. Our recent ‘virtual toast’ for graduands and their families was a symbolic It is a challenging environment for all of event to mark a significant moment for our us in which to thrive, but in particular for finalists following the cancellation of the the students who have completed their usual General Admission and associated studies in 2020. They are kick-starting their celebrations. careers in a global downturn and have fewer choices than their predecessors in 2019. Our last in-person event for alumni was Students can access support through the the Johnian Society dinner in London, just University Careers Service, and here in the before the lockdown; since then we have College we are scoping out ways that this cancelled all in-person events in College and year’s cohort of graduates can benefit from around the world. We recognise that these the real-world experience and insights that moments are critical in forging bonds of other Johnians can share from their own friendship, and that you may have your own industries. We can only conceive of doing St John’s traditions that have been put on this because of the generosity of alumni pause since the College gates shut in March. who are willing to give their time to the We don’t yet know when we will be able to next generation.
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The 2020 graduates have met a most challenging situation with creativity, resilience and flexibility. Living through this crisis at such a pivotal moment in their lives may well have influenced their career goals, and their working lives could end up being radically different from our own. But whatever they do, it is certain that they will be a wonderful asset to the alumni community.
Johnian Hub continues to be the best platform that we offer for alumni to connect directly with one another. Those on Johnian Hub can establish informal mentoring relationships with other Johnians across continents and generations or offer quick, tactical help. They can also share photos and memories from their time in College and reconnect with old friends. It is a democratisation of the St John’s network. Since launching, thousands of people have signed up and offered help to other Johnians.
In a recent survey that we conducted, we Screenshots from johnianhub.com established that there are several forms of support that Johnians want from the We know that these online connections can alumni programme in relation to career never replace the experience of spotting development: stories of life experiences, an old friend approaching through shafts career profiles, inspirational role models, of sunlight falling across the cloisters of industry-specific networks and informal New Court. That pleasure will have to wait. mentoring. The 2020 graduates, in But while the College grounds remain particular, want to hear from alumni closed, friendship and support are available working in industries of interest to them. whenever you want it. In the last few months, Johnian support for one another has taken off through the You can sign up to Johnian Hub at platform, and we hope that everyone will johnianhub.com. Read about how take a look, join in and thereby make it you can get involved with the alumni even more useful. programme at johnian.joh.cam.ac.uk.
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Members’ News
The following pages are dedicated to sharing the news of alumni, Fellows, Honorary Fellows and students, listed in order of matriculation year in the University or the year of joining the College as a Fellow. Please note that we rely on those submitting entries to check that they are correct and we cannot be held responsible for inaccuracies.
You can contribute your news to next year’s issue of The Eagle online at johnian.joh.cam.ac.uk/members-news or by filling in the paper form accompanying this issue.
If you’ve lost touch with other Johnians, please contact the Development Office at [email protected] or on 01223 338700. If we have their contact details, we will try to help you reconnect.
1951 ARROWSMITH, Dr David played and the early images of the Tanfield Arch’ as an amateur violinist in the Birmingham in Early Railways 6 (edited by Anthony Philharmonic Orchestra from 1973. In Coulls). October 2019 he retired after a final concert performance of Wagner’s Das Rheingold at 1957 GRANT, Sandy published Botswana: Symphony Hall, Birmingham. Choice and Opportunity, 1963–2018 with Zeticula Ltd. 1956 MITCHELL, Dr Kit was awarded a Written Paper Prize by the Royal 1958 MALEY, Professor Alan edited the Aeronautical Society for a paper on volume Developing Expertise Through Concorde’s vibration during take-off. This Experience. In the past four years, he has work was done at RAE Farnborough in written and edited four other books and the late 1960s. He was previously awarded published two collections of his haikus. an RAeS Branches Prize and a Certificate of Merit from the Chartered Institution of 1959 AVERY, Dr Charles published Il Highways and Transportation. Bresciano, Bronze-caster of Renaissance Venice (Philip Wilson Publishers). 1957 ADAMS, Robin published a couple of art historical papers in 2019. These 1959 HOPE OF CRAIGHEAD, The Rt comprised ‘“You cannot be serious, Mr Hon. the Lord David published the final Reay?”: The Bewicks argue intellectual volume of his five-volume series, Lord property’ in The Cherryburn Times (The Hope’s Diaries. Ranging from 1978 to 2015, Journal of the Bewick Society, volume 7, the series covers his legal career from the number 5, 2019) and ‘Joseph Atkinson Bar to the UK Supreme Court.
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1960 BETHELL, Dr Hugh started a blog on theology published by Wipf and Stock exercise, fitness and health to inspire everyone (USA) in 2019: Resurrection in Retrospect: to keep active, and he would be pleased if A Critical Examination of the Theology of Johnians signed up for regular updates. The N. T. Wright and The Reconstruction of blog can be found at exercisefitnessandhealth. Resurrection Belief. info and the associated Facebook page at facebook.com/Exercise.Fitness.Health. 1966 YOUNG, Professor Robert was awarded the Platinum Medal of the 1960 HOUGHTON, Brigadier Ivan is the Institute of Materials, Minerals and President Elect of the Medical Society Mining (IOM3) ‘in recognition of of London and will be inducted as the outstanding contributions to materials, President in October 2020. He continues science and industry’. He was presented as the (Honorary) Researcher in the with the medal at the 150th Anniversary Paintings & Frames Conservation Dinner of the IOM3 by Professor Serena Department at the Tate. Best, President of the IOM3 and a Fellow at St John’s. 1961 GREAVES, Bernard was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) by 1967 NEFF, Michael wrote a memoir the University of Leicester ‘in recognition of about his time at St John’s with one of his many contributions to public life in this his best friends, Raymond Neinstein area, and in particular his work for the LGBT (1967). Both came from the USA, community’. and, embracing the American hippie culture, they experienced the late 1960s 1963 RUSSELL, Professor Michael was Cambridge from an unusual perspective. elected to a fellowship in the American Connect with Michael and read his story Association for the Advancement of Science on johnianhub.com or email him on on 25 October 2019, ‘for distinguished [email protected]. contributions to the field of mucosal immunology with novel approaches to 1968 BROWNE, David contributed mucosal immunisation and the induction a chapter on medieval castles to the and function of secretory and serum IgA Cardiganshire County History Volume antibodies’. 2 (2019 UWP) and published on the subject of a Nasca ceremonial site in 1966 BULLOCK, Peter retired from teaching Llipata, Peru. physics full-time but is still engaged in part- time work and is a church organist. His wife 1968 DINGWALL, Professor Robert was Sarah and he have moved to Shrewsbury. awarded the 2019 Prize for Contributions to the Socio-Legal Community by the 1966 CARNLEY, The Most Revd Dr Peter Socio-Legal Studies Association. Read the had two companion volumes of academic full citation online: bit.ly/RDingwall.
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1971 MILLER, Dr Alastair continues as 1975 BRAMLEY, Paul was awarded the the Deputy Medical Director of the Joint 2019 Callendar Medal for ‘outstanding Royal College of Physicians Training Board contribution to the art of instruments (JRCPTB). This year the board implemented or measurement’ by the Institute of the new curriculum for Internal Medicine Measurement and Control. Training Stage 1 and continues to develop new curricula for all thirty physician 1975 DUCKWORTH, Colin was selected specialities, with a view to having these in for the Great Britain team at the World place by 2021 and 2022. Alastair continues to Trail Orienteering Championships in work one day a week as an Acute Medicine Portugal in June 2019, finishing fifteenth Consultant in Carlisle. in the PreO Paralympic class.
1971 MOORE, Andy was elected as a 1975 MARCOFF, Tony had his poetic Councillor for the Newbury Central Ward autobiography River of the World of West Berkshire Council in May 2019. published as seventy-five pieces of tanka He stood as a Liberal Democrat candidate. prose, many of which appear in Atlas Poetica in the USA and other journals. 1973 OUGHTON, Richard married If anyone would like a copy, they can email Dr Gwenda Porter, a retired Consultant Tony on [email protected]. Anaesthetist, at Shotesham All Saints, Norfolk, on 29 June 2019. It was the 1976 BASHALL, Nick continues to paint first marriage for both parties, who had portraits across the UK and in the Middle a combined age of 127 years. Richard East. He is represented by Fine Art continues to practise as a chancery barrister Commissions in St James’s, London, and in Manchester and Norwich. his work can be found on Instagram (@nickbashall.artist) or on his website 1974 POLLARD, David ceased practice as (www.nickbashall.com). Recently he a solicitor at Freshfields (where he worked collaborated with Nicky Philipps on ‘paint- for thirty-five years) and started practice as off’ performances, painting portraits from a barrister from Wilberforce Chambers in life in two hours accompanied by rock Lincoln’s Inn. The staircase and court of the music and watched by an audience. Chambers remind him a lot of St John’s. 1976 GRAHAM, Martin initiated the 1974 STEWART, The Revd Canon Permission to Smile campaign, which Charles was made an Honorary Canon at has partnered with 155 Birmingham Winchester Cathedral, having previously organisations to encourage friendliness, been a Residentiary Canon and Canon smiling and public greeting, and Emeritus. He is also an elected member to facilitate the formation of street of the Bishop’s Council and the Diocesan communities in an effort to combat Standing Committee. social isolation.
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1976 HOLMES, Simon is a Visiting 1977 MINTON, Professor Timothy was Fellow at the Centre for Competition awarded an OBE in the 2020 New Year Law and Policy at Oxford University, a Honours List for services to UK/Japan Non-Governmental Advisor (NGA) to relations. the European Commission in relation to the International Competition network, 1978 COUPLAND, The Revd Dr Simon was and an NGA for the United Nations appointed Vicar of St Richard’s Ham. He was Conference on Trade and Development. also appointed to the Scientific Advisory These roles are in addition to his Board of the Liebenstein Foundation in position as a judge at the Competition Rhineland-Palatinate. Appeal Tribunal and advisor to the environmental activist law organisation 1980 BRIEGAL, Mark was appointed ClientEarth. Chair of Archery GB in April 2019, the governing body for archery in the UK. 1976 REIF, Professor Stefan was Archery GB has a membership of over 40,000 honoured at an international conference archers and is preparing teams for the Tokyo in Germany last year with a second Olympics and Paralympics. Festschrift entitled On Wings of Prayer in honour of his seventy-fifth birthday. 1982 HANNING-LEE, Dr Mark has co- He received his first Festschrift in 2010. authored a Test Operations Procedure (TOP) 08-2-199 Collective Protection (ColPro) 1976 SMITH, Peter stepped back from System Chamber Test. This TOP provides his eight-year role as Managing Editor information to facilitate planning, conducting of Spend Matters Europe, a leading and reporting on testing of collective procurement and supply chain website, protection (ColPro) active and passive systems at the end of 2018. He then used his time in a chamber. to compile A Procurement Compendium, a collection of his articles, which was 1983 BROWN, Stephen was appointed published in September 2019. A book of Editor in Chief of Politico, a European digital new material, entitled Bad Buying: How and print newspaper, based in Brussels and Organisations Waste Billions Through dedicated to politics and policy. He was part Failure, Fraud and F*ck-Ups, is due to of the team that launched Politico’s European be published by Penguin Business in the edition in 2015. Stephen is happy to hear autumn 2020. from young Johnians trying to break into journalism or from more experienced alumni 1976 WHITFORD, Professor David was with interesting story ideas and pitches. appointed President, CEO & Registrar, RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus 1983 FLETCHER, John and Catheryne are (formerly Penang Medical College) on delighted to announce the birth of their 1 August 2019. daughter, Philippa Elsie, on 9 June 2019.
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1983 WALSH, Professor Toby was invited 1986 PERSIDIS, Dr Aris was included to give the Richard Selby Smith Oration as one of the world’s top-50 Futurists, in Hobart, Tasmania, in 2019. He was also according to the Tofler Foundation. granted a private audience with the King of Bhutan to discuss artificial intelligence 1987 BAKER, Dr Frederick won the and his new book, 2062:The World that European Heritage Europa Nostra Grand AI Made (Trobe University Press). Toby is Prix in Paris 2019 for an interactive digital currently Chair of the Learned Academies project about the Nazi Annexation of expert group that advises the Australian Austria in 1938. government on AI, and a member of the working group preparing an ethical 1987 ESPOSITO, Dr Giampiero published framework for the implementation of AI. a new book with Nova Science called Paths in Complex Analysis. He also co- 1984 ISRAEL, Professor Mark took up edited lectures on the Theory of Surfaces the position of Professor and Dean, in the Work of Ricci-Curbastro with Learning and Teaching at Murdoch Luca Dell’Aglio, published by the Italian University in 2019. Mathematical Union.
1984 NIENOW, Professor Pete was elected 1987 METAXAS, Dr Ricky now has to the Fellowship of the Royal Society of two named awards. The Ricky Metaxas Edinburgh (FRSE) in 2019. Pioneer Award is intended for an individual with an outstanding record in 1984 PHELPS, Annamarie was appointed the Microwave Energy Applications field. Chair of the British Horseracing Authority in The Ricky Metaxas Young Researcher June 2019. She is currently also Vice-Chair Award was inaugurated at a conference of the British Olympic Association; Associate of the Association of Microwave Power Consultant for Safe Sport International; and for Education and Research in Europe Vice-Chair of the European Rowing Board. (AMPERE) held in Valencia, September 2019. This new award in the field of 1985 DALTON, Dr Sarah obtained a PhD microwave and RF heating concerns from the University of Westminster in 2017, activities in academe, industry or related entitled ‘Modelling the Perinatal Network areas. It is intended for a young researcher System’. who is in the process of establishing a solid reputation in this field. 1985 KENNEISON, Dr Rebecca published The Special Operations Executive in Malaya: 1988 KING, Dr Jeremy served as Chief World War II and the Path to Independence Invigilator at the International Maths with Bloomsbury in 2019. It features, among Olympiad held at Bath University in July others, the well-known Johnian Freddie 2019. He also gave the International Maths Spencer Chapman. Olympiad Celebration Lecture held at
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Westminster Central Hall in September 2019, 1994 SCHULZ, Professor Jennifer is in recognition of his nine years chairing the pleased to announce the publication of British Maths Olympiad Setting Committee. her book Mediation & Popular Culture (Abingdon and New York: Routledge, 1989 GRADE, The Hon. Alison published 2019). The Freelance Bible: Everything You Need to Go Solo in Any Industry in March 2020. 1994 SHARMA, Dave was elected Find it online: bit.ly/FreelanceBible. as a Member of Paliament for the seat of Wentworth in Australia in the 1989 YANG, Professor Rui (Title A Fellow 2019 general election. This followed 1992–95) completed a stint as Director a career as an Australian diplomat, of the Institute of Metal Research of the with postings in Papua New Guinea, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shenyang, Washington DC and Israel as which remains his primary attachment. In Ambassador. Dave is married to Rachel addition, he recently became the Director of and they have three daughters together. the Center for Adaptive System Engineering in the newly established ShanghaiTech 1996 DAS, Professor Santanu was University. elected to a Senior Research Fellowship in English at All Souls College, Oxford, 1993 LISBOA, Professor Manucha published in January 2019. At the same time, A Heaven of Their Own: Heresy and he also became Professor of Modern Heterodoxy in Portuguese Literature from the Literature and Culture at the University Eighteenth Century to the Present (Oxford: of Oxford. In 2018 his monograph Peter Lang, 2018) and Essays on Paula India, Empire, and First World War Rego: Smile When You Think About Hell Culture was published and widely (Cambridge: Open Book, 2019). reviewed.
1993 ZATSCHLER, Carsten was appointed 1996 HILL (née Scott), Dr Amy and her Director of Legal and Executive Affairs of husband Tim welcomed a son, Samuel the EFTA Surveillance Authority in Brussels Jeremy, born 19 September 2019. in 2015 and was in charge of enforcing European internal market law in Norway, 1996 LANGLOIS, Dr Adèle married Iceland and Liechtenstein. In 2018 he was Geoffrey Cochran in June 2017, admitted to the degree of Barrister at Law after they met playing in their local and called to the Bar of Ireland, and in 2019 orchestra. In October 2018 they were he was elected a Governing Bencher of the blessed with the birth of twin girls Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, Emma and Hannah. Adèle is Associate London. Carsten has three children: Paul Professor of International Relations (born 2013), Konrad (born 2015) and Clara at the University of Lincoln and (born 2017). specialises in bioethics.
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1997 GREEN, Dr Frederik published Bird in 2020. The award is given annually by Talk and Other Stories by Xu Xu: Modern the International Section of the American Tales of a Chinese Romantic, a study of short Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences for stories by the Chinese author Xu Xu (1908– ‘an outstanding contribution to the field 80), with Stone Bridge Press in May 2020. of comparative/international criminal justice’. Leonidas won the award for his 1998 GOOCH, Dr Megan completed her published work on crime and criminal AHRC-funded ‘Lest We Forget’ research justice in Greece, the UK and the USA project on World War I commemoration at from both national and international the Tower of London. She also moved from comparative perspectives. her role as Creative Producer and Research Fellow at Historic Royal Palaces to her 2005 JAMES, The Revd Thomas and Surg. new role as Head of the Centre for Digital Lt Cdr James are pleased to announce Scholarship and Digital Humanities Support the arrival of Persephone Hope, who was at the University of Oxford in October 2019. born on 24 April 2020.
1999 RISSO, Dr Nadine and her husband 2008 WALERUD, Caroline is co-Founder Dr Graham Smith were delighted to welcome and Executive Chairman of Volumental, the birth of their son, Cesare Graham Henry a deeptech company that makes retail Risso Smith, on 8 February 2020. personalised and efficient, starting with footwear. Volumental operates in over 1999 VALLEJO VEIGA (née Jones), forty countries and works with top brands Catherine and Ivan (1998, Churchill) were like Bauer, New Balance and Fleet Feet. delighted to welcome their second son, Caroline was named Swedish Supertalent Peter Xavier Ioan Vallejo, on 12 February of the Year in 2013 and Forbes 30 in 30 in 2018. Catherine also received the Queen’s 2016, among other accolades. Award for Voluntary Service in 2018 as one of the peer support volunteers for the South 2010 PURCELL, Jennifer founded WithU, Gloucestershire Breastfeeding Support an audio-led fitness app, where on- Services. demand personal training is delivered by expert coaches. The company has grown 2001 PONTZEN, Professor Andrew was to a team of fifteen and has raised nearly awarded the Gerald Whitrow Lectureship in £1.5m in seed funding. The app can be the Royal Astronomical Society Awards. downloaded from the app stores, and you can read more about it on our alumni 2003 CHELIOTIS, Dr Leonidas, currently blog: bit.ly/PurcellWithU. Associate Professor of Criminology in the Department of Social Policy, London School 2011 KENT, Dr Brianne was appointed of Economics and Political Science, won the to serve as Governor-In-Council on the prestigious Gerhard O. W. Mueller Award Canadian Institutes of Health Research
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(CIHR) Governing Council. The public 2015 AMAR, Dr Yehia published a announcement was made by the Canadian paper entitled ‘Machine learning and Minister of Health on 6 June 2019. The molecular descriptors enable rational Governing Council ensures that CIHR solvent selection in asymmetric catalysis’ fulfils the mandates outlined in the (Chemical Science, June 2019). Read the CIHR Act, which are to excel according paper online: bit.ly/Amar0619. to international standards of scientific excellence and that the progress being 2015 BARKER LIMON, Elise was made supports the health of Canadians. awarded the prestigious 2020–22 Bass Fellowship to Yale School of 2011 RESPONDEK, Luisa spent a Architecture, which is a two-year full semester abroad working with curator scholarship. and notable architect Rem Koolhaas on the Countryside, The Future exhibition 2017 MILLER, Professor Robert was for the Guggenheim Museum in New a Beaufort Visiting Scholar at St John’s. York. Find out more: youtube.com/ He published Baal, St. George, and Khidr: watch?v=eTbH5RWb66o. A Study of the Historical Geography of the Levant (State College, PA: 2011 STAPLETON, Professor Jane was Eisenbrauns, 2019). appointed an Honorary Queen’s Counsel.
2012 BRAZIER, Randolph was elected as one of the 100 World Energy Council Future Leaders (FEL-100) in 2019. The programme helps shape, inspire and nurture the next generation of energy leaders capable of solving the world’s most pressing challenges regarding energy and sustainability.
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Larmor winners
2016 BOUCHARD, Juliana received a the Kurt Hahn Prize for her performance Larmor Award for achieving a First so high in German. it is ‘unprecedented’ in recent memory in Chinese Studies, an undergraduate course 2016 SCHRAGER, Plum received a Larmor in which students learn Chinese from Award after securing a First in Modern and scratch. Dr Adam Chau, College Lecturer Medieval Languages (MML) with ‘special in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, excellence’ and becoming the first female described her as ‘intelligent, pleasant, Captain of the Varsity Polo Team. She was diligent, conscientious and intellectually an Access Mentor and worked as a member curious’. of the Cambridge University Shadowing Scheme to increase the number of students 2016 CASSON, Freya received a Larmor from low-income and disadvantaged Award for her commitment to her studies backgrounds at Cambridge. She was also a and for being a prominent member of the founding member of the St John’s College Lady Margaret Boat Club (LMBC). She Labour Society and she volunteered achieved a First in Natural Sciences, was extensively, working during summers for the Women’s Captain of the LMBC and Lower Royal Mencap Society at Mencap Outdoors, Boats Captain, and won a Blue in the 2019 the UK’s leading learning disability charity. Varsity Boat Race in the lightweight reserve pair. She was elected a scholar in 2019 and 2016 WHITMORE, Dmitri, described as won a College Wright Prize, the Hughes the ‘strongest maths student at St John’s Year Prize, and the Frances Willmoth Prize in the last five years’, received a Larmor for the best third-year dissertation in the Award after securing extremely high Department of History and Philosophy of Firsts in Mathematics in every year of his Science. studies. He won multiple prizes during his time at Cambridge, including the 2019 2016 McKEOWN, Rosie received a Larmor Horne Scholarship, the Adams Memorial Award after achieving a First during (Wright) Prize, the Ian Hall Year Prize, the every year of her Modern and Medieval 2018 Horne Scholarship, the Lapwood- Languages (MML) studies and for making Towle (Wright) Prize, the Quass (shared) history in her first year as a member of Year Prize, the 2017 Horne Scholarship, the first St John’s team to win University the Leathen (Wright) Prize, the Johnstone Challenge. Following this success, Rosie (shared) Year Prize, and the Pythagoras Prize was invited to contribute pieces to both The in 2016. In addition to his studies, Dmitri Guardian and the New Statesman. She also served as Secretary of the Adams Society had a short story printed in the student for two years, helped organise and teach the publication Notes, participated regularly in STEP school each year, and represented the writing and critique groups, and received College in the Chess team.
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2017 ASHOK, Anusha received a Larmor Table Tennis, helping win the Oxford vs Award for her commitment to improving Cambridge Varsity match twice. the life of students at the College. She achieved a 2.1 in Mathematics, was JCR 2017 MAÑÁ MESAS, Ignacio (Nacho) co-President in her final year, and was received a Larmor Award for his ‘truly commended for being an ambassador for outstanding’ academic performance, students’ views on the Black Lives Matter achieving a First during every year of his campaign and for being ‘instrumental in studies. Nacho was awarded the Earle Prize helping the College address questions of and the Wright Prize in 2019 by St John’s, diversity’. in addition to the Donald Wort Prize by the Cambridge Faculty of Music for the 2017 GRANT, Liam received a Larmor best academic results across the whole year Award after achieving a First in Economics, group. Described as a ‘performer of the with a mark of 78 in his dissertation. He highest artistic standard’, Nacho was Vice- was President of the Marshall Society, the President of the St John’s College Music College Economics society, in his second Society and performed on the saxophone at year, and he personally raised £25,000 countless College concerts. His composition when he worked on the 2019 College ‘Elegy’, written in commemoration of the fundraising Telethon. Outside of College, late Master, Professor Sir Christopher he was Vice-President of the Association Dobson, premiered earlier this year. of British and Chinese University Students, and he worked with Project Access to aid under-represented students applying to Cambridge. He also played Blues
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72 Photo: Starry night Credit: (2017) OBITUARIES
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Professor Sir Christopher Dobson FRS, 1949–2019
Dr Frank Salmon remembers Chris Dobson in the context of his Mastership of St John’s.
Professor Sir Christopher Dobson and Mary, Lady Dobson, in the Master’s Lodge garden, 2018
The broadsheet obituarists did a good job that percentage was. For those of us who in summarising the entirety of Chris’s life worked most closely with him the question and career, but, for anyone connected to was in any case irrelevant, as it seemed Ben Lister Ben St John’s, the relatively brief notice they gave he was omnipresent in College. Indeed,
Credit: of his activities as Master of the College will his typical working week involved only have seemed strangely unrepresentative. one day at his Department – a situation Chris was a part-time Master, paid to made possible because of the way leading give us 40% of his time in addition to his academics in the sciences now head University duties, but, as he himself used large, well-managed teams. On the other to joke, he could never remember what four weekdays, Chris would be hurrying
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between one or more of the seventeen In the autumn of 2006, Chris was a College committees he chaired, taking part compelling candidate in the election for in official commitments with students, the forty-fourth Master. A key concern for staff or alumni, lunching or dining to the College at that time was the lead-up catch up with Fellows, or meeting and to its 500th Anniversary in 2011 and the talking privately with individuals from associated campaign to raise £50m. To any of these constituencies in the Lodge many that seemed a worryingly ambitious Study – all aided by his dedicated office target, but Chris had said at the hustings it staff. At weekends, he and Mary were was not ambitious enough for a College like frequently encountered walking around St John’s. He was a vigorous supporter of the College courts and gardens, or chatting the newly established Development Office over food in the Buttery, while on Sundays under Stephen Teal, fully understanding he was regularly in his Chapel stall at the that fundraising to support the College’s Eucharist and/or Evensong. core activities was the inevitable corollary of the rapidly changing nature of university From the time he assumed the Office in finances. He also backed the foundation of 2007, Chris increasingly identified himself the Beaufort Society as a way of embracing, in the personage of Master of St John’s, here and now, Johnians who remember and this was surely the reason why, after the College in their wills. Success in the receiving the hammer blow of his likely 2011 Campaign left the College better terminal diagnosis, there was no question placed than any other to respond to the in his mind of resigning in order to spend government’s abrupt abolition of student his remaining time doing other things. maintenance support in 2016. Working with He was determined to carry on with Stephen, Senior Tutor Matthias Dörrzapf his life as he knew it. From speaking at and others, Chris launched a second major Halfway Hall in February 2019 on the campaign, Free Thinking, for £100m to very day of his diagnosis to staying on for provide studentships designed to ensure dinner with the Provost and Fellows of that financial need would not stop talented King’s after the annual Joint Evensong in students from coming to St John’s. A pilot late June, he courageously fulfilled all of scheme funded by a donor enabled the his official duties as Master and continued College to begin offering bursaries straight to participate in the College’s governance away. This caused upset in some other and management as and when he could. colleges, which felt that a big college was Although he had announced that he had competing with them on the matter of cancer, most Johnians therefore had no access. Chris toughed out some difficult idea how serious it was. His last wish, Heads of Houses meetings – it helped that he as Master, was to die in the Lodge but, was regarded in that forum with some awe sadly, although the College’s Maintenance – because he was sure St John’s was doing Department quickly fitted up appropriate the right thing in responding to a crisis facilities, this was not to be. immediately and in leading by example.
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Other colleges and the University itself have several hundred pages, or the minutiae of the now followed suit, and by the time of his work of some eighty applicants from across death more than 130 students at the College the academic spectrum longlisted for Junior had already benefited from its bursaries. Research Fellowships each year. He took a more traditionalist view of the Mastership Chris was very well attuned to modern when it came to governance, expressing times – highly appreciative of the changing the view in 2012 that St John’s moved ‘by needs and concerns of the College’s evolutionary rather than revolutionary students, Fellows, staff and alumni. He means’. He was content to operate within was particularly proud of progress towards the limitations of statutes that are now, in gender balance in Fellowship elections essence, almost a century old; he preferred and of the foundation of Aquila and St to proceed by seeking consensus rather than John’s Voices, musical groups for and with potentially divisive votes, and he sought including women. During his time the to keep thorny issues at arm’s length, so that Communications Office was established to he could give everyone a sympathetic ear. ensure that the achievements of members of St John’s reached the widest possible Chris’s legacy at St John’s is a concrete one: audience through the College’s website and the transformation of the College into a social media, while financial support for foundation more obviously responsive to the summer internships enabled students to twenty-first-century expectations of students engage in research and entrepreneurship and Fellows; and the transformation of beyond academia during their time at St interrelations between the four bodies of John’s, rather than after graduating. His Fellows, students, staff and alumni – all frequent speeches to students and Fellows achieved through his force of personality. demonstrated his acute awareness of For Chris there was no need to choose the major issues facing the world today between, say, holding large-scale dinners – including climate change, disease and and providing more student support, or inequalities – and inspired the thousands between the quest for academic excellence who heard them towards future endeavours and the maintenance of excellence in the to overcome these problems. He never College’s sporting and musical traditions. lost sight, however, of the character of St He believed St John’s could and should do John’s as the specific place where Johnians it all, and he led from the front through would learn. His speeches were studded his ubiquitous, encouraging presence – with relevant references to episodes from invariably accompanied by Mary, whose the College’s past history and figures, all support he never ceased to acknowledge. captured by Chris’s formidable memory. Extracurricular activities were rebranded as That memory – and its speed – were often co-curricular activities, and undergraduates put to use, for example in the detailed were invited to continue in residence knowledge he habitually displayed of through the Christmas and Easter vacations fortnightly Council papers numbering in a rebalancing of the College’s educational
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activities against the conference trade. The high point came in the 2016–18 period when the College, after lingering in the middle of the Tompkins Table of academic performance since 2002, rose to third place and won television’s University Challenge for the first time, while simultaneously maintaining its supremacy on river and field, winning BBC Music Magazine’s award for best choral recording, and supporting students of professional level in the performing arts.
Chris was also instrumental, along with Chris Ewbank as Senior Bursar and John Harris, Mark Wells and Helen Murley as successive Domestic Bursars, in the physical development of the College – some of it achieved, some yet to come. Only after his death did many of us discover that his early ambition had been to be an architect. It helps explain the close attention and excellent eye he brought to decisions concerning buildings and their fittings throughout his Mastership, a period that saw complete refurbishment of ecological in the coming decades. The lying the Maufe and Cripps Buildings, of the west of his coffin, surrounded by flowers, in the end of the Master’s Lodge, of Merton Hall, Sanctuary of the Chapel whose traditions of the School of Pythagoras as the College’s and music he loved was therefore as apposite Archive Centre, and of E Staircase New as it was moving for all who visited it on Court (the ‘Wedding Cake’) for the use of the eve of his funeral, and it is singularly Fellows. The successful redevelopment of fitting that Chris’s final resting place is the the Old Divinity School as an educational graveyard just up St John’s Lane from the and cultural centre is the building project Cam at Horningsea Church, a College Living with which he will perhaps be most since the sixteenth century. associated, but he also had the vision to back the production of a Masterplan for the Dr Frank Salmon (2006; President College’s operational estate that has been 2015–19), with thanks to Dr Mark described as a model by the local authority Nicholls (1978; President 2007–11) and Historic England, one that will greatly for his helpful comments on this aid developments both architectural and memoir.
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Professor Máire Ní Mhaonaigh remembers Chris Dobson’s kindness and humanity as a friend, mentor and colleague.
In what was to be one of our last Encouragement and inspiration emanated conversations in August last year, Chris naturally from Chris, whose approach was Dobson reflected on his decision to step positive and enabling. Obstacles were there aside – we hoped temporarily – from his to be surmounted; problems to be puzzled duties as Master of St John’s. He expressed over and solved. Constantly curious, his with obvious delight how much he enjoyed pertinent questions and unaffected interest the whole experience of the College in all manner of things put people at their community, noting what he described as the ease, as did frequently uttered words of astonishing level of support, tolerance and affirmation. Genuine admiration was friendship that he received from Fellows, articulated by Chris easily and eloquently – staff, students and alumni alike. It was in praise of the research of colleagues, of a indicative of Chris’s innate humility that this piece of Bach beautifully interpreted, of well- should have surprised him; nor would he cooked food enjoyed with friends. countenance the notion that this love and loyalty was engendered by the consideration Arguably, the meal and the music would and affection underlying his own engaged have been even more awe-inspiring for interactions with people. Chris than the research, since he claimed to lack practical skills in both these Those interactions took many forms, areas. Nonetheless, his keen interest in including conversations in a College court music especially brought with it a deep as Chris was on his way to an appointment; appreciation of this creative form. That was discussions around the table at one of his aptly reflected at his Memorial Service in many meetings; and lunch- or dinner-time the playing of a new arrangement by Iain chats. College business in Chris’s case was Farrington of the Adagietto of Mahler’s always guided by human concerns, whether Symphony No. 5, bringing the special for long-standing friends and colleagues connection that Chris and Mary had with or for the innumerable people he fleetingly Venice to mind. Other pieces played on that encountered. After a concert in the College occasion, including works by Fauré and Chapel, he deliberately sought out one of the Duruflé, were prompted by conversations musicians he had met briefly once before, Chris had had with Andrew Nethsingha a sixteen-year-old school pupil who was and Jo Tynan, as well as Mary, and by a list feeling very out of place. Immediately put of favourite pieces made by him while in at ease by Chris’s well-chosen words and hospital, jotted down on what is now warmth, the youth in question – my older a precious page. son – was both encouraged and inspired.
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Another page that Chris wrote about the was with how others were, enquiries same time contains notes for inclusion in about his own health brushed to one side. The Eagle, reflecting on the previous year. A realistic optimist, he partook fully of life During that period, Chris worked towards and gave continually to the end. the completion of multifarious tasks and continued to play a vibrant part in the That spirit of giving still reverberates, interlocking spheres of his remarkably thanks to the enduring influence of full life, to such an extent that many the support and stimulation that Chris were unaware how unwell he actually provided to so many. Projects and initiatives was. It was how he wished it. During that he shaped and inspired continue to the months of his illness, with Mary’s prosper, his vision remaining to the fore. constant support and the help of their His legacy as an exceptional scientist and sons, William and Richard, not to mention as an outstanding Master of St John’s will the companionship of newly acquired be long-lasting – but by those who had the greyhound Jimbo, Chris embraced and privilege of knowing him, it is as a friend, enacted the rituals of the academic year – mentor and colleague of extraordinary Halfway Hall, the May Concert and May humanity and kindness that Chris Dobson Ball, and Graduation, to name but a few. will be remembered most of all. At the summer party in the Master’s Lodge on a balmy mid-July evening, his concern Professor Máire Ní Mhaonaigh
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Professor Tuomas Knowles had the chance to work very closely with Chris Dobson for fifteen years in Cambridge. He delivered the following abridged address at the Memorial Services on 24 and 25 January 2020.
Chris spent most of his career in Cambridge and Oxford. He liked to say that he had followed a logical progression from Oxford University, as an undergraduate and Research Fellow, to Oxford Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts, during his time as Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Harvard, and finally here to real Cambridge, where he was the John Humphrey Plummer Professor of Chemical and Structural Biology and Master of this College for twelve years.
His career was characterised by his life-long enthusiasm to tackle truly big problems. Chris devoted the first part of his career to the problem of protein folding (at the time the greatest unsolved problem in biochemistry), understanding how proteins, the fundamental building blocks of life, acquire their functional three- dimensional shapes. This work earned him widespread scientific recognition, including election to a Fellowship of the Royal Society in his mid-forties.
What distinguished him even more, phenomenon, and he was able to show that however, was his focus during the second it is of much wider consequence. half of his career on the exact opposite of the protein folding problem: what happens Chris attributed his entry into this research when proteins do not fold correctly. At the area to a chance event: a postdoctoral time, this phenomenon was thought of researcher in his lab left a protein sample in as a curiosity, but Chris’s truly pioneering a spectrometer over a long weekend, and, work brought chemical thinking and as a result of this unintentional extended methodology to the study of this incubation, the sample turned into a gel.
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biochemistry and biophysics and, according ‘Those who had the chance to work to statistics, an excellent predictor for the with Chris will remember his warm, subsequent award of the Nobel Prize from encouraging approach.’ the Swedish Academy.
Chris possessed an astonishing ability to Most people would have told off the postdoc move things forward, both on a small scale for taking such a long weekend and for in finishing papers and also in much bigger wasting a precious sample, but Chris, initiatives. He set up the Cambridge Centre characteristically visionary, recognised for Misfolding Diseases, which I am privileged that something truly interesting was going to co-direct with my colleague Michele on. Further investigation revealed that the Vendruscolo, and he led the fundraising sample tube was full of amyloid fibrils that to activities for the new Chemistry of Health date had been associated only with diseases, Building in Cambridge, which brings together including Alzheimer’s disease. academic and translational research and has resulted in the launch of the drug discovery Starting from this chance observation, company Wren Therapeutics. Chris and his group established a truly world-leading research activity that generated Finally, Chris was a uniquely inspiring and the modern framework for understanding dedicated mentor. Those who had the chance the molecular basis for dementias and other to work with Chris will remember his warm, increasingly prevalent neurodegenerative encouraging approach. Most of us will also disorders. Chris was very quick to recognise remember his systematic and very detailed the societal importance of the problems approach to correcting any document that that he was studying, and he increasingly he got hold of with very insightful – but took on the role of ambassador for the field typically not very legible – comments. The of protein misfolding and aggregation, ability that he had to help people understand devoting a significant fraction of his time to their own talents and strengths, as well as the travelling and giving lectures, activities that route to fulfilling them, resulted in over 100 he particularly enjoyed. of his former students and postdocs taking up independent positions at academic It is through his work on protein misfolding institutions all over the world. that Chris became ultimately known as one of the leading chemists of his generation. We all remember and will sorely miss Chris He received some of the highest honours and mourn the loss of a great scientist, scholar that are awarded in science, including being and friend. Chris’s legacy will live on through awarded a knighthood for services to Science the lives of all those whom he inspired with his and Education, and the Heineken Prize from science, leadership, vision and kindness. the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, the major international prize for Professor Tuomas Knowles
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Bill Tyrrell met Chris Dobson at Oxford and had the pleasure of being his friend for fifty years. As a representative of a close group of Chris’s friends, he delivered the following abridged address at the Memorial Services on 24 and 25 January 2020.
On 17 August 2019 I was at Lord’s cricket fund of anecdotes, such as the time Chris ground with Chris, watching the second helped build a six-foot snowman in an test against Australia. Followers of the game upstairs corridor of Keble College, directly will remember this as the day the leading outside the door of his early-rising tutor. You Australian batsman was concussed by a can imagine the result when the unfortunate bouncer, but I will remember it as the day tutor emerged to find a ghostly apparition I realised that Chris had very little time confronting him in the moonlight! remaining. Although he managed to climb three flights of steps to the stand, and was Over many years of friendship, I have been absorbed all day by the action on the pitch, honoured with a glimpse – perhaps rather it was clear that he was fading fast. Three more than that – into Chris’s family life, weeks later he died, exactly a month short yet the only vices I can think of were his of the seventieth birthday he had been so legendary aversion to washing up and a hoping to reach. weakness for Italian ice cream. In his private life Chris was just as you would expect I first met Chris as a chemistry student in – kind, caring and hospitable. Above all, Oxford in the 1960s, when he still had (quite Chris loved Mary deeply and always had long!) black hair. Chris worked hard, but like her happiness and fulfilment uppermost in everyone else he drank a lot of coffee, listened his mind, readily acknowledging that his incessantly to The Beatles and played a mean role as Master would have been impossible game of bar football. Most memorable was without her support. And of course he was his enthusiastic, although not entirely skilful, an affectionate and proud father to Richard participation in student skiing trips, where he and my godson William. Before they were earned the nickname ‘The Eagle’ for keeping born, the midwife asked Chris whether he his arms outstretched in an attempt not to wanted a girl or a boy, and he joked that all fall, and on one famous occasion wound up he wanted was a dog. Eventually, though with his skis on either side of a pine tree! rather late in life, Chris did get a dog – and Jimbo has become a prominent figure in Far more dashing than the rest of us, Chris the College. had a green MGB sports car in which he and Mary toured Europe. He was fond of saying It is a salutary thought that just twelve that the car was a regular collector’s item – he months ago, before his unexpected cancer had to regularly stop to collect all the bits that diagnosis, Chris seemed on top of the world. fell off! Yes, Chris was at heart an immensely He had recently received a supremely well- funny man, and all who knew him will have deserved knighthood, which he accepted delighted in his sense of humour and his with typical humility, and was thrilled when
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it was conferred by Prince William, Honorary of humour and composure throughout Fellow of this College. Chris confided later it all, as well as help from friends and that he had found some spots of blood on his colleagues, Chris bravely carried on almost tie shortly before the ceremony, which he had to the end with his work. On visits to fortunately managed to cover up by re-tying the Master’s Lodge one would generally the knot. However, being Chris, he was ready be greeted with a smile, a joke and the with a story to say that the sword had slipped! comment: ‘You see, I’m still here.’
Just a year ago, Chris was looking forward to Although even his closest friends knew continuing his research and, as his term as only a fraction of what Chris contributed Master came to an end, making some travel to Cambridge life, all were constantly plans. But it was not to be. Nevertheless, struck by how much he adored this despite his hopes and dreams for the future College. He had an encyclopaedic cruelly evaporating, Chris was never bitter: knowledge of its history and, it appeared, he said on many occasions that he had knew everyone by name. Chris was had a marvellous life, and he faced death unique in his ability to relate to absolutely with immense courage. Chris believed everyone with whom he came into that, through research, presently incurable contact: he wanted everyone to flourish, medical conditions would one day be tackled and he gave generously of his time to effectively. Accordingly, as an experimental provide encouragement and support. scientist he stoically underwent various rounds of cancer chemotherapy, trying in Bill Tyrrell turn three different regimes, including novel drug combinations. The Memorial Services were recorded and are available to watch and With loving care from Mary, Richard and re-watch on the College’s Youtube William, who somehow retained their sense channel: bit.ly/CDMemorial
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Sir Jonathan Miller CBE, 1934–2019 Credit: When asked about himself, Jonathan
Miller rejected many of the epithets used CC. Ltd, Media Open by others: not a polymath; definitely not a ‘Renaissance man’; unable to identify as a Jew (‘just a bit Jew-ish’). Even with roles he did recognise – theatre and opera director and producer, writer and journalist – he talked of falling into them by invitation only, of feeling unqualified. He confessed to not knowing what a director does and being unable to read music. The goal to which he did commit, to be an outstanding doctor, he describes as missing against his will.
His father Emanuel (1892–1970), who was such a doctor, has been called ‘the Jonathan Miller on After Dark father of British child psychiatry’. Born in Spitalfields, Emanuel escaped the family anti-Semitism in Lithuania. The family fur business in a social leap mediated by then fled the Irish civil war in the 1920s St John’s to read Natural Sciences and and re-established themselves in London, Philosophy at Cambridge. He founded where Betty studied Journalism at University the first child guidance clinic in the College London. She became a successful United Kingdom in 1927, served in the novelist, writing extensively for literary Royal Army Medical Corps during the journals, and was elected to the Royal Second World War, and helped found Society of Literature in 1952. the Campaign for Mental Health and the Portman Clinic. The Association for Child Listening to interviews with Jonathan, one Psychology and Psychiatry established the feels strongly the intellectual (rather than Emanuel Miller Memorial Lecture series, affectionate) influence of these formidable and former Master of St John’s, Robert parents on the young boy. He loved the Hinde, delivered the fourth lecture in 1975. brass microscope his father gave him when he was fourteen, engaging his interest in Jonathan’s mother Betty (1910–65) was biology, as well as Emanuel’s edition of Alice born in Cork, where her father Simon in Wonderland. His mother gifted him an Spiro landed aged twelve while fleeing interest in the particularity of ordinary
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things and behavioural minutiae. When he to happen exciting today?’ – and somehow asked to travel in Europe in his teens, she that exciting thing covered the curriculum apparently told him that ‘travel narrows too. The boys joined with other eighth- the mind’. formers (the Gang) who valued the arts as much as the sciences, and Miller and Jonathan’s wartime childhood was marred Korn ad-libbed their way to success in the by feeling overlooked, unloved and passed St Paul’s regular comedy show, the Colet over, and he developed a stutter and night Club revues. terrors. His father introduced him to Donald Winnicott, who reputedly offered Jonathan arrived at St John’s in 1953 with to take the eight-year-old into analysis, a scholarship and his father’s approval. but Jonathan demurred, preferring to He read Natural Sciences and extended his play cricket. intellectual life with membership of the Apostles. He completed his medical training From early on he was an imitator, taking at University College Hospital and received in both the particular characteristics and his BChir (1959) and MB (1960) from the the contexts of things: the social chat of University. chickens; the music of trains; and a masterly soundscape of bombing raids, from benign His teachers mattered to him and he daily noises to the air raid warning, the remembered them. He sought out Robert bombs falling and the ‘All clear’. Hinde to discuss topics in ethology, such as imprinting, and they remained in Jonathan’s preparatory education was touch. Robert enjoyed their wide-ranging chaotic. The family followed Emanuel’s discussions, although he once noted, ‘I was postings around the military hospitals of always a bit frightened that he might be England, and Jonathan attended at least gathering satirical material.’ eight schools between Dunkirk and D-Day, leaving him educationally bewildered. Jonathan had lifelong interests in the Nevertheless, he secured a scholarship to difference between looking and seeing and St Paul’s in the Classics stream, and then between action and volition (What decides successfully transferred to Science. what is going to happen?). These interests were nurtured in part by two other Fellows He met Rachel Collet at a school play of St John’s: Fergus William Campbell reading at St Paul’s, and they married in (1924–93), an ophthalmologist who worked 1956. At St Paul’s too he met his life-long on neurosensory physiology of the eye, friends, Oliver Sacks and Ernest Korn, and and Norwood Russell Hanson (1924–67), his inspiring Biology teacher, Mr Pask. a talented philosopher of science who Mr Pask appeared unhindered by the argued that what we see and perceive is curriculum. He took the Piglet approach not what our senses receive alone but is to education – ‘I say, I wonder what’s going moderated by existing preconceptions.
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Jonathan completed his clinical training where he had previously directed Laurence at University College, while Rachel was at Olivier in The Merchant of Venice. the Royal Free, and he then worked as a house physician at central Middlesex. He He branched out into opera in 1974 with maintained that he merely dabbled in theatre Mozart’s Così fan tutte for Kent Opera. and the arts during his medical education, More than fifty further productions but the evidence is against him. In 1960, the followed over the next four decades with year he qualified as a doctor, he was asked to the English National Opera at the Royal devise a late-night review for the Edinburgh Opera House and around the world. His Festival with Alan Bennett, Peter Cook and energy was prodigious. At one point he was Dudley Moore. Beyond the Fringe transferred working on six international productions to the West End and to Broadway. It drew simultaneously while salvaging the BBC Jonathan away from serious academic Television Shakespeare project (1978–85) neurology or neuroscience and the full-time and presenting for television. practice of medicine forever. Jonathan drew upon his experiences as a The group’s humour lay partly in pushing the physician to write and present television boundary of the acceptable – in the televised series, including The Body in Question West End show the audience, up and coming (1978), States of Mind (1983), Born Talking: young intellectuals, seem keen to laugh at A Personal Inquiry into Language (1990) every clever allusion – but mostly in the and Madness (1991). He had an exceptional kaleidoscopic combination of mimicry, talent for placing his productions in time timing and rhythm in their interactions and space. Thus, in Verdi’s recast Mafia- with one another, and in their use of words, inspired Rigoletto he drew on memories especially the surprise of misclassification of New York and took his designer to the and of misconception. An early example of exact bars and fire escapes that set the this wit is Jonathan’s Granta cartoon, from opera scenes. his Cambridge days, of a man with a long beard who has wheels under his long coat Miller’s 1966 television adaptation of Alice instead of feet. The caption reads, ‘God in Wonderland also drew on personal moves in a mysterious way’. experiences. For example, Alice runs through the nightmare corridors of the From these beginnings Jonathan moved Royal Victoria Military Hospital in Netley apparently effortlessly into directing. His – a scene from his own childhood following first play was John Osborne’s Under Plain his father around such places after the Cover at the Royal Court in 1962, and his Second World War. second play, Robert Lowell’s The Old Glory, was performed in New York and voted the Jonathan presented growing up as best American play in 1965. In the late 1980s catastrophe, and it is perhaps no accident he became artistic director of The Old Vic, that the last thing that Alice sees before
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Here we see Alice (Anne-Marie Mallik) seeing us, framed by vine leaves, from the television adaptation. drifting off is the Victorian profile of her Jonathan was exceptionally gifted, and he matronly sister, already beyond childhood was curious and inventive with language and, in her stiff dress and rigid hat, offering and ideas. He loved knowing. He hated a real put-off to growing up. The programme being bored. He gave us wit, wordplay, was shown after 9pm as it was considered the embodiment of humour, and original unfit for children. But it was actually the productions across the arts and sciences. He adult world awaiting Alice that was unfit excelled at conversation, pausing sometimes, for this blank-faced child surrounded by as if waiting, as we were, to see what his annoying Oxford dons with odd behaviours. extraordinary brain would offer up next.
Alongside Jonathan’s wide-ranging, risk- Those of us who have the privilege to work taking explorations were strong continuities: with gifted students like Jonathan might of friendships from St Paul’s and Cambridge reflect on being exciting and enjoyable days, of marriage and of place. From 1961 companions in academic endeavour, like until death Jonathan lived on Gloucester Mr Pask and the several Fellows of St John’s Crescent in Camden Town, not far from described here, and not just stringent goal Park Crescent, where he was born. setters and critics.
In 2015 he directed King Lear, a fitting near- Jonathan is survived by Rachel and their finale for one who shared depression with children, Tom, William and Kate. his father. He hated his critics and suffered terrible feelings of having fallen below the Professor Ann Louise Kinmonth expectations ‘set by certain phantom goal (1969), with thanks to Joan setters’. Cruelly, he also shared Alzheimer’s Stevenson Hinde, Michael Bate with his mother, although it claimed her at and John A. Davis for their helpful an earlier age. comments on this memoir.
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Jonathan acting as Queen Elizabeth, at Cambridge
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Professor Louis Cha GBM OBE, 1924–2018
This memoir follows the brief notice of Louis Cha’s life in The Eagle 2019. Photo: Photo: Represeque volupienis eatis excestis.
Louis Cha with members of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at St John’s College
Louis Cha came late into St John’s. He was in the violent palace politics of the matriculated in 2005, at the age of 81, seventh and early eighth centuries in Tang shortly after the University had admitted China. At a ceremony in Hong Kong on him to the Degree of DLitt, Honoris causa, 10 September 2010, the Master of St John’s, on 22 June. He was awarded the MPhil in Professor Christopher Dobson, admitted him 2007 and the PhD in 2010. His research to an Honorary Fellowship of the College.
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The dinner for this occasion was organised apart from drafts of his novels in his own by Sir David Li, Chairman of the Friends hand, included his many honours and of Cambridge and of the Prince Philip his Cambridge MPhil degree certificate, Scholarship Scheme. Mrs May Cha and the Cambridge degree of which he was members of Louis’ family and guests were proudest. For the opening of the Gallery, present. Louis gave a fine speech describing some dozen Hong Kong notables, including his experiences of St John’s and his gratitude the Chief Executive, assembled on stage. to the College. The Cultural Secretary gave a speech, and then, as Louis’ Cambridge graduate Louis had by then built up for himself a supervisor, I spoke briefly in Chinese of reputation that was quintessentially East a long friendship with Louis and of Louis Asian. He had come to Hong Kong from as quintessentially a Hong Kong figure. mainland China as a refugee in 1948. ‘Without Hong Kong, there would have not His father was murdered by the Chinese been a Louis Cha, and without Louis Cha Communist Party and his brother fled to Hong Kong would not have been the same.’ Taiwan. Louis remained in Hong Kong, and here his fame and influence as a novelist, Louis’ funeral was held in Hong Kong newspaper publisher and essayist grew over two days in November 2018. In a incrementally. From 1985 he took part in space larger than most Cambridge college the Basic Law Drafting Committee, under dining halls, the north wall was covered by which the sovereignty of Hong Kong was to the white chrysanthemums of mourning, revert to China in 1997. Here, his position surmounted by a large photograph of Louis. was similar to that of Sir Percy Cradock, Over two days, the family received the Honorary Fellow of St John’s from 1982 and, many visitors who came to bid him farewell. also controversially, like Louis, an advocate Two screens relayed a sequence of scenes of accommodation with Beijing. But Louis from Louis’ life, to include the Great Gate resigned from the Committee after the of St John’s with the flag at half mast. Down Tian’anmen massacre of 1989, to live on the two side-walls of the Funeral Parlour quietly in Hong Kong. By the end of the were hung giant bouquets, each displaying millennium, his was a household name, the name of its donor. The bouquet from not merely in Hong Kong but throughout the Master and Fellows of St John’s headed East Asia. these tributes on the left side, facing directly opposite the bouquet donated in the name II of Xi Jinping on the right side.
On 27 February 2017 the Hong Kong China has always had a rich repertory of Heritage Museum opened the Jin Yong rituals for commemorating members of the Gallery dedicated to Louis. Here are elite. In the period in which Louis’ research exhibited the memorabilia of a long and interests centred, the state ritual code productive career. The items on display, prescribed that even the Heir Apparent
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June Manjun Zhang and Avital Rom, two recipients of the Louis Cha scholarship, next to the Louis Cha stone at St John’s College should, in a rite commemorating Confucius, III acknowledge the authority of moral teaching. In this rite, conducted at the State Academy, Louis Cha came from an eminent the Heir Apparent should take a position in southern Chinese family that lived in the East facing West, the direction of ritual Haining, near Hangzhou, in Zhejiang submission. In the Funeral Home at North Province. By the end of the Ming dynasty Point, the Cha family delivered a variant of (1368–1644), the family had acquired this ritual and its message: an institute of a substantial reputation. A traditional learning, albeit one in distant Europe, was measure of their standing is provided by granted symbolic authority over the political their repeated success in the prestigious, leadership of China. empire-wide jinshi examination.
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Six family members so graduated under the escapist literature, but with a keen edge. Ming. After the Manchu conquest of China, The tradition continued to appeal in China they served the Manchu Qing dynasty, into late dynastic times and even to the war- and indeed earned an encomium from lord period of the 1920s and 1930s. It also the Kangxi Emperor (reign 1662–1722). appealed to successive generations of the A further ten attained the jinshi under young oppressed by the high seriousness of Qing rule. But anti-Manchu loyalties the traditional educational syllabus in China. persisted among the scholarly clans of south-east China. In 1724 this cost one of Louis’ ancestors his head, disgraced his ‘As Louis’ Cambridge graduate close family and, centuries later, helped supervisor, I spoke briefly in Chinese of determine Louis’ own attitude to politics. a long friendship with Louis and of Louis as quintessentially a Hong Kong figure. Louis’ fondness for this episode indicated “Without Hong Kong, there would have that politics were in his blood. The political not been a Louis Cha, and without Louis editorials in his newspaper, Ming bao, Cha Hong Kong would not have been the earned him the crude hatred of extremists, same.”’ and, during the ‘Cultural Revolution’, even in Hong Kong his life was in danger. As time passed, however, his outlook softened. When, after World War I, a literature Yet significantly, his martial arts novels, modelled on Western genres and styles written in Hong Kong between 1955 replaced the Confucian educational syllabus, and 1972, were infused with opposition the elite tradition of Chinese culture against autocratic vengeance. Here was continued to consider martial arts fiction a profound response to tyranny, both to largely beneath notice. When from 1949 an the decapitation of his ancestor and to the intolerant orthodoxy dominated education, murder of his own father. popular martial arts fiction, anarchic, high-spirited and liberating, was outlawed. IV But over the 1970s to 1990s, through Louis’ novels, it flourished massively among the The martial arts tradition of fiction, of young in China and in Chinese East Asia. which Louis was acknowledged as a They procured, read and re-read his stories. supreme master, has deep roots in China. It was and still is a commonly heard remark: Although elite critics largely withheld ‘We owe much to Louis Cha: he told our recognition of popular martial arts stories, young people that traditional Chinese over centuries the tradition developed culture was exciting; he taught them to and prospered, often in times of political relish reading.’ and military instability, but also in the verse of the eighth century, the period of Louis’ research at Cambridge. This was
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No scholar of China’s literary heritage stone, set in its own garden in the Spinney at literature writing today would deny that St John’s, describing the Bridge of Sighs and popular literature over time has influenced the sound of rowing and singing. and revitalised the elite tradition. Yet critics have to this day remained wary of martial V arts fiction. This is well demonstrated by an incident set in Cambridge itself. Louis Cha Few Cambridge cognoscenti have was related by marriage to the romantic appreciated the rich back story to Louis’ poet Xu Zhimo (1897–1931); both came late registration as a graduate student in from Haining, and their families had the College. To do so would be to unpack intermarried over generations. Xu Zhimo long and complex narratives of cultural and visited Cambridge and was received with literary, regional, historical and political generous hospitality by King’s College from interest. Moreover, the diminutive, quietly 1920 to 1922 and on later visits. In China spoken gentleman with his courtly manners, he became a symbol of the elite tradition of briefly resident here, understated his own early- and mid-twentieth-century literature. story. But successive Masters of the College, In 2011 Professor Alan Macfarlane, Fellow and their wives, Richard and Nancy Perham of King’s, was staying at Tsinghua University and Chris and Mary Dobson, responded and I was a visiting scholar at neighbouring warmly to the generous welcome that Louis Peking University. We met on the Tsinghua and May gave them in Hong Kong and campus and talked over the two literary to the enthusiasm of the Chinese student protagonists of our respective colleges, community for Louis here in Cambridge. Xu Zhimo at King’s and Louis at St John’s. In turn, the Cha family, in particular May The idea of a short pamphlet in Chinese Cha, conveyed a message of gratitude to introducing both, for Chinese visitors, the College. The graduate studentship seemed attractive, but because Louis’ in Chinese Studies they endowed is a fiction was seen as essentially popular it permanent testimony to Louis’ hope that was eventually dropped. The martial arts research in the Chinese culture he loved tradition is now being reassessed, and by would ever prosper here. Chinese literary scholars with impeccable credentials. Both literary giants, moreover, Professor David McMullen (1959) are commemorated in Cambridge, Xu Zhimo by a garden and by stones on King’s Download the unabridged memoir, Backs, inscribed with couplets from his complete with bibliography, from our famous poem of 1928, describing the River alumni website: johnian.joh.cam.ac.uk/ Cam, and Louis, through the generosity of file/Jin-Yong.pdf his wife May, by a couplet he composed and wrote in his own hand, also engraved in
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Alumni obituaries
Compiled by Colin Greenhalgh CBE DL (1960), Fellow Commoner
St John’s College aspires to a meaningful relationship with all Johnians, of whom there are over 13,000. Maintaining up-to-date records of the lives of alumni can present a challenge for the College, even though many Johnians respond gratefully to various opportunities to return to or otherwise stay in touch with St John’s. Johnians are therefore encouraged to keep the College informed on a regular basis about their career, voluntary activities, recreational interests, family, and honours and awards received. Such information establishes a rounded picture of a Johnian life. The College’s Biographical Librarian, Fiona Colbert, is always pleased to hear from Johnians, and she keeps a meticulous, secure record of information shared with the College.
1936 KITTEL, Professor (Jerome) Charles, Charles’s mentoring of graduate students died 15 May 2019, aged one hundred and produced world-renowned scientists, two. Charles came to St John’s from MIT, and including a Nobel Laureate. In 1938 Charles he read Natural Sciences before completing a married Muriel, who predeceased him. They PhD at the University of Wisconsin. During had three children, Peter, Timothy and Ruth. the Second World War, Charles was Head of the US Navy team attached to the British 1937 MERSON, Ronald (Ron) Leslie, died Admiralty at Helensburgh, Scotland, and 7 June 2019, aged one hundred. After The then Head of the Submarine Operations Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Research Group, US Navy, Washington. His Tyne, Ron read Modern and Medieval career was primarily in academia, initially Languages (Sizarship), played Tennis and at the Department of Physics at MIT and was a member of the University Socialist then as Professor, Department of Physics, Club and the University Communist Party. University of California, Berkeley (1951–78; In the Second World War he served in the Emeritus Professor, 1978–2019). Charles Pioneer Corps, taking part in the 1943 was also consultant to E I Du Pont & Co., Salerno landings; as Liaison Officer to the Westinghouse Corporation, Hughes Aircraft Italian Army in Naples, witnessing the Company and the Chevron Corporation. 1944 eruption of Vesuvius; and as Officer Awards and honours included Guggenheim Commanding Italian Pioneer Companies Fellowships, membership of the US National 240 and 241. Ron’s career was in education. Academy of Sciences and of the American Following a DipEd (Liverpool), he was Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Assistant French Master, West Hartlepool Distinguished Teaching Award, University Grammar School; Assistant French Master, of California, Berkeley. He published Chipping Sodbury Grammar School; Senior authoritatively, including his classic French Master, Downham Market Grammar Introduction to Solid State Physics (1996). School; and Principal Lecturer in French and
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Head of Modern Languages, Alsager College qualification. Robert finally settled in Kent of Higher Education. A lifelong supporter for over sixty years, working predominantly of the Labour Party, Ron remembered freelance as a chartered surveyor. He attending a meeting with his mother, when was also a Lloyd’s Name. Well-known in the speaker was Ramsay Macdonald. On his Cranbrook, where he was a churchwarden, death, Ron was the oldest member of the Robert liked to play golf and to travel. He Crewe and Nantwich Labour Party. In 1945 was loyal to Radley, St John’s and Army Ron married Marjorie, who died in 1992. colleagues. In 1954 Robert married Jean, They had two daughters, Carole and Valerie. who predeceased him. There were no children but many nieces and nephews. 1938 LEWIS, Owen Calder, died 25 May 2019, aged ninety-nine. Born in Australia, 1938 PEARCE, Eric George, died 8 after Sydney Church of England Grammar December 2019, aged one hundred. After School and St Paul’s School, Hammersmith, Haileybury College and Hill School, Owen spent one year at St John’s. Apart Pottstown, Eric read Economics and rowed from service as a Captain in the Australian for the LMBC. During the Second World Imperial Force during the Second World War, he served as a Lieutenant in the Fleet War, the College has no knowledge of Air Arm. While testing an Air Rescue Sea Owen’s career. In 1945 in Sydney, Owen Otter plane at Lee-on-Solent, a connecting married Enid, who predeceased him. They rod in the engine broke off, leading to a had three children, Annette, Susie and Tony. horrific crash on a shingle bank between the runway and the Solent. Eric suffered severe 1938 MALINS, Robert Edward, died 21 injuries and was unconscious for six weeks. February 2019, aged ninety-eight. After He was one of the few non-RAF personnel Radley College, Robert read Natural Sciences to become a member of the Guinea Pig Club, and joined the Officers’ Training Corps. In airmen who underwent pioneering surgery May 1940 he enlisted in the Royal Artillery and rehabilitation at the Queen Victoria and was posted to the Sound Ranging Hospital, East Grinstead. Half a Man by Battery near Dover, later serving in other Michael Morpurgo (Candlewick Press, parts of the UK. Robert’s Commanding 2005) is dedicated to Eric. His subsequent Officer referred to ‘a most valuable officer, career was as chairman or director of showing great devotion to duty, gallantry, various companies. Eric was also a Freeman cheerfulness and resource’. Following D-Day, of the City of London; Liveryman of the Robert was on the Normandy beaches, saw Worshipful Company of Shipwrights; and the bombing of Caen, and served in Belgium Chairman of the Institute of Commerce and Holland. He then volunteered for air (1989). In 1953 Eric married Jean. They had observation work, achieving his ambition one son, Roger. to fly. Demobbed in 1946, Robert found that the City did not suit him and returned 1939 DAVIDSON, Dr Donald Georges, died to St John’s, later completing a surveying 29 August 2019, aged ninety-eight. After
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Shrewsbury School, Donald read Natural 1941 STEWARDSON, (John) Rennie, Sciences and Medicine, in 1946 completing died 10 May 2019, aged ninety-five. After an MB and a BChir. He was Captain of Charterhouse, Rennie read Law and rowed Cricket, Captain of Football and Treasurer of for the LMBC, intermitting his studies to the Medical Society. Following service with serve as a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval the Royal Army Medical Corps in India, Volunteer Reserve, during which he saw Donald became a well-respected GP in action in the Battle of the Atlantic. Following Chertsey, where he practised for thirty-eight a brief spell as a barrister, called by the years. Donald was a member of the St John’s Inner Temple, from 1954 to 1979 Rennie Ambulance Fellowship. In 1952 Donald was a solicitor, his appointments including married Rachel, who survived him. They Legal Adviser, Imperial Tobacco, and Group had three children, William, Sarah and Jane. Company Secretary, Consolidated Gold Fields Plc. From 1980 to 1989, Rennie was 1941 CAMPBELL, Adrian Hugh Ward, Secretary to the Advertising Association. son of Archibald Young (1904) and cousin Rennie published The Ratchet: A Cool of Colin (1942) and Alasdair Boyd Macneil Look at the European Union (June Press (1958), died 11 March 2019, aged ninety- Ltd, 2000), describing what he saw as the five. After Bryanston School, Adrian read inexorable progress towards European Natural Sciences. Called up for military political union at the expense of the nation service, Adrian was declined because of state. Rennie believed that the disadvantages asthma and chose to act rather than return of UK membership of the EU are colossal, to College. He joined E. Martin Browne’s destroying sovereignty, damaging investment Pilgrim Players and then the Old Vic and businesses, increasing costs and Company, acting alongside Laurence Olivier resulting in a substantial net contribution and Ralph Richardson. Adrian’s asthma to the EU. Rennie was married twice: first, also frustrated this ambition. He trained at in 1951, to Donny, with whom he had three Bath Academy of Art, Corsham, and taught children; and second, in 1977, to Bridget, in Hertfordshire. Adrian held numerous who survived him. exhibitions and sold to patrons in the UK, Germany and Canada, and his painting Four 1942 ANDREWS, Dr Peter Searell, Positions of a Nude Figure was presented died 25 November 2019, aged ninety- to the College. Adrian was also a poet. His four. After Wycliffe College, Peter read publications included Vincent van Gogh Natural Sciences, rowed for the LMBC (about the artist’s life and paintings), River and completed a BChir and an MB, of Years and collections of poems published following medical training at Middlesex by Cassandra Press and Fire River Poets, of Hospital. He undertook National Service which Adrian was a member. In 1954 Adrian as a Captain in the Royal Army Medical married Irene, who survived him. They had Corps. Peter was then Junior Lecturer in four daughters, Catherine and Sally, who are Pathology at Middlesex Hospital and a deceased, and Rosemary and Alison. member of the External Scientific Staff
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enjoyed teaching and engaging with the police and the legal profession in his forensic work. At his funeral service, Peter was described as ‘a doctor without borders’. Peter married Josephine, who survived him. They had five children, Janet, Keith, David, Mark and Neil.
1942 HURRELL, Arthur, father of Timothy John (1973), died 20 October 2019, aged ninety-five. After King Edward’s High School, Birmingham, Arthur read Mechanical Sciences, received a Larmor Award and became President of the College Athletics Club. Following a position as Assistant Research and Development Engineer at Boulton Aircraft Armament Ltd, he completed a PGCE and entered the teaching profession as Assistant Master at King Edward’s School, Birmingham, later becoming Senior Mathematics Master at Wallasey Grammar School. In both schools, Arthur was Group Scout Master. Subsequent appointments Peter Andrews (1942) included Principal of Queen Victoria School, Matavatocu, Suva, Fiji; Assistant at the Medical Research Council. His Master, Marlborough College; Senior MD researched ‘Rodent Ulcers Induced Mathematics Master, Sixth Form College, by Xrays Irradiation’. Peter published on Ghana; and Senior Lecturer, Mathematics radiosensitivity of tumours, chondromalacia Education, University of Lesotho. Arthur patellae, Q fever endocarditis, sudden infant contributed to School Mathematics Project death syndrome and hospital autopsy rates. (SMP) publications and Macmillan Bolesa He was Consultant Pathologist at Kettering School Mathematics textbooks; he and General Hospital (1958–90), also working his wife, June, also published their late as Home Office Pathologist for the East son Tim’s diary of his last mountaineering Midlands and completing a Diploma in expedition, Kuksar Conquered, later Medical Jurisprudence. Developing the republished as A Step Too Far. In 1949 services offered by the pathology laboratory, Arthur married June, who survived him. Peter liked to discuss patient diagnoses They had four children, David, Tim, with clinical consultants and GPs. He also Elspeth and Peter.
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daughters, Sue – who said Brian often talked about his time at St John’s and was an avid reader of The Eagle – Frances and Sarah.
1943 BARGH, The Revd (George Edward) Norman, died 5 December 2015, aged ninety. After The Leys School, Cambridge, Norman read Mathematics and Law. He served in the Home Guard from 1942 to 1944 and intermitted his studies to join the Royal Navy as a Petty Officer from 1944 to 1947. After taking an LLB (Leeds, 1950) Brian Pothecary (1942) and admission to the Roll of Solicitors of the Supreme Court (1951), Norman worked 1942 POTHECARY, Brian Peter, died for twenty-three years as a solicitor for 15 December 2019, aged ninety-five. Temple and Bargh, Kendal. From 1974 to After Marlborough College, Brian read 1980, he was Bursar at Wesley House, after Mechanical Sciences and was Captain of which he entered the Ministry, first as Non- the College Squash and Tennis Clubs. He Stipendiary Minister at St Mary with Holy was then commissioned into the Army, Trinity, Ulverston, Cumbria, and then as serving in Sudan and Egypt as a Captain Priest-in-Charge at Egton cum Newland and in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Lowick, Diocese of Carlisle. On retirement Engineers. Following an MSc in in 1990, Norman was given Permission to Agriculture at the University of Durham, Officiate in the Diocese of Carlisle. Norman Brian became an agricultural engineer. was married to Margaret, who survived him. Appointments included Senior Agricultural They had four children, Judith, Donald, Engineer, HM Overseas Civil Service, Gold Katherine and John. Coast; Export Manager, Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies Ltd, Ipswich; and Agricultural 1943 BRIGGS, Geoffrey Hugh, died 10 Engineering Adviser, Sudan Gezira November 2019, aged ninety-three. After Board. From 1968 to 1988 Brian worked King’s School, Rochester, and Ashby de as a Consultant in Overseas Agricultural la Zouch Grammar School, Geoffrey Development, his clients including the read Classics as a Choral Scholar and was World Bank, the United Nations Food and awarded a Strathcona Travel Exhibition Agriculture Organisation, and Hunting (1947). He was also involved in establishing Technical Services. Severe hearing loss a small orchestra, performing in the resulted in early retirement, after which Hall, and as The Eagle (1946) recorded, Brian emigrated to New Zealand in 2009 to ‘discoursed divertingly on Early English be with his family. In 1958 Brian married Music with appropriate illustrations on Sheila, who survived him. They had three a clavichord’. Geoffrey’s career was as a
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university librarian in the UK, New Zealand 1943 BRIGHT, Gerald (Gerry) Emery, and Canada, in preparation for which he was died 3 July 2017, aged ninety-one. After awarded a Diploma in Librarianship (1949) Launceston College and Dartmouth and a Diploma in Archive Administration Grammar School, Gerry read History, (1950). Appointments included Assistant played for the Rugby First Team, and Librarian, University of London; Deputy rowed for the LMBC. He was also a Librarian, Victoria University of Wellington, Royal Navy Cadet, becoming Sub- New Zealand; Deputy Librarian, University Lieutenant. Gerry then enjoyed a of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; and University long career in the teaching profession, Librarian, Carleton University, Ottawa, adding to his qualifications by taking Canada (1969–91). Well respected by a PGCE. Early appointments included colleagues, Geoffrey was elected President Assistant Master at Dean Close of the Canadian Association of Research School, Cheltenham, and at Exmouth Libraries (1978–9). In addition to music, School. Gerry was then Headmaster Geoffrey enjoyed fishing. In 1950 Geoffrey in Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, and married Judith, who predeceased him. in Broadclyst, Devon. Gerry’s school They had two sons, Nicholas and Peter. career culminated as Head of Ivybridge County Secondary School, which he led through a radical transformation to become Ivybridge Community College, remodelling both the curriculum and the pastoral system to respond to the needs of a comprehensive intake. Gerry’s final position was as Course Director and Consultant at the Community Education Development Centre, resulting in an association with the University of Exeter. Gerry was married to Mae, who survived him. They had two children, Paul and Janice.
1943 ELLIS, David Edmund, died 14 January 2019, aged ninety-two. After The Perse School, Cambridge, David read Architecture. He went on to be awarded an Architectural Association Diploma (London), and was an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Geoffrey Briggs (1943)
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MDs from Gothenburg and Edinburgh Universities; and a CBE. A distinguished, modest, wise and kindly man of integrity, Desmond was admired and revered. Interests included Chapel Elder, the Garrick Club, walking, croquet, skiing, windsurfing, reading, writing and enjoying his own jokes. Desmond was married twice: first, in 1956, to Mary, whose fatal accident left him with two adopted young children, Paul and Claire; and second, in 1988, to Claire, who survived him.
1943 PARKES, Sir Edward Walter, father of Christopher Edward Rupert (1973), died 25 September 2019, aged ninety- Desmond Julian (1943) three. After King Edward’s High School, Birmingham, Edward read Mechanical 1943 JULIAN, Professor Desmond Gareth, Sciences (Exhibitioner). He then worked died 26 December 2019, aged ninety-three. at the Royal Aircraft Establishment before After Leighton Park School, Desmond returning to St John’s for a PhD. Edward read Natural Sciences and trained at the enjoyed a distinguished academic career. Middlesex Hospital. After consultant He was Fellow and Tutor, Gonville and appointments at Sydney Hospital and Caius College, and University of Cambridge Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, Desmond Lecturer in Engineering; Visiting Professor, was Professor of Cardiology, University of Stanford University; Head of the Department Newcastle upon Tyne, and Medical Director, of Engineering, University of Leicester; British Heart Foundation. His advocacy Professor of Mechanics and Deputy Head, of closed chest massage and coronary Department of Engineering, University of care units saved many lives. He published Cambridge; Vice-Chancellor, City University; authoritatively, including Julian’s Cardiology, Chairman, University Grants Committee; and edited the European Heart Journal. Vice-Chancellor, University of Leeds; and Desmond was President, British Cardiac Chairman, Committee of Vice-Chancellors Society; Second Vice-President, Royal and Principals of Universities of the United College of Physicians; and Chair, Action Kingdom. He published Braced Frameworks on Smoking and Health. Honours included (1965) and papers in journals of the Royal Consultant to World Health Organisation; Society. In addition to an ScD, Edward was the International Service Award, American awarded honorary degrees by City, Leicester, College of Cardiology; Mackenzie Medal, Loughborough and Wales Universities. For British Cardiac Society; Gold Medal, services to the University and Polytechnic European Society of Cardiology; Honorary Grants Committee for Hong Kong, Edward
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was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star (1999). aged ninety-two. After Uppingham School, He was knighted in 1983. In 1950 Edward David read Agriculture and rowed for married Margaret, who predeceased him. the LMBC. He relished academic debates They had two children, Christopher and and delighted in reminiscing about and Catherine. returning to the College. As a farmer, first with his family’s company and then with 1944 ALLAN, Peter Gerald, great uncle his son, Richard, David loved Red Poll of (William) Lennie Wells (2017), died 6 cattle, applying a scholarly approach. He March 2019, aged ninety-two. Born in New introduced Devons to enhance the beef Zealand and raised in Egypt, after King’s side and Danish Reds to improve milk School, Ely, Peter read Mechanical Sciences output, reciting poetry at milking time. A and was Captain of Hockey. He served winner of many prizes, including five at the in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Royal Show, David was elected to the Red Engineers, rising to Captain, before holding Poll Council, later becoming President. He positions with Rank Precision Industries; judged all over England and Scotland and PA Management Consultants; and Ideal travelled to the USA and Colombia. A keen Standard. From 1970 to 1995 Peter worked sportsman, David enjoyed rowing, punting, in France as a Partner for Allan & Co. and hockey, tennis, badminton and bowls. He was renowned as a head hunter. He was also played golf at Flempton Golf Club, proud to Director and President of the Franco-British be Captain in 1993–94. Community life was Chamber of Commerce and Industry, his very important. David served the District distinction recognised by an OBE (1996) Agricultural Club, the Parochial Church and appointment as Chevalier de la Legion Council, the Village Hall, the Parish Council d’Honneur (2002). Finally, Peter was and Edmundsbury District Council. In 1957 Director, the Hertford British Hospital, Paris David married Sally. They had two children, (1994–2014). He published The Memoirs Sarah and Richard. of Peter Allan (Biograph Ltd, 2007) and wrote an article, ‘From Cairo to Cambridge 1944 DRAKE, Dr Brian John, cousin of 1943–1944’, describing a fascinating voyage Michael John (1962), father of Laurence evading German aircraft and U-boats. The Karsten (1982) and Marcus John (1985), and Master, Chris Dobson, commented, ‘thrilling grandfather of William Karsten (2015), died … your commitment is inspiring’. Peter 1 January 2019, aged ninety-two. After the also supported College travel scholarships, Perse School, Brian read Natural Sciences the Library, sports and the Choir. Peter was and rowed for the LMBC. Following military married to Colette, who predeceased him. service, he switched to Medicine – his They had five children, Diana, Isabelle, dissection group was Swallow, Swift, Swan, Muriel, Mary and Frederick. Drake and Pond – and earned his oar in the May Bumps. Nocturnal escapades included 1944 CROSS, David Anderson, brother of scaling the roof of the Bridge of Sighs and John Stanley (1947), died 18 January 2019, placing a lavatory bowl on the Great Gate’s
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flagpole, with the Cambridge Daily News commenting, ‘Come and see what you never did see – a WC where the flag ought to be’. In 1951 Brian transferred to Balliol College, Oxford, to study Clinical Medicine. He became GP for Histon, Consultant Venereologist at Bedford Hospital and President of the Cambridge Medical Society. Brian was a kind, good-humoured, gentle and generous man, who played the organ in King’s and St John’s Chapels and regularly Austin Hall (1944) attended College events. Drake Way, Histon, was named in his honour. In 1960 Brian 1944 HALL, (John Frank) Austin, died married Vibeke in Denmark. After their 22 May 2019, aged ninety-three. After divorce, Janet was his partner. Hulme Grammar School, Oldham, and serving as Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, in minesweepers in the Mediterranean and the North Sea, Austin read Modern and Medieval Languages, played for the Football First Team and represented the University. Nephew Chris said that Austin and his family were ‘very proud of … achievements whilst at Cambridge’ and of ‘photographic memorabilia’. Austin became a Dunlop overseas representative, enjoying trips to Europe and promotion to Overseas Sales Manager. Sadly, he never recovered fully from a minor operation, and returned to Oldham, successfully joining a solicitor friend’s firm. In 1969 Austin married Sheila, a great support to him. Founder members of Oldham Talking Newspaper for the blind, Sheila was Secretary and Austin was Editor. Their happy marriage ended with Sheila’s death in 2005. Austin then reconnected with Joan, whom he had known previously. They enjoyed a happy relationship and attended Hallé concerts and jazz performances. Austin’s other interests were golf, photography, the piano, theatregoing and Brian Drake (1944) watching Joe Royle’s Oldham Athletic.
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1944 LAING, Peter Elston, brother of Generating Board, the Fire Protection Charles William (1942), died September Association and Bowrings. Harry married 2019, aged ninety-two. After Durham twice: first to Helen, with whom he had four School, Peter read Mechanical Sciences, children, Ailsa, Rona, John and Donald, rowed for the LMBC and was a Royal and who predeceased him; and second to Engineers Cadet. He intermitted his Hannah, who also predeceased him. studies to serve as a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers. After brief periods as 1944 WICKENS, Robert, died 26 February Technical Design Assistant at Twyfords Ltd 2019, aged ninety-three. After Town and and Research Assistant at the Furniture County School, Northampton, Robert read Development Council, Peter returned to Natural Sciences, followed by a Diploma Cambridge to take a PGCE and entered in Agriculture. He played for the Rugby the teaching profession. He was Assistant Second Team (Colours) and was Honorary Master at the Skinners School, Tunbridge Secretary of the Cygnets. He then spent a Wells (1954–59), and Assistant Master at year in Trinidad and completed a Diploma The Royal Tunbridge Wells Technical High in Tropical Agriculture. Robert’s long career School for Boys (1959–72). Peter then left was as an agronomist, starting with the the profession to establish his own business, West African Cocoa Research Institute. His making and marketing model soldiers. first appointment in the UK was at Drayton Peter’s family said that he ‘went through life Experimental Husbandry Farm, Stratford- with humour and was interested in others’ upon-Avon. He was then promoted as lives’. Well-known in the village of Marden Assistant to the Director of Experiments in Herefordshire, where he lived, Peter was in London. Robert was later transferred to involved in many community activities, Arthur Rickwood Experimental Husbandry treating everyone with kindness and Farm, where he was made Director. In 1982 respect. In 1957 Peter married Helen, who he became Director of Experimental Centres predeceased him. They had two children, for the Agricultural Development and Charles and Sarah. Advisory Service, the advisory and research arm of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries 1944 TAYLOR, Dr Henry (Harry) Dennis, and Food. Robert was married to Valerie, died 23 July 2019, aged ninety-four. After who survived him and spoke warmly of his Magdalen College School, Brackley, and affection for the College, saying that Robert serving in the Second World War as a Radio was proud of his education. Officer in the Merchant Service, Harry read Natural Sciences. His career was as a 1945 LEEMING, John (Jack) Coates, died consulting scientist and forensic investigator 23 March 2019, aged ninety-one. After of marine fires and explosions. At various Chadderton Grammar School, Jack read times Harry worked with the British Coal Mathematics (Scholar, Wright’s Prize), Utilisation Research Association, Imperial played for the Football First Team (Colours, College, Esso, the Central Electrcitiy Secretary) and rowed for the LMBC.
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Following two years teaching at Hyde of a generation of young scientists. Bernard’s Grammar School, Jack joined the Civil next Headship was at Maidstone Grammar Service, holding important positions in HM School and his final one at Sandown High Customs and Excise, HM Treasury, the Civil School, Isle of Wight. Contemporaneously, he Service Department and the Department was also Director of Studies, responsible for of Industry. A man of intelligence, warmth, the officer education programme, at the Royal wit and kindness, Jack encouraged younger Military Academy, Sandhurst. Recreational colleagues. He was seconded to the World interests were wildlife, painting, kite flying and Bank in Washington, DC, and became fly fishing. Bernard was married twice: first Director General of the British National to Rosemary, with whom he had Catherine, Space Centre, subsequently helping Helen Sarah, Edward and Richard, and who died in Sharman to become the UK’s first astronaut. 1981; and second to Katharina, with whom he From 1988 to 1997, Jack was a consultant lived near Flensburg and who died in 2017. to aerospace companies and space agencies. Jack was a Manchester United supporter and 1946 GREGSON, Major Howard Davenport, he played golf. He was Captain of the RAC known as Tim, died 17 April 2019, aged Golf Club and a founder member of the ninety-five. After St Paul’s School, Tim Claret Club, RAC members who met to ‘sort completed a civil engineering programme out the world’. In 1949 Jack married Dorothy. before joining the Royal Engineers. Landing They had two sons, Barry and Peter. After on Sword Beach on the day after D-Day, Tim divorce from Dorothy, Jack married Cheryl, spent the remainder of the War designing who shared his interest in space and Bailey bridges to cross the great rivers of technology and was MP for Chesham and northern France, Belgium and Germany. At Amersham. St John’s, he read Mechanical Sciences and played for the Tennis First Team. Returning to 1945 MOODY, Bernard John, died 16 the Army as Instructor at Mons Officer Cadet December 2019, aged ninety-two. After School, he had other postings, including Handsworth Grammar School, Bernard Gibraltar, Nepal, Singapore, Germany and the read Natural Sciences (State Scholar), the Royal Armaments Research and Development College influencing ‘much of his thinking Establishment, before retirement as Major and approach to life’. Following a PGCE in 1964. Tim then taught Mathematics for (Birmingham), Bernard taught in London twenty years at Cranleigh School, his practical at Highgate School and Latymer Grammar experience of engineering inspiring many School before becoming Head of Science pupils. He was also Housemaster, Careers at Bristol Grammar School. In 1961, at Master, and rugby and tennis coach, and he Preston Grammar School, he became one preached in the School Chapel. On retirement, of the youngest head teachers in the country. Tim and Susan, whom he married in 1956 Bernard wrote Comparative Inorganic and who survived him, devoted their lives to Chemistry and became a Chief Examiner for the village and church of Tarrant Keyneston, A Level Chemistry, shaping the education Dorset. They had three children, Peter, Nicola
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and Philippa. Sir Roger Palin, Honorary Grammar School, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Fellow, described Tim as ‘a true gentleman Wheatley read English (Major Scholar), who lived a good life’. followed by a PhD. His career was as a Lecturer in English, holding appointments 1946 ROSEVEARE, Robert (Rob) William, at the Universities of Edinburgh, Aberdeen great grandson of William Done Bushell and Durham. He published articles in the (1857, Fellow), grandson of William Cambridge Journal and the Review of English Nicholas (1882, Fellow), related to five other Studies, and a book, Preaching in England in Johnians, died 8 July 2019, aged ninety-four. the Late Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries: After Gresham’s School, Holt, a Naval Short A Study of English Sermons 1450–c.1600. Course at University College, Oxford, and Wheatley was a longstanding member of Second World War service in the Fleet Air the Berwick-upon-Tweed Civic Society, Arm, Rob read Mechanical Sciences, won serving on the Executive Committee and a College Prize and played for the Hockey becoming Vice-Chairman from 2001 to First Team (Secretary, Vice-Captain) and the 2003. He gave a talk entitled ‘Two Otter Men’ University Wanderers. He joined the Chapel on the subject of authors: his friend, Henry Committee and the University Musical Williamson, and Gavin Maxwell. On another Society and was Treasurer of the University occasion, Wheatley spoke on the writer and Archaeological Field Club. At the Ministry broadcaster Alan Melville, who came from of Power, Rob worked in the Minister’s Berwick. He also wrote Society reports for Private Office, the Cabinet Secretariat and the Berwick Advertiser. One of Wheatley’s the Washington Embassy. He then became great passions was Christianity. He was Secretary and Managing Director of the a dedicated High Anglican. Two months British Steel Corporation, liaising with the before he died, he converted to Roman Government, Parliament and media. Other Catholicism, while retaining his affection for appointments included council member the Church of England. at the Confederation of British Industry; Consultant, Marks and Spencer; Non- 1947 BURNS, Professor John Carlyle, died Executive Director, Community Industry 26 May 2019, aged ninety-three. After Ltd; and Anglican Church lay roles. Rob Mount Albert Grammar School, Auckland, was awarded a CBE in 1977. Recreational and Auckland University College, John interests included hill-walking, bird- read Mathematics (Scholar), was awarded watching and music. Proud of his family’s the Adams Essay Prize and was Treasurer connections, Rob remembered the College of the Adams Society. Awarded a Research with affection. In 1954 Rob married Paddy, Scholarship, he completed a PhD at the who survived him. Their children were University of Manchester. John then lectured Elizabeth, Catherine, Nicholas and Bridget. at Victoria University College, New Zealand, before moving to Australia. Following a 1947 BLENCH, Dr (John) Wheatley, died Senior Lectureship and Readership at the 31 May 2019, aged ninety-two. After The Australian National University, Canberra,
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John became Professor of Mathematics, Derbyshire. Moving to Kent in retirement, Royal Military College, Duntroon, Faculty he played bridge, continued as a JP, served of Military Studies, University of New South as a Councillor and taught pupils with Wales, Sydney. Subsequently, he became special needs. In 1959 Tony married Jill, who Dean of the Faculty and then Inaugural predeceased him. They had four daughters, Professor at the newly established Australian Claire, Anita (died 2006), Katrina and Lucy. Defence Force Academy. John was Founding In 2001 Tony married Liz, gaining one Treasurer and Secretary of the Australian stepson and three stepdaughters. Mathematical Olympiad Committee and was presented with the Bernhard H. Neumann 1948 ALLISON, Harold, father of (Ian) Award by the Australian Mathematics Trust Martin (1976), died 26 February 2019, for his enrichment of mathematics learning aged ninety-one. After Pocklington School in Australia. He published Seeking Solutions and service in the Intelligence Corps in (2000) and approximately thirty papers Gibraltar, Harold read Geography and in mathematical journals. In 1952 John Modern Languages and played for the Rugby married Eleanor, who survived him. They Second Team. He then enjoyed a career as a had two children, Keith and Hilary. chartered accountant. Harold was married to Hazel, who predeceased him. They had two 1947 MALTBY, Antony (Tony) John, sons, David and Martin. brother of Christopher Hugh Kingsnorth (1948), died 18 May 2019, aged ninety- 1948 BURY, Dr Henry Philip Roberts, one. After Clayesmore School, Tony read father of David Philip (1984), died 10 History, played for the Tennis First Team February 2019, aged eighty-nine. After Eccles and represented the College and University Grammar School and Manchester Grammar in Athletics (Blue) and Squash. Tony was School, Henry read Natural Sciences Assistant Master, Dover College; Head of (Somerset Exhibitioner) and Archaeology History and Housemaster, Pocklington and Anthropology, was awarded the Henry School; and an outstanding Headmaster of Humphreys Prize and a Travel Exhibition, Trent College. Staff were chosen shrewdly; and rowed for the LMBC. In 1952 he was sixth-form girls admitted; academic nominated to the Crewdson-Benington results emphasised; art, drama, music, Studentship to research the skeletal remains sport, the Chapel and the CCF celebrated; uncovered by excavations at St Bride’s, Fleet new buildings erected; and computing Street. He then completed an MB, a BChir introduced. On a trip to Thailand, Tony and an MSc. Henry’s clinical and academic was meeting two Old Tridents, the Prime appointments included Registrar in Clinical Minister and the former Prime Minister, Pathology, Children’s Hospital, Sheffield; when there was a military coup. One Lecturer in Pathology, University of Sheffield; headline read, ‘Old School Thais’. Tony and Consultant in Histopathology, Castle served the wider community in the Rotary Hill Hospital, Cottingham, Humberside. Club, as JP, and as Deputy Lieutenant of He wrote a number of articles for medical
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journals, particularly on skin tumours, History (Exhibitioner) and rowed for and was a member of the Royal College the LMBC. His early career was in the of Pathologists. In 1960 Henry married Colonial Administrative Service, Uganda. Mary. They had five children, Henry, James, He then returned to Scotland, teaching Richard, David and Catherine. at Glasgow High School and completing an MEd (Glasgow). In 1968 Sandy was 1948 HARRIS, Desmond John, died 6 appointed Assistant Director of Education January 2019, aged ninety-one. After in Dunbartonshire, serving for twenty Durban High School and the University of years and enjoying promotion to Deputy Cape Town, Desmond read Mathematics Director, Senior Deputy Director and Senior and was Chairman of the Adams Society and Education Officer. He was also Chairman of the University’s Archimedeans, his love of the Scottish Central Committee on of mathematics awakened by G. H. Hardy’s Religious Education (1983–86). During Pure Mathematics. Desmond also became retirement Sandy published several historical a member of the Cambridge Philosophical reappraisals, including Mary Queen of Scots Society and of the London Mathematical and the Casket Letters (2002), Mary Queen Society. Returning to South Africa, of Scots and Her Escapes (2012) and The Desmond began an academic career at the 1745 Rebellion and the Southern Scottish University of Natal, Durban, and became Lowlands (2006). He also contributed to The an opponent of apartheid. He was then Historian and the Journal of the John Buchan appointed Lecturer in Mathematics at the Society, gave talks on local history and was an University of Durham before moving to the extramural lecturer at the Crichton Campus, College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, University of Glasgow. In 1955 Sandy University of Wales, remaining there for married Irene, who survived him. They had thirty-five years. His good friend and three children, Sandy, Alison and Andrew. colleague, Professor Des Evans, referred to Desmond as ‘a true gentleman’, and wrote, 1948 ROBERTS, Dr Donald (Don) James, ‘Desmond had a deep and encyclopaedic died 14 March 2019, aged ninety-one. After knowledge of classical and functional Batley Grammar School and National Service analysis, and an enviable ability to recall (RAF), Don read Natural Sciences and obscure facts and details of proofs’. In 1953 Medicine (BChir, MB) and played Chess and Desmond married Stella, who predeceased Football. Following Guy’s Hospital, Victoria him. His last years were still full and happy, Hospital in Blackpool, General Practice and shared with his musical friend, Peter Wood. a Diploma in Public Health (University of Desmond and Peter also travelled widely. Leeds), Don became Deputy Medical Officer of Health, Southport. As Medical Officer of 1948 MacROBERT, Alexander (Sandy) Health, Barrow-in-Furness, Don wrote the Edgely, died 13 July 2019, aged ninety-one. Centenary and Annual Report 1867–1967, After Glasgow Academy and National analysing a century of improving health. Service in the Royal Artillery, Sandy read As Medical Officer for the City of Salford,
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Chemical Engineering, was Secretary of the Cygnets, played Rugby, and rowed for the LMBC. His career was in the chemicals industry, beginning as Management Trainee at Laporte Chemicals Ltd, Luton. Bill then worked for almost thirty years in Production (Acrylics) at Imperial Chemicals Ltd, Runcorn and Billingham. His final appointment was in Contract Design for Imperial Consultant Design Ltd, Yarm, Cleveland. Bill was a long-serving Honorary Treasurer of the Northumbrian Cambridge Association, whose former Honorary Secretary, Heather Russell, said in her appreciation, ‘Bill was always a courteous Don Roberts (1948) and gentle soul – a real gentleman … content to work quietly in the background’. In 1961 Don was involved in planning housing, Bill married Vilma, who predeceased him. sanitation and the first health centre. They had two children, Elizabeth and Jane. When Prince Philip visited to inspect the outcomes, Don was among those presented. 1948 WHITMORE, Dr David Noel, died The first industrial city to achieve 100% 22 December 2019, aged eighty-nine. smoke control, Salford was awarded the After Wintringham Secondary School, Arnold Marsh Clean Air Award. While Grimsby, David read Natural Sciences working as District Community Physician (Physiology) as a Lister Scholar and was at Withington Hospital, Don’s research on awarded College Prizes in 1949, 1950 and disabled school leavers won the Society 1951. After completing a BChir and an of Community Medicine’s Arthur Newth MB, he enjoyed a long career in hospital Memorial Prize. Don’s final appointment medicine. Appointments included Senior was as District Medical Officer, Knowsley Registrar in Pathology, Guy’s Hospital and and St Helens. In 1957 Don married Chris, Lewisham Hospital; Consultant Pathologist, who survived him. They had two children, Lewisham Hospital Group; and Consultant Jonathan and Elizabeth. Haemotologist, Lewisham Hospital. After retiring from full-time work, David 1948 RODGER, William (Bill) Rhodes, held a number of part-time posts. As a father of Jane Louise (1985) and father-in- consultant, his skills and experience were law of John Meurig Taylor Davies (1981), also in demand in strategic and quality died 7 September 2017, aged eighty- assurance roles. David was Consultant nine. After Merchiston Castle School, Member, District Management Team; Edinburgh, Bill read Natural Sciences and Consultant Member, Lewisham and North
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Southwark Health Authority; Consultant 1949 CELLAN JONES, (Alan) James Member, South East Region, Haemotology Gwynne, died 30 August 2019, aged eighty- Committee; and Examiner in Haemotology, eight. After Charterhouse, James read Royal College of Pathology. David’s Natural Sciences, was Captain of University outstanding contribution was acknowledged Swimming (1951/2) and a Hawk. Following when his name was associated with the National Service (Royal Engineers), James Cancer Suite at Lewisham Hospital. In 1955 worked in television, theatre and film, and David married Elizabeth, who survived him. was one of his generation’s finest directors. They had three sons, John, Richard and The Stage admiringly referred to James’s Michael. ‘style, substance and success’. Adaptations of classic novels and period drama were 1949 BARTHOLOMEW, Alick Nairne, prodigious, including The Forsyte Saga died 29 December 2015, aged eighty- and Fortunes of War, the former’s Sunday five. After The Edinburgh Academy and evening screenings depriving vicars of their National Service in the Gordon Highlanders, congregations. James was Head of Plays, Alick read Geography and Geology and BBC Television; Chairman of BAFTA; represented the College at Athletics. He and Chairman and Honorary President, spent a year at the School of Business Directors Guild of Great Britain. Honours Administration, University of Chicago, included the Directors Guild of America before embarking on an international career Award (1976); the American ‘ACE’ Award in publishing, including positions with (1986), for Oxbridge Blues, shot in St John’s; McGraw Hill, Alfred Knopf, Houghton and the Golden Nymph Award for Best Miffin, Macmillan, Victor Gollancz and TV Film, Monte Carlo Festival (1994). The Turnstone Press. Alick then practised as television drama, A Perfect Hero, was also a transpersonal psychotherapist before shot in College. James published The Novel returning to publishing with Gateway on the Screen and Forsyte and Hindsight: Books. In his later years he was a consultant Screen Directing for Pleasure and Profit. editor, literary agent and author. Alick was Following a relationship with Sylvia Rich, a lover of nature, researching and writing James had a son, Rory. In 1959 he married on environmental issues; a member of the Margaret, who predeceased him, and with Scientific and Medical Network; and a whom he had three children, Simon, Deiniol trustee of two charities. His own publications (who died in 2013) and Lavinia. included Crop Circles: Harbingers of World Change (ed. 1991); Kombucha Tea for Your 1949 FAIRBAIRN, Professor Walter Health and Healing (1998); Hidden Nature McArthur, died 18 August 2019, aged (2003); and The Story of Water (2010). In ninety-one. After Glasgow High School 1955 Alick married Ann, who predeceased and the University of Glasgow, Walter read him, and with whom he had Sara, James and Mathematics, was awarded the College’s Kate. Alick was also married to Mari, who Adams Memorial Prize and the University’s survived him. Mayhew Prize, and played for the Football
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First Team. He studied for a PhD at the membership of the New Zealand Institute University of Birmingham before embarking of Engineers and the Society of Professional on an academic career, including a Research Engineers, Thailand. John published Fellowship at St John’s (1956–59). Walter The Construction of the Din Daeng to played a crucial role in the development of Port Section of the First Stage Expressway the new University of Lancaster, where he System in Bangkok. In 1962 John married was Senior Lecturer, Reader and Professor in Cynthia, who predeceased him. They had Theoretical Physics; Head of the Department three children, Michael, Juliet and Susan. of Physics, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Deputy The family described John as ‘an absolute Vice-Chancellor; and Emeritus Professor gentleman’ and said ‘his kindness and of Theoretical Physics. In all these roles his positivity are an inspiration to us all’. deep commitment, modesty, characteristic wit and careful judgement were greatly 1949 JACKSON, (Francis William) David, valued. Walter was also Visiting Professor died 27 May 2019, aged ninety. After Trinity at Johns Hopkins University, University of College, Glenalmond, and National Service Waterloo, and the University of New South in the Royal Corps of Signals, David read Wales. In retirement Walter and his wife, Modern and Medieval Languages (Minor Barbara, continued to take an active part in Scholar) and took a particular interest the University of Lancaster’s cultural affairs. in Russian. His career was as a chartered The couple had three children, David, accountant (Scottish). David’s appointments Gordon and Margaret. included Partner at Turquands Barton Mayhew and its successor firm, Ernst & 1949 HYATT, John Hampden, died 2 March Whinney. A major recreational interest was 2019, aged ninety. After Sedbergh School, military history. David published articles John read Engineering and rowed in the and book reviews in various journals, LMBC First Boat. He enjoyed a long career, including ‘Isandhlwana 1879 – The Sources first with Dorman Long, Taylor Woodrow, Re-examined’, published in the Journal of the John Howard & Co. Ltd, and then with Society for Army Historical Research (1963). Freeman, Fox and Partners, during which He also took a Diploma in Medieval Mongol. time John also worked for the Mekong In 1969 David married Sheila, who survived Secretariat (United Nations) in Thailand. him. Major projects included the Forth Road Bridge; the Auckland Harbour Bridge; the 1949 MARK, Peter Hinton, son of Douglas M5 Motorway; the Humber Bridge, which Scott (1918), died 8 December 2018, aged at the time of construction was the world’s eighty-eight. After Repton School, Peter longest single-span bridge; the First Stage read Law and played for the Football First Expressway in Bangkok; and the Huai Mong Team. His career was in the financial Irrigation Project, Thailand. John also world, and Peter held an FCA qualification. worked in the United Arab Emirates. His Appointments included Accountant to significant contribution was recognised in the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
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Chairman of House at Fulford Golf Club, at Qatar Petroleum Company and was and Chairman of W. D. Mark and Sons. awarded a Diploma in Industrial Health by Peter had one son, Julian. the University of Dundee. He then spent twenty years with the Employment Medical 1949 RUSHTON, Stanley John, brother Advisory Service (UK), which became of Donald Frederick Harvey (1942), died part of the Health & Safety Executive. 18 July 2019, aged ninety. After Solihull Concurrently, Christopher was also School, Stanley read Mechanical Sciences. Employment Medical Adviser, Plymouth, He then worked for Metropolitan Vickers and Senior Employment Medical Adviser, Electrical Co. Ltd, first holding a College Bristol, and he became a Fellow of the Apprenticeship, followed by positions Faculty of Occupational Medicine. Other as Cost Investigation Engineer and appointments included Regional Specialty Manufacturing Development Engineer. Adviser to the Joint Committee for Higher Moving to papermakers Wiggins Teape Co. Medical Education and Honorary Clinical Ltd, where he worked for seventeen years, Lecturer in Occupational Medicine at the Stanley fulfilled a number of roles within University of Bristol. the Group: Assistant Scientist, Research and Development; Assistant Engineer, Buckland 1949 TROTT, John Michael (Mike), son Mill Dover; Chief Engineer, Vegetable of Alan Charles (1913), nephew of Francis Parchment Mills, St Mary Cray; Deputy William (1912) and brother of Peter Alan Chief Engineer, Wiggins Teape Converters; (1953), died 6 September 2019, aged ninety. Senior Engineer and then Contract After Repton School, Mike read Economics Manager, Project Engineering Division; and Law, was a member of the Winfield and Consultant, Technical Service Division. Society and played for the Rugby Second Stanley’s last appointment before retirement Team. His long career was as a solicitor, was as Area Engineer, Lambeth, Southwark becoming a Partner of Trott and Battell and Lewisham Area Health Authority in Camborne. Rugby Union was Mike’s (Teaching). In 1958 Stanley married passionate interest. He was Committee Dorothy, who survived him. They had two Member, Chairman, President (1970–91), daughters, Elizabeth and Sally. and Life Member of Camborne RFC (Cherry & Whites), during which time the club 1949 THOMSON, Dr Christopher Bruce, became the dominant force in Cornish died 29 January 2019, aged eighty-nine. rugby. He was President of Cornwall RFU After Cranleigh School, Christopher read (1990–91) when the Senior XV became Natural Sciences and rowed for the LMBC. County Champions at Twickenham for the Choosing a career in Medicine, he trained first time since 1908. He also held office at Guy’s Hospital, London, in 1956, being as Chairman of the Camborne Twinning appointed LRCP and MRCS. After a Association and as Chairman of Crofty decade of General Practice in South Devon, Cricket Club. A generous, genuine and Christopher was appointed Medical Officer modest man, with a dry sense of humour,
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Mike served Camborne RFC, Camborne College, Grahamstown, David read Law and Cornwall with great dedication and and represented the College in Boxing, distinction. Mike was married twice: first to Rugby, Squash and Tennis. He was called Joan, and then to Sylvia. His children were to the Bar at Gray’s Inn in 1954 and was Frances, Steve and Natasha. then appointed Prosecutor in the Attorney General’s Chambers in Kenya, where he was 1950 BATEMAN, David Ernest Robson, Deputy Official Receiver and Senior Crown died 26 July 2019, aged eighty-seven. Counsel (1955–64). David also worked as After Epsom College, David read Natural a solicitor, barrister and judge in Australia, Sciences and Medicine. He rowed for the becoming a Partner in Jackson McDonald in LMBC, in 1952 coxing the Gentlemen’s VIII Perth (1965–80) and a District Court Judge that won its blades, and he was awarded a (1988–2001). He was also Chairman of the Roger Neville Goodman Travel Exhibition. Workers’ Compensation Board of Western David’s medical training was at St Thomas’ Australia (1980–88). A supporter of the Hospital, where he was a House Surgeon Swan Animal Haven, David was described and completed a BChir and an MB. David by his colleagues there as ‘a kind man and a then joined the Royal Navy for three years, wonderful human being … greatly admired, serving as a Surgeon Lieutenant. Subsequent respected and loved’. David was married appointments included Surgeon Registrar at to Claudine, who predeceased him in Selly Oak Hospital; Resident Medical Officer, 2018. They had two children, Joscelyn and Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital; and Roderick. Obstetric Registrar, St Thomas’ Hospital. Following a brief appointment as Senior 1950 COOPS, Michael Edward, died 11 Registrar in Wales, for twenty-three years March 2019, aged eighty-nine. After William David was Consultant Gynaecologist at the Hulme’s Grammar School, Manchester, County Hospital, Hereford. An Examiner and National Service (Royal Artillery), for the Royal College of Obstetricians Michael read English and History and rowed and Gynaecologists and for Birmingham for the LMBC. In Cornwall’s Planning University, David published articles in Department, he began a lifelong love of medical journals and became President of the county and enjoyed involvement with the Herefordshire Medical Society. A keen the Truro Opera and Amateur Dramatic golfer, in 1991 he was elected President of Society. While Assistant Clerk of the Court, the Herefordshire Golfing Society. David was University of London, Michael obtained married to Joan, who survived him. They an LLB. As Secretary, British Postgraduate had one daughter, Diana. Medical Federation (University of London), he worked with many distinguished 1950 CHARTERS, David Dennison, son postgraduate medical institutes. Finally, as of Alan Dumergue (1921) and brother of Director of Planning and Development, John Dumergue (1949), died 3 November London School of Economics, Michael 2019, aged eighty-seven. After St Andrew’s played a crucial role in project management
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and in acquiring freeholds of buildings. Bursary Fund for Dyslexia. Iain campaigned Holding the LSE in great affection, he for music in hospitals and care homes remembered many surprises, including and read for RNIB and the Samaritans. three drunks stealing a heavy penguin Described as ‘a grand old man of Glasgow’, sculpture. Courteous, intelligent and at ease Iain’s passion and generosity towards the with others, Michael could, when necessary, arts, architecture and learning, not least for show a steely side. He was a church warden the disadvantaged, characterised a life full of and school governor, and he served on the service and commitment. London Diocesan Board for Schools. He loved family life, reading – especially history, 1950 SPINNEY, Peter Michael, brother of literature and philosophy – music, travel in Alan Neville (1951), died 2 February 2016, Europe, and food and wine. In 1960 Michael aged eighty-six. After Sedbergh School married Jean, who survived him. They had Peter read Engineering, rowed for the one son, Thomas. LMBC, represented the University Rifle Association (Half Blue) and joined the 1950 McGLASHAN, Iain Sillars Stuart, University Air Squadron. National Service died 1 September 2019, aged eighty-eight. was with 603 City of Edinburgh Squadron, After Fettes College and Glasgow Academy, flying jet fighters. Peter’s career was in the Iain read Economics (Choral Scholar) and refrigeration industry, first as an Engineer performed Sir Amorous La-Foole with the and then as Export Manager with L. Sterne Lady Margaret Players. Following RAF & Co., Glasgow. He then founded SIEG service in Iraq, Pakistan and the UK, Iain’s Refrigeration Ltd. An innovative engineer, varied career involved marketing in the Peter designed and built one of the first UK and East Africa; singing with the BBC refrigerated trucks, the prototype carrying a Singers, Scottish Opera, Covent Garden cargo of whisky to Moscow. He also invented choruses, and Glasgow Cathedral Choir; an ice-making plant that transformed producing plays and operas; conducting working conditions in hot countries. Peter orchestras and choruses; involvement published three patents in the field of in radio, TV and cinema; Managing refrigeration, and he was a member of the Director, Anderson Stewart (Castings) Ltd; Merchants House, Glasgow. Recreational Campaigns Consultant, Scottish Opera; and voluntary interests included and Bursar, Kelvinside Academy. He was a membership of Scotland’s Shooting Team; Life Member of Equity. Voluntary activities Trustee, the Mugdock Trust; Chair, the included President, Nomads Literary and Mugdock Association; and Chair, Scottish Debating Society; Trustee, McGlashan Branch, Association of British Drivers. Peter Charitable Trust and the Buttle Trust; was also instrumental in repatriating the Chairman, Glasgow Cathedral Organ 603 Squadron Gloster Meteor training jet Restoration Fund, which raised almost to Montrose Air Museum. In 1959 Peter £400,000; and Chairman, Opera Nova, the married Irene, who survived him. They had Kentish Opera Group, and the Scottish one son, Ian.
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1950 WILSON, John James Hiam, died services and fertiliser legislation. A leading 30 May 2019, aged eighty-eight. After member of the Analytical Committee of the Winchester College and National Service Fertiliser Manufacturers’ Association (FMA), as 2nd Lieutenant, 7th Royal Dragoon Graham chaired national and international Guards, John read Agriculture and played committees. As a member of the Fertiliser for the Squash First Team, winning Second Society, Graham served on the Council V Colours. His long career was as a farmer, for nine years, and was President (1987) beginning in Pembrokeshire in 1954 and and Secretary (1988–98). On retirement concluding as Chairman (1987–95) of the from Kemira, he became Secretary of the East Anglian family firm, Frederick Hiam Fertiliser Society and Technical Adviser to Ltd, which owned Manor Farm, consisting the FMA, continuing to work in international of over 9,000 acres. A keen ornithologist, standardisation. Graham edited the Society’s John was involved with most of the pre- newsletter and wrote papers on its history and eminent ornithological organisations in East work. On the Society’s fiftieth anniversary, Anglia. He was also on the RSPB National Graham was awarded the Francis New Reserves Committee. John served on the Memorial Medal. He was also appointed an Middle Fen and Burnt Fen drainage boards Honorary Member. In 1961 Graham married and on the Great Ouse Flood Defence Mary, who survived him. They had two Committee. Other interests were the Cereals children, Vanessa and Martin. and Gamebirds Research Project, under the auspices of the Game Conservancy Trust, 1951 LEWIS, Professor (Reginald) Ivor, and membership of the Suffolk Farming died 11 January 2019, aged eighty-eight. and Wildlife Advisory Group. John was After Queen Mary’s Grammar School, awarded an OBE in 1988 in recognition of Walsall, and National Service flying gliders, his outstanding work for public benefit in Ivor read Mechanical Sciences, was awarded wildlife conservation. In 1965 John married College Prizes and a Scholarship, and studied Jane, who survived him. They had one son, for a PhD. He also found lifelong Christian Christopher. faith. Industrial experience with British Thompson Houston and English Electric, 1951 LANCE, Graham Edward Newby, died and pioneering work in computational 26 July 2019, aged eighty-six. After King’s fluid dynamics, led to an academic career College School, Wimbledon, Graham read as Professor of Fluid Mechanics and Natural Sciences (Major Scholar) and was Thermodynamics, University of Newcastle Secretary and Captain of the Chess Club. (1967–95), and Specialist Quality Assessor, Following National Service (RAF), his career Higher Education Funding Council for was with Fisons, first at Cliff Quay, Ipswich, England. With implications for air and then at Immingham, and subsequently as marine propulsion and wind generators, Chief Chemist at Shellstar (later UKF and Ivor published over one hundred papers, now Kemira) at Ince, where Graham was covering turbomachinery fluid mechanics, responsible for quality control, laboratory general fluid dynamics and vortex dynamics,
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of Middle School at Dulwich College. His professional body was the Association of Teachers and Lecturers. Chris was married to Sue, who survived him. They had four children, Jeremy, Simon, Matthew and Liz.
1951 SNOW, Cdr John Frederick Tremayne, died 1 April 2019, aged eighty- five. After Stonyhurst College, John read Engineering. His son said, ‘My father certainly loved his time at St John’s and maintained close contact with a group of inspirational engineers, who went from Ivor Lewis (1951) Cambridge into the Royal Navy together, throughout his life.’ John enjoyed a long and two seminal books, Vortex Element career in the Royal Navy, retiring in Methods for Fluid Dynamic Analysis of 1985 with the rank of Commander. John Engineering Systems and Turbomachinery married Ruth, who survived him. They Performance Analysis. Awards included the had two daughters and two sons. Viscount Weir Prize, the Thomas Hawksley Gold Medal and the James Clayton Prize. 1951 THOMAS, David Llewelyn, son Ivor loved hill-walking, playing the piano and of Alfred Llewelyn (1919), died 4 March choral singing. In 1960 Ivor married Daphne, 2019, aged eighty-eight. After Tonbridge who died in 2018. They had three children, School, David read Mathematics and Helen, Stephen and Richard. Physics and represented the College in Basketball (Captain and organiser 1951 ROWE, Christopher (Chris) Richard of the first Cuppers Competition), Tarrant, died 2 July 2019, aged eighty-six. Lacrosse, Swimming, Tennis (Colours) After University College School, Hampstead, and Water Polo. From 1949 to 1952 he Chris read Mathematics, played Cricket also played Basketball and Ice Hockey and Hockey, and was a member of the for the University against Oxford. After Music Society. He was also a member of a brief spell as a teacher of English as a the University Musical Society and of the foreign language at Rossall School and Cambridge Union. Chris then enlisted as a at Concord College, Tunbridge Wells, Lieutenant, Instructor Branch (Meteorology), David’s career of over thirty years was as in the Royal Navy, before entering the a telecommunications engineer, with an teaching profession, where he served for apprenticeship and posts at Automatic thirty-six years. Chris was an Assistant Telephone & Electric and BICC Ltd; Master and Undermaster at St Paul’s British Telecommunications Research School, London, and, subsequently, Head Ltd; and GPT (GEC/Plessey Telecoms).
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David’s final position was as Consultant in aeroplanes; classic trains; great ocean liners; International Telecommunications at the and galleons. Toby was married twice: first Department of Trade and Industry. David to Denise, and then to Tara. He had two was married twice: first, in 1964, to Lollie, daughters and one son. who died in 2005, and with whom he had Michael, Susan and Jennifer; and second, in 1952 MANGLES, Major Robert (Rob) 2011, to Elizabeth, who survived him. Miller, died 18 June 2019, aged eighty- eight. After Winchester College and the 1952 DAVIES, David Howard, died 18 April Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, Rob 2019, aged eighty-seven. After Uppingham read Mechanical Sciences and Engineering School, David read Engineering Studies, was Studies, and he rowed for the LMBC. Captain of Hockey (1954/5) and rowed for Between 1951 and 1967 he served in the the LMBC. He entered employment with Royal Engineers, rising to the rank of Metal Box Co Ltd, Aintree, Liverpool, and Major and serving in Kenya, the Persian then completed his National Service with Gulf and Bahrain, Malaya, Hong Kong, the Welsh Guards. David’s later career was British North Borneo and Singapore. UK as a Director at Ash and Lacy Ltd and then postings included the School of Military Chairman and Managing Director of Rolflex Survey, Newbury, and the Royal School of Doors Ltd. In 1957 David married Janet. Military Survey, Hermitage. After leaving They had two children, John and Sian. the Army, Rob farmed in Somerset, raising beef cattle and pigs, and growing cider 1952 DHAR, Prateep Mohan, known apples. He painted in oils and watercolours as Toby, died 21 September 2017, aged and participated in local artists’ groups. eighty-three. After St Xaviers College, Learning to sail as a boy, Rob continued Calcutta, Toby read Mechanical Sciences in the Army and in retirement, when he and participated in Cricket, Golf and owned his own yachts for family holidays Shooting. His career was in the field of and teaching his sons to sail. For many years power and telephone cable manufacture. Rob organised pheasant shoots in Dorset, Toby was Adviser (Operations) and Vice- to where he retired in 1995. In 1959, in St President (Works), INCAB Industries John’s Cathedral, Hong Kong, Rob married Ltd, and Director, Hermesetas of India Mary, who predeceased him. They had two Ltd. He also worked as a consultant, children, David and Charles. serving on both boards of companies and technical committees. Toby was a Fellow 1952 MARSHALL, Richard (Dicky) Carlile, of the Institution of Engineers, India, and a father of Christopher Brian (1977), died 9 Member of the United Kingdom Institution July 2019, aged eighty-four. After Oakham of Mechanical Engineers. He had many School, Dicky read Natural Sciences recreational interests, including Western (Exhibitioner) and Engineering, and he was classical music; wildlife; indoor and outdoor Secretary of the University Wireless Society. land- and water-based sports; vintage cars; He had a varied career in the electronics
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and instrumentation industries. Dicky was a and Chairman of Fisher Hollivan Ltd, designer, inventor and innovator. His career manufacturers of caravans. A family man was characterised by a constant need for fresh and church-goer of strong faith, James loved challenges, which involved him working for theatre and music. He founded Austinwood a wide range of companies, including De Bridge Club. In 1957 James married Ann, Havilland Propellers Ltd, George Kent Ltd, who predeceased him. They had three Rank-Xerox Ltd and Rotork Instruments Ltd. children, Charles, Jeremy and Jane. Charles On reaching retirement age, Dicky set up his wrote, ‘My father had great affection for own consultancy, Richard Marshall Ltd, and his College and he was buried in his Lady was still establishing good design practices Margaret Boat Club blazer wearing his at the time of his death. He was a Fellow of St John’s tie.’ the Institute of Electrical Engineers, a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, Member of the 1952 MORREAU, Patrick Mark, son of Radio Society of Great Britain (G3SBA), and Cecil Joseph (1924), died 30 June 2019, worked on the British Standards Institution, aged eighty-four. After Ampleforth College, British Electromagnetic Compatibility and Patrick read Mechanical Sciences. His long the European Computer Manufacturers career in engineering in London and the Association Committees. In 1956 Dicky USA began with W S Atkins & Partners. married Brenda, who survived him. They had He then moved to San Francisco, working three sons, Christopher, Adrian and Jolyon. for Western-Knapp Engineering and GFDS Engineers. Following four years at Davis & 1952 MILLER, James Lawson, died 10 Morreau, Berkeley, Patrick moved to the January 2019, aged eighty-seven. After East Coast as Associate Partner responsible Lower School of John Lyon and National for the Cambridge, Massachusetts, Office Service (Royal Engineers) in Austria, where of Paul Weidlinger Associates, Consulting he learned to speak German, James read Engineers. Returning to London in 1972, Engineering. He won a College Prize, rowed Patrick worked for twenty-four years for for the LMBC, which became a lifelong Ove Arup & Partners, becoming Associate interest, and was Secretary of the University Director in 1982. For over thirty years, Heretics Society. James’s career was in the Patrick also held academic appointments in construction industry. Following Sir William structural design at Berkeley; Massachusetts Halcrow & Partners, he was a structural Institute of Technology; University College, engineer with Principal Investments Ltd, London; and the University of Bath. He made Toronto; Director of J. Lawson & Co. Ltd; generous contributions to charities, including Chairman of James Lawson Holdings Ltd; trusteeships and senior roles at Abbeyfield Director of R. Harding (Cookham) Ltd; North London Society; Lewis and Mary and Non-Executive Director of Saxon Haynes Trust; and Age Concern Haringey. Developments Ltd. He was also Chairman In 1959 Patrick married Jacqueline, who of the Building Estimating Research Group, predeceased him. They had three children, President of the Builders’ Conference, Mark, Cecilia and Andrea.
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1952 SCHIØLER, (Peter) Arthur, died 1953 MARSTRAND, Professor John 16 May 2016, aged ninety-three. After Martin, died 29 May 2019, aged ninety-one. the University of Copenhagen, where John was a St John’s Research Fellow (1953– he was awarded a Magister Scientiarum, 6) after attending Pickering College, Ontario; Arthur came to St John’s as a Research Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he Student to undertake work on cancer intermitted for National Service; and Keble (radiotherapeutics). The College has no College, Oxford. Appointed Lecturer at the further knowledge of his academic or University of Bristol, John subsequently professional careers. In 1948 Arthur married became Professor of Pure Mathematics. Birgit. In 1952 he married Lizzie, who died in As part of its 150th Anniversary 2019, and with whom he had twin daughters, celebrations, the London Mathematical Kit and Tina. Society recognised John – together with Hardy, Ramanujan, Turing, Atiyah and 1952 SENARATNE, Dr Suranjith (Ranjith) Donaldson, giants of twentieth-century Prasadth Fernando, died 31 August mathematics – for his landmark paper, Some 2019, aged eighty-seven. After Royal fundamental geometrical properties of plane College, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Ranjith read sets of fractional dimensions (1954), which Archaeology and Anthropology and played contained the prototype result for the now for the Cricket First Team. He also studied flourishing area, fractal geometry. A loveable for a degree in Sociology and Economics eccentric, John jumped out of a lecture and a PhD in Social Anthropology at the room window to honour a promise to any University of London. In a long career as a student who spotted a mistake. He was the social anthropologist, Ranjith was Deputy source of the remark, ‘I dislike Wednesday Director of National Museums, Sri Lanka; lectures. They cut into the weekend – from Co-Founder, Director of Urban and Rural both directions’. John was a veteran fell-racer, Studies, and Board Member, Marga Institute, becoming British Over-50 Champion in Sri Lanka Centre for Development; and 1982. Competing in the Paps of Jura Race, Founder and Chairman, Coastal Fisheries and he won a barrel of whisky. A kind and Industries Trust, Sri Lanka. In his research, considerate man, John was modest about the he developed a new approach and conceptual enduring quality of his work. framework to identify, formulate and analyse development problems, and this framework 1953 SUTCLIFFE, David Brook, son of has been applied to policy problems in India Richard Brook (1922), nephew of John and Bangladesh, as well as Sri Lanka. One Herbert Holman (1920), cousin of John of Ranjith’s former colleagues wrote, ‘We all Haddon Frowd Holman (1962), died 11 miss him. Dr Senaratne lived such a good November 2019, aged eighty-four. After exemplary life and always expended his Sedbergh School, David read Modern and knowledge in support of and for the benefit of Medieval Languages (Exhibition), won a others.’ Ranjith was married to Lalitha, who Larmor Award, and was Captain of Rugby. survived him. They had one daughter, Sunari. Strongly adventurous – he crossed the
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Atlantic single-handed – and encouraging students’ involvement in rescue services and the community, David made an outstanding contribution to Kurt Hahn’s United World Colleges (UWC), believing education was ‘a force … for peace and a sustainable future’. After Salem School, Germany, and Gordonstoun School, Scotland, David was a founding staff member at UWC of the Atlantic, progressing to Chief Coach of the Beach Rescue and Inshore Lifeboat Adam Charnaud (1954) services and Headmaster (1969). In 1982 he became Founder Headmaster of UWC of the Flight. He also wrote Two Navies Second Adriatic, Duino, Italy. David played a crucial to None: The Development of U.S. and role in UWC leadership worldwide, also British Naval Power (Casemate, 2020). publishing several books. He was honoured A keen oarsman, Adam kept a scull in by Albania and Italy and was Founder of the College boathouse. A member of UWC, Mostar, in war-torn Bosnia. In 1961 Marlow and Henley Rowing Clubs, he also David married Elisabeth, who survived kept two boats on the Thames. In 1959 him. They had a son Edward, who died in Adam married Elizabeth, with whom he 1993, and two other children, Michael and had Emma, Giles, Ben and Amelia. The Veronica. marriage was later dissolved and Adam married again twice. Elizabeth and the 1954 CHARNAUD, (Christopher) Adam, children survived him. died 7 November 2019, aged eighty-four. After early years in Northern Rhodesia, 1954 CRONE, Dr Hugh Donal, son of Downside, and National Service in the Gerald Roe (1918), brother of Robin Fleet Air Arm, Adam read Economics FitzGerald (1952), died 3 December 2018, (Exhibitioner) and flew with the RAFVR. aged eighty-two. After Latymer Upper Qualifying as a chartered accountant, he School, Hugh read Natural Sciences. His worked for Shell in Indonesia. Returning to career began as Experimental Officer and the UK, he worked for Peat Marwick and Civil Service Research Fellow, Agricultural Warburg’s Bank before moving to Australia Research Council, Slough, including a to set up Grindlays Bank, Melbourne. Back year as Research Associate at Oregon in the UK, Adam joined Inbucon before State University. Hugh then emigrated to setting up his own printing business in Australia, where he became internationally Yattendon. Reflecting his knowledge of the recognised in biochemistry, his significant strategic importance of maritime air power, contribution to scholarship recognised by in 2007 Adam arranged a fly-past over the award of a Cambridge PhD without the College by the Royal Navy Historical thesis. He was involved with Australia’s
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Defence programme for over thirty years, the Winfield Society and of the University rising to become Research Leader, Nuclear Water Skiing Club, he also played the Biological and Chemical Defence and alto sax and clarinet in the University Disarmament, Aeronautical and Maritime Moonrakers Dance Band. Peter’s thirty- Research Laboratory, Australian Defence five-year career was in the Parliamentary Science and Technology Organisation in Counsel Office, where he rose to become Victoria. Hugh contributed to The Technical First Parliamentary Counsel (1991–94), Cooperation Program and jointly initiated calmly advising the UK Government on the Defence Human Sciences Symposium. legislation and constitutional matters. He wrote several books and many scientific Peter drafted over one hundred Acts of papers, including Chemicals and Society: A Parliament, a huge challenge well suited Guide to the New Chemical Age (CUP, 1992), to his keen and meticulous intellect and which received the Phi Beta Kappa Science pride in high standards. He graduated LLM Book Award (1987), and Banning Chemical (1985), became Queen’s Counsel (1990) and Weapons: The Scientific Background (CUP, Bencher of Gray’s Inn (1992), and worked 1992). Hugh was married to Elizabeth, who as consultant to overseas governments. In predeceased him. They had two daughters, recognition of his distinguished service, Bridget and Erica. Peter was awarded a CB (1982) and a KCB (1992). In retirement he moved to France, restored a chateau and played the organ at weddings, sometimes doubling up as chauffeur of his vintage Rolls-Royce. Married successively to Judith, Anne and Janet, Peter had two sons, Ian and Alistair, from his first marriage.
1954 LINSTEAD, Roger Harvey, died 13 March 2019, aged eighty-three. After Nether Edge Grammar School, Sheffield, Roger read English as an Exhibitioner and rowed in the LMBC First Boat. He was also a member of the College Debating Society and of several University societies: Peter Graham (1954) the YHA; the Mountaineering Club; the Union; and the Heretics. After five years 1954 GRAHAM, Sir Peter, died 20 October as an Administrative Officer with London 2019, aged eighty-five. After St Bees County Council, Roger joined the teaching School and service as a pilot in the Fleet profession. He was Assistant Teacher of Air Arm, Peter read Law (Exhibitioner) English at Abbeydale Boys Grammar School, and won College Prizes. A member of Sheffield, and then at Abbeydale Grange
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School, Sheffield, where he was promoted to 1954 ROFE, Professor Brian Henry, great- Head of the English Department. The latter great-nephew of John (1846), died 7 May part of Roger’s career was as an inspector 2019, aged eighty-five. After Shrewsbury of primary, secondary and special schools. School and National Service (Lieutenant, Long after he had left the classroom, Roger Royal Artillery), Brian read Mechanical was remembered by former students as ‘a Sciences, rowed in the LMBC First Boat kind and patient teacher’ with ‘talent and (Vice-Captain) and competed in the Henley dedication’. In 1967 Roger married Dilys, Ladies’ Plate Final; he was also a member who survived him. They had three children, of the University Cruising Club. He joined Jane, Peter and Susan. the Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union, later serving on the Church Advisory 1954 RILEY, Phillip John, died 26 April Committee (Guildford). Brian was Resident 2019, aged eighty-three. After King Edward’s Engineer at Rofe and Raffety; Partner, Senior School, Birmingham, Phillip read English Partner and Consultant at Rofe, Kennard (Minor Scholar) and Modern and Medieval & Lapworth; Consultant at Arup Water; Languages, and rowed for the LMBC. He and Visiting Professor, Engineering Design, was Secretary and President of the Heretics University of Hertfordshire. Professional and Secretary of the Jazz Club, and he associations included Fellow and President, worked for Varsity. A dynamic, complex Institution of Water and Environmental man, Phillip had a career in advertising and Management; Chairman, Institution of Civil as a journalist, progressing in the former to Engineering Water Board; and Member, creative director and owning the Golden Council of Civil Engineers, Senate of the Square agency. Overseas assignments Engineering Council, British Dam Society, included Buenos Aires, Brussels and All Reservoirs Panel, British Hydrological Paris, where Phillip converted to Roman Society, Association of Consulting Catholicism. He founded a newspaper for Engineers, and American Water Association. the unemployed, wrote for Reader’s Digest, Brian’s publications included Reservoirs – An worked for the BBC World Service and Environmental Gain (1995) and Blue Patches taught in Outer Mongolia. Phillip also and Clear Water (2003). In retirement he wrote, performed and directed for Sidmouth enjoyed sailing and gardening. In 1962 Brian Amateur Dramatic Society, took plays to the married Ann, who survived him. They had Edinburgh Festival and Australia, and was three children, Katharine, Christopher and Editor of the Shaw Society magazine. Phillip Andrew. was married three times: first to Dawn, with whom he had Tabitha and Rachel; second 1954 SEMPLE, Andrew Greenlees, son to Anne; and third to Ann, with whom he of William Hugh (1925), nephew of John had Alexander. In later years, with his friend Greenlees (1925), nephew of Robert Hugh Shona, Phillip visited galleries and museums (1928), died 26 November 2019, aged eighty- and returned to Cambridge, where he loved five. After Winchester College, Andrew attending reunions. read Classics, was President of the Classical
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Association, and was awarded the Wright’s Executive, Whitbread & Co. Ltd, London; Prize, a John Stewart Rannoch Scholarship, and Managing Director, Sodastream Ltd. and the University’s Henry Arthur In 1960 Roger became a member of the Thomas Scholarship (1951) and Travel Institute of Brewing. His later career was Exhibition (1955). A varied career included as a Partner at Ivesley Equestrian Centre, Private Secretary, Principal and Assistant Waterhouses, and as a farmer. Recreational Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Civil activities included travel, shooting and Aviation, and Private Secretary, Under highland cattle. Roger was married twice: Secretary and Principal Finance Officer, first, in 1958, to Joanna; and second, in 1985, Department of the Environment. Andrew to Pauline, who survived him. was then Secretary to the Water Authorities Association; Managing Director, Group Managing Director and Vice-Chairman, Anglian Water; and Board Member of EurEau. His final position was Consultant, Samuel Montagu Ltd. Other appointments included Chairman, Huntingdonshire Enterprise Agency; Governor, Huntingdon Regional College and Kimbolton School; and Chairman, Plumstead Almshouses. His interests were reading, gardening and Surrey County Cricket Club. In 1961 Andrew married Janet, who died in 1993. In 2000 he married Susan. Andrew had one daughter Bryan Coleby (1955) and one son. 1955 COLEBY, Dr Bryan, died 20 February 1955 BOOTH, Roger John Nimmo, son 2019, aged ninety. After Rutherford College of John Charles Hedley (1923), nephew of of Technology and King’s College, Durham, Norleigh (1926) and cousin of Neil Lancelot where he read Chemistry followed by a (1958), died 18 January 2019, aged eighty- PhD, in 1955 Bryan joined St John’s on three. After Sedbergh School and National appointment as a Broodbank Fellow in Service in the Royal Armoured Corps, Biochemistry at the Low Temperature Roger read Natural Sciences and Economics. Research Station, Department of Scientific He was then awarded a qualification in and Industrial Research, University of Technical Biochemistry (Brewing) at Cambridge. There he remained until 1960. Heriot Watt University. The first part of Subsequent appointments and career choices Roger’s career was in the drinks industry, included: Office of the Science Adviser, as Assistant Brewer with John Aitchison NATO, in Paris, when he became acquainted Co. Ltd; Second Brewer at J Nimmo Ltd, with international diplomats; Technical Castle Eden, County Durham; Workstudy Policy Planning Manager, Pilkington
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Brothers, St Helens, Lancashire; private was awarded a DPhil (1969, Oxford) and the consultant providing market research to the New Zealand Book Award for Non-Fiction pharmaceutical and shipbuilding industries; for Tarawera (1989), a historical account of Price Commission and Pay Board, London; the volcanic eruption in 1886 that buried and Principal Officer, Department of Trade forever the famous Pink and White Terraces. and Industry, London. Bryan published A painting of the eruption through the eyes approximately thirty scientific papers, mostly of a survivor was part of Ron’s extensive on radiation chemistry and the preservation collection of related material. Ron had two of foodstuffs using ionising radiation. An children, Glenda and Nigel. accomplished pianist, his other interests were holidays in France and Italy, good 1955 THIRLWAY, Professor Hugh Wilfrid food and wine, art, culture, gardening, and Augustine, father of Sebastian Stephen ginger cats. Bryan was married twice: first, in Paul (1989), died 13 October 2019, aged 1954, to Christine, with whom he had three eighty-two. After Bradfield College, Hugh daughters, Wendy, Nicola and Carolyne; and read Classics (Minor Scholar) and Law, second, in 1984, to Anne, from whom he coxed for the LMBC, and completed an LLB. gained three stepsons. Following work as a solicitor in Cambridge, he moved to the International Court of 1955 KEAM, Professor Ronald (Ron) Frank, Justice at The Hague, becoming Secretary, died 6 February 2019, aged eighty-seven. First Secretary and, on three occasions, After Mount Albert Grammar School Principal Legal Secretary. Hugh was also and Auckland University College, New Professor of International Law at the Zealand, where he took undergraduate and Graduate Institute of International Studies, higher degrees, Ron read Mathematics. He Geneva. In a distinguished career, Hugh was enjoyed a lengthy career (1958–2006) in Visiting Fellow or Professor in Cambridge, the Department of Physics, University of Leiden, Geneva, Bristol, Shanghai and Auckland, rising to Associate Professor. Ron Wuhan, and was awarded Docteur en Droit taught undergraduate and postgraduate (Nancy) and LLD (Cambridge). He also geophysics courses and supervised published monumental books, book chapters numerous postgraduate theses. He published and many articles on the International widely on the Waimangu thermal system Court of Justice and International Law. and on geothermal topics generally. Recreational interests included music, Together with Ted Lloyd, Ron identified and, while at The Hague, Hugh conducted the decline of geysers at Whakarewarewa. chamber ensembles, staged two operas, and The Royal Society’s New Zealand Science composed orchestral and choral music. He and Technology Silver Medal (2002) was also enjoyed poetry and limericks, and he awarded jointly to them for this work, held a pilot’s licence. In 1962 Hugh married citing their ‘outstanding contribution to Christine, with whom he had Margaret, the understanding and conservation of Frances, Clare, Sebastian and Cecilia. In later geothermal features in New Zealand’. Ron years, Hugh’s partner was Elisabeth.
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1956 BRISCOE, Dr Charles Edward, died Essex, Hugh became R. A. Butler Professor 31 January 2019, aged eighty-one. After of History, Research Professor and Emeritus Eton College, Charles read Medical Sciences, Professor. In 2007 he was awarded a DUniv played Chess, and completed a BChir (Essex). Perhaps best known for his sweeping and an MB. He was Medical Assistant in and elegant History of the United States Anaesthetics, Norwich Hospital; Anaesthetic (Longman 1985, Penguin 1990), Hugh also Registrar, United Cardiff Hospital; and published on John F. Kennedy, Rudyard Senior Registrar Anaesthetics, St Thomas’ Kipling and Arthur Ransome. He wrote the Hospital, London. Returning to Norwich as magisterial biography, Alexis de Tocqueville: Associate Specialist in Anaesthetics, Charles Prophet of Democracy in the Age of Revolution served for nineteen years. He published on (2006). Revered for his good humour, his medical speciality and on meteorology. warmth and wisdom, colleagues paid tribute Aged nine, Charles wrote to the Met Office to Hugh for making Essex his ‘intellectual to report a rare sighting of a blue moon, home’, for his ‘wonderfully humane and believed to have been caused by ash blown enlightening presence, much-loved by from a forest fire in Canada. Later he wrote students and colleagues alike’, and for about tornadoes in Norfolk, appeared on enabling thousands of students to discover Anglia TV Weather and was known as ‘the joy of history through his teaching’. ‘keeper of the weather’ in his village of Buxton. He also wrote about his Ebstein’s 1956 HENRY, Dr (Robert) Falconer, died Anomaly, a heart condition that can result 24 January 2019, aged eighty-two. After in sudden death. In 1963 Charles married Daniel Stewart’s College, Edinburgh, and Avril, who died in 2018, and to whom he the University of Edinburgh, Falconer was grateful for taking ‘a gamble on my life’. studied for a PhD at St John’s in Mechanical They had two sons, Timothy and Jonathan, Sciences. He then became a Research Fellow and one daughter, Nicola, who died in 1992. at Caius College. In 1964 Falconer moved to Canada, where he enjoyed a career as an 1956 BROGAN, Professor (Denis) Hugh oceanographer, his appointments including Vercingetorix, uncle of Benedict Marius Associate Research Officer at the National (1987), died 26 July 2019, aged eighty- Research Council of Canada and Research three. After Repton School and National Scientist at the Institute of Ocean Sciences, Service (Royal Artillery), Hugh read History Department of Fisheries and Oceans, (Major Scholar), winning a host of prizes British Columbia. Later, Falconer was and studentships. Following work for The Senior Research Associate at the National Economist and a Harkness Fellowship to the Tidal Facility, The Flinders University of United States, at St John’s he was Research South Australia. He published in numerous Fellow; College Lecturer, Supervisor and journals and was co-developer of a software Director of Studies in History; Title B package, TriGrid, an automatic modelling Fellow; and Assistant Lecturer in the Faculty system for building triangular grids for use of History. Moving to the University of by oceanic modellers. A kind, intelligent
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and practical man, Falconer was an avid Institution of Engineers, Zimbabwe, reader, an engaging conversationalist, a keen Terry was a member of the Dam Safety photographer and a lifelong beekeeper. He Panel for the Kariba Dam and of various travelled widely and had friends in many review panels. He was appointed Member countries. Falconer married Gloria, a New of the Legion of Merit, Rhodesia, and in Zealander, who survived him. They had two retirement he undertook consultancy in the daughters, Karen and Sandra. Zimbabwe region. Recreational interests included family pursuits, squash, reading, 1956 KABELL, Terence (Terry) Colin, Scrabble, music and the outdoors. In 1959 son of Alfred Colin Maher (1924), died 21 Terry married Sheila, who survived him. September 2019, aged eighty-four. After They had four children, Peter, Caroline, childhood in Rhodesia, Dulwich College Liz and Sarah. and National Service (Royal Engineers), Terry read Mechanical Sciences and rowed 1956 RICHMOND, Thomas Albert, died for the LMBC. Returning to Rhodesia, from 17 November 2019, aged eighty-four. After 1961 to 2002 he worked for what became the Queen Mary’s Grammar School, Walsall, Ministry of Water Development. As Deputy and National Service (RAF), Thomas read Director, Designs, Terry designed large dams, English. He taught in the Birmingham area many incorporating his trademark drop inlet throughout his career, and he met Mary, spillways, as well as numerous smaller dams his partner of forty years, through teaching. and canals. Renowned for his mentoring In 1981 he was awarded an MSc by the of young engineers, patience and dry wit, University of Aston. A talented pianist, Terry served as Vice-President, Africa and Thomas is remembered by friends for his Australasia, of the International Commission determined views on piano tuning and a on Large Dams. A Fellow of the Institution range of topics, and for his enjoyment of of Civil Engineers, London, and of the holidaying in the New Forest with Mary, who survived him.
1957 HANKINSON, Gerard Stephen, died 5 March 2019, aged eighty-seven. After Salesian College, Battersea, and Norwood Technical College, Gerard read Moral Sciences and was awarded a Strathcona Studentship. His career was in the University’s General Board of the Faculties, as Administrative Assistant (1962–73) and Assistant Registrar (1973–88), where he was affectionately known as ‘Hank’. James Wright, a Johnian and former Terry Kabell (1956) Secretary General of the Faculties, referred
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to ‘sharing a belief in the traditional way photography, sport, travel and culture. Brian of administering (not “managing”) the had two sons, Paul and Eric. In 2001 in Las University and its staff’. Graham Allen, Vegas he married Sharon, who survived him. former Deputy Secretary General of the Faculties and currently Vice-President of 1958 BUTTREY, Dr John Moulton, died Wolfson College, said that ‘Hank was a well 17 December 2019, aged eighty-eight. After read and affable colleague’. Fort Street High School, Sydney, Australia, John read Music (Choral Scholar), was 1957 MACLAREN, Antony John Shaw, son Junior Treasurer of the Musical Society, of Archibald Shaw (1921), died 1 March performed solo for the University Music 2019, aged eighty-one. After Rugby School, Club, singing Schumann, Mahler and Antony read Law, was Junior Treasurer Britten, and completed a MusB and a PhD of the College Law Society and rowed for on seventeenth-century English opera. the LMBC. After a brief employment as a Music-historical research remained a lifelong solicitor with Ashurst Morris Crisp, Antony interest. In Lent term 1981 John returned became Partner with Thomas Eggan & Son, as a Schoolteacher Fellow Commoner. His where he worked for twenty-four years. career was as a professional musician. Lay In 1972 Antony married Gabrielle, who Vicar at Westminster Abbey (1964–91), survived him. They had two sons, Angus other appointments were Tenor Lay Clerk, and Robert, and two daughters, Louise and St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney; Lay Clerk, Elisabeth. Winchester Cathedral; Tenor, Deller Consort; Tenor, St Paul’s Cathedral Choir; 1957 TAYLOR, Dr Brian, died 5 January and Tenor, The Purcell Choir and Consort. 2018, aged seventy-nine. After Latymer John was involved in many recordings, Upper School, Brian read Natural Sciences often contributing scholarly liner notes. He as an Exhibitioner, played Rugby and rowed was in demand as a soloist, including roles in the LMBC Second Boat. In 1960 he was as Evangelist in Passions, and composed awarded a College Prize for achievement settings of preces and responses, canticles, in Part II, a Hutchinson Studentship and a anthems, and descants to hymns. John’s Scholarship. Brian then completed an MASc publications included Magnificat and Nunc at the University of Toronto before spending Dimittis by Herbert Howells (revised, OUP, three years as a Research Investigator 1979); Te Deum Laudamus by Herbert at the Alcan Aluminium Company, Howells (Novello & Co., 1991); and articles Kingston, Ontario. Moving to the USA, on Purcell, Elgar and Howells. he studied for a PhD at Brown University. The major part of Brian’s career was as a 1958 NEWMAN, Dr William Maxwell, son Development Engineer with the General of Professor Maxwell Hermann Alexander Motors Corporation in Warren, Michigan, (1915, Fellow 1923–45), brother of Edward where he remained for thirty-four years. (1954), stepbrother of Sir Roger Penrose Brian’s recreational interests were gardening, (1952, Honorary Fellow and former Fellow),
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died 11 June 2019, aged eighty. After National Service included a spell as Sergeant Cambridgeshire High School for Boys and of the Guard at the Tower of London. His Manchester Grammar School, William career was primarily in management of the read Mechanical Sciences (Minor Scholar). gas industry, much of it with British Gas, His career was as a computer scientist including spells in Leeds and Newcastle and consultant, appointments including upon Tyne. For a short time, John was Assistant Professor at the University of Utah also Deputy General Manager at Heffers and at the University of California, Irvine; in Cambridge. A keen angler and angling Research Staff, Xerox Palo Alto Research correspondent, John was Secretary and Center, California; Research Manager, President, Northumberland Branch of the Logica; Assistant Director, Alvey Directorate, Salmon and Trout Association; Committee Department of Trade and Industry; and Member, River Tyne Improvement Principal Scientist, Xerox European Association; and Member, Environment Research Centre, Cambridge. William was Agency Fisheries Forum. A keen advocate also Visiting Professor at the University of of mini rugby, John’s lifelong interest in the London. A pioneer in computer graphics, sport resulted in roles as President of both human–computer interaction, PCs and local Tynedale RFC and Northumberland Rugby networks, he published widely, including Union. In 1961 John married Fay, who articles on family history, and (with Rob survived him. They had twins, Edward and Sproull) wrote Principles of Interactive Claire. Computer Graphics, the first major text on this subject. A kindly man, William brought 1958 STEVENSON, James Falconer, son wisdom, insight and fresh perspectives of James (1920), brother of Mark Maclaren to both teaching and research. William (1962), uncle of Sophie Mack Smith (1983), was married twice: first to Karmen, with died 6 November 2019, aged eighty-one. whom he had Damien and Chantal; and After Marlborough College, James read second to Anikó, from whom he gained two Natural Sciences (Minor Scholar). His career stepchildren, Alice and Mathew. was primarily as an educational psychologist, working in London for many years. For a 1958 SAUNDERS, John Herbert George, time, he was also a consultant psychologist. died 25 April 2019, aged eighty-one. After In 2000 James added to his qualifications Christ’s Hospital, Horsham, and the Perse and was awarded an MSc degree by the School, Cambridge, John read Archaeology University. James married Jacqueline, who and Anthropology and was a committee survived him. They had three children, member of the University Archaeological Heloise, James and Rupert. Society. He also played Badminton, Rugby, Squash, Tennis and Table Tennis for the 1958 WILLIAMS, Professor Frederic (Fred) College, and captained the College and Ward, father of David Ward (1988), died University Swimming and Water Polo 23 April 2019, aged seventy-nine. After Teams. An accomplished trumpeter, John’s Shrewsbury School, Fred read Mechanical
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Sciences (Scholar), won College Prizes and special man who had an impact on so many rowed for the LMBC. During a distinguished people’s lives’. Graham was survived by his academic career, which included the award wife Janet and his three children, John, of a Cambridge ScD, Fred enjoyed a number Rachel and Matthew. of major appointments: Lecturer in Civil Engineering, Ahmadu University, Nigeria; 1959 GLOVER, Christopher (Chris) Lecturer in Civil Engineering, University Whelpdale Merriam, cousin of Terrot of Birmingham, where he jointly created Reaveley (1888, Fellow), grandson of James the Wittrick-Williams algorithm; Professor Alison (1894), son of Colin Merriam in Civil Engineering, Institute of Science (1930), nephew of Eric Charles (1935) and Technology, University of Wales; and of Michael Alison (1940), died 29 July Head, Division of Structural Engineering, 2019, aged seventy-nine. After Oundle University of Wales, Cardiff; Professor, School and Phillips Academy, Andover, Department of Building and Construction, Massachusetts, Chris read Economics City University of Hong Kong; and and Law. His working life began as an Distinguished Research Professor, University articled clerk, with a view to becoming a of Cardiff. Fred was also consultant to chartered accountant, an aspiration that NASA and British Aerospace, Founder and was not fulfilled. Chris then moved into Chairman of the Cardiff Advanced Chinese stockbroking, becoming a Member of the Engineering Centre, and Guest Professor London Stock Exchange. Finally, he became at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and at a banker, and, as a result of the ‘Big Bang’ in the University of Science and Technology 1986, joined the merchant bank Flemings. of China. He authored 276 papers. From Chris’s recreational interests included fly 1994 to 2000 Fred was Secretary, Llanishen fishing. He became prominent in the local and Lisvane Council of Churches. Fred was branch of the Salmon and Trout Association, married twice: first, in 1964, to Jessie, who as well as fishing for salmon in Scotland predeceased him; and second to Anne, who and Ireland. He also enjoyed cruising in the survived him. Fred had two sons, Frederic Mediterranean and around South America, and David. sailing round the Horn, through the Panama Canal and heading back to the UK via the 1959 EARDLEY, Graham Alexander, Caribbean. In 1963 Chris married Elizabeth, died 12 July 2019, aged seventy-nine. After who survived him. They had two children, Newcastle High School, Graham read Fiona and Charles. Modern and Medieval Languages. He lectured at Keele University for a short time, 1959 GRIGGS, David, died 31 December then for most of his career taught languages 2017, aged seventy-seven. After Bede in secondary education in Staffordshire and, Grammar School, Sunderland, David read later, in Cumbria. He was an accomplished Classics and Law. After five years working organist and a committed Christian, in the UK for Legal and General Assurance described by those close to him as ‘A truly Company, London, Consett Iron and
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Steel, County Durham, and John Lewis of the Australian Society for Microbiology; Partnership, Stevenage, he emigrated to President of the Federation of Australian Canada. There David became a dedicated Scientific and Technological Societies; and public servant, working for thirty years for Director of the University of New South Wales the Federal Civil Service, first in Ottawa and Union. He was proud of his involvement in then in Vancouver. Although a modest man, the Aboriginal Education Program and the David found great personal satisfaction in Australian Defence Force Academy. Tony his family and recreational accomplishments. published extensively on the interaction He was a devoted husband, father and son; between microbiological surfaces and their a lifelong jazz musician and aficionado, environment, establishing an international with a particular liking for Gerry Mulligan; reputation for the quality of his research. a talented photographer and rugby player; an avid reader and deep thinker, who 1959 WYMAN, Howard John, died 30 August appreciated fine invective and absurd 2019, aged eighty. After Bablake School, humour; an animal and nature lover; and a Coventry, Howard read Mechanical Sciences connoisseur of single malt. David married and played for the Rugby First Team (Colours) Christine, whom he met in Cambridge. She and for the University. His career involved a was the love of his life and survived him, number of engineering-related appointments: along with their four children, John, Jeremy, Chief Engineer, Vehicle Evaluation, Alison and Penelope. Coventry; Field Engineer, Hewlett Packard, Winnersh; Director, Advanced Systems, GKN 1959 WICKEN, Professor Anthony (Tony) Technology Ltd, Wolverhampton; Computer- John, died 3 October 2017, aged eighty- aided Engineering Director, Austin Rover six. After the University of Cape Town Ltd; Operations Director, Press and Tooling, (BSc, PhD), Tony read Natural Sciences Rover Ltd, Swindon; and Operations Director, and was awarded a Wright’s Prize and a Aerostructures Ltd, Hamble. Building on his Scholarship. Following a Senior Research sporting reputation at Cambridge, Howard Fellowship at the University of Newcastle played more than two hundred games and a Lectureship at the University of for Coventry RFC and also represented Canterbury, New Zealand, Tony pursued Warwickshire. He joined a distinguished line an academic career at the University of of players who wore the number two jersey for New South Wales, Australia, for over fifty Coventry, his immediate predecessor being years. His initial appointment was as Senior England international Bert Godwin. Although Lecturer in Microbiology, with progressions by modern standards he was relatively small to Associate Professor, Professor, Dean of for the position of hooker, Howard more than the Faculty of Biological and Behavioural compensated through his exceptional mobility Sciences, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Deputy and lightning strike at set scrums. In 1963 Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs), and Howard married Christine, who survived Emeritus Professor of Microbiology. Tony him. They had three children, Nicola, Marian was President and Honorary Life Member and Neal.
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1960 HUSSEY, Ian Redmond, died 17 Nottingham Polytechnic and Nottingham December 2018, aged seventy-seven. After Trent University. He remained for twenty- Trinity School of John Whitgift, Croydon, five years and became Head of Department. Ian read Natural Sciences. His career was Jock then ran his own consultancy business at Skinners Dog Food until he took early and later became a Director at Andy retirement because of ill health. Ian and his McMunn Crop Protection. He was awarded wife, Gail, had many shared interests. Gail the Agricultural Medal by the College of bred Dalmatians and Norwegian Buhunds, Agriculture, Auchincruive, Ayr. Jock was and she and Ian would travel to shows in married to Jackie. They had four sons, their motor home. While Gail was judging, Andy, Ian, Peter and Simon. A Service of including at Crufts, Ian would watch Thanksgiving for Jock’s life was held in and chat with other spectators. Another Southwell Minster. joint interest was the East Anglian Air Ambulance, their involvement prompted 1960 SANDEMAN, Professor (Ronald) John, in 2004 by an appeal for funds to build a died 13 July 2019, aged ninety. John came helipad at West Suffolk Hospital. Their to St John’s for a PhD in Engineering after enjoyment of cruising was highlighted attending Norwood High School, Adelaide; in 2013 when an episode of the BBC2 the University of Adelaide; the Long Range programme, The Cruise: A Life at Sea, Weapons Establishment, Woomera; and featured their Golden Wedding and the the Aeronautical Research Laboratories, renewal of their wedding vows. Ian married Melbourne; and after completing an MSc Gail in 1963. She survived him but died (Melbourne). Returning to Australia, he in January 2020. They had two children, was appointed Lecturer in the Department Elizabeth and Keith. of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra. Subsequent positions included 1960 McMUNN, John Hetherington, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Science, and Head known as Jock, died 25 November 2018, of the Department of Physics, with a personal aged seventy-nine. After Dumfries Academy Chair. One of Australia’s leaders in the search and the University of Glasgow, Jock was for gravitational waves, John’s specialist skills awarded a Scholarship by the Department enabled research into high temperature of Agriculture for Scotland and studied plasma physics and shock boundaries for the for a Diploma in Agriculture at St John’s. new space shuttle’s re-entry. He published He then became Warden and Lecturer at authoritatively, was Visiting Professor at Lancashire College of Agriculture before Harvard and Zurich, and was much in moving to Fisons Fertilisers, where Jock was demand by learned societies and committees. successively Technical Sales Representative, John helped establish and chaired the Wholesale Representative and Sales National Science Summer School, earning Manager for the North of Scotland. In 1969 the Order of Australia Medal for services Jock was appointed to Nottinghamshire to education and a Vocational Excellence College of Agriculture, later subsumed into Award from the Rotary Club of Ginninderra.
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In later years he became concerned about followed by a PhD and a book, the research environmental issues and sustainability. In for which involved living – together with 1952 John married Kath, who survived him. his then wife, Wunderley, whom he married They had four children, Mark, Robert, Helen in 1964 and divorced in 1974 – with the and Ruth. Majangir tribal people of south-western Ethiopia. During his time in Cambridge, Jack 1960 WOOD, Dr Jeffrey (Jeff) Thomas, died was Secretary of Americans in Cambridge 22 April 2019, aged seventy-nine. After King Against the War in Vietnam. Returning Edward’s School, Bath, Jeff read Mathematics, to the United States, Jack taught Social followed by an MSc (Wales) and a PhD Anthropology at Harvard. His course, Radical (Birmingham) in Statistics. He then worked Perspectives in Social Change, was very at the National Vegetable Research Station, popular. Jack then taught at Northeastern Wellesbourne, before emigrating to Australia. University before moving to the University There he became an applied statistician of of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, where he considerable stature, making significant remained for over forty years as Professor of contributions to biological and ecological Sociology and Anthropology. A dedicated and research at the Commonwealth Scientific serious teacher, Jack enjoyed working with and Industrial Research Organisation; the each generation of students. His lifelong love Australian National University (ANU), of travel took him to all fifty states and to over Canberra; Charles Sturt University, Wagga one hundred countries, although he avoided Wagga; and in the ANU’s Conservation and tourist sites, preferring to interact with local Landscape Ecology Program, Centre for people and their culture. Jack was survived Resource and Environmental Studies, ending by his two sons, Sam and Jeff. his career as Visiting Fellow. Recognised with awards by colleagues, who found him 1963 STONE, (Alan) Martin, died 14 generous and good humoured, Jeff was a December 2015 aged seventy-four. Born in committee member of the Birmingham Local New South Wales, Australia, after The Scots Group, Royal Statistical Society; President College, Bellevue Hill, and the University of the Australasian Region, International of Sydney, Martin read Classics at St John’s Biometric Society; National Treasurer, (Commonwealth Scholar). He then returned Statistical Society of Australia; and beta to Australia, where for thirty-seven years he tester for the Genstat statistics package. He was Lecturer and then Senior Lecturer in published prolifically. In 1968 Jeff married Ancient History in the Department of Classics Jenny, who survived him. They had two and Ancient History, University of Sydney. children, Caroline and Stephen. Although jointly responsible for a higher-level course on Athenian Democracy, Martin’s 1962 STAUDER, Dr Jack Richard, died major contribution to classical scholarship 3 October 2017, aged eighty-six. After involved the Roman Republic. The relatively Harvard College, Jack read Archaeology and small number of his publications, notably on Anthropology on a Marshall Scholarship, the Sullan senate, the Optimates, the Cardinal
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Virtues and Tiberius Gracchus, did not do the South West Peninsula Deanery, and in justice to his profound influence. Martin’s Community Child Health, Torbay. Gerald obituary in The Australasian Society for was married to Gerda, who survived him. Classical Studies Newsletter (April 2016) referred to students experiencing a ‘deeply 1965 SAINSBURY, Professor John Albert, loving supervisory blowtorch’ and colleagues died 14 November 2017, aged seventy-one. admiring Martin’s ‘incisive analysis’, After Cowbridge Grammar School, John ‘seeming omniscience’ and ‘Socratic gad-fly’ read Geography and History. Following his interrogations of their latest work. Martin PhD at McGill University, John’s career was was married to Jennifer, who predeceased primarily in Canada, although his academic him. They had three sons, Michael, Andrew work also took him to Brown University and Rob. and to the American University, Cairo. For a time, John was a journalist, writing 1964 HARRIS, Anthony (Tony), died 21 for the Globe and Mail, National Post, June 2019, aged seventy-three. After King’s Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen and National School, Rochester, Tony read Law and then Examiner. The culmination of John’s completed an LLB. He was awarded a Squire career was his appointment as Professor of Scholarship by the University (1964) and a History (1990–2014) at Brock University, St Travers Smith Scholarship by the Council of Catharines, Ontario. As department Chair, the Law Society (1969). Tony’s long career the first-ever Associate Dean of Graduate was as a solicitor, including qualification Studies and Research for the Faculty of as a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner. He Humanities, and a Brock Senator, John was worked in the South and West of England a powerful and persuasive voice, highly as a partner with Church Adams Tatham, respected by colleagues and students. He Laytons, Thring Townsend, and Thring exuded imagination, drive, erudition, wit Townsend Lee & Pembertons. He was and warmth. John’s first book, Disaffected also a Director of the Bath Investment and Patriots (1987), made a major contribution Building Society and an Independent Lay to research on English sympathisers of the Chair, NHS Complaints. Tony was survived American Revolution. His second book, by his third wife, Katherine. He had two John Wilkes: The Lives of a Libertine (2006), children, Michael and Emily. also received high praise. John was married to Lisa, who predeceased him. They had two 1964 HATTON-ELLIS, Dr Gerald Willmott, sons, Edward and Ben. son of Alfred Willmott Balfour (1920), died 17 July 2019, aged seventy-three. After 1966 BEDDOW, Professor Michael, Blundell’s School, Tiverton, Gerald read died 9 September 2019, aged seventy- Natural Sciences and Medicine, completing one. After West Park Grammar School, a BChir in 1970 and an MB in 1971. During St Helens, Michael read Modern and his long medical career, Gerald worked in Medieval Languages (Scholar), later taking Child Health and Paediatric Audiology in a PGCE and a PhD. He then became
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Foundation Scholar at King Edward VII to committees. He was awarded a British-German Foundation, University prestigious Sloan Research Fellowship, of Tübingen; Fellow at Trinity Hall and spent partly at the University of British University Assistant Lecturer in German; Columbia; received several National and Lecturer in German at King’s College, Science Foundation grants; and won a London. From 1986 to 1998, Michael was Teaching Excellence Recognition Award. Professor and Head of the Department Grahame was invited to speak in the United of German at the University of Leeds. States, Canada, Europe, South America A gifted, witty and popular teacher, he and the Far East. He published over fifty successfully led curricular transformation high-quality papers. His major research and the introduction of modern technology interest was inequalities, achieving ‘very to maintain standards while admitting deep and beautiful results’. A modest, students from more diverse backgrounds. highly intelligent man, Grahame was Michael’s publications included The a considerable problem-solver and Fiction of Humanity (1982); Goethe’s loved setting his children mathematical Faust: A Critical Guide (1986); Thomas challenges. As a Tynesider, soccer was a Mann: Dr Faustus (1994); and articles in passion. Grahame’s brother, Colin, said, learned journals. Finally, Michael became ‘Grahame was a Geordie in Wonderland an IT consultant and web developer. His … he shared his native wit with all around scholarship, intellectual brilliance and him, making the world a brighter place. technical skills were widely admired, and Howay the Lad!’ Grahame had three his work included the Anglo-Norman children, Julie, Gordie and Tracie. Dictionary, the Digital Dictionary of Buddhism and the CKJV-English Dictionary. 1966 COULSON, Francis (Frank) Owen From 1993 to 2001 Michael was Vice- Harrison, nephew of Bernard William Chairman of Governors at Silcoates School, (Bill) Harrison (1930), brother of Charles Wakefield. In 1976 Michael married Helena. Lewis Harrison (1960), cousin of Edward They had one son, Andrew. William Harrison (1973), father of Matilda Rosalind Wilding (2007), died 30 June 1966 BENNETT, Professor Grahame, 2019, aged seventy-two, while on holiday died 16 December 2016, aged seventy-one. in Salzburg. After Westminster School, After Rutherford Grammar School and Frank read Modern and Medieval Newcastle University, Grahame completed Languages and fenced for the University, a PhD in Mathematics. His career was at winning a Half Blue. He formed lifelong Indiana University, where successively he passions for both the academic and the was Vaclav Hlavaty Research Assistant sporting aspects of his time in Cambridge. Professor, Associate Professor, Professor of Frank’s career was as a lawyer for the UK Mathematics (1979–2008) and Professor Civil Service. Frank was married to Carole, Emeritus. In addition to teaching and who survived him. They had two children, research, Grahame contributed generously Oliver and Matilda.
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Company of Musicians; President of the Friends of Cathedral Music; a CBE; and a knighthood. Andrew Nethsingha eulogised: ‘one of the giants of the choral music world’. Stephen married twice: first, in 1971, to Penny, with whom he had Suzannah and Laura; and second, in 2004, to Emma, with whom he had Olivia and Frances, and from whom he gained a stepdaughter, Alexandra. All survived him.
1968 KENDALL, James (Jim) Philip, died 9 August 2019, aged sixty-nine. After Tiffin School, Kingston upon Thames, Jim read Natural Sciences, hitchhiking to Stephen Cleobury (1967) Istanbul in one vacation, before taking an MSc (Eng) at Imperial College. His career 1967 CLEOBURY, Sir Stephen, died 22 was with Hewlett Packard, where Jim was November 2019, aged seventy. After King’s Research and Development Project Leader School, Worcester, Stephen read Music and then Manufacturing Engineering (Organ Scholar) and received a Larmor Section Manager, his technical expertise Award and the University’s John Stewart well respected by colleagues. Jim enjoyed of Rannoch Scholarship in Sacred Music. his time at St John’s, where he developed Celebrated as Director of Music and lifelong friendships and his musical and Organist at King’s College (1982–2019), culinary interests. He lived most of his adult Stephen proudly commissioned new works life in Scotland, appreciating the beauty of for the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, and he created Easter at King’s, resulting in many BBC broadcasts. Other positions were at Westminster Abbey; Westminster Cathedral; Cambridge University Musical Society, as Conductor, Chorus Director and Conductor Laureate; and BBC Singers, as Chief Conductor and Conductor Laureate. Stephen contributed generously to music colleges and societies, and to the recording of choral music. Honours included
Kevin Leighton, with kind permission of King’s College, Cambridge College, King’s of permission kind with Leighton, Kevin doctorates from Anglia Polytechnic University and York University; Lifetime
Credit: Achievement in Choral Music, Worshipful Jim Kendall (1968)
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the landscape, coastline, skies and wildlife. wisdom, integrity and wit, Peter encouraged Jim also had a great zest for family life, shareholders to exercise their rights and and he didn’t allow the tragic loss of two to demand good governance. He was much-loved wives to subdue the joy, warmth contributing editor to European Competition and laughter of his relationships with his Policy (1990). In 1973 Peter married Isabel, family and friends, or to impact the good who survived him. They had two children, conversation, food and drink that they Tamsyn and Giles. enjoyed together. Jim was married three times: first, in 1982, to Meg, who died in 1970 LEWIS, The Very Revd John Thomas, 2001, and with whom he had Jane and Anne; died 18 February 2019, aged seventy- second, in 2011, to Helen, who died in 2015, one. After Duffryn Grammar School, and from whom he gained two stepsons, Port Talbot, and Jesus College, Oxford Charlie and Laurie; and third to Marion, (Mathematics, Scholar), John read Theology, who survived him. played Football and rowed for the LMBC. Following Westcott House, he served his 1968 MONTAGNON, Peter James, curacy in the parishes of Whitchurch and grandnephew of Arthur (1912), son of Philip Lisvane, after which John became Chaplain Edward (1936), brother of Christopher to the University of Cardiff and Warden of Edward (1962) and of Timothy John Ordinands. He then served in Swansea and (1965), died 25 June 2019, aged sixty-nine. Brecon, and Monmouth dioceses, before After St Paul’s School, Peter read Modern becoming Dean of Llandaff (2000–12). John and Medieval Languages. His career was was closely involved in the selection and in financial journalism, investment and nurturing of trainee priests, most notably as business ethics. Appointments included Secretary to the Provincial Selection Panel Reuters, with assignments in Hong Kong, and Board of the Church of Wales. Highly Zurich and Washington, and the Financial intelligent, John was an able and serious Times, including World Trade Editor and preacher. Many spoke of his skill as a teacher, Asia Editor; Director of Investment Affairs, warmth as a pastor and ability to relate to the Association of British Insurers, and Senior young. As Dean, John was innovative and Investment Advisor, Financial Reporting embraced a liberal theology, a generous and Council; and Associate Director, Institute of questioning faith, and support for overseas Business Ethics. Peter was also in demand as missions and aid. One of his final acts was a board member with financial institutions to host a visit from the Queen celebrating such as the International Corporate her Diamond Jubilee. In 1976 John married Governance Network; the Royal Institute Cynthia, who survived him. They had two of International Affairs; and Norges Bank sons, James and Andrew. Investment Management. He was Visiting Professor of Corporate Governance at the 1970 von TUNZELMANN, Professor Cass Business School. Highly respected George Nicholas (Nick), died 28 May by colleagues for his wide experience, 2019, aged seventy-five. After school and
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university in Christchurch, New Zealand, Distinguished Research Professor; and and Nuffield College, Oxford, Nick came Professor Emeritus. He was also Chair to St John’s as a Fellow (1970–84) and of Education Wales; Vice-President, Director of Studies for Economics. He Universities UK; and board member of involved himself in the wider life of the the Universities and Colleges Employers’ College, becoming an Eagle and Senior Association and of the Quality Assurance Treasurer of the Field Clubs, as well as Agency. Noel was awarded a CBE (2010) holding University Lectureships. Nick and was appointed Fellow of the Learned then moved to the University of Sussex, Society of Wales (2011) and Member of the became Professor and Director of the Gorsedd of Bards (2012). An accomplished Economics of Science and Technology at the organist, he was a Fellow of Trinity College Science Policy Research Unit, and changed of Music, London. Retirement appointments emphasis from classical economic history included reviewing Welsh devolution; the to the economics of innovation, in which Judicial Appointments Commission; and he developed an international reputation. Chair of Fair Trade Wales and of the Church Nick published prolifically and wrote Steam and Society Board, Presbyterian Church of Power and British Industrialization to 1860 Wales. On Noel’s death, tributes referred to and Technology and Industrial Progress: The ‘his intellect, integrity, wisdom, modesty, Foundations of Economic Growth. Colleagues generosity and compassion for others’. In and students valued Nick’s generosity and 1970 Noel married Dilys, who survived him. empathy towards them. In his leisure time, They had two children, Hywel and Carys. Nick was the first person to climb the North Ridge of Mount Sefton (3,151 metres), 1972 ODOM, Benjamin (Ben) William, one of the most dangerous climbs in the brother of Nicholas John (1968), died 20 New Zealand Southern Alps. In 1975 Nick May 2019, aged sixty-five. After Shrewsbury married Carol, who survived him. They had School, Ben read Music (Choral Scholar) two daughters, Alexandra and Eugénie. and rowed for the LMBC. Remembered as ‘a brilliant musician, very good looking, and 1972 LLOYD, Professor Noel Glynne, died 7 with a beautiful baritone voice’, he became June 2019, aged seventy-two. After Queens’ Manager of Church’s Shoes in Burlington College, Cambridge, BA, MA, PhD (Rayleigh Arcade, combining this with his singing Prize), Noel was Research Fellow at St John’s. career. Ben sang with the Monteverdi Choir An eminent mathematician, with interests in and The Sixteen, and performed at the nonlinear analysis and dynamical systems, Tower of London and Westminster Abbey. Noel published Degree Theory (1978) and He directed children’s and adult choirs, such numerous articles. At the University College as the Marlowe Singers, served as an ABRSM of Wales, Aberystwyth, Noel was Head examiner, and played as accompanist and of the Mathematics Department; Dean of organist, much loved by his pupils. In 1975 Science; Pro-Vice-Chancellor; Registrar and Ben married Judith, who sadly died soon Secretary; Vice-Chancellor and Principal; after the birth of their fourth child, Rebecca.
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Ben cared for her and for their other three in recent years Phil’s health deteriorated, children, Helen, Juliet and Jonathan, with Karen became his primary carer. great fortitude and devotion. In 1998 Ben married Janet, with whom he had Jemima 1974 RILEY, David, died August 2019, and Elliott. At Ben’s funeral, Tallis’s If aged sixty-four. David read History at Ye Love Me was sung by former Choral St John’s after attending West Derby Scholars, and Richard Suart sang Brahms’s Comprehensive School, where he was Wiegenlied. A friend wrote that Ben was the first pupil from the school to come to ‘kind, thoughtful and sensitive … always Cambridge; the London Bible College, where fun to be with … highly intelligent and he was awarded a Certificate in Christian talented’. Studies; and the Open University, where he completed a Diploma and a Master’s degree 1972 TAYLOR, Philip (Phil) Gordon, in Classical Studies. Following a decade died 15 October 2019, aged sixty-five. as an accountant, he entered the teaching After Reading Grammar School, where he profession as Assistant Co-ordinator for was Head Boy, Phil read Natural Sciences GNVQ Business at John Henry Newman as an Exhibitioner and was College School, Stevenage, moving on to Cressex representative for the Cambridge Inter- School, High Wycombe. David’s final post Collegiate Christian Union. Phil had a before retirement was as Sixth Form Tutor passion for computing, and joined Plessey and Teacher of Business Studies, Economics, Communications after graduation. In 1978 General Studies, and History at Sir Thomas he moved to Digital Equipment Company Rich’s School, Gloucester. In retirement, Ltd, where he stayed until he and his wife, David was researching the naval history of Karen, established their own management the Second World War, including the battles and IT consultancy, Profound Solutions Ltd, of the Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal and providing services to a range of corporate Leyte Gulf, using the resources available at clients. Phil was a committed Christian the University Library. He was a member of from an early age and was well-known and several Church of England Synods. In 2002 well-respected in churches in the Reading David married Anne, who survived him. area. He played an active part in the Faith in Business community based at Ridley Hall, 1975 STANHILL, Dr Gerald, uncle of Cambridge. Phil’s family remember him as David Bernard (1979), died 3 May 2019, a devoted family man, who was financially aged ninety. After John Bright Grammar astute, intellectual and always eager to help School, Llandudno, Hertfordshire Institute increase the knowledge and understanding of Agriculture, and the University of of everyone around him. Phil was a keen Reading, where he completed a first degree photographer and something of a foodie, and a doctorate, Gerald worked as Scientific and he also attempted poetry. In 1978 Phil Officer at the Irrigation Department, married Karen, who survived him. They National Vegetable Research Station, had two sons, Stephen and Michael. When Agricultural Research Council. In 1958 he
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moved to Israel to become Research Officer he was ‘a wonderful son, brother, uncle and in the Irrigation Division (1958–65), and good friend. He was a clever mathematician, then Head of the Agricultural Meteorology a talented musician, singer and band player, a Division (1965–77) at the Institute of good laugh … and a really wonderful person. Soils and Water, National and University He was much respected and loved, and he Institute of Agriculture, Rehovot. Gerald will be greatly missed’. was an Overseas Visiting Fellow at St John’s 1975/6, returning to Israel to hold 1977 WINDSOR-PLEYDELL, John Bernard, senior posts at professorial level, including died 30 September 2018, aged ninety-six. ones with the Agricultural Research After Salford Grammar School, John joined Organisation, as well as appointments in the RAF, serving during the Second World the United States, Canada and Australia. In War and travelling all over the world. In 1977 1993–94 Gerald came back to Cambridge he came to St John’s and spent two years as Visiting Researcher at the Scott Polar studying for a Diploma in Historical Studies Research Institute. He was much in demand and a Diploma in Legal Studies. John was internationally as researcher, editor and a supporter of the Bournemouth homeless author of scientific publications concerned charity, Hope for Food, donating £35,000 for with agriculture. In 1963 Gerald married the purchase of a mobile shower for use by Rachel, who survived him. They had three homeless people while their clothes were also children, David, Michal and Ariel. being washed. He spent his last years at the Lindsay Bupa Care Home in Poole, where he 1976 BRODZKI, Wacław Wiktor, died was regarded with affection by other residents 13 May 2019, aged sixty-two. After St and by staff. John was married to Annis, who Albans School and the Perse School, predeceased him. Cambridge, Wacław read Mathematics as an Exhibitioner. He then worked as a computer 1978 SMITH, Neil Harold Kirkpatrick, programmer at Cambridge University died 25 July 2019, aged sixty. After Royal Press. Wacław was born into the Polish Belfast Academical Institution, Neil read Catholic community, which his relatives Natural Sciences and rowed for the LMBC regarded as their own extended family. An and the University. His career was as a intelligent and interesting person who was petroleum engineer in Europe and Australia. willing to share his knowledge, Wacław Neil’s employers included BP Exploration, was generous in helping others, including London; Maersk Olie og Gas, Copenhagen; tutoring students before examinations and Reservoir Management Ltd, Aberdeen; PGS assisting and visiting, with his accordion, Reservoir, Weybridge; Senergy, Aberdeen; and people in need. He enjoyed the company of Woodside Energy, Perth, Australia’s largest his nieces and nephew, who also appreciated independent oil and gas company, to which his arrival with a bag of tricks, activities and Neil moved in 2008. Neil also continued his juggling balls, accompanied by singing, on elite commitment to rowing. Having been Christmas Eve. Wacław’s family said that a member of Thames Tradesmen’s Rowing
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Club and Aberdeen Boat Club, he was a of Newcastle, New South Wales, and became huge contributor to Perth’s ANA Rowing Dean of the Faculty of Arts. He created a Club, serving on the Club Committee and new field of study, computational stylistics, spending many hours as Vice-Captain and became Founding Director of the Centre (Maintenance) responsible for the club’s boat for Literary and Linguistic Computing, fleet. Neil was also a passionate and active studying the texts of Jane Austen, Henry Director on the Board of Rowing Western James, E. M. Forster and Virginia Woolf. Australia, with special responsibility as His Computation into Criticism (Oxford, Director Regattas. His enduring legacy will 1987) is still studied. In 1979–80 John was be improvements to the regatta calendar and at St John’s for his Commonwealth Research programme, as well as his passion for the Fellowship and Honorary MA (Cantab), participation of schools in rowing. In 1988 ‘one of the greatest highlights of his long Neil married Alison, who survived him. career’. Internationally distinguished, John They had four children, Calum, Finn, Dan received an Australian Centenary Medal and Lachlan. (2001) and the International Busa Award for outstanding achievement in the application of information technology to humanistic research. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (2011). In 1954 John married Pamela, who predeceased him. They had three daughters, Catherine, Alison and Elizabeth.
1980 HOLT, Dr Sidney Joseph, died 22 December 2019, aged ninety-three. After Haberdashers’ Aske’s School, Sidney attended Reading University. He was an Overseas Visiting Scholar at St John’s (1980–81). Kindly and charismatic, Sidney was a marine biologist relentlessly John Burrows (1979) committed to conservation, and his mission became to save great whales from 1979 BURROWS, Professor John Frederick, extinction. He co-authored The Dynamics died 15 December 2019, aged ninety-one. of Exploited Fish Populations, establishing a After Scots College and the University world reputation. Sidney spent twenty-five of Sydney, John became a teacher, later years at the UN’s Food and Agriculture completing an MA (Sydney) in English Organization in Rome, serving as Director of Literature and a PhD (London). Following a Fisheries Resources and Operations. He also lectureship at the University of Sydney, John spent time at UNESCO in Paris. One of the led the English Department at the University ‘three wise men’ advising the International
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at A Rocha, an international network of environmental organisations with a Christian ethos. He was co-Founder and Director of A Rocha Lebanon, where, with his wife Susanna, also a teacher, Chris was involved in habitat restoration at Aammiq Wetland. There he developed environmental activities for schools and helped to identify eleven new Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas. He published Postcards from the Tim Holt Tim Middle East. Chris then became Executive Sidney Holt (1980) Director of A Rocha International and was visiting South Africa, seeking to establish Whaling Commission (IWC), Sidney’s new environmental partnerships, when scientific, communication and diplomatic he and Susanna were involved in a fatal skills converted the IWC from pro-hunting car crash on the Swartkops Bridge, Port to conservation. He had a long association Elizabeth. Family and colleagues referred to with the International Fund for Animal Chris and Susanna as loving, generous, kind, Welfare and also with Greenpeace. He courageous, inspiring and remarkable. Chris published prolifically. Sidney’s distinctions married Susanna in 1987. They had three included: Officer, Royal Netherlands Golden children, Samuel, Chloe and Joshua. Ark; Blue Planet Award; Global 500 Award; Gold Medal, World Wildlife Fund; Annual 1982 TASKER, Sarah Alexandra, died 15 Award, American Wildlife Federation; and May 2019, aged fifty-eight. After Orange Hill Chairs in California, Rhode Island and Senior High School and reading Chemistry Malta, where he was Director, International at the University of Southampton, Sarah Ocean Institute. With his former wife, completed a PGCE, played for the Hockey Judy, Sidney had three sons, Timothy and First Team and rowed for the LMBC. Nicholas (both deceased) and George. She was a member of the Cambridge Sidney’s partner, Leslie, survived him. Union and of the University Explorers and Travellers Club, participating in an 1981 NAYLOR, Christopher (Chris) John, expedition to Norway. Her qualifications died 28 October 2019, aged fifty-seven. included a Certificate in Technical Writing After Gillingham Technical High School, (Northeastern University) and a Diploma Chris read Natural Sciences, followed by a in Law (London School of Management PGCE (Nottingham). He taught Biology at and Law). Sarah’s career was primarily in Cherwell School, Oxford, becoming Head education. She was a teacher, examiner, of Department, before moving to Kuwait manager and administrator in schools and English School to teach Science. Chris’s later in higher education in the UK and in the career was in the charitable sector, primarily United States, including MIT. Sarah worked
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briefly in the private sector with John Lewis a public interest litigation to improve the and Lloyds Bank Plc and for a time was drinking water in Shimla. In 1957 Sri Ram Corporate Membership Secretary for the married Eva, who predeceased him. Cambridge Society for the Application of Research. Together with Patrick Henry 1984 SCHUEPPERT, Michael Tehan, died Winston, Sarah edited Artificial Intelligence 7 June 2019, aged fifty-three. Born in at MIT: Expanding Frontiers, Volume 1 (MIT Oshawa, Ontario, and growing up in Press, 1990). Interested in campanology, England, Michael attended Harrow School, Sarah was a member of the Ely Diocesan after which he read Engineering and Association of Church Bell Ringers and of Architecture at St John’s, regarding his the Ladies’ Guild of Change Ringers, Eastern involvement with the College affectionately District. and becoming a member of the Johnian Society of the USA. He later received an 1983 MEHROTRA, Professor Sri Ram, MBA from INSEAD in France, and, after died 17 July 2019, aged eighty-eight. After being diagnosed with cancer, Michael was KP Intermediate College, Allahabad, and awarded a graduate certificate in Biomedical the University of Allahabad, Sri Ram was Informatics by Stanford University while Assistant Professor of History, University learning as much as he could about cancer of Sagar. After a PhD (London), he research. Michael started his career in became Lecturer in South Asian Politics, consulting and saw the future of wireless SOAS; Professor of History at Himachal communications working for Cable and Pradesh University, Shimla (Hon DLit Wireless based in London, where he focused 2014, conferred by the Dalai Lama); on business development around the world. and Nehru Professor of History, MD Cell phones were in their early days when University, Rohtak. Sri Ram was also Michael joined Crown Castle, which had just Visiting Professor, University of Wisconsin acquired the BBC transmission service in (1974), and Overseas Visiting Fellow at St England. He moved to Houston in 2000 and John’s (1983/4), a ‘very fruitful’ experience. helped Crown Castle grow to be the largest He was an excellent teacher, devoted to United States cellular tower company. In his students, a dedicated researcher and a 1999 Michael married Janine, who survived prolific writer. Books included India and him. They had three daughters, Lily, Amelia the Commonwealth (1965), Towards India’s and Chloe. Freedom and Partition (1979) and A History of the Indian National Congress (1995). In 1985 DAVIS, Robert Martin, brother of The Mahatma and the Doctor (2014), Sri Charles Hector (1982), died 4 August 2019, Ram argued that Dr Pran Jivan Mehta, aged fifty-three. After Wellington College, Gandhi’s greatest friend and benefactor, first Robert read Natural Sciences. His first addressed Gandhi as Mahatma. Gentlemanly appointment was with Price Waterhouse and kindly, Sri Ram fought legal battles in Coopers, qualifying as a chartered pursuit of academic improvement and filed accountant and involved with asset-backed
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securities. Robert then joined Robert Fleming, working in corporate finance, followed by JP Morgan and Chase, where his particular expertise in mergers and acquisitions came to the fore, resulting in appointment as Head of European Mergers and Acquisitions at Nomura International. Robert was then Managing Director and Head of European Business at Avendus Capital before moving to Calculus Capital as Investment Director, responsible for the development of the company’s portfolio of companies and building value. On his untimely death, colleagues paid tribute to Kirsten Houghton (1985) Robert as ‘wise, kind, warm, inspirational and a natural leader’. In 1997 Robert married Law Firm, and was a Barrister of the Kathryn, who survived him. They had two Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, British daughters, Tamsin and Tara. Virgin Islands. A kind and generous person, who was also an outstanding 1985 HOUGHTON, Kirsten Annette, died cook, at a tragically young age Kirsten was 4 July 2019, aged fifty-three. After Gateway diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Sixth Form College, Leicester, Kirsten read Kirsten was married to Andrew, who Law and remembered her time at St John’s survived her. with affection. Subsequently, she practised at the Bar in London for over fifteen years in 1990 INGLIS, Professor Kenneth Stanley, two leading sets of commercial Chambers, died 1 December 2017, aged eighty-eight. appearing regularly as an advocate on After the University of Melbourne and an behalf of corporate and private clients in Oxford DPhil, Kenneth’s distinguished the High Court and the Court of Appeal career began at Adelaide University, in cases concerned with commercial the Australian National University, and disputes, including shareholder issues. An the University of Papua New Guinea, experienced mediator and construction where he was Professor of History and industry adjudicator, Kirsten was a member Vice-Chancellor. He returned to the of the Nominet UK Panel of Experts for Australian National University and was deciding .co.uk cybersquatting disputes. Visiting Professor at Harvard (1982) and In 2004 she won the Chartered Institute of Overseas Visiting Fellow at St John’s (1990). Arbitrators’ President’s Prize for arbitration Prolific publications included Hospital award writing. In later years Kirsten was a and Community: A History of the Royal member of the Bar in the Cayman Islands, Melbourne Hospital (1958); Churches and working as a Senior Associate at Campbells the Working Classes in Victorian England
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(1963); The Australian Colonists: An 1992 WHITE, Arthur Noad, son of Exploration of Social History 1799–1870 Dennis John (1961) and Cilla, died (1974); This is ABC: The Australian 14 April 2019, aged forty-four. After Broadcasting Commission 1932–38 Banda School, Kenya, and Harrow (1983); and Anzac Remembered: Selected School, Arthur read Natural Sciences, Writings (1998). Kenneth was lead editor won Larmor and McAulay Awards, of the Bicentennial History of Australia. played Bridge and rowed for the LMBC. An inspiring storyteller, revered by In 2000 he completed an MBA with colleagues, Kenneth was committed to Distinction at INSEAD. Arthur worked as social justice, defending Jewish refugees a management consultant for Mercer and and an Aboriginal man accused of murder. Oliver Wyman, specialising in finance He was appointed Officer of the Order and insurance services, and he became of Australia. Kenneth was married twice: a Partner in 2007. All his life, Arthur first, in 1952, to Judy, who died in a car read broadly and delighted in sharing crash, leaving him with children Jamie, the joy of learning with his family and Kate and Louise; and second, in 1965, to wide range of friends. He was sociable Amirah, who predeceased him, and from and outgoing, and went out of his way to whom he gained three stepchildren. help those he met. Arthur was a skilful photographer, and he greatly enjoyed sailing and travel. Sadly, Arthur was vulnerable to depression when over- stressed, and he ended his own life. With the help of the charity Trees for Cities, his friends are planting a memorial woodland of 5,000 trees in west London. In 2001 Arthur married Jayne, who survived him with their two children, Fraser and Elizabeth.
1996 DOWSON, (Jonathan) Mark, died 16 February 2019, aged forty. After Outwood Grange School, Wakefield, and Wakefield College, Mark read Mathematics and Management Studies. A keen and diverse sportsman, he represented the College at Badminton, Darts, Football, Hockey, Squash and Table Tennis. Mark’s career was in finance and business. His appointments included Arthur White (1992) Assistant Manager, Deloitte and Touche
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LLP; Systems Advisor, Mowlem Plc; Executive, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP; Finance Manager, IT, Bradford & Bingley Plc; and Chief Financial Officer, Oodle Car Finance. He was also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. In 2003 Mark married Erin, who survived him.
1998 GOH, Dr Cheng Teik, father of Alvin (1997), died 17 March 2019, aged seventy-five. After St Xavier’s Institution, Penang, Cheng Teik studied at Harvard, Oxford and Leiden. Following a Lectureship in History and International Relations, University of Malaya, he spent twenty-five years as an MP, standing unsuccessfully for the Presidency (1987) and becoming Deputy Minister of Land and Co-operative Development and Deputy Chief Minister, Penang. Cheng Teik’s last twenty years were as a board member and Adjunct Professor at Sunway University. Cambridge connections were as a board member of the East Asia Institute and membership of St John’s. Cheng Teik published profusely on politics, multiracialism and history; The May Thirteenth Incident and Democracy Arthur Henderson (1998) in Malaysia (OUP, 1971) warns of the dangers of extremism. He was President 1998 HENDERSON, Arthur Smythe, of the Harvard Club of Malaysia and of died 4 December 2019, aged ninety-three. the Oxford and Cambridge Society of After Stamford School, Arthur trained as Malaysia; Life Member of the Malaysian an architect and worked on the Harlow Association for American Studies; and New Town Master Plan. He was awarded Vice-President, Badminton Association a Fulbright Scholarship to Yale University; of Malaysia. Gentle, principled and calm, worked in City Planning at the University Cheng Teik was married to Winnie, who of North Carolina; held a Government survived him. They had three children, Fellowship in Community Planning at Anthony, Alvin and Angeline. McGill University; and was Senior Planner
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in the Aluminium Company of Canada. Roman Law and legal philosophy. An In Europe Arthur worked with Professor inspirational teacher who enriched the lives Max-Erich Feuchtinger in Stuttgart, of students and colleagues, many of Dieter’s learning German techniques for road doctoral students became professors design, and then as consultant to Sir Colin in Germany and further afield. Dieter Buchanan’s report, Traffic in Towns. He published prodigiously, received three was also consultant to the British Airports honorary doctorates and was honoured as Authority, British Steel, Greater London a member of many scholarly academies. He Council and the City of London, of which married Dorothea, who survived him. he was a Freeman. Arthur developed correct geometries for turning vehicles and 2010 PURDY, Connor, died 14 October was one of the inventors of the guided bus 2019, aged twenty-eight. After St Louis concept. A member of numerous transport Grammar School, Ballymena, Connor organisations, Arthur owned several vintage read Modern and Medieval Languages. buses. Later in life, at St John’s, Arthur was As the May Ball (2012) Drinks Officer, awarded an MPhil for his thesis on Highway his budget was £45,000. Connor enjoyed Curves and began a PhD. A member of the using his organising, analytical, problem- RNVR, Arthur also played the organ and solving and linguistic skills in high-pressure was a member of the University Heraldic situations. He was Founder of Klubnacht, and Genealogical Society. Cambridge, providing alternative music and flying in DJs from Miami, Detroit 2004 NÖRR, Professor Dieter, died 3 and Berlin. At PSD Bank, Germany, October 2017, aged eighty-six. After the Connor analysed the bank’s property University of Munich, where he took assets, using data to report on housing first and second degrees in Law, and investment opportunities. Following a postdoctoral studies at the Universities of spell of private tutoring, Connor became Heidelberg and Rome, Dieter enjoyed a Strategy Consultant for AMR International, distinguished academic career. Following coordinating an intensive due diligence the Chair of Roman and Civil Law at the project for a potential $50m investment University of Hamburg and an appointment in a financial data platform. He was as Professor of Roman Law at the University then Head of Operations for EurOUT, of Münster, Dieter was, from 1970 until responsible for organising Europe’s major 1999, Professor of Roman Law and Civil LGBT conference for top business school Law and Director of the Leopold Wenger students. Finally, Connor was Sales and Institute for Legal History and Papyrus Marketing Executive, VITA Vodka. In 2018 Research at Ludwig Maximilian University the London Business School awarded him of Munich. He held Emeritus status until a Master’s degree. Connor was survived his death, during which time Dieter was by his parents, Lawrence and Catherine, Overseas Visiting Scholar at St John’s (Lent his brothers, David and Michael, and his term, 2004). Dieter’s research focus was partner, Mitch.
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Photo: W2 celebrating after Lent Bumps SPORTS
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Aquila taking flight
Aquila is the College’s first all-female a cappella, or unaccompanied, vocal singing group, formed in January 2018. Web and Internal Communications Officer Louise Hanzlik explains how it all began.
Aquila on Kitchen Bridge, October 2019
In 2017 the Director of Music at St John’s, open to undergraduate and postgraduate Andrew Nethsingha, became Chair of the students, staff and Fellows, and to bring College Music Society. A recent survey of together a broad range of College members College members had revealed an appetite in a fun, relaxed environment. This initiative to make music at St John’s, and the Society was financially backed by the College in particular, more inclusive and accessible. Annual Fund, which supports new and One of Andrew’s ideas was to launch an innovative projects every year that benefit all-female, secular singing group in College St John’s. that would complement the all-male College Choir and the mixed-voice St John’s Voices. The next step was to find a director for the He wanted the new vocal ensemble to be vocal group. Andrew approached composer,
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singer and vocal coach Joanna Forbes Joanna’s own compositions, including L’Estrange, both of whose sons were at that ‘Give Us Grace’, a Jane Austen prayer set to time Choristers in the College Choir. Former music, and ‘Twenty-first-century Woman’, Musical Director of the Grammy award- a gospel-style song that made history winning a cappella group The Swingles, by being the first recording session at Joanna has coached a cappella groups all London’s famous Abbey Road Studios of over the world and has appeared as a judge a song written, conducted, sung, played, on Sky One’s Sing: Ultimate A Cappella. engineered, produced, mixed and mastered Andrew describes Joanna as ‘one of the most entirely by women. talented, inspiring and experienced people in the world in this genre of music-making’, There are currently eighteen members and she was delighted to be asked to be of Aquila, comprising members of staff, founder and director of the College’s first undergraduates and postgraduates. Fellows all-female a cappella group. are also very welcome. Members come and go as students finish their studies or The group’s first task was to come up with staff members change roles, but there is a name. They decided on Aquila, which a small core who have been present from is Latin for ‘eagle’, the symbol of St John’s the start and have seen the group develop College. To be part of Aquila, no previous in confidence over the course of these experience or sight-reading ability is two years. required – just the desire to make music together as a group. Joanna records demo Since it was launched, Aquila has tracks of all the vocal lines so that the performed in the Old Divinity School, the singers can practise their part between Chapel, the College Bar, and the Fitzwilliam rehearsals and learn the songs by ear. She Museum, and at the St John’s May Ball and encourages a group mentality, with everyone private dinners. The group has also sung communicating and consciously blending on several occasions with the College Jazz their voices. The group generally sings in Band, which was created at the same time three- or four-part harmony, but it has been as Aquila. known to sing in twelve parts. Andrew Nethsingha recently commented Aquila sings a variety of musical styles – folk, that ‘Hearing and watching the inaugural gospel, jazz and pop – and although they concert of Aquila in March 2018 was one of are primarily an a cappella group, they also the most enjoyable, rewarding experiences perform some pieces with piano or guitar of my twelve years as Director of Music – accompaniment. The songs are generally simply joyous.’ The fact that ‘Aquila is now written, arranged or performed by female a central part of music-making in College’, composers or singers, such as Eva Cassidy, as Andrew put it, is a matter of celebration The Staves, The Wailin’ Jennys and Sweet to all of us in the group and, we hope, well Honey in the Rock. The group also performs beyond. Long may it continue!
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The Johnian Society
The Johnian Society was established in 1923 to ensure that alumni could keep in touch with one another and the College after graduation. All Johnians become members of the Society at the end of their first term, so we are one of the largest and most active alumni societies across the Cambridge colleges, with approximately 10,000 members.
Members of the Johnian Society dining at the German Gymnasium, March 2020
As a committee, we organised a wide range Domestic Bursar of St John’s, and had as of social events this year, although sadly we its President Graham Spooner (1971), who had to postpone or cancel those planned has also enjoyed deep ties to the College for for the second half of 2020 because of many years. Committee meetings take place the coronavirus crisis. We also supported every term and are attended by the Master current students through travel grants and and representatives from the College. bursaries and donated £3,000 to these causes this year, funded by past endowments and We are proud that our committee is truly from membership income. In addition, we reflective of the Johnian community. We represented alumni interests on various have representatives from (almost) every College committees. decade of matriculation, ranging from 1957 to 2002, and the committee includes This year, the Johnian Society was ably Johnians from a range of backgrounds, with chaired by Mark Wells (1981), the former a variety of career interests. Membership of
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the committee is dynamic, and we try to elect two new committee members each year. If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact the Chair, Mark Wells: [email protected].
Events we have organised this year include: l Informal Drinks. This year’s informal drinks programme began on 12 February 2020 at The Hoxton bar, which proved Credit: Credit: easier to find than last year’s venue (at Collin Burrows and Mark Wells at the Johnian the British Film Institute) and was well Society Day 2019
attended by over thirty-five Johnians Ben Lister after work. These events are deliberately The Johnian Society Day in September was informal, advertised on Johnian Hub and reimagined as a digital event. This year’s with no need to pay for a ticket or book virtual celebration featured a welcome in advance. Just drop in to catch up with message from the Vice-Master, Professor old friends and make new ones. Tim Whitmarsh, a panel discussion on food sustainability and a virtual pub quiz. l The London dinner. The annual London dinner took place at the German While all our events are promoted Gymnasium on 12 March 2020, just through the Development Office, we before the lockdown was imposed. increasingly use Johnian Hub, which is Notwithstanding this, it was very well proving a popular way for Johnians to keep attended and for many will have been in touch with one another and reconnect their last meal out before an extended with old friends. If you would like to find period at home! out more about what is going on across the Johnian community we would encourage Well-made plans for the annual pub quiz (8 as many of you as possible to register: June 2020), Annual Golf Meeting (9/10 July johnianhub.com. 2020) and a (new) West Country Summer Picnic (16 August 2020) were laid to rest as New members join the Johnian a result of the pandemic. Still, we plan to community each year, and the committee reschedule these events when possible, and members are looking forward to hearing we also intend to extend Graham Spooner’s from you soon and to meeting you at some Presidency (and the equivalent for the Vice of our events in 2021. President, Annamarie Phelps) for a further twelve months. Zip Colley, Hon. Secretary
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The JCR
Co-Presidents Tim d’Aboville and Candela Louzao Carabel in Second Court
When we decided to run for the role of we are sure that many of these new ideas will co-Presidents, our predecessors warned us be worth keeping when things regain a sense that the most difficult part of the role was of normality. dealing with the unexpected. This certainly proved to be true. While this year could The first issue we dealt with as co-Presidents be described as peculiar, however, it has was related to accommodation. The previous also offered us opportunities to innovate committee had started a discussion with the as a JCR. When we started in January, College regarding improving overall student we were very excited to work with our satisfaction with the ballot. After hosting a new committee to meaningfully improve poll, we decided to shift the focus away from students’ lives at St John’s. This has been the ballot and instead address broader issues our focus throughout the year, even as we tied to accommodation. We have pushed have had to rethink the way we do this. Our for all undergraduate houses located outside committee has worked hard to innovate, and St John’s to be open to group applications.
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Izzy McIntyre (Female Welfare), Mark Pepper (Male Welfare) and Paula Espada (Publicity) during the Pink Week Super Ent
Additionally, we have asked that these rooms supported through the Annual Fund. be included in the College’s long-term Unfortunately, our plans were held back renovation plans to increase their appeal. We because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we have also pursued the previous committee’s are hopeful that this will be up and running idea that all freshers be accommodated before the next round of applications. in Cripps to avoid a division in the year Additionally, our Equal Opportunities group. While some of these reforms may not Officer, Will Tan, had the idea of putting happen in time for next year, we are happy together a new Alternative Prospectus to to have received full support from College allow prospective applicants to discover when we brought them forward. St John’s through the eyes of its current students. Another key issue we sought to address was widening access to the College. We had Shifting the focus to student life, a highlight campaigned with the idea of organising of Lent term was our Pink Week Super Ent a virtual open day, a project that was hosted with St Catharine’s and Emmanuel.
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Welfare has continued to delight the students who take part in our events. Chocolate fountains and free fudge have now become regular offerings, and we also hosted Chapel events, a movie night with John’s Picturehouse, and a sports taster day co-hosted by our Welfare Officer and our Sports, Services and Societies Officer. The addition of the Mental Health Officer on the committee has also been a great help, and events such as affirmation card-making and the mental health and eating disorders awareness weeks have been excellent at raising understanding of the importance of maintaining good mental health and checking up on others.
Our social media presence has helped us to communicate with students, both while we were in Cambridge and now from our homes. The committee adopted formal guidelines on what should and should not be included in our publications, especially the bulletin, and adding a Publicity Officer to the committee made it clear how important it is to facilitate
Zac Bischoff (Sports, Services and Societies) student engagement with the JCR. From at a chocolate fountain welfare event publicising our events to hosting our Bake- Off competition during Easter term, our Together we raised over £1,000, which Facebook and Instagram pages have proven we subsequently donated as part of the to be invaluable assets, and their continued Cambridge Pink Week. Our plans for the growth is very encouraging. much-anticipated June Ent were paused, but, if conditions allow it, we hope to make up This social media presence proved crucial for this before the end of the year. On a more when entering Easter term. The coronavirus positive note, our Annual Fund application forced the committee to innovate in new to purchase sustainable and eco-friendly ways to maintain engagement between flooring for the Palmerston Room was students and also with the College in successful, and this will allow us, and the general. We wanted to maintain the sense next committee, to host Ents there. of community defining St John’s, and with
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the help of the SBR we put together a not one but three different timetables to weekly timetable of events ranging from accommodate the differing circumstances (zoom)ba classes to baking competitions in which we may find ourselves at the and quizzes. These were hugely rewarding, beginning of Michaelmas. Building on the and they succeeded in bringing students feedback that we received from previous together again. Moreover, they gave years, we sought to improve our consent Johnians the opportunity to showcase workshops by replacing them with Good skills and talents that we would otherwise Lad ones, which we hope students will find not have discovered. We also organised a more engaging. Once again, we also hope fundraiser, during which the JCR matched that this chance to innovate will benefit student donations targeted to the Stephen future years. Lawrence Charitable Trust. We are especially grateful for the continued JCR–SBR collaboration was not limited to support that we received from the Vice- Easter term, and we are happy to say that Master, Professor Tim Whitmarsh, the both committees worked closely together Senior Tutor and Director of Education, again this year to bridge the divide Dr Annis May Timpson, our Domestic between graduates and undergraduates. Bursar, Helen Murley, and the Dean Collaborating with Matt Linley, the of Discipline, Professor Ernest Laue. outgoing SBR President, we ran a Giant Throughout our time as JCR co-Presidents Bar Quiz in Lent, which was a great we have always felt that senior members success, bringing together students in the of College have a genuine desire to help us Palmerston Room and raising money achieve the goals we set for ourselves. for Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. In We are also very excited to meet and Easter we did not have the opportunity to work with the incoming Master, Heather co-host the June Ent, but Debby Wehner, Hancock, in October. the incoming President, co-organised the events that we put together online. We Finally, we would like to thank the members hope to build upon these two terms and of our committee for all their hard work continue to strengthen our relationship. and determination throughout the past two terms. We look forward to returning to It is now clear that Freshers’ Week 2020 Cambridge in Michaelmas for our last term will be very different from what we had as co-Presidents, and to welcoming the new originally imagined. While it is probable cohort of Johnians. We wish our successors that some of the most popular events of the best of luck and hope they will build on the week will not take place (at least not our efforts and enjoy the role as much as in their usual form), we hope to provide we have. incoming students with the best possible experience. With Anna Stevenson, the Tim d’Aboville and Candela Louzao JCR Vice-President, we have put together Carabel, co-Presidents
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The SBR
In 2019 the SBR garden party was integrated for the first time with the Fellows’ garden party, with drinks and food served in the Scholars’ Garden. This relaxing, sunny afternoon at the end of May Week 2019 provided a perfect opportunity for the graduates and Fellows, along with their families, to mingle and reflect on the academic year that had just come to a close. Students and Fellows alike were happy to have shared the event with one another, and we plan to continue the format in years to come.
Mark Wells (1981) presenting at the SBR symposium The SBR Christmas dinner
While the undergraduates vacate Cambridge The end of the summer marked the end of for the long summer, many graduates remain Dr Colwell’s time as the Tutor for Graduate to continue their research. During this time Affairs, a position she had maintained for the SBR hosts their annual formal Summer twenty-two years. During this time Dr Hall, giving everyone the opportunity to Colwell was a huge advocate for the graduate enjoy the excellent food served by Catering community and constantly put the needs during the summer vacation. In July 2019 we of the graduate students first. For this, the were joined by members of Darwin MCR, SBR was hugely grateful, and we decided to who travelled to and from St John’s on punts! organise a surprise retirement dinner in Hall
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to recognise and thank Dr Colwell for the Once everyone was settled, term continued fantastic job she had done. Unsurprisingly as normal. Coordinating with other MCRs, the event was well attended, and we were the SBR committee was able to arrange joined by graduate students, alumni, Fellows formal swaps, allowing members to dine and staff. in several other Cambridge colleges; the luxury of having such an incredible Hall The run-up to the new academic year was means that we are never short of colleges marred by the tragic passing of Professor to swap with. The Borderer, Professor Sir Christopher Dobson. He was an Boyde, continued to run his varied cultural exceptionally caring person and Master, who events, to the enjoyment of many graduate never lost sight of the needs of the students students, and the academic talks given within the College. He always found time, by graduate Johnians offered an exciting despite his busy schedule, to listen to anyone window into our peers’ research findings. who needed him, and he often welcomed students into the Master’s Lodge with a We are extremely lucky to have such a variety of entertaining events. The SBR devoted and talented catering team at is extremely grateful for all that Professor St John’s, and we appreciated their talents Dobson did to welcome and grow the in Michaelmas term with a themed SBR graduate community within St John’s. Halloween formal, which saw the Hall illuminated in green while students Despite the sad news, this academic year donned spooky attire. The term finished began with the typical buzz of excitement with the hugely popular SBR Christmas as the new students arrived. The SBR Dinner, which comprised traditional committee hosted many events during British Christmas food, Christmas crackers Freshers’ Fortnight to welcome the and bad jokes, and was followed by an newcomers into the graduate community. exciting Ceilidh in Hall. The wine reception kicked things off as a fitting icebreaker for the year ahead, and The New Year brought a new term that then the SBR BBQ was once again held on began with a ‘Roaring 20s’ themed party, the playing fields, thanks to the incredibly which was a great opportunity for friends generous groundskeeper Keith, who also to catch up after the Christmas break. The cooked all the food for the night. The new term saw plenty of swaps, with three fortnight also saw tours of the College and swaps at the end of January celebrating historic walks around Cambridge, led by Burns Night, which gave us our fill of Professor Patrick Boyde, as well as a few trips haggis for the year. In Lent term we also to the local pubs, led by the SBR committee. introduced an academic formal swap, The introductory events were rounded off where we had the opportunity to learn with academic talks, courtesy of current about academic research being carried Johnians and accompanied by some brain out by graduates from Christ’s College food: pizza! before joining them for dinner.
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The SBR Graduate Research Symposium the students within the St John’s community. was, once again, a fantastic success. This We have collaborated on the June Ent; conference-like day in February gives weekly bar quizzes, including the Big Quiz; graduates the chance to present their and events and initiatives to improve student research to their peers. JCR members were wellbeing. This has enabled the continuation also invited to join, giving those interested of the hugely successful Chapel Welfare in continuing their studies a glimpse at Events: evenings in the beautiful College what an academic career might have in Chapel with calming music, hot chocolate store. This year’s keynote speakers were and biscuits, and therapeutic activities, such the College’s own Director for Education as knitting, colouring and Lego. & Senior Tutor, Dr Annis May Timpson, and alumnus and former Domestic Bursar, The coronavirus pandemic has resulted Mark Wells (1981). in the biggest change of our lifetimes. Now, more than ever, the SBR and JCR are Following yearly traditions, we also enjoyed working together to provide entertainment, international swaps. This year we hosted support and welfare events virtually to the students from Collegio Ghislieri in Pavia, students of St John’s. This has been possible Italy, whom we invited to our Christmas through the work of the SBR and JCR Dinner and Ceilidh. During their stay we committees, and especially through the JCR also shared academic talks, took them on co-Presidents Tim and Candela and the tours around Cambridge and ventured to new SBR President Debby Wehner, who Grantchester. Unfortunately, because of the are working tirelessly alongside the College. coronavirus pandemic, we were unable to I would like to thank them for all they make our way to Pavia in May for their May are doing, as well as members of the SBR Ball. We were, however, lucky enough to committee for all they have done throughout head to Trinity College, Dublin, in February the year. to enjoy their Scholars’ Ball, and during our trip we were treated to a historic tour The College is doing everything it can to of the college. However, they were unable help students in this time, and on behalf of to travel to St John’s in March for the SBR the SBR I’d like to thank Dr Mark Nicholls, Spring Ball, which was cancelled because of the Graduate Tutor, for all he has done this the global pandemic. We remain in contact past year in supporting us, and Professor with both groups and look forward to Tim Whitmarsh, the Vice-Master, for arranging similar trips in the future, when stepping up and maintaining the interests possible. of students throughout the year. Finally, thank you to everyone else who works in The collaboration with the JCR, initiated the College and makes it a fantastic place by former SBR President Jessica Tearney- to be a student. Pearce, has continued into this year and has enabled a friendly dialogue that benefits all Matt Linley, President
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The Chapel
Sunday morning College Communion service
This year Chapel was as busy as ever – until to hospitality meant that doughnuts lockdown, of course, when everything disappeared fast at our Beat the Winter Blues changed. For the first term the Dean, Mark event in October, and the mince pies and Oakley, ‘flew solo’. Then in January our new mulled wine went down a treat at Mince Chaplain, Andrew Hammond, previously & Mulled in November. These were events Chaplain of King’s College, joined the St that provided students with the opportunity John’s community. to engage with the Chapel Team in a very different setting. The Advent Carol Service in We continued our regular schedule of November proved yet again to be one of the Evensong each day and sung Eucharist on most popular services of the year. Sunday. There was also Morning Prayer each weekday – a new addition – and College Lent term began with the Epiphany Carol Communion early on Sunday morning. The Service, a highlight of the Chapel’s year. The latter has grown noticeably, with a regular Chapel is lit purely by candles, which makes gathering of more than twenty students at for a unique atmosphere. We also hosted 8.30 at the Ante-Chapel altar. This is followed the Memorial Services for Professor Sir by breakfast in Hall, when friendships are Christopher Dobson, our beloved Master – built and conversation enjoyed. and there were two services because so many wanted to come and celebrate the life of such In the Michaelmas term we invited Sunday a remarkable man. Evensong preachers to choose a topic often avoided in ‘polite society’ but nevertheless Our Sunday Evensong sermon series was crucial to consider from a faith perspective, entitled ‘Professors Professing’. All the and they chose subjects such as class, preachers were Fellows of the College. The nationalism and race. Our commitment Dean invited each to talk about what their
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academic discipline might have to say about vacation, and so services would have stopped the human search for God, and the range anyway, but a significant casualty for the of subjects and treatments was broad and Chapel community was the Annual Retreat engaging, with many members of College with the Chaplain. We were due to spend a few coming to listen. The sermons are available days at Claret House in Buckden, which would still as sound-files on our webpage. The Dean have been a time for quiet contemplation and also hosted a fascinating discussion evening rest, but this was not possible with the social with the Cambridge Centre for Applied restrictions coming into force. Research in Human Trafficking on modern- day slavery, with a variety of international By the time the Easter term began, we were speakers. familiar with lockdown, social distancing and indeed social isolation. All our usual Chapel Andrew, the new Chaplain, began late evening services and activities could not happen. We events on Thursday evenings. These included therefore developed a schedule of remote Choral Compline and an experimental services, which we called ‘Virtual Chapel’, service, ‘Critical Mass’. All were followed by and which happened every day during the hospitality and a time for conversation. There term. This combined Facebook Live and was further hospitality to be enjoyed when we pre-recorded services. The Facebook Live joined forces with the JCR to host a welfare events were said services, principally for those night of games, craft activities, chat and hot who would have been there anyway: Morning chocolate. Prayer and the Sunday 8.30 Communion. The pre-recorded services included tracks of Andrew also led a Reading Group in his study, the Choir singing, taken from our archive of during which members worked through Toni recorded services, and premiered each day Morrison’s novel Beloved. This is perhaps her on the Choir or St John’s Voices Facebook best-known book, and it takes us to a time pages. These attracted a lot of attention and when there was still slavery in America. It is favourable comment, which prompted us to a life-changingly powerful book. What we continue the endeavour during the Summer did not know then was how emphatically the Residency period. ongoing horrors of racism and discrimination and violence would surge across the world At the time of writing we have no idea what after the death of George Floyd only two next term will look like, but we will do our months later. And talking of books, the utmost to sustain the life of the Chapel and Dean published two new books this year: a to live out a pattern of prayer and loving collection of sermons and an exploration of service for the whole College community, George Herbert’s poetry. our hearts and minds oriented towards faith, beauty and justice. Just as the Lent term was drawing to a close, the coronavirus pandemic was affecting Andrew Hammond our life together. We were approaching the Chaplain
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The Choir Credit: Credit: Marif Deruffi Marif
The Choir performing at the Grand Théâtre de Provence, Aix-en-Provence 2019
Although together for only the Michaelmas former Organ Scholar, Iain Farrington, and Lent terms, the Choir had a busy and played by Anne Denholm (harp), Julia schedule with the regular cycle of weekly Hwang (violin), George Herbert (organ) services, and special services including and Graham Walker (cello). Henry Laird’s the Advent and Epiphany Carol Services, solo during Franck’s Panis angelicus was Lent Meditation, termly Bach Cantatas particularly moving. with St John’s Sinfonia, and Joint Services with the choirs of Gonville & Caius and Music commissioned by the College during Clare Colleges. Just before the lockdown we the year included Hark the glad sound by managed to conclude our four-term series Judith Bingham, which was premiered at of Organ Recitals by former Johnian Organ the Advent Carol Service, and three pieces Students. We are very grateful to all those by student composers – Quiet Stream by who returned to play. Sophie Westbrooke for choir and recorder, a setting of the Magnificat by Ignacio Mañá The Choir sang at the Memorial Services for Mesas and a setting of the Nunc Dimittis by the late Master held at the end of January, Katrina Toner. The Choir also premiered with a packed Chapel on each occasion. O virgo virginum, composed by Chorister Music before the services included the Harry L’Estrange. We are grateful to the Adagietto from Mahler’s Fifth Symphony, Johnian donors who so kindly support especially arranged for the occasion by these commissions.
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Two CDs, Magnificat and Ash Wednesday, Choral Evensong in April had to be replaced were released to wide acclaim in October with a repeat of a service from May 2018, and February respectively. Magnificat was and Classic FM repeated a service first selected as Editor’s Choice in Gramophone streamed via their Facebook page in 2018. magazine, and BBC Radio 3 Record Review All services were extremely well received by said of Ash Wednesday, ‘It is the most listeners worldwide, many of whom have glorious, glorious music making’. commented on the comfort it gave them during a period when it was not possible to In preparation for the concert in France at worship in church. We are very grateful to the beginning of December, the Choir sang the Dean, Chaplain, Chapel Clerk, James a concert at St Mary the Virgin Church, Beddoe and Simon Grant for their support Fen Ditton. The logistics of adapting the in making this possible. staging to fit around the church’s architecture resulted in some interesting gradients; While the Choir was unable to assemble however, there were no complaints from after the end of the Lent term, the use of the audience about not being able to see! video technology enabled online singing The following weekend a very enthusiastic lessons to take place during the Easter term. audience at the Grand Théâtre de Provence in Aix en Provence became even more Unfortunately the Choir could not be enthusiastic when, at the end of the concert, together to mark the end of the Choir’s Andrew Nethsingha invited them outside Period of Residence in the traditional for drinks and an encore. Later in December celebratory manner with the final Evensong the Choir travelled to the Netherlands for of the year. We send our best wishes to three concerts in The Hague, Breda and those who leave us this year – Choristers Groningen. The planned Easter tour to the William Buttery and Thomas Watkin; altos USA (with concerts planned in Atlanta, George Gibbon, Will O’Brien and Laurence Grand Rapids, Chicago, Seattle, San Trowsdale-Stannard; tenors Gopal Kambo, Francisco and Dallas) was a casualty of the Henry Laird and Louis Watkins; and basses restrictions in place owing to the COVID-19 Jamie Conway, Matthew Gibson, Simon pandemic, but we hope to reinstate the tour Grant and Oliver Morris. in the not too distant future. Caroline Marks, Daily virtual services, streamed via the Choir Administrator Chapel, Choir and St John’s Voices Facebook pages, replaced live services during the Easter term. The services contained a mixture of spoken word and prayers said by the Dean and Chaplain, and included music from the archives of St John’s Voices and of the Choir. Plans for a live BBC broadcast of
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St John’s Voices
Writing from the enforced distance of our quarantine, looking back on the past year feels like dreaming of a different world. But the fact remains that these twelve months have been some of the most significant in the choir’s short existence, capped undoubtedly by the triumphant release of our debut album – of music by William Mathias – on the Naxos label in January.
The year began, however, as they all do, with a hectic round of auditions to fill gaps in the ranks. We were extremely fortunate to gain several fine new singers from these auditions, as well as through the intercollegiate Choral Trials, which take place nowadays in March. The choral sound had gained in flair and brilliance, and the small teething troubles that every new group of singers encounters were quickly dealt with. A fine series of Evensongs ensued, with a Eucharist thrown in mid-term to encourage the students to relish the joys of early-morning singing.
The Michaelmas term finished with the usual run of events: Foundation Dinner Grace anthems, Christmas Carol Service, points during the term: ‘The singing is and a concert, this time featuring Handel’s first-class throughout: a fine recording!’, Coronation Anthems, with Bach’s Jauchzet Andrew MacGregor, BBC Radio 3 Gott in allen Landen sung by Jessica Kinney. Record Review; ‘The whole programme We were fortunate, as so often, to be joined is thoughtfully chosen, superbly by the wonderful players of the Cambridge executed, beautifully recorded – and, Baroque Camerata for this performance, best of all, hugely enjoyable’, Philip Reed, which was enthusiastically applauded by a Choir & Organ; ‘Highly impressive ... large audience. a matchless and hugely entertaining display of dazzling choral singing’, Our students returned refreshed and re- Gramophone. These served to give our invigorated after their Christmas break, and students a real sense of their place in we launched our Mathias CD at our first the choral world, and to tell the wider Evensong of term. A series of exceptionally world about the remarkable work of complimentary reviews followed at various St John’s Voices.
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Towards the end of term we premiered three At the time of writing it’s hard to know works by female members of our choir – Lara when we may be able to sing together again, Weaver, Eve Machin and Katrina Toner – as but I know that our students are hugely part of the Minerva Festival. This technically proud of all they have achieved over the challenging Evensong was the most recent past months and years, and that they will manifestation of our commitment to new be determined to pick up where they left music in general, and specifically to working off as soon as they are able to do so. And in with our student composers. The experience the meantime, their friendships and their of seeing your music brought to life by your shared music will give them much solace friends and colleagues is inspiring and highly and comfort. educational, and we were extremely proud to be able to perform three such different and I would like to take this opportunity to interesting works. offer our heartfelt thanks to all those who, through their tireless work, make it possible Unfortunately, as the term ran to a close, for us to sing. I would mention, among the increasing restrictions meant that we many others, Caroline Marks, Stephen were unable to perform to an audience Stokes and Mark Oakley, whose support our planned concert of Bach, Scarlatti and has consistently gone far beyond what we Howells. However, we managed to record could reasonably have expected. We are some sections of the music to video, and hugely grateful to you and to everyone who Johnians may enjoy hearing and seeing the has helped us along the way. opening three movements of Bach’s majestic Jesu, meine Freude on our brand new website, Graham Walker (1996), www.stjohnsvoices.org. Director Credit: James Proctor
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Music Society
The Music Society has seen an incredibly The weekly Thursday lunchtime recital active year, with a full programme of series hit the ground running in October, events in the Michaelmas and Lent terms and for the first time we invited some of complemented by a (hopefully temporary!) these performers back to play in the new move to online music-making in the Bridgemas Concerts, each built around a Easter term. The range of events has been theme; this year they were centred on folk broader than ever, from large-scale ticketed music, impressionism, and mysticism, and concerts to the intimacy of the Lunchtime they proved a great success, packing out the Recital series and the atmosphere of the New Music Room. Michaelmas also saw Chapel Lates. On top of that, the Big Band the Big Band and Aquila join forces for a (formerly known as the Jazz Band) has brilliant concert in the Old Divinity School – had a very successful year, and the Music a very exciting precedent for future musical in the Bar events on Fridays and Saturdays collaborations in College. have provided a great platform for Johnian students, Fellows and staff alike. The two largest single events of the Music Society calendar took place in the Lent term. Michaelmas term began with the freshers’ For the first of these, TCMS and SJCMS drinks, giving us a chance to meet new faces, combined with tenor Ruairi Bowen on and this year’s freshers have gone on to 21 February to perform Johann Sebastian make a fantastic contribution to the Society, Bach’s epic St John Passion – a moving and even taking up positions on the committee. dramatic telling of Christ’s crucifixion.
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Many of the instrumentalists and singers Lunchtime Recitals in the NMR. It’s hard (including soloists) were Johnians, and to imagine there being a more varied set the electrifying performance in Chapel of instruments and pieces ever before in a was very well attended by both members recital series: in the sixteen performances, of College and the public. At the end of we heard singers from St John’s Voices, term Matthew Gibson (SJCMS President Aquila, pianists, violinists, duets, the long- 2018/19) returned to conduct a concert awaited return of Professor David Midgely as part of the nationwide Beethoven (now with his own quartet) and, rather 250 festival. The performance included memorably, the sound of the Great Highland Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture, the Third Bagpipes. These are to name but a few. In the Piano Concerto (with our own amazing confines of lockdown, we are very proud that Aïda Lahlou as soloist) and the Second our Lunchtime Recitals have been able to Symphony. This brilliant concert was one continue online from the SJCMS Facebook of the last public events in College before its page and YouTube channel, and they serve closure in March, and it leaves the Society as a platform for anyone to play or sing in a great position from which to continue anything they want to on any instrument when we return to make music in College at any standard. together again. It just remains for me to give a few thanks. The Chapel Lates this year have given First, I would like to thank everyone who us the opportunity to use the building participated in any capacity at any of our in an atmospheric and intimate concert many events. It was fantastic to host our first setting. The first, on 30 January, was a SJCMS formal in March to bring performers selection of sacred choral music from together and to say thank you, and I hope pre-revolutionary Russia, directed by our this can happen again next year. Second, I own Tom Butler, using the richness of the would like to thank everyone on this year’s acoustic to complement the warmth of the amazing committee, perhaps with particular characteristically low Russian bass parts. thanks to Aïda Lahlou for masterminding The second, later in term, saw Johnian the lunchtime recital series so magnificently, alumnus Hugh Cutting (now studying at Joseph Hancock for stepping into the shoes the Royal College of Music) team up with of Secretary at very short notice, Sophie Kirk a band of musicians led by second-year for her utmost patience and hard work, and violinist Leo Appel to perform a varied Dr Robin Glasscock for being such a diligent selection of songs and arias on the theme Treasurer. A final big thank you goes to of ‘Courtly Love’. Both concerts were anyone and everyone who supported SJCMS brilliantly presented. or attended any of our events throughout the year, in person or online. Aside from the individual SJCMS concerts, one thing remains consistent in the James Anderson-Besant, musical life of the College – the Thursday SJCMS President
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Adams Society
The Society enjoyed many fantastic talks this year. To name just a few, Professor Jack Thorne spoke about ‘Equidistribution in Number Theory’, Dr Ailsa Keating presented on ‘Braid Groups’ and Professor Imre Leader gave a talk on graph theory entitled ‘Cops and Robbers’. The Castlereagh Room was only just large enough to accommodate everyone for many of these talks.
The Adams Society committee members 2019/20
The proportion of women studying Maths Overall, it has been a successful year for is still below what we would expect, and so the Adams Society, even without a repeat this year the Adams Society introduced a this Easter term of our fantastic garden Women’s Officer. Sophie McInerney held party (which we shared with the Lamor the role in 2019/20 and organised chats over Society last year), desserts and annual coffee aimed specifically at female Mathmos dinner. I have very much enjoyed my year in John’s. We also exchanged emails and as President, and I hope the committee had a meeting with Dr Evans to find out has another great year under our new why the gender balance is so low across the President, Nic Janisch. University as a whole – and to find out what can be done to address this issue. Mark Pepper, President
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Architecture
This year the Architecture Society continued to present a selection of esteemed speakers from related disciplines. These speakers included art photographer Sergei Petrov and architect Simon Aldridge, as well as notable Johnian architecture alumni such as Luisa Respondek (2011), Hamzah Ahmed (2013) and Gábor Tajnafői (2014). These talks not only provided members with insights into practice as an architect but also showcased the different disciplines that students may be interested in pursuing using the skills acquired from the course. Model- making, rendering and three-dimensional visualisation workshops were taught by members and external guests, and these enhanced students’ abilities to operate programs such as Rhino6 and Enscape to show new ways of presenting ideas through different mediums.
The funding available for the Society allowed us to provide our members with Society members in College access to shared resources essential to our work in the Art Room, such as the cut-sheet plotter, light-box and scanner. Additionally, in-College reviews and critique sessions were held once every term with our Director of Studies. These allowed members to engage with each other’s projects by sharing ideas and providing feedback, which strengthened the projects before they were handed in to be graded.
Papawarin Pinij, President An online three-dimensional visualisation workshop
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Aquila
Aquila, the College’s all-female a cappella group, has had another wonderful year so far, welcoming seven new members. The eighteen singers, who comprise staff (of the College or of St John’s College School) and students (both undergraduates and graduates), meet once a week during term time for a rehearsal in the New Music Room (NMR).
Aquila performing in the Fitzwilliam Museum
The group gave two performances in the As a result of the lockdown restrictions Michaelmas term: an evening rendition during Easter term, the group has of jazz songs with the Big Band; and a been meeting for weekly Zoom well-attended lunchtime recital in the rehearsals, learning new repertoire and NMR two days later. In Lent term, the revising other songs, ready for future group was invited to perform at the Love performances once this is possible. We Art After Dark event at the Fitzwilliam are also planning a remote recording, Museum, giving a thirty-minute recital in which we are looking forward to sharing the stunning acoustics of one of the galleries. via our Facebook page. To mark International Women’s Day, Aquila presented an evening of songs written and/or Joanna Forbes L’Estrange, recorded by women, which took place in the Director Lecture Theatre of the Old Divinity School.
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Big Band
This has been another excellent, albeit slightly Swing Band in the Palmerston Room, with shortened, year for the St John’s Big Band. a slightly shorter but more energetic set to match the atmosphere of the event. Our first performance took place at the end of Michaelmas term in the Old Divinity After the success of our earlier Old Divinity School’s Central Hall. It had a casual yet lively School concert, we returned at the end of atmosphere, with seating dotted around the Lent term with a set that included a debut room and drinks served on the side. We of an original arrangement from our bassist, played a split set, with the College’s a cappella Robert Capodilupo, of Back Pocket by group, Aquila, singing between the two halves Vulfpeck. of our performance. We came back with some of our classics including Fever by Peggy Lee We had been looking forward to more and The Chicken by Jaco Pastorious, as well as performances in Easter term, but a debut of an original arrangement from our unfortunately circumstances did not allow conductor, Ollie Lepage-Dean, of Can’t Stop this. Although we must sadly say goodbye The Feeling. to a few of our members whose time at Cambridge is coming to an end, we wish We had a quick turnaround for a Battle of them the best and hope we can make them the Bands two days later, organised by Jazz@ proud with more brilliant performances John’s, a jazz and blues club that puts on next year! regular events in St John’s. For this concert we performed with Caius Big Band and Fitz Eugenio Nanni, President
The Big Band at St John’s May Ball, 2019
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Christian Union
In Michaelmas term, St John’s Christian Union (CU) was delighted to welcome many first years, whose enthusiasm and love for Jesus injected fresh energy into the College group.
We enjoyed our weekly meetings to read through Bible passages, pray together, and share the ups and downs of university life (often with hot chocolate and biscuits). Each term we organised one or two ‘Text-a-Toastie’ events for our College community, inviting them to text in their questions about faith and life.
We have been heartened to see a strengthening relationship between the Chapel and the CU this year. It was especially fun to end Lent term with a ‘Sharing Stories’ event, where we invited our new Chaplain and other CU and Chapel regulars to share with us their journeys of faith. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. St John’s CU members have also been Therefore we will not fear, though actively involved in supporting the the earth give way wider Inter-Collegiate Christian Union’s events, such as the international freshers’ and the mountains fall into the welcome dinners, the carol services and heart of the sea. — Psalm 46 the 2020 events week ‘LIFE: Is there meaning in the mess?’
The College group continued to meet Carrie Tan and Hannah Lawson, virtually in Easter term, supporting College Representatives one another even while away from Cambridge. We have been blessed to see God working in our midst over the past year, and we are convinced He is still doing so even now!
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Economics Society
This is the first Economics Society report in The Eagle since 2016, so I will begin by reassuring everyone that we do in fact still exist!
While this year has been cut short, it Tripos and how to succeed as a Cambridge was nevertheless a successful one for the economist. Economics Society, and it began with us welcoming the new first-year students to Had Easter term gone ahead as planned, it St John’s and our community in October. would have seen our annual dinner with We hosted our annual Options Desserts a guest speaker, and also our May Week evening in Lent, which provided not only garden party. All being well, the rate of a night of tasty food, but also an insight infection and danger to public health will into the optional papers and Master’s have diminished enough for us to return courses offered by the Economics Faculty. to Cambridge for the next academic year. Engaging speeches were made by Master’s I have high hopes for the future of the and undergraduate students alike, making Society, and I am thoroughly looking the evening as entertaining as it was useful. forward to the events of 2020/21. In attendance were Dr Petra Geraats and Dr Isabelle Roland, who gave advice on Patrick O’Keefe, President
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Johnian Entrepreneur’s Club
The Johnian Entrepreneur’s Club (JEC) finished the academic year 2019/20 renewed, ready to establish itself as a leading force in Cambridge entrepreneurship and eager to support budding Johnian founders. The JEC was founded in 2016 and placed on hiatus in 2018, and this year saw it regenerated and thriving under a new committee.
In the week preceding the start of The highlight of the year for the Michaelmas term, the JEC’S new Club was our 2020 Annual Business committee met at the Innovation and Competition, which allows students Development Workshop, a week-long to challenge themselves in pitching pilot programme funded by the College’s their venture and to receive valuable Annual Fund, facilitated by Johnians Mark feedback. As a result of COVID-19, we Wells (1981) and Liisa Van Vliet (2002), were unable to host the competition and designed to teach the practical skills on College grounds as expected. of entrepreneurship. However, through the generous support of Johnian and Director With the support of the Development of Embryo Ventures, Dr Arash Office, the JEC hosted four exciting Moavenian (2008), the JEC was able events to discuss everything from to host the competition virtually. entrepreneurship in the arts to how In addition to Dr Moavenian, we to construct a ‘pitch deck’ (a brief were excited to have Johnian Peter presentation to provide an audience Le Voir (1973) as a valued member of investors with a quick overview of of the judging panel. We are proud one’s business plan). Johnians and wider to announce the winner as AceSym, Cambridge students alike especially a vet-tech start-up proposed by valued the fruitful panel discussion Honoria Brown, Yoav Nir and Rebecca around entrepreneurship for creatives with Richmond-Smith (2015, a founding Colin Burrows (1978) of Special Treats member of the JEC). The company and Carolyn Dailey, founder of Creative aims to combat lameness in the Entrepreneurs. Building upon this event, equine world with a device they have we collaborated with Cambridge Global designed that enables a precise and Challenges to host Shorn Molokwane quantifiable detection of lameness in from BITRI for a stimulating lecture on equines, allowing it to be recognised at Design Thinking and how to apply this an earlier stage than is possible by eye. methodology to the developing world.
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Committee members at the Innovation and Development Workshop
Throughout the year we have adhered of entrepreneurship necessary for their to the values on which the JEC was success – and we are excited to see what founded – inspiring Johnians to act on innovative ventures the future brings. their brilliant ideas and providing the resources and opportunities in the field Mary Letey, co-President
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History Society
Society members at the annual dinner
The History Society’s term card got off As ever, the annual History Society to a flying start this year as we welcomed dinner in the Combination Room was Bim Afolami MP to address us. His talk on a highlight, and on this occasion our ‘Brexit: thoughts on England’s twenty-first own St John’s Professor Robert Tombs century revolution’ saw an excellent turnout gave a few thought-provoking words on and a lively Q&A, both at the event and at academic freedom in universities. the formal afterwards. It has been a pleasure to be involved in Keeping the theme current, we then hosted the History Society this year. Thanks go a joint event with the Clare Politics Society, to Miss Tomaselli for all her help, to co- inviting John Simpson to reflect on the President Radka, and to everyone on the fall of the Berlin Wall and its significance committee who lent a hand organising for politics today. In the final event of a this year’s events. programme that spanned some 2,000 years, we heard Dr Caroline Goodson talk about Harry Camilleri, Co-President ‘Greening Rome’, touching on the urbanism and ecology of the Roman Empire.
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Lady Margaret Players
The Lady Margaret Players are the resident A highlight of our year has been the College theatre society, newly revived at the newly instated Scratch Night series at the start of this academic year. We fund and Maypole pub. These informal performance promote the dramatic arts within College evenings allow any student or small group and beyond, strive to encourage Johnians of students to perform stand-up, spoken and non-Johnians alike to take part in the word, a bit of a new play script, sketches, performing arts, run theatrical events and and more, providing packed audiences aim to build an inclusive community of with a relaxed, free night of student- theatre lovers. written entertainment.
Some college theatre societies are mainly We pride ourselves on the variety of funding bodies, but we have branched out students we have engaged this year – this year. After putting on a freshers’ play indeed, our current committee contains in Michaelmas term, we collaborated with students studying English, Natural Queens’ theatre society BATS on a Lent term Sciences, Music, HSPS, and Theology, production of Tom Stoppard’s and André many of them first years – and we aim to Previn’s underperformed play, with full increase this engagement and the diversity orchestra, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour. of our artistic activities in the future. We also ran regular events such as writers’ get-togethers, film nights and ice-breaker Beatrix Swanson Scott, sessions. President Credit: Anna Gawedzka Anna
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Larmor Society
In addition to our usual weekly talks by Cambridge academics on a variety of topics across Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Psychology, the Larmor Society also added a few novel events to our term card this year.
The 2019/20 committee. Left-right: Marina Rodriguez Lopez (Socials), Eleanor Sheridan (Treasurer), Becky Langdon (co-President), Kyanna Ouyang (Secretary), Dilyara Sabirova (Academic Affairs), Mahika Dixit (co-President), Ahu Aydin (Publicity), Hamilton Allport (Webmaster).
In Michaelmas term we collaborated with their first and second years and provided St John’s FemSoc to organise a panel on an opportunity to demystify application ‘Women in Science’, hosting four leading processes and to facilitate inter-year cohesion. female scientists at different stages in their careers. The panel discussed the challenges We concluded Lent term with our much- faced by women in science, and we enjoyed anticipated annual dinner in the Combination listening to our inspiring panellists, who are Room, which brought together Fellows helping to break down the conception of and science students across all year groups science as a ‘boys’ club’. to celebrate the past year. We also thanked last year’s committee (pictured) for their In Lent term the Society hosted a Q&A wonderful work and handed over the Society session on internships. Six second-, third- to our new committee for 2020/21. and fourth-year Natural Sciences students shared their internship experiences, which Dilyara Sabirova and Kyanna ranged from research to consulting. This Ouyang, Academic Affairs Officer event was geared towards students in and Secretary
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Medical Society
The St John’s Medical Society is a core part of the medical and veterinary students’ community here in College. We have run a number of social and academic events throughout Michaelmas and Lent terms to bring students together from across the years and promote integration.
Society members at the annual dinner
Michaelmas term saw the first talk of the The disruptions to the academic year meant year given by Professor Mark Holmes on that a number of annual events could not the discovery of mecC MRSA, highlighting take place, including the Linacre Lecture the importance of vets and medics working and garden party hosted by Professor together in the face of disease. This was Woods. We look forward to their return followed by our research opportunity next year. evening, where students presented the projects they had taken part in the previous All these events would not have been summer, ranging from lab work in possible without such an excellent Cambridge to clinical placements in China. committee, and I’d like to thank Anna Stevenson, Faris Khan, Emma Warburton, The highlight of the year was, as ever, the Lucy Chinnery, Imy Arden-Jones, Anastasia annual dinner. We were delighted to host Blamey, Firnaaz Mohideen, Viral Guiwala Mr Grant Stewart, a consultant urological and Chrissy Ellis for all their work to keep surgeon, as the speaker, and the evening the Society going. opened our eyes to the potential technology we might be working with in the future. Elizabeth Bearblock, President
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Parsons Society
The Parsons Society had another successful year providing events for the Engineers of St John’s. Members feasted like Viking Lords at the annual hog roast event, held jointly with the Larmor Society, and, thanks to our Junior Treasurer Benj Parikh’s excellent accounting skills and committee member Ollie Barnard’s aggressive negotiating tactics, we were able to continue financing events throughout the year.
The committee at the annual desserts party. Left-right: Benj Parikh, Thea Krumins, Zac Bischoff, Ollie Barnard and Parth Kotwal.
The annual desserts party – a night that to re-organise it for the first plausible date, would not have been possible without the and we hope that our guest speaker will be elegant invitations sent out by our Secretary available. Parth Kotwal – was attended by record numbers, with port and butterscotch sauce This year also saw the appointment of a new flowing alike. Senior Treasurer for the Parsons Society, Dr Hannah Joyce, who we know will continue With great sorrow, this was to be the final to work with and support our great Society event of the Parsons Society calendar this for many years to come. It has been an year, as, because of a disrupted Easter term, honour to lead such an esteemed Society, we were unable to hold the remaining and I pray I have done justice to all the welfare events meticulously planned by engineers who have graced the courts of our our Welfare Officer Thea Krumins. The fine College, including Sir Charles Algernon highlight of every Johnian engineer’s year, Parsons himself. the Parsons Society annual dinner, was also postponed indefinitely. However, we will aim Zac Bischoff, President
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Picturehouse
This year, as ever, St John’s Picturehouse Muslim drag performer, filmmaker and enjoyed screening a diverse programme founder of Cambridge’s first student drag of films. Particularly popular screenings troupe, for a screening of their short films included Booksmart and 1918, as well followed by a Q&A hosted by current as Little Women, which we screened in members of Dragtime! collaboration with Pink Week to a full house, raising over £1,000 for their charity. Picturehouse is great fun to be involved with We also hosted several free screenings, behind the scenes, and a special mention including Queen & Slim with the African must go to our amazing head projectionist and Caribbean Society, and Wall-E in Giulio for keeping things running smoothly collaboration with the JCR welfare officers. in the face of unexpected technical challenges this year. My personal highlight of the year was welcoming Amrou Al-Kadhi, non-binary Coral Dalitz, President
Still from one of the short films screened during the event with Amrou Al-Kadhi
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Wilkes Society
Despite the disruption to the year, it has been another busy one for the Wilkes Society, with a variety of social, academic and career events. The year kicked off with the traditional tea and cakes welcome event, giving members a chance to catch up after the summer and to meet the new Part IA students.
One of the most career-focused events of the year was the CV and Technical Interview Workshop. This event, led by a number of Part II and Part III students, was aimed at helping members to improve their CVs, teaching them how to approach technical interview problems and giving general career advice.
For those considering a career in academia, we also hosted Part II project presentations. Part II students gave talks on their dissertations, which were on topics ranging from an analysis of the dark web to teaching robots to learn new skills.
Plenty of social events also took place throughout the year, including pub socials and the annual Christmas quiz. Wilkes Society annual dinner
A new event this year was the Wilkes Society Hackathon. Teams competed over three hours to create bots, which were then pitted against each other. The event was a great success, and we hope to repeat this in the future.
Saaras Mehan, Co-President
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Women’s Society
St John’s Women’s Society (FemSoc) had an impressive year. We increased the frequency of our events, diversified our activities and debuted a more active online presence. In trying to achieve an optimal balance between formal and informal initiatives, the Society experimented with different kinds of events, ranging from academic panels to laid-back group discussions. Moreover, we hosted numerous collaborations with other St John’s societies and other colleges’ femsocs.
Members of the Society with Hélia Correia
We hosted an International Women’s Day To attract more support from students, event with over a hundred attendees, which this year we also modernised our online included a drinks reception and Formal Hall presence, revamping our Facebook page with inspiring speeches. This was organised and creating an Instagram account to jointly with the JCR and University publicise our events. This initiative proved societies. We also hosted an award-winning highly successful, and it was a great way to Portuguese writer, Hélia Correia, who connect directly with our members. Finally, discussed the history of female activism we produced personalised laptop stickers, in Portugal and Britain. Liaising with the and we have developed a plan for selling Larmor Society, we created a Women in eco-friendly Society keep cups and tote bags. Science Panel, and we also collaborated We are very proud of what we have achieved with the College’s Art Society and ran two recently, and we hope to carry on inspiring open-mic nights for women and non-binary Johnian women in the years to come. students. A number of other informal events were arranged during the year, including Clara Martins Brelaz de Castro, lively discussions. President
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Badminton
This year was a highly successful and We sustained our momentum into Lent enjoyable one for Badminton at St John’s. term and went unbeaten, winning six out The First Team topped their division in of six matches. Among the victims of Lent term’s College Open League, earning our Lent term ‘slaughter’ were King’s, a promotion for next season, and the Men’s Peterhouse and the Hughes Hall/Lucy and Mixed Cuppers Teams both made it Cavendish team. We have been promoted to the semi-finals. We welcomed many for next season, and we are determined to new, regular players to the team, including continue our winning streak. Personally, Gaurav Kakkar, Rohan Mudkavi, Anosh I’m extremely proud of the team for their Bonshahi, John Zhu, Benjamin Wang and commitment and efforts this year, which Amartya Maheshwari, and several of us led to such a positive result for the College. continued from last year, including Nasser Chowdhury, Karthick Murukesan (vice- College Badminton has also been a great Captain), Shreshth Malik and Tanmay chance for students to get to know others Dixit. from different years and subjects, and I have really enjoyed the social aspect of the Competitive play in Michaelmas term sport. I am so fond of every member of the was encouraging, and we ranked in the team and want to thank them for putting in middle of our division within the College the time and making this year’s badminton Open League after winning three out of experience at St John’s so enjoyable for me. six matches. We had some very strong I look forward to continuing in this spirit players, and we committed to regular next year, with Nasser and Gaurav as our practice sessions, which clearly improved co-Captains. our performance as a team, as our win rate increased later in the term. Arin Ward, Captain
The 2019/20 First Team. The photo was inventively created during lockdown
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Dancesport
Although only recently recognised as an official College society, the Dancesport Team includes members who have represented the Cambridge University Dancesport Team (CUDT) for many years, and the 2019/20 season has been no exception.
The St John’s Dancesport Team at the 2020 Cuppers competition
This year has been another highly familiar faces for the Cuppers competition, successful one for dancers from St John’s where new dancers are partnered with representing CUDT, and they celebrated experienced ones. The calibre and fantastic competition results throughout enthusiasm of the College dancers were the Michaelmas and Lent terms. The demonstrated by St John’s being the only University circuit concluded with the Inter- College able to put forth two teams. The Varsity Dance Championships held at the dancers’ talent and dedication paid off Winter Gardens in Blackpool. As well as with a victory for the First Team, and our contributing to the Cambridge overall team Second Team came in fifth overall, beating victory, members of St John’s came away many colleges’ first teams. with excellent individual results: notably, Benedek Váli (Advance Ballroom semi-final, It has been a wonderful season for the Advance Latin semi-final); Alex Ivanov St John’s College Dancesport Team, and (Advance Ballroom semi-final, Advance we hope that the dancers at St John’s will Latin final); Daphne Theresa (Advance Latin repeat the victories of this season while semi-final, Intermediate Ballroom final); and continuing to represent the University in Lara Weaver (Intermediate Latin final). future years.
We were fortunate to gain fresh talent this Daphne Chia and Lara Weaver, year, as well as seeing the return of many Captain and Secretary
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Men’s Football
Freshly promoted to the top division, and back and movement off the ball. Every with seven of the previous season’s starting opposition was given a run for their XI having graduated or on a year abroad, the money. This included a crucial 1–0 win 2019/20 season was going to be – on paper, against Homerton early in the season and at least – a challenge. a hard-fought 6–5 win away at Robinson from 4–1 down, featuring Abhik Vinod’s It was evident that strong recruitment forty-yard volley into the top corner – would be necessary. Fortunately luck was which, unsurprisingly, was voted goal on our side, with the addition of first years of the season. One other match worth Ben Tatters (2019/20 player of the season), mentioning was the agonising late defeat Josh Adeyemi, Will Pocock and Sang Wee. to frontrunners Churchill, one of the finest Additionally, Jonathan Stelzer, Alex Mercer performances in recent memory. and James Clark joined the First Team, having spent much of the previous season The team finished the season with fourteen playing for the Second Team. points, our highest Division 1 tally in over a decade. I’d like to thank all the players Spurred on by the challenge of top division for their hard work, and in particular the oppositions, the team produced some committee members: Nick Palmer, Ewan of the most cohesive performances in Salter and Jon Carter. recent memory, with a strong emphasis on nailing the basics, playing out from the Dan Osborne, Captain
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Women’s Football
St John’s and King’s Women’s Football Team had another fantastic season. Following last season’s success, the newly promoted team battled hard in League 2, securing the second spot. Away from the league, the team had a magnificent Cuppers campaign, making it all the way to the semi-finals, where they lost to an impressive Queen’s team.
My co-Captain, Mikaela Thordson, and success. Mikaela and new Captain Emily I were delighted to see our efforts in Smith are excited to carry on this success promoting the profile of women’s football into the 2020/21 season. in College succeed, with many new faces joining the team and contributing to its Lucy Carson, co-Captain
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Graduate Football
This year the St John’s SBR Football Team, exceptionally physical side who have on which enables graduate students and staff multiple occasions stolen three points from to play alongside each other, has once again us. It seemed those cold Thursday evening competed on both the league and the cup training sessions were proving their worth. fronts. Although we lost a few key players at the end of last year, the team has grown in On the cup front, we qualified for the strength throughout the current season, with quarter-finals of the ‘UEFA cup’ and new players entering the fray, as well as old came third out of five in a very tough stalwarts finding new levels. group. As we prepared to take on Jesus, the COVID-19 pandemic closed in on The team have fought hard to avoid the hallowed playing field turf, preventing relegation in the past two seasons, and a single ball from being kicked. This this year was no different. However, the prematurely ended our season, which increasing quality of the squad enabled us was nevertheless a successful one. We will to obtain our highest points tally in recent return next year with the desire to bring memory. We had a notable victory against the trophy home to St John’s. Hughes Hall, a team that has often beaten us comprehensively, and against Zoology, an Brett Wilson, Captain
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Men’s Hockey
The 2019/20 season was one of success and A new ethos was established this season, growth for the Nogs as we consolidated thanks to every player buying in: for the first and advanced the progress made last year. time in years, instead of having eight players While the Trinity–Fitz team snatched at push-back, the Nogs have consistently the Michaelmas league from our grasp, enjoyed fifteen players at training sessions Lent term saw the Nogs reach the semi- and warming up in time for push-back. With final of Cuppers, and the Nogs and Nags such a high level of continuity going into convincingly secured both the Division 1 next season, the Nogs’ unique, but dominant, and the Division 3 titles. brand of hockey – which can only be described as ‘ruthlessly agricultural’ – will be Indeed, St John’s was the only side to feared for seasons to come. field two teams following a successful recruiting drive of both freshers and existing Special thanks must go to Mark Wells (1981) Johnians. It was especially pleasing to see for his generous sponsorship and relentlessly the development of players who had never unbiased umpiring skills. It has been an picked up a hockey stick before joining the absolute pleasure to lead the Nogs this season, Nogs. St John’s was also well represented and I’m excited to see Connor Bennett take in the Cambridge University Hockey Club, the club to new heights next year. with seven players on the pitch across its four sides. Max Antcliff, Captain
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Mixed Netball
This year has been very successful for the many familiar faces and the welcoming Mixed Netball Team. In Michaelmas term we of some new members. Noteworthy won all of our matches and came top of the performances include 20–3 against Caius second division. As a result of this we were and 22–2 against Clare, and a special promoted into the first division for Lent term. mention should go to Elle Wilkinson and Although we faced some challenges because Charlie Friend, whose excellent shooting of the jump in standard of play, we continued made these results possible. to perform well. This is a particularly amazing result, given that we started the 2018/19 I wish the team the best of luck for next season in the third division. season, and I look forward to seeing how it continues to grow in Division 1. We were able to compete so strongly as a result of the continued commitment from Anna Chalmers, Captain
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Women’s Netball
The St John’s College Netball Club has had another strong season, building on its reputation as one of the top netballing colleges in the University. In a season marred by injuries, Ladies 1 nevertheless placed third in the college league, showing the incredible depth of the team. Great attacking play and strong defence throughout the court gave many great results, including a 22–6 win over rivals Churchill, whom St John’s beat in the Cuppers final last year.
The 2018/19 Women’s Netball team
St John’s also had strong representation at the term, securing a 19–10 win over their rivals University level this year, with India Foster, in the third division, Queens 2. Chloe Fairston, Jemima Currie and Thea Krumins playing for the Cambridge teams. Overall, it has been another great season for College Netball. I would like to say well Ladies 2 was bolstered by a great influx of done to all of the girls who played, and to freshers, who brought huge enthusiasm and give special thanks to Elle Wilkinson for spirit to the 2019/20 season. Despite a slow captaining Ladies 2. start to the year, with several tight losses, Ladies 2 came into their stride during Lent Thea Krumins, Captain
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Men’s Rugby
The 2019/20 season was, overall, a strong the Cuppers trophy, but I highly doubt that and enjoyable one for the Redboys. A very there will be a third. impressive fresher contingent made up the bulk of our league team, and Ramsay In collaboration with ConSenTJohns and Hodgson, Matt West and Hugo Lloyd- Caius4Consent, the Redboys raised £160 Williams even went on to represent the this year for Cambridge Rape Crisis, and Cambridge University Rugby Union Football members of the team also volunteered as Club under-20s in a rare win at Iffley Road. coaches at The Galfrid School. I would like to thank Tom Walton and Dougal Russell After brushing aside Caius and Downing, for their help coaching the side, and Social we couldn’t quite overcome Fitz in the Secretary Jack Beevers for leading the league decider, and we finished in second vibrant Redboys social scene. I wish the best place. The Cuppers run was, in hindsight, of luck to incoming Captain James Laudage possibly too easy. A first-round bye, a 68–5 and his committee. win over the All Greys in forty-five minutes (falling just short of our 77–7 target) and a Ad gladium. Robinson forfeit in the quarter-finals saw us in the semi-finals without having played a Will Saunter, Captain competitive match. The Redboys’ 2018/19 Captain Sam The semi-final against Fitz was by far the Fitzsimmons sadly passed away on 16 May toughest game of rugby I have ever played. 2020 after a two-year battle with cancer. He Led by the carrying of Tom Walton and Dan was an outstanding leader and a kind friend MJ, we fought hard for eighty minutes, but to so many on this team and beyond. His it was not to be. We fell agonisingly short impact on this club as a Captain, a player of victory, with a final score of 18–17. This and a person was phenomenal. We love you marks two years since the Redboys hoisted and miss you. bit.ly/SamF
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Women’s Rugby
The St John’s Women’s Rugby players have off the bench at Twickenham. Emma this year focused on uniting with players McLoughlin also earned her place on the from other colleges to massively increase the bench at Twickenham in a sport she picked women’s side at the Cambridge University up under a year ago. She has been extremely Rugby Union Football Club. hardworking and has displayed a breadth of skill, able to move between the forwards and Development days have successfully drawn backs with ease. in talent from across the University, allowing the Club to send a third team to play a In the coming season, the Cambridge Varsity match against Oxford this year Women’s Blues will be captained by Johnian for the first time in history. The St John’s Elisha Clarke. Gaining her Blue this season, Redgirls have had a very successful presence Elisha displays excellence both on and off within the University Rugby scene; they the pitch, and she will no doubt carry this made up three of the twenty-three putting into her season as Captain. With the girls on the striped jersey at Twickenham in working hard in isolation to complete their December, and three of the starting fifteen at Strength and Conditioning programme in the Tigers Varsity match in March. order to improve their strength and speed, she has every faith ‘that more Redgirls will Cara Prowling has proved herself to be be making the twenty-three we take to an impressive carrying and tackling force Twickenham than ever before’. throughout the season, and she made excellent use of these skills as she came Karen Valland, Captain
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Swimming
This year has witnessed outstanding swimming from Johnians. Despite the disappointment of missing Cuppers because of lockdown, our swimmers made up for this with fantastic swimming earlier in the year as part of the University teams.
The Women’s University Blues team in St John’s. Katy Wilson is fourth from right.
There was strong representation from St John’s match, Oxford maintained the overall in the Marlins Team. As Captain, Nat Amos victory by winning the concluding relays. was responsible for training and motivating the squad throughout the year. Despite a Going into the future, many of our current narrow defeat, he led the team to a successful swimmers will be graduating. Nevertheless, Varsity in late February. Fellow Johnians in the the 2020/21 season brings prospects of team included Nick Maini, Anna Stephenson recruits and competitions. I hope the team and Jonnie Jones. All swam exceptionally continues to thrive, and I look forward to well to hold Oxford to tough competition. the possibility of a St John’s training group Special mention goes to Nick, who came to allow a wider community of Johnians to remarkably close to a Blues time – an amazing swim without being on a University team. achievement for a swimmer from the Second Team, and a testament to his drive and On a personal note, it has been a pleasure dedication to training throughout the year. to represent the College and the Cambridge University Swimming and Water Polo Club I represented St John’s on the Blues Team, over the past three years. I wish continuing competing in BUCS and team competitions success to the team, and I await the excellent throughout the year, but unfortunately had to results that I have no doubt our incoming miss Varsity because of injury. The Cambridge Captain will produce. Men comfortably beat Oxford to win the Men’s title. However, after a tough-fought Katy Wilson, Captain
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Tennis
This year also saw the return of social Magdalene in the second were just the tennis to St John’s, and it was a great prelude to the real drama of the year: against pleasure to be able to enter a second team Churchill in the quarter-final we went 3–0 into the competition. The hard luck this then 4–1 down … only to bounce back to a team encountered in the matches was 5–4 win! Had the pandemic not intervened, overshadowed by the excellent spirits in we may have been in serious contention for which the game was played. the title.
By Lent term, Cuppers had returned, and Thanks, as ever, go to Keith and the grounds the St John’s line-up had been significantly staff for their help, and everyone who played strengthened by returning University this year. players from the higher years. A bye in the first round and a comfortable win against Harry Camilleri, Captain
Tennis courts in the St John’s College sports ground
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Ultimate Frisbee
On a sunny October afternoon the St table finish despite regular tangerines John’s Ultimate Frisbee Team faced up and brownies. against Jesus. This curtain-raiser for the Michaelmas league was set to be our hardest Lent term saw a new start. The squad bonded game. We were blessed with a strong core of during Cuppers and reached the plate final. committed veterans, an overly enthusiastic We teamed up with Chrembroke to hold Captain and a throng of new recruits. The bigger training sessions, and Renee and match was close. Blows were traded with Koji joined the team. Alas, we again the wind. The Jesuits got a break, and underperformed in the league. However, half-time ended with us 7–4 down. After a training developed personal play – for James, rousing team talk and plenty of tangerines, Alexei and Chrissy, in particular – and left something clicked – and we went on to us in a good position for the future. Ultimate win 9–7. Great debuts from Sam and Rob Frisbee is after all a summer sport. The deserve special mention in this tale of warmer weather traditionally bulks out victory. the team and heralds Johnian triumphs. Unfortunately, biology can silence even the The second week of term saw us cruise most important of sports. to success against Penguins, helped by strong performances by Tasneem and I’d like to thank everyone for playing, and Lois. However, other than an impressive especially Alfie, Patrick and Ed for covering performance against Homerton, the me when I was injured. We will be back! rest of the term was something of a disappointment, and we slumped to a mid- Lennie Wells, Captain
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Volleyball
After a Cuppers victory last year, the St John’s Setting results aside, the keenness of the Volleyball Team was hopeful for another players for a sport not commonly played successful season. Unfortunately, a loss early in Cambridge has been wonderful over the on to the Queen’s–Trinity combined team last two years, and I am sure the following meant that it was to be an uphill battle. A years will see them be successful again. Not combination of injuries and other sporting many people would cycle in the rain to play commitments meant that we struggled to a sport they’ve barely tried before, and this field a strong team for the second match level of enthusiasm has been great to see. in the pool, and so a second loss followed the first, this time to Girton. This was the Overall: not the results we wanted, but end of our campaign – not the way we a fun time was had by those playing the had hoped the tournament would go. Our matches! initial disappointment was later tempered, however, by the fact that this dominant Eleanor Sheridan, Captain Girton team went on to win the tournament without dropping a single match.
Members of the 2018/19 Volleyball Team
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Lady Margaret Boat Club – Men
The 2019/20 season was extremely successful for the Lady Margaret Men’s side, with strong results across the board before the season was curtailed. The Club retook the Lents Headship after losing the position last year, and M2 retained their position as the highest-placed Second Boat in the Lent Bumps.
The season started well for the Men’s side, with a large contingent of new novices and experienced rowers joining returning squad members to give a depth of talent throughout the crews. In the early races of the season during Michaelmas term, the University IVs races saw three strong Senior IVs competing, with the First and Second winning both of the Men’s divisions between them. In the Fairbairn Cup a Senior IV and VIII were entered along with M2 racing in Lent Bumps two Novice VIIIs. The Second Novice VIII won their division and placed 4th overall, first day, catching the boat in front by first while the promising First Novice VIII was post corner. Strong performances during unfortunately impeded by another crew, the rest of the week saw the crew breaking preventing them from competing for the away from the chasing boats to retain the top positions. These results demonstrated position and become Head of the River. M2, significant potential and gave the Club good meanwhile, put in the hard work needed to momentum early in the season. row-over every day and hold their position as the highest M2 crew, surrounded entirely A week’s training ahead of the start of Lent by other colleges’ First Boats. They even term quickly got everyone back in form after managed to close down on the crew ahead – the Christmas break. The Men’s side crews the only one lying between them and a spot continued to find success, with excellent in the first division – but unfortunately they race wins at Newnham Head and the Head were left just shy of making the bump, as of the Nene in Peterborough, which built each day the Churchill M1 crew they were experience, confidence and consistency. chasing managed to find enough speed to hold them off. The crew of M3, after being At Lent Bumps, starting from second bumped on the first two days, stopped the position, M1 made the bump needed to slide with two gutsy row-overs to round off move up to the Headship station on the the week well and hold a good position.
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The success of the Club is greatly facilitated with excellent prospects for further by the continuing support received from successes in Easter term and beyond, the College – especially from the Domestic it was with sadness that we watched Bursar, Helen Murley, whose dedication to the sporting calendar clear through helping the Boat Club and College sport what remained of the season. However, on the whole is much appreciated. Thanks this has done little to dampen our must also go to the Lady Margaret Boat enthusiasm to train, which we continue Club Association (LMBCA), the alumni to do remotely with group ergs via group who work to maintain the long-term video call. prospects of the Club, and whose aid and guidance enables us to attend national events Although the committee for next year and employ high-level coaches. remains to be chosen, I wish them all the best for steering the Club through We are also extremely grateful for the hard the complexities presented by this crisis, work and commitment of our Head Coach and I am confident that they will find Pere Gisbert, without whose technical the best path back to competition guidance and motivation we would never and success. have achieved such success this season. Viva laeta. With two eights entered for the Head of the River Race on the Thames in London, and Harry Fieldhouse, Captain
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M1 cox Tristan Bromley holding the LMBC flag after securing Headship
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Crews
The University IVs
The First Coxed IV The Second Coxed IV The Third Coxed IV
C: Isobel McIntyre C: Benji de Almeida Newton C: Sophie Compton 4: Maciej Maruszczak 4: Harry Bradshaw 4: Frederick Kohlhas 3: Matthew Paterson 3: Thomas Hasson 3: Jakub Wornbard 2: Tassilo Bulfon 2: Sebastian Venter 2: Maximilien Lentz 1: Harry Fieldhouse 1: Nordin Ćatić 1: Matthew Seah
Coach: Pere Gisbert Coach: Pere Gisbert Coach: Pere Gisbert
Won the First Division Won the Second Division Lost in Quarter-final
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The Fairbairn Cup
The First Senior IV The First Novice VIII The Second Novice VIII
C: Benji de Almeida Newton C: Peixuan Song C: Tristan Bromley 4: Maciej Maruszczak 8: Alex Kingston 8: Dewi Gould 3: Matthew Paterson 7: Finn Meinecke 7: Simon Heuveline 2: Tassilo Bulfon 6: Nikolai Madland Shorter 6: Francis Treherne Pollock 1: Harry Fieldhouse 5: William Wright 5: Owen Ayers 4: Charlie Francombe 4: James Lazenby Coach: Pere Gisbert 3: Jordi Buckley 3: Jascha Achterberg 2: Gregory Serapio-García 2: Alejandro Lemus-Gomez 2nd Senior IV 1: Oscar Saharoy 1: William Tan (after Magdalene I) Coaches: Jon Rhodes, Coaches: Patrick Meere, Thomas Hasson and Nordin Ćatić and Harry The Second Senior VIII Sebastian Venter Bradshaw
C: Benji de Almeida Newton 7th Novice VIII 1st Novice Second VIII, 8: Alexander Atanasov (impeded on course) 4th Novice VIII 7: Philip Sosnin 6: Sebastian Venter 5: Samuel Kitto The Third Novice VIII 4: Jonas Knecht 3: Jakub Wornbard C: Luc Liedtke 2: Frederick Kohlhas 8: Rajeev Kumar 1: Nordin Ćatić 7: David Cummings 6: Jonathan Whitesman Coach: Pere Gisbert 5: Harsh Singh 4: Naunidh Dua 8th Senior VIII 3: Bo Peng 2: Yang Hu 1: Jorge Baeza Ballesteros
Coaches: Samuel Kitto and Tassilo Bulfon
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The Lent Bumps
The First Lents VIII The Second Lents VIII The Third Lents VIII
C: Tristan Bromley C: Chloe Wanley C: Peixuan Song 8: Matthew Paterson 8: Alex Kingston 8: Patrick Meere 7: Harry Bradshaw 7: William Wright 7: Jascha Achterberg 6: Tassilo Bulfon 6: Alexander Atanasov 6: James Lazenby 5: Maciej Maruszczak 5: Finn Meinecke 5: Matt Seah 4: Jakub Wornbard 4: Francis Treherne Pollock 4: Charlie Francombe 3: Sebastian Venter 3: Nordin Ćatić 3: Owen Ayers 2: Samuel Kitto 2: Nikolai Madland Shorter 2: Yang Hu 1: Harry Fieldhouse 1: Jonas Knecht 1: William Tan
Coach: Pere Gisbert Coach: Jon Rhodes Coach: Isaac Webber
Up 1, Head of the River Rowed-over four times Down 2 (bumped by Jesus III (bumped Caius I) and Queens III)
202 SOCIETIES AND SPORTS
Lady Margaret Boat Club – Women
What a year this has been for rowing. well in Fairbairns, and they were cheered over the line by spectators. Alongside the Michaelmas started off strong, with W1 seniors, the novices were hard at work. and W2 racing consistently throughout the Maggie sported four novice crews, who term. University IVs was a mixed bag, with survived and thrived on the early mornings the first four losing out to Caius, but they and dedication shown by their coaches. were avenged by the second four, who went on to win their division. Winter Head was a Lent term was fraught with challenges for success, with both W1 and W2 competing, the Club, with a flooded river and storms and W1 came top of their division. We also making it near impossible to train. Both entered our first sculler into the Ely Head W1 and W2 travelled to Head of the Nene, Race, with Emma Pruin putting in incredible battling through tough conditions that work alongside two W1 IV+ crews. resulted in the course being shortened. W1 Fairbairns saw the return of Maggie legend IV+ defied competitors and kept their calm Karen Weimer, who graciously stepped in in the storm to win their category, while W2 to fill the spot left by Freya Casson, who was inspired much hope for next year with their unavailable on the day. W2 also performed strong performance.
W1 had a solid Lent Bumps campaign, with strong row-overs every day to maintain their position as fifth on the river. On the first day we were eager to bump Downing; however, all four crews ahead of us bumped out to give us clear water to row the whole of the course. The second day saw a chunky row-over keeping within sight of Emmanuel for the length of the course, and day 3 saw Emmanuel bump Newnham before we could bump them. Day 4 looked to be our chance to finally bump and give Newnham Spoons; however, Emmanuel started off on an angle and were caught by Newnham just after first post corner. Then Downing bumped Jesus just in front of the plough reach, and we were left with no one to chase and a gutsy row-over in a strong headwind.
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LMBC rowers supporting Jamie Bailey, former W1 cox, in his race coxing the lightweight men’s boat at Ely
W2 survived being sandwich boat in the cancelled. I wish them every luck Lent Bumps but were sadly bumped on day against Oxford next year. Also in 2 by Downing W2, who went on to achieve Ely, former W1 cox Jamie Bailey was Super-Blades. On day 3 W2 were bumped by coxing the Lightweight Men’s Boat. It St Edmund’s, but they got their revenge on was a great joy to round off the term the final day by bumping St Edmund’s on the by supporting him in his race on the long reach to earn their greenery. Thames, and we are all so proud of his accomplishments. W3 narrowly missed out on inclusion in the Lent Bumps this year and will sadly miss out Once again the quality of coaching on on their chance to achieve Bumps glory in the Women’s side has been exceptionally the Mays, although I have every faith they high this year, and I’d like to thank will do well next year. Lance Badman, Karen Weimer, Julie Hogg, Thomas Cowie and Jay In Ely Jo Matthews and Gemma King were Richardson. hard at work training for the openweight women; however, sadly their race was Rachael Speed, Captain
204 SOCIETIES AND SPORTS
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Crews
The Lent Bumps
LMBC Lents W1 LMBC Lents W3 LMBC Lents W4
C: Marina Rodriguez-Lopez C: Julia Fierek C: Tasneem Kenny-Ali / 8: Sophie Michalski 8: Chloe Felton Rebecca Gutteridge 7: Freya Casson 7: Kimberlee Bartle 8: Marianthi Koutri 6: Anna Odorici 6: Jill Rushbridge 7: Lydia Carter / Grace 5: Rachael Speed 5: Amanda Burcroff Finnigan 4: Eliza Leake 4: Frances Whittaker 6: Diana Arman / Beatrix 3: Nele Vauth 3: Rebecca Pickering Swanson Scott 2: Manuela Zimmermann 2: Jasmin Regan Feldman 5: Annabelle Richard- 1: Emma Pruin 1: Billie Williams Laferriere 4: Michelle Lee Coaches: Lance Badman Coaches: Julie Hogg 3: Silvia Binenti and Karen Weimer and Jay Richardson 2: Adi Levin 1: Hani Ifran
LMBC Lents W2 Coaches: Freya Casson, Anna Odorici and C: Sophie Evans Rachael Speed 8: Emily Murdoch 7: Lois Walker Trialists: Jo Matthews 6: Charli Hendy (OWomens), Gemma King 5: Lauren Holmes (OWomens) and Jamie 4: Rebecca Howitt Bailey (LWMen Cox) 3: Rowan Saltmarsh 2: Lara Weaver 1: Meg Cullen
Coaches: Tom Cowie and Julie Hogg
206 SOCIETIES AND SPORTS
THE EAGLE 2020 207 DONORS
208 Photo: The Old Library Credit: Paul Everest DONORS
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Sir Christopher Dobson PhD Scholarship
Development Director Stephen Teal reflects on Chris Dobson’s connections, how he might have reacted to the current pandemic and what the College is doing to commemorate him.
I write this short article in the midst of the great lockdown, and I am fervently hoping that by the time it is read the world will have resumed turning on a reasonably familiar axis. It is now some nine weeks since I last set foot in St John’s, and I am craving a glimpse of Second Court or Hall – or even the Chapel car park! Many Johnians lament that, in retrospect, they had not taken full advantage of all the College had to offer – the social, cultural, sporting and academic opportunities that went a-begging – and I am now feeling much the same way.
The one person who surely would have had Typically, he laughed it off. Thinking about no such regrets was Chris, since he was at that, when one hit Chris’s funny bone his the heart of every single aspect of College laugh would sound like trying to start an life. He hated to miss out on any social event, Austin Allegro with a flat battery. lecture, musical performance or sporting occasion ... and he rarely did. As many It goes without saying that he would have Johnians could attest, he genuinely enjoyed found the current situation frustrating, meeting people, and he would invariably and yet he would have offered support and find some common interest or contact with help wherever it was needed. I am also every person he chatted to. He travelled to sure that he would have been fascinated by all parts of the globe to meet Johnians and COVID-19 and the search for a vaccine. always made a connection. Even during his own dreadful illness he seemed to find comfort in the science. I recall that one of my all-too-frequent diary mishaps led to him missing a meeting. It When deciding how to honour Chris’s turned out that I had sent him to the wrong contribution to St John’s it was clear that hotel. At the wrong time. In the wrong city. scientific research had to be at the fore.
210 DONORS
His great commitment to the nurturing of I do hope that many of you will support this academic talent in general, but particularly project, which will do so much good for so through science, made the creation many people, and which will provide a fitting of the Sir Christopher Dobson PhD and lasting tribute to Chris and to all that he Scholarship an easy choice. I feel confident gave to St John’s over many years. that he would have relished the idea of generations of Dobson Scholars going on Read more about the Sir Christopher to change the world for the better. Maybe Dobson PhD Scholarship online: one will find the vaccine for the next johnian.joh.cam.ac.uk/ pandemic? dobson-phd-scholarship
Chris with Tuomas Knowles and some of his students in the lab
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Donors 2019/20
St John’s College is grateful to the following donors for their support between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020. We would also like to thank the eighty-two donors not listed below who wish to remain anonymous.
In accordance with the way we receive data about alumni from the University of Cambridge, donors (including Fellows) are listed by their matriculation year for the University, which may be different from their admission year for St John’s. Fellows who have not studied at the University of Cambridge are listed by the year they were admitted to their Fellowships at St John’s.
The Development Office has made every attempt to ensure the accuracy of this list (as of 1 July 2020). If you discover an error, please contact us at [email protected]. Please accept our sincerest apologies for any inaccuracies or omissions.
1939 1945 Professor Richard Goody The Revd Martin Boyns
1940 1946 Mr George Connelly The Revd Martin Loft Mr Tony Orchard The late Ronald Manning 1947 Mr Patrick Field 1941 Dr Peter Hacking Professor Peter Sturrock Dr John Jefferies The late Mr Hugh Stewart 1942 The late Mr Reg Farrar 1948 Mr Kenneth Smith Mr Hugh Barnes-Yallowley Dr Gerard Berry 1943 Mr George Butcher Mr Len Ogden The late Mr Pat Davies The late Professor John Stringer The late Mr Desmond Harris The late Dr Edward James 1944 Mr John Worlidge Mr Ian Mackintosh
212 DONORS
1949 Dr Jack Gunson Mr Basil Butler Mr David Wright Mr Nick Clack Dr Tony Hosking 1954 The late Mr John Jenkins Mr Mike Allderidge Mr John Peberdy Mr Peter Budgen The late Mr Adam Charnaud 1950 Mr James Dolman Mr Malcolm Darling The Rt Revd Bill Down Mr John Martin The Rt Hon. Sir Anthony Evans Mr Alan Mould Mr Mike Frisby Dr John Shaw His Honour Judge Graham Jones Brigadier Nigel Sturt Mr Bev Page Dr Dick Thompson Mr James Proctor Dr Tony Watson Dr Piers Recordon The late Mr Andrew Semple 1951 Mr Jonathan Silvey Dr John Briscoe Mr Michael Smith Mr John Bush The Revd Robert Varley Sir Bryan Cartledge Mr Chris Lean 1955 The Revd Geoffrey Scott Mr Donald Brierley Dr John Wyatt Mr John Cockcroft The Revd John Hodgson 1952 Ambassador Andrew Jacovides Professor Bob Aliber Mr Donald Jones Mr Malcolm Cross Dr William Norman Mr Roy Dailey Mr Michael Peacock The late Mr Dicky Marshall Professor Ian Phillips Mr John Morris Major Colin Robins Dr Ludwig Piening Mr John Sales Dr Peter Sachs Dr William Shand Mr Ron Steele Mr John Spencer Dr Lennard Wharton 1953 Mr Eric Willcocks Professor Michael Blackburn Mr John Burren Mr Tony Goodchild Dr Brian Gray
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1956 Mr James Leahy Mr David Blackburn Dr Geoffrey Lewis Mr Michael Bright Mr Michael Lumley The Venerable Michael Brotherton Mr Peter Newman Mr Graham Brown Dr Robert North Mr Trevor Davies Mr John Parker Mr Hugh Edwards Mr Brian Richards Dr David Fagan Mr Bryan Sheppard Professor John Faulkner Mr David Skey Dr John Green Mr Tony Stalbow Dr Ronald Hyam Mr John Trubshaw Dr Tony Jackson Mr Bill Waghorn Mr Victor Jordan Sir David Kelly 1958 Professor Peter Landshoff Mr Archie Burdon-Cooper Mr Nick Lowe Dr Robert Cockcroft Dr Kit Mitchell Mr Derek Councell Mr Chris Morgan Dr John Crompton Mr John O’Kill The late Mr Robert Dick Mr Peter Price Mr David Farris Dr John Revill Mr John Garner Mr Philip Rogers Emeritus Professor John Guillebaud Professor John Rucklidge Dr Tom Harris Dr Brian Tong Mr Christopher Joseph Mr Michael Trotter Mr John Kilgour Mr John Vincent Dr John Leake Mr Brian Webber Mr Barry Marsh Professor Emeritus Gareth Williams Mr Michael O’Hara Mr Stephen Williams Dr David Parkes Mr Nicholas Wood Mr John Rawling Mr John Rounce 1957 Mr Michael Rowse Mr David Barnard Mr Bill Stallard Mr Chris Bond Mr Robin Symonds Mr Donald Cave Dr Bob Tan Mr Donald Crump Mr Tony Thorncroft Dr John Dickinson Dr Philip Wraight Professor David Evans Mr David Gahan Mr Richard Jones
214 DONORS
1959 Mr Richard Hermon-Taylor Mr David Beare Professor Edmund King Mr David Brown Dr Nick McAdoo Mr Philip Cheetham Sir Mark Moody-Stuart Dr Kit Childs Mr Philip Paxman Mr Andrew Collier Mr Ian Ray Professor Chris Cook Mr Roger Reissner Mr John Coombs Mr Mark Rushbrooke Mr Richard Crack Sir Michael Scholar Dr David Glass Mr Simon Scott Plummer Mr John Hartland Mr Nick Timmins Mr Tony Hendra The Revd Martin Wilson The Rt Hon. The Lord Hope of Craighead Mr John Imlach 1961 Professor John McCutcheon The late Mr Richard Baglin Dr James McMullen Mr John Barber Mr Derek Morphy Dr John Bell The Rt Hon. The Lord Napier of Magdala Mr Mark Bertram Sir Roger Palin Mr David Botting Mr David Peck Dr Tim Chilcott Dr Michael Petch Mr Christopher Cockcroft Mr Garth Pinkney Mr Hugh Corner Dr Harry Reid Mr John Cornner Mr David Saltmarsh Mr Robert Courtier Mr Peter Sanders-Rose Dr Rob Crow Mr Bill Shankland Mr Colin Davis The Revd Peter Snow Dr Christopher Hammond Mr Peter Spence Mr Leonard Harris Dr Humphrey Tonkin Professor Brian Harrison Dr Stephen Waters Dr David Jones Mr Alan White Mr Roger Lambert Mr Huw Lewis 1960 Mr Alan Miller Professor Jim Barber Mr Peter Milton The Revd Dr Victor Barley Mr Peter Owen Mr Mike Bucknell Mr Godfrey Salmon Mr Glyn Davies Professor Kevin Tierney Mr David Ellis Mr Rob Tindall Mr Bob Foottit Mr Richard Ward Mr Martin Hardy Dr Paul Weightman
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Professor John Wyke Mr Peter Unwin The late Professor John Wyn Owen Mr Peter Ward Dr Graham Winbow 1962 Mr Peter Baird 1963 Mr Jonathan Beels Mr Anthony Austin Dr Brian Bertram Mr Bill Ball Mr Christopher Braun Mr Bob Bishop Mr Patrick Browning Dr David Bowen Dr Colin Butler Mr John Broadbent Professor James Cargile Dr Timothy Bushell Mr Christopher Carnaghan Mr Michael Carter Professor Roger Cashmore Mr Alan Daniels Dr Michael Clark Mr Tim Davies Mr Laurence Cockcroft Professor Garth Foster Mr Peter Collins Mr Javed Hamid Mr Jefferey Cox Mr James Haslam-Jones Mr Peter Cullinane Mr Oliver Hawkins Dr Jim Cutts Mr Edwin Kemp Mr Clive Daniels Professor Mike Maher Mr Leo Doyle Mr Mike Millward Mr Paul Evans Dr David Mitchell Mr Rupert Forbes Mr Samuel Mossop Mr Peter Gosling Professor John Price Dr Alan Halder Professor Emeritus Gerald Ratzer Mr Richard Halsey Mr Mark Rowntree Professor John Horton Mr David Roy Mr Procter Hutchinson Professor Ian Russell Mr Gareth Keene Professor Michael Russell Dr John Kilmartin Mr Rodney Smith Mr Stephen Landon Mr Brian Waters Mr John Loney Mr Tony Whittaker Dr Neil Macfadyen Mr Robin Williams Mr Peter Moody Dr Timothy Williams Mr Malcolm Moss Mr Richard Willmott Mr Neil Parkyn Mr Martin Roberts 1964 Mr Trevor Roberts Mr Francis Baron Mr Robert Stanbury Dr Jim Bayliss Smith Mr Giles Thorman His Honour Peter Birts
216 DONORS
Mr Stephen Boys Smith Mr Geoff Hall Professor Simon Bridge Mr David Hart Mr Clive Burns Mr Angus Hislop Mr Clive Chivers Dr Tim Hudson The Revd David Coulton Dr Ed Hulme Dr David Curnock Mr John Johnston Mr Arnold Fairless Mr Graham Kay Mr John Forsyth Mr Mike Leach Mr Richard Gaines Professor Gordon Mackerron Mr Paul Gottlieb Mr Bruce Mathers Mr Anthony Gould Mr David Moss Mr Keith Gowing Mr Adrian Parker The late Mr Mike Graham Dr Geoff Roberts Mr Adam Green Mr Dan Rootham Mr Rob Heap Mr Mike Samuel Dr John Henderson Dr Jollyon Smith Dr Gareth Jones Mr Stephen Stanley Mr Richard Kennett Dr Robert Street Professor David Lowe Mr Peter Taylor Mr Ian Marvin Mr Roger Terry Mr Lindsay McDougall Mr Mark Thompson Mr John Murphy Dr Tony White Mr John Newman Mr Robert Park 1966 Professor Keith Roberts Mr David Auger Mr Christopher Roose Dr Richard Badcock Mr John Titford Mr Tom Cogan Mr Bob Waterton Mr Brian Cooper Mr Peter Gray 1965 Mr Richard Griffith Mr John Apsey Dr Allen Hancock Mr Bill Blyth Dr Philip Hazel Dr George Clark The Revd Godfrey Holdstock Mr Bruce Cleghorn Mr Alan Hutchinson Mr George Darwall Mr Peter Johnstone Mr Peter Davies Professor Peter Johnstone Mr Paul Droar Mr John Lackington Mr Gerald Gardiner Dr David Mason Mr Maurice Godfrey Mr Robert Michael Mr John Hakes Mr Jeremy Miller
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Dr Don Nicolson Professor Nigel Quayle Dr Clive Phillips Professor Jon Rhodes Mr Tony Pryor Mr Rob Roseveare Mr John Rahtz Dr John Short Mr Clive Sanders Mr Nigel Smith Mr Richard Siddall Dr Peter Stacey Mr Alan Swinburne Dr David Thackray Sir Kevin Tebbit Mr Dave Thomas Mr Peter van Went Sir Philip Thomas Mr Nick Viney Dr Ronald Webbink Dr Christopher Ward Dr Simon Wilkinson Dr David Webb Mr Paul Wilson Professor Bob Young 1968 1967 Dr Ray Armstrong Dr Martyn Agass Professor Alan Aylward The Rt Hon. Sir Richard Aikens Mr Michael Bacon Mr Jeremy Baker Mr Keith Barron Mr Bill Boyes Mr Mike Bowes Dr Chris Bradfield Mr Tony Bramley Mr Andrew Burridge Mr David Browne Dr Stephen Desborough Mr Tom Burnham Dr John Doviak Mr Robert Gray Mr John Dudley Dr Michael Greenwood His Honour Judge Mark Furness Professor Steve Gull Dr Richard Furze Mr John Halliday Mr Ian Galbraith Dr Graham Harding Dr Alan Grant Dr Milan Hauner Mr Martin Hill Mr Peter Hyde Mr Robert Hirst The Revd Canon Peter Jones Mr Neil Hufton Mr Giles Keeble Professor John Irven Mr John Knee Mr Martin Jenkinson Mr John Lees Mr David Lindars Mr James Mackay Mr Roger Morgan Dr Moojan Momen Mr Andrew Mummery Mr Richard Morgan Mr Michael Neff Dr Geoff Morrison Mr Raymond Neinstein Mr Frank Neale The Revd Canon Douglas Peterson Dr Michael Neiditch Dr David Price Mr Ray Newman
218 DONORS
Mr Tony Nickson Dr Andrew Petrie Mr Peter North Dr Stanley Samarasinghe Dr Nick Odom Dr William Scharf Mr Adrian Palmer Mr Duncan Smith Mr Robert Palmstrøm Mr Nick Sutherland Mr Stephen Pickford Mr Ian Thorpe Mr John Robinson Mr Lindsay Tomlinson Professor Steve Royle Mr John Tudhope Mr Mike Shaw Mr Frederick Utley Mr Jeremy Shepherd Dr Ian Veltman Mr George Sim Professor Rory Walsh Mr David Small The Revd Nigel Warner Dr David Smith Mr Les Wilkinson Dr James Stuart Mr Joe Taylor 1970 Mr David Thistlethwaite Mr Vivian Bazalgette Professor Robert Tombs Sir David Beamish Dr John Willcox Professor Jeremy Cooper The Lord Nigel Crisp of Eaglescliffe 1969 Mr Mike Davis Mr Mark Addison Professor David D’Avray Mr David Biddulph Mr Derek Drummie Mr Julian Burgess Colonel Keith Galbraith Dr Martin Carter Mr John Gilbert Mr Nicolas Chisholm Mr David Gray Mr John Connell Mr Richard Heath Mr Andrew Duff Mr Jonathan Hellyer Jones Mr Stephen Gallico Dr Alan Jones Dr Brian Jacobs Mr Ken Jones Mr Trevor Jones Mr Christopher Judson Mr Gareth Kelly Dr Roderick Lumsden Dr Richard King Dr Steve Martin Mr Michael Lawton Mr Robin Masefield Dr Graham Lovegrove Dr Edward Metcalfe The Hon. Lloyd Macdonald Mr Colin Percy Mr Sean Magee Mr Vaughan Pomeroy Mr David Murphy Dr Dean Pope The Hon. Sir Alastair Norris Mr Paul Redhead Professor Peter Parham Mr Stephen Smith Mr Hugh Parker Mr Paul Smyth
THE EAGLE 2020 219 DONORS
Mr Dodge Thompson 1973 Dr John Wilson Professor Richard Ball Mr John Woodhouse Dr Alan Begg Mr Robin Bloomfield 1971 Mr Christopher Brain Mr Andrew Argyle Mr Anthony Broomhead Mr Stuart Bell Dr David Coppell Mr Ian Boulton Mr Alan Coulson Mr Edward Davis Mr Edward Coulson Mr Anthony Dawson Mr Mark Cronshaw Mr Stefan Filipkiewicz Mr Andrew Elliott Mr Graham Fletcher Mr Andrew Grenville Mr Alan Lodwick Mr John Grint Dr Joe McDermott Mr Peter Hardyman Mr Andy Moore Mr Martin Hayton Mr Roger Nicholson Dr Tim Hunt Sir Peter Robinson Mr Timothy Jacobsen Mr Adrian Savage Mr Peter Le Voir Mr Richard Suart Dr Paul Manning Dr David Tanton Professor Andrew Masters Professor John Waterton Mr Nicholas Morton Dr Des Watson Mr Richard Oughton Mr Louis Singer 1972 Dr Kim Siew Tan Mr Martin Bailes Mr Geoff Tierney Dr John Barter Mr Keith Tilson Dr David Bowers The Revd Dr Malcolm Torry Mr Richard Constant Mr Colin West Mr David Cooper Dr Tim Cox 1974 Mr Lewis Duke Mr Siddharth Amin Mr Paul James The Rt Hon. Sir Jonathan Baker Mr Tim Lewis Mr Robert Billing Mr Mike Monk Mr Anthony Blaiklock Mr Jeremy Snewin Mr Donald Boadle Mr Michael Turner Mr Peter Burrows Professor Peter Webb Mr Peter Caddy Mr Richard White Dr Andy Cairns Mr Bruce Wilson Mr Paul Cobb Mr Ken Cornfield
220 DONORS
Mr Chris Dale Mr Simon Meyer Mr Roger Dix Dr Paul Middleton Dr Martin Edwards Professor Michael Moriarty Dr John Fells Mr Charles Naylor Mr Mike Gibson Mr Anthony Nixon Mr Tim Jones Mr David Shilston Mr David King Dr Chris Smith Mr David Littlewood The late Mr Gerry Spring His Honour Judge Michael Longman Dr Sandy Sutherland Mr David Lynas Dr Sudhir Wanmali The Hon. Sir Stephen Males Dr David Wilkinson Mr Peter Matthews Mr David Worlidge Mr Tom Moisley Mr Greg Moore 1976 Mr David Pollard Mr Stephen Anderson Mr Jeremy Sargent Mr Anthony Butler Mr William Schenck Dr Yen Chong Dr Vilas Sinswat Dr Paul Cockerham Mr Nick Slocombe Dr Andrew Cole Professor David Stocker Mr John de Boer Mr Graham Stroud Dr Terry Denman Mr Stephen Wickham Mr Jim Dewes Dr Peter Wilding Mr Huw Evans Dr Clarke Wilson Mr Tony Fairhead Mr Jim Green 1975 Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Gregory Mr Rod Anderson Mr Mike Hardyman Group Captain Julian Andrews Professor Trevor Harley Mr Nigel Bates Dr David Hill Mr Paul Bramley Mr Simon Holmes Dr Mark Charter The Revd Michael Horton Mr Martin Dickins Mr Aidan Huxford Mr David Dixon Mr Michael Kraftman Mr Colin Duckworth Dr Alastair Livesey His Honour Judge Jonathan Furness Mr Tim McCarthy Mr David Gorsuch Mr Colin McKay Mr Mark Jeffries Mr Andrew McNulty The Revd Mark Jones Mr Adrian Morgan Professor Duncan Kennedy Professor John Murphy Mr Donald Mark Mr Kieran Murphy
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Mr Malcolm Noble Mr Nick Corfield Mr Simon Palmer Professor John Dear Professor John Plane Mr David Edney Professor Stefan Reif Mr Mark Harris Dr Mike Robson Mr Graham Low Mr Robert Ross Mr Stephen MacDonald Mr Alan Simpson Mr Colin Massey Mr Peter Smith Mr Warren McDavid Dr Chris Stanley Brigadier Jon Mullin Mr Richard Stradling Mr Richard Pierce-Saunderson Professor Chris Summerton Mr Steve Settle Mr Michael Tosdevin Mr Paul Shearer Mr Nigel Turner Mr Jonathan Steffen Mr Paul Torrington 1977 Professor Richard Verrall Dr Kamal Ahuja Dr Nigel Bew 1979 Mr Nick Brown Mr Ben Andradi Professor Gilbert Cockton Mr Tony Bridgewater Mr Andrew Crossley Mr Trevor Burton Professor Peter Dowben Mr Nick Busvine Mr Mark Evans Mr Kevin Curtis Mr Andrew Fogg Mr Paul Dempsey Mr Adam Jollans Mr Gilbert Dunlop Dr Roger Jones Mr John Fishwick Mr Garth Lindrup Mr Anthony Hui Dr Neil McIntyre Mr Andrew Lamb Dr Simon Powles Mr Andrew Lawson Mr Stuart Southall Dr Michael Leach Dr Robert Stroud Mr Bruce Leckie Mr Andrew Tomlinson Dr Hin Low Dr Matthew Witt Mr Jeremy Macklin Mr Andy Moore 1978 Mr Tony Moran Dr Julian Allen Professor David Seipp Mr Edward Archer Mr Steven Smith Mr Tim Arnold Dr Hugh Tooby Mr Bernard Bell Dr Paul Wright Dr Andrew Cameron
222 DONORS
1980 1981 Mr Duncan Bigg Mr Tim Bailey Dr Duncan Blackburn Mr Alan Baldwin Mr Mark Briegal Mr Martin Bedford Mr David Budenberg Mr Adrian Brown Dr Steven Bunkhall Mr Tom Butler The Hon. Guido Calabresi Mr Paul Campion Mr Andrew Carrier Dr Tami Davis Biddle Dr Joddy Chapman Dr Austin Forey Mr David Croft Mr James Fox Mr Geoffrey Davis Mr Kevin Gardiner Mr Hugh Dunlop Mr Bruce Hamilton Mr Stuart Fowler Mr Charles Heard Mr Paul Gamble Professor Graham Hillier Mr Neil Gregson Mr David Hughes Mr Mark Halliwell Mr Jonathan Lancashire Mr Jeremy Hunns Dr Marc Lipman Dr Neil Jenkins Dr Peter Mitchell Mr Fred Leiner Dr Graham Radford-Smith Mr Chuan Lim Professor Dan Reinstein Mr Ed Matthews Dr Robert Ritchie Mr Jeremy Mercer Dr Nick Robinson Mr Rory Mitchell Mr David Rogerson Mr Julian Molyneux Mr Rupert Ross-Macdonald Mr Paul Nicholas Mr Keith Scott Mr Philip Oakes Dr Will Watkins Mr Charles Pott Mr John Zealley Mr Justin Ripman Dr Derek Roberts 1982 Dr Philip Satterthwaite Mr John Aves Mr Richard Sealy Mrs Henrietta Butler (née Shaw) Mr John Smith Mrs Meg Cooke (née Holdsworth) Mr Graham Sorbie Dr Paul Digard Mr Colin Stone Dr Laurence Drake Mr Richard Watson Mr Dennis Forbes Dr Robert Whitlock Dr Emad George Mr Geoffrey Zelin Dr Sue Heenan Mr Roger Hill Mrs Dalla Jenney Mr Oliver Jory
THE EAGLE 2020 223 DONORS
Dr John Kedward Mr Paul Baker Professor John Kerrigan Dr Helen Bungay Mr Patrick Lane Mr Peter Crossley Mr Patrick Litton Mr Ian Cumming Miss Joanna Pitman Mrs Emma Davies (née McLaren) Mr Robert Samuelson Mr Christopher Dawe Mr Murray Scott Dr Helen Duncan (née Wood) Mr David Seers Mr Iain Gibson Mr Peter Udale Mr David Gould Mr Robin Wilson Mr Jon Gray Mr Nick Gregory 1983 Dr Andrew Hoadley Mr Martin Allen Mr Nigel Jones The Revd Vicky Barrett Mrs Tessa Leuchars (née Graham) Mrs Nicky Bibby (née Shanks) Professor Pete Nienow Mr William Bibby Mrs Susan Palmer (née King) Mr Stephen Boxer Mrs Annamarie Phelps (née Stapleton) Mrs Tanya Castell (née Wade) Mr Andrew Sandars Dr Stephen DeVincent The late Mr Michael Schueppert Dr Heidi Doughty Professor Thomas Smith Mr Marc Feigen Mr Stephen Spall Mr Steven Fobel Mr David Stoyle Mr Guy Freeman Dr Caroline Styles Ms Alex Gethin Mr Byron Thomas Mr Martin Greenslade Ms Anne Worden Dr Dimitrios Hatzis Mr Duncan Jubb 1985 Mr John Krumins Dr Alison Ball Dr Ruth Le Sueur Ms Alexandra Citron Mr Anthony May Dr Julius Clayton Mr Stephen Munday Mr Jonathan Davies-Jones Dr Chris Perks Mr Piers Dennison Ms Bríd Rodgers Mr David Eagles Mr Mark Thomas Mr Anthony Fobel Mr Martin Tod Mr Andrew Goodbody Mr Peter Wilms van Kersbergen Miss Claire Griffiths Mr Andrew Ground 1984 Mr David Hale Mr Nicholas Antoniou Mrs Christine Hanway (née Chang) Mr Tom Backhouse Mr Bill Harcourt
224 DONORS
Miss Clare Hardy Mr Jon Saltmarsh Dr Mark Hayter Mr Ross Sharpe Mr Andrew Holt Mr Nav Sheera Mr David James Mrs Karena Vleck (née Ward) Mr Neil Jefferies Mr Pete Webster Dr Becca Kenneison Dr Kit Kilgour 1987 Ms Deborah Lynch Mr Neil Allen Mr Iain McIntyre Miss Lisa Burton Mr Akhil Shah Mr Robert Carey Mr Ian Simm Mrs Katy Cherry (née Imlach) Mr Ian Singleton Mrs Rachel Curtis Gravesen (née Curtis) Ms Rebecca Stäheli (née Evans) Dr Giampiero Esposito Mrs Cathy Stubbs (née Davies) Mr Hilary Gee Dr Sarah Taylor Mr Colm Gibson Mr Peter White Dr Claire Grobecker-Bouttier (née Bouttier) Mr Alistair Hancock 1986 Mr Steven Harrold Colonel John Adams Mrs Victoria Kitcatt (née Bishop) Dr Barry Appleton Mr John Louth Dr David Banks Miss Catherine Mangan Mr David Barr Mr Andrew Nethsingha Mr Richard Beales Mr Alan Overd Dr Kenneth Beckman Mr Steve Platts Ms Rosie Bichard Dr Jo Prigmore Dr Tom Carrell Mr Adam Stronach Dr Andrew Gates Mr David Thomson Ms Jo-Ann Gumb Mrs Hester Turton (née Froggatt) Mr Neil Hampson Ms Kathy Ward Dr Sacha Holland Ms Kirsty Wilson Mr Richard Huntington Dr Roger Macklin 1988 Mrs Catherine McDermott (née Crook) Mr Vlad Attard Mr James Miller Mr Adam Belton Mr Tim Morgan-Wynne Dr James Bentall Mr Denis Mustafa Mr Andrew Brindle Dr Kamlesh Pithia Dr Rachel Carol (née Cowling) Mr Piers Pressdee Mr Tim Chambers Mrs Louise Rich (née Littlewood) Mrs Theresa Collier (née Salter) Ms Vanessa Richards Dr Fiona Creed (née Kelly)
THE EAGLE 2020 225 DONORS
Mr Khaled Dawas 1990 Mr Fabio Galantini Dr Joss Adams The late Dr Mariette Hopman Professor Hiro Aragaki Mr Dan Kershaw Mr Rob Bratby Dr Charlie Line Mr Sue Wan Chua Mr Dominic Magne Mr William Clements Mr Ian Nichols Mrs Johanna Donaldson (née Jones) Mrs Tricia Peters (née Dunnett) Mr Owen Garrett Ms Nicola Rushton Mr Andy Jurgenson Mr Jiten Samani Dr Dherminder Kainth Mr Duncan Sinclair Mr John Leonard Dr Claire Sweeney Ms Niamh McKenna Dr Karen Wiemer Major General Tony Milton Mr Matthew Moss 1989 Mr Salim Nathoo & Mrs Umeeda Nathoo Mr Mike Allan Ms Catherine O Súilleabháin Mrs Cathy Carnegie (née Ryan) (née Lappé) Dr Nikki Deards Mr Gautham Radhakrishnan Mr Mark Farrar Mr John Sheekey Professor Steve Finnigan Dr Jacqueline Sutherland Ms Sophie Green Mr John Vincent Dr Ralph Grobecker Mr Stephen Willis Dr Karen Harman Mr Charles Wilson Professor Rik Henson Mrs Alison Wise (née Verity) Ms Shareen Khattar Mr Simon Lacey 1991 Dr Emma Mawdsley Mr Ali Ali Dr Helen McKee (née Simpson) Mrs Anne-Frances Ball (née Foster) Mr Simon Morris Mr Ian Ball Dr Liam O Súilleabháin Mr Jon Bell Mr Steve Senior Mrs Anne Campbell (née Martin) Mrs Christine Smith (née Collins) Mr Declan Costello Mr Rupert Strudwick Mr Doug Davis Mr Christian Taylor Mr Xabier Echevarria Dr Siân Thompson Group Captain Andrew Gibbons Mrs Alison Turner (née Sanderson) Mrs Emma Gooding (née Butler) Dr Neil Turner Mrs Claire Horwood (née Broadbent) Ms Catherine Twilley Dr Stacey Lee (née Anderson) Mr Paul Williamson Dr Alistair Lumb
226 DONORS
Mr James Manning 1993 Mr Eric Ng Tung Hing Mr Talib Ali Captain Gregory Parker Mr Daniel Bennett Dr Karl Pichler Mr Matt Bonetti Mrs Catherine Shepherd (née Martin) Mr Thomas Cairns Dr Kai Tan Dr Rudolf Cardinal Mr Stephen Tunnicliffe Wilson Mr Stefan Crampton Mr Toby Watkin Mr Jonathan Craven Mr Keith Webster Mr Daniel Garrod Dr Ursula Weekes (née Mayr-Harting) Mrs Gemma Harrison (née Watts) Dr Emma Whicher Mr Markus Irngartinger Dr Sam Williams Mr Russell Lethbridge Mr Jonathan Lloyd 1992 Mrs Rachel Lord (née Tipping) Mr Aaron Armstrong Ms Shiona MacPherson Dr Harjoat Bhamra Mr Peter Mallin-Jones Mr James Bowden Mr Jon May Mr Jon Burgess Dr Paul Milligan Mr James Burton Dr Rob Milner Dr Joy Chatterjee Mr Reza Motallebzadeh Mr James Davis Dr Mark Muller Mr Jamie Griffith Mr Tosin Oguntayo Mr Christopher Hernandez-Roy Dr Marion Palmer Mr Matthew Juniper Miss Karen Parkes Mrs Kate Kent (née Aubury) Mr Nick Pye Mr Adam Kilgour The Revd Dr James Saunders Mr Rob Mann Mr Mark Savage Mr Sameer Modha Mr Jonty Shipley Mr Graham Robertson Mr Nicholas Studer Mr Simon Robson Brown Mr Gavin Taylor Mr Jim Standing Dr Andrew Thompson Dr Graham Stewart Dr Sam Waddy Mr Tom Stokes Miss Zanna Storey 1994 Dr Joan Tumblety Dr Meike Akveld Mr Vires Vireswer Mr Phil Allison Mr Frank Walden Mr Jeremy Bassinder Mr Andrew White Professor Steven Brenner Mr Peter Davis
THE EAGLE 2020 227 DONORS
Mr Methun De Professor Roddy Vann Dr Thomas Hulme Mrs Sarah Waring (née Boardman) Mr Jeremy Ip Mr Graham Wynes Mr Peter Jones Mr Ian Kegel 1996 Mr Phil Makinson Mr James Andrew Ms Catherine Milward Dr Sibs Anwar Mr Alex Moir Mrs Elizabeth Babister (née Rosambeau) Ms Leslie Omana Begert (née Omana) Miss Caroline Boddy Mrs Sarah Pye (née Power) Mr Mark Brand Mr James Samworth Mr John Brolly Mr Brian Sivyour Dr Emma Brooker Miss Elizabeth Sywyj Dr Oliver Choroba Ms Amelia Torode Mr Mike Daley Mr Christian Forsdyke 1995 Dr Amanda Fuller Dr Sevag Arzoumanian Mr Soujit Ghosh Mrs Jenny Banerjee (née Conran) Mr Christopher Godfrey Mr Rob Cadwallader Dr Nadia Godin-Heymann Mr Tom Dare Mr Mal Green Dr Graham Davies Mr Timothy Hawkins Dr Keith Davies Dr Amy Hill Mr Niklas Evans Mr Andrew McDonald Miss Treeva Fenwick Dr Koye Odutola Mr Paul Foster Mr Christopher Perrell Mr Malcolm Gates Mr Lee Sanders Mr Nick Geddes Dr Nagulan Saravanamuttu Mrs Nikki Geddes (née Brotton) Ms Gisèle Stephens-Chu (née Stephens) Mr Paul Godfrey Mr Graham Walker Dr Kieren Hollingsworth Mrs Clare Wiseman-Clarke (née Hume) Mr Ross Hutchison Mr Choon Wah Wong Dr Danny Mansergh Mr Alex Massey 1997 Dr Paula Meth Mr Richard Avery Dr Paul Overton Mr Andrew Bostock Dr Mark Radon Dr Clare Bostock Dr Anneli Randla Mrs Eleanor Brown (née Davis) Dr Ed Rowe Dr Samantha De Silva Mr Tim Rule Commander David Evans Mr Martin Towns Mr Chee Kwan Gan
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Dr Yushi Inaba Mr Tom Edwards-Moss Ms Nabila Jiwaji Mr Tim Foster Mr Matthew Jukes Miss Emma Gargitter Mr Ronnie Khan Ms Galen Goldsmith Mr Ron Lin Dr Richard Gunton Mr Ian Macho Ms Lindsay Hufton Mrs Aliki Misyrli (née Missirli) Ms Sarah Langslow Mr Philip Moore Mr David Martin Dr Tom Nielsen Dr Benedict Russell Mr David Richards Mr David Singleton Mr Nimar Sehmi Mrs Felicity Singleton (née Shaw) Mr Sunil Sharma Dr Kathryn Spencer (née Digger) Ms Donna Tipping Ms Rebecca Tree Mr Andrew Veitch Mrs Catherine Vallejo Veiga (née Jones) Mrs Rebecca Waldron (née Watkins) Mr Gregory Willis Mr Nick Winter 2000 1998 Mr Rehaan Anjum Mr Tom Blathwayt Mr King Bhattacharyya Dr Daniel Bor Mr Michael Dudley Mrs Sophie Bryan (née Hill) Dr Barry Fine Ms Heather Critchlow (née Greig-Smith) Dr Susanna Grant Mr Will Critchlow Mr David Harding Dr Richard George Dr John Hilber Mr Paul Gurnham Miss Alice Honeywill (née Coopman) Dr Wen Lai Mr Ali Kazmi Mr Simon Leslie Mrs Francesca Lane (née Frame) Mr Christopher Nichols Ms Lorraine Lee-Hirano (née Lee) Mrs Fiona O’Neill (née Davy) Mr Rajeev Mathew Dr Hannah Oram (née Fuller) Mrs Catherine McDonald Dr Tim Paulden (née Robinson) Dr Joel Pitkin Mr Angus Murray Dr Iain Southern Mr Brendan Palmer Dr Chia-Ling Phuah 1999 Mr Timothy Short Mr Paul Briône Miss Beth Stoker Dr Daniel Cooney Ms Salima Virji Mrs Joanna Cooney (née Barnsley) Mr George Wallis Mr James Dee Mr Bao Xiao Mr Johan Duramy Dr Denis Zuev
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2001 Mr Andrew Hicks Mr Henry Addison Mr Karim Jetha Mr Marc Bale Dr Chris Kelly Mr Sorin Basca Mr Lennard Lee Mr Alan Cunningham Mr Brian Lum The late Professor Sir Christopher Dobson Ms Nadine McCarthy Kahane Mr Tim Froydenlund (née McCarthy) Captain Stuart Furness Mr David Myhill Dr Debashis Haldar Dr Jenny Oates Mr Kenneth Ingram Dr Siân Pooley Mr Yacoob Kurimbokus Mr David Reid Dr Andrew Lynn Ms Felicity Robinson Mr Christopher Milton Dr Peter Scott Mr Stuart Moore Miss Isobel Smyth Ms Roya Motalleb-Zadeh Mr James Sym Dr Paul Novak Mr Ben Tyers Mr Gareth Roberts Dr Liisa van Vliet Miss Christine Schoenzart Mr Conrad Williams Mr Igor Ushkarev Miss Jocy Williams Dr Gerald Weldon Mr Jamie White 2003 Mr Rob Wiygul Mrs Catherine Abecassis (née Kitsis) The late Mr Samuel Wring Mr Jonathan Abecassis Ms Emma Agyemang 2002 Dr Sam Ahir Mr Mike Adams Mr Tim Angliss Mr Alistair Baker Mrs Susan Armstrong (née Kendall) Ms Candida Caldicot-Bull Mr Matthew Cannon Mr Will Cartwright-Hignett Miss Hannah Carmichael Mr Nick Charlwood Dr Shelley Chapman Mr Toby Coleman Mr Nirup Chawhan Mr Mark Colley Miss Antonia Da Silva Teixeira Mrs Zip Colley (née Jila) Mr Alex Dixon Mr Tom Dye Mrs Emma Dixon (née Jacob) Mr Andrew Fenn Mr Thomas Foley Mr Matt Fittall Mr San Sau Fung Dr Stuart Fraser Miss Alison Gaudion Ms Lizzie Gibney Mr Alex Groot Mr James Greene Mr Patrick Harty Mr Michael Gun-Why Mr Mike Horridge
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Miss Allyson Ke Mr Tom Dearing Mr Greg Lowden Mr James Diggle Mrs Emma McMurray (née Woolley) Mr Jamie Douglas Mr Craig Morrison Mr Sam Furness Mr Robert Pugh Mrs Almaz Ismayilova Mr Ed Russell (née Ahmadova-Ismayilov) Mr Andrew Wheatley-Hubbard The Revd Thomas James Mr Alex Williamson Mr Rishi Khagram Dr Patrick Marti 2004 Mr James Martin Mrs Laura Bispham (née Sturdee) Mr David Sheard Mr Warwick Bloore Mrs Manon Sheard Mr Zunjie Chong Miss Angharad Thomas Mr Mark Curling Dr Blaise Thomson Mr Ed Drage Professor Marjorie Welish Mrs Hannah Drage (née Lane) Ms Charlotte Wheeler-Booth Mr Daniel Fallon Dr Kyle Williams Mr Ross Flanigan Mr David Wood Mr Michael Griffiths Mr Thomas Griffiths 2006 Dr Arabella Hunt Mr Yasir Dahir Alihassan Mr Gareth John Dr Daniel Andrews Dr Michael Jones Dr Dunstan Barnes Mr Jonathan Knight Mr Theodore Birks Mrs Juliet Knight (née Courtney) Miss Clare Briscoe Dr Myles Lavan Mrs Carol Charles (née Evans) Miss Elizabeth Linehan Mr Tom Chigbo Commander Mark Metcalf Dr Pakpong Chirarattananon Mr Peter Morton Dr Alice Eldred Mrs Isabelle Scott (née Käufeler) Mr Will Gray Dr Katie Tayler-Hunt (née Hunt) Dr Daniel Guetta Dr Matthew Ward Mr Aled Jones Mrs Anne-Marie Wheatley-Hubbard Ms Cassie Lloyd Perrin (née Brewer) Mr Kan Lu Mr Jacky Luk 2005 Mr Richard Lum Mr Asad Akhter Mr Charles Marshall Dr Raina Brands Mr Duncan McCombe Mr Chris Charles Ms Michaela Merlin-Jones (née Bacon) Mr Edward de Minckwitz Mr David Nissenbaum
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Mr Vishnu Parameshwaran Mr Dick Mathekga Mr Pavel Spirine Mr Basil McDonald Mr Alex Tatton-Brown Ms Alice Meredith Mrs Rebecca Tatton-Brown (née Nelson) Ms Marika Mikuriya Dr Belen Tejada Romero Mr Henry Neill Mr Mike Totton Miss Alexandra Reichl Ms Sarah Turner Mr James Robinson Dr Iannish Sadien 2007 Dr Tom Sutton Mr Ben Baker Mr Mat Thomas Mr George Dyesmith Miss Simone Wetherall Mrs Hannah Dyesmith (née Smith) Mr Oliver Withers Mr Peter Hughes Mr Defeng Wu Dr Morgan Macleod Miss Claire Mason 2009 Dr Ian Ralby Mr Peter Atkinson Dr David Reindorp Mr Lewis Cannon Dr Linus Schumacher Mr Waheed Chaudhrey Mr Carlo Scott Mrs Sarah Ellison Mr Stephen Teal The Revd Dr Alun Ford Mr Alexander Torrens Miss Laura Gibson Mrs Claire Torrens (née Bush) Miss Jenny Green Mr Adam Wawrzynski Mr Tom Harrison Mr Andrew Wheelhouse Mr William Hunter Miss Matilda Wilding Coulson Mr Huw Leslie Mr Franky Williams Mr Zhuo Min Lim Ms Ingrid Zhang Dr Jess Matthews Ms Lauren Obee 2008 Dr Anuradha Pallipurath Mr James Bown Mr Julian Parmar Mr John Challenger Ms Anisha Polson Mr Dominic Collingwood Mr Matt Stawarz Mr Paul Denver Mr Charlie Draper 2010 Dr Kirk Ellison Mr Tom Blackie Dr Asger Jakobsen Miss Alexandra Bright Mr Will Johnston Miss Aliya Brijnath Dr Julia Fan Li Dr Darya Deen (née Ausiannikava) Mr Simon Lock Miss Mercy Dennis-Smith Dr Katie Manning Mr Charlie Emerton
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Dr Wilfried Genest 2012 Mrs Flick Goodlet (née Osborn) Mr Namir Asmar Mr Aaron Helfand Dr Deborah Brown Ms Mekhola Hoff (née Mallik) Mr James Forsythe Mr Justin Holt Ms Jessica Hinton (née Gorman) Mrs Laura Hunter (née Grossick) Mr Joshua Hinton Ms Sinéad Lynch Miss Francesca Lane Mr Hugo Macklin Dr Benjamin Lin Mr Husein Meghji Mr Hamish McLaren Mr Sam Oladeinde Mr Sam Thompson Mr Moss Pepe Dr Tengyao Wang Miss Fleur Siswick Mr Zhao Wang Dr Sam Sudar Mr Thom Sutcliffe 2013 Mr Owen Waugh Dr Felix Benz Miss Chloris Yu Mr Baba Bob-Soile Mr Shuaib Chowdhary 2011 Miss Lily Elliott Mr John Boghossian Miss Saskia Fullerton-Smith Ms Sally Bowell Miss Lydia Hudson Mr Thomas Bumberger Ms Julia Jaskolska Mr Patrick Calvert Miss Jasmine John Dr Andrew Chen Mr David Jones Mr Andy Chen Mr Matthew Kennedy Mr Alex Donger Mr Ben Langslow Mr Daniel Forde Dr Alice Mann Dr Michael Ha Mr Ashley Newson Mr Reece Harrison Miss Sam Royle Captain Tim Hulme Mr Alek Sinha Mr Matthew Huxtable Miss Jen Zheng Mr Max Jenkins Dr Tim Jones 2014 Miss Cris Navarro Sanchis Miss Sarah Ashcroft-Jones Miss Kate Richmond Mr William Ashford Mr Bhupinder Sachdev Miss Hannah Cusworth Miss Fiona Stainer Mr Ray Dong Mr Arvin Vaghela Mr Markis Duggan Mr Andi Wang Miss Dommy Goddard Mr Chris Wheelhouse Miss Holly Hampton Miss Sarah Wood Mr Dom Holloway
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Dr Sarah Jessl Private Individuals Mr Silviu Ungureanu Mrs Kathleen Abbott Mr Sam Watts Mrs Anna Ahuja Ms Hannah White Ms Sue Allison Mrs Anthea Barley 2015 Dr Jason Charlesworth Mr Alex Aits Mrs Jean Coops Dr Helen Alderson Mr Christophe Czajka Mr Wes Chow Mrs Caroline Dix Miss Samantha Cook Mr Miguel Fragoso Miss Hannah Croman Mrs Barbara Goodman Miss Jasmine Curtis Mr Mark Hanley-Browne Miss Anastasia Ershova Mr Rolf Harrison The late Mr Sam Fitzsimmons Mrs Athene Hunt Mr Jared Khan Mr Navin Khattar Miss Katherine Ladd Mrs Samantha Kilgour Miss Kelley Macpherson Mrs Anne Lindsay-Cashmore Miss Kelsey Miller Mrs Anne Matthewman Mr Xiaojia Rao Lady Judy Moody-Stuart Mr Alessandro Rollo Professor Paul Nelson Miss Delphine Veys Dr Madsen Pirie Mr Cameron Wallis Mrs Mary Radford Mrs Lesley Rowlands 2016 Ms Adele Singer Mr Mendel Cyprys Mrs Mary Smyth Miss Leia Henderson Professor James Storr Ms Vicki Tung Former Chaplains Mr Bradley Upham The Revd Carol Barrett Ford Mrs Irene Vest The Revd Victor Malan Mrs Virginia Ward Mr Brian Wood Visiting Scholars Dr Eugene Trani Organisations Professor Nicole Woolsey Biggart The Carpenters’ Company The Johnian Society Staff Lian Huat Group Mrs Katherine Ellis Lord Burghley 500 Foundation Mr Keith Ellis Wilkinson Charitable Foundation
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With special thanks to the following people Sir Alastair Norris (1969) who have spoken at or helped to arrange an Mr Robert Parker (1970) alumni event in 2019/20. Ms Victoria Raymond (2006) Mr Richard Reed (1991) Although some events were cancelled on Mr Phil Robertson (1981) account of social distancing restrictions, Mr Tom Sayer (2001) we are grateful to the alumni listed below Mr Peter Scott (2002) for their support, and we look forward to Mr Nikhil Shah (2018) working with them when we are able. Mrs Felicity Singleton (1999) Mr Nigel Snaith (1979) Dr Victoria Avery (1988) Mr Graham Spooner (1971) Mrs Kasia Bogusławska-Bradley (1997) Mr Benjamin Thorpe (1991) Ms Emily Brand (1987) Miss Emily Trubshaw (2019) Miss Laura Coffey (2000) Mr Mark Wells (1981) Mr Sam Cohen (2005) Ms Adys Wong (2006) Mrs Zip Colley (2002) Mr Jon Wright (1991) Mr Keith Ellis (staff) Mrs Rachel Ip (1999) Mr Benedek Kruchió (2016) Mr Yao-Chih Kuo (2019) Miss Aïda Lahlou (2018) Mr Julian Mash (1980) Mr Amir Nathoo (1998)
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Wordsworth at 250
Tuesday 7 April 2020 marked the 250th anniversary of the birth of William Wordsworth (1770–1850), arguably the most well-known alumnus of St John’s. In this article Rebecca Watts, Library Projects Assistant and published poet, reflects on Wordsworth’s life and the College exhibition mounted in his honour.
Precisely ten years ago, on a snowy January day, I arrived in Grasmere to take up an internship at the Wordsworth Trust, where
I spent a year showing visitors around Plaster bust by Sir Francis Leggatt Wordsworth’s former home and becoming Chantrey, 1820 intimately acquainted with the details of his daily life during the ‘Dove Cottage period’ He complained of the ‘humming sound, (1799–1808). It was a treat – and somewhat less tuneable than bees’ coming from the serendipitous – to be asked to begin the College kitchens directly below his room new decade by researching other aspects on F staircase, First Court, and of the noise of Wordsworth’s life, in order to curate an from ‘Trinity’s loquacious clock’ and ‘pealing exhibition about one of modern poetry’s organ’, both adjacent to his window. most important forebears. It is perhaps not surprising that he shirked When the seventeen-year-old William his ‘College labours’ and ‘the Lecturer’s Wordsworth arrived in Cambridge in room’, choosing instead to ‘pace alone the October 1787, he wasn’t exactly bowled over level fields’ beyond the city’s confines. by what he saw. ‘It was a dreary morning Passionate about literature from an early age, when the chaise / Roll’d over the flat plains he read widely as an undergraduate and also of Huntingdon’, he later recalled in his studied Italian. Unfortunately, his knowledge book-length autobiographical poem The of literature was of little use when it came Prelude. A native of Cumbria, he had spent to sitting his exams, because the Cambridge his childhood and school years roaming curriculum in the late eighteenth century free amid the dramatic fells and picturesque was predominantly mathematical. Having lakes of northwest England. By contrast, been awarded a scholarship on the basis of the ‘three gloomy courts’ that comprised academic merit in his first term, he saw his St John’s at that time (New Court was yet marks steadily dwindle, and in January 1791 to be built) held little inspiration for him. he graduated without Honours.
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This white porcelain breakfast set, which Wordsworth purportedly used from 1816 to 1850, was a gift to the poet from Sir George Howland Beaumont (1753–1827). Beaumont was a powerful patron of the arts and a poetry enthusiast. He was a friend to all the Lake Poets (Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey), viewing Wordsworth in particular as a kindred spirit.
Was it in spite of or thanks to his indifference While it is easy to to academic life that Wordsworth went on to portray Wordsworth become one of the world’s best-loved poets? – later Poet Laureate to His older brother Christopher had excelled Queen Victoria – as the archetypal at Cambridge, and via a distinguished Romantic poet, literary success did career in the Church he became Master of not come to him straight away. His Trinity College. William, by contrast, was landmark volume of poetry, Lyrical a rebel spirit. In the decade after leaving Ballads (a collaboration with Samuel St John’s he moved between London, Taylor Coleridge), left the critics baffled revolutionary France, South West England when it was first published in 1798, and and Germany, deriving inspiration from Wordsworth was forced to add a lengthy the places he visited and the people he met, preface to the second edition, explaining and developing his own radical ideas about the key ideas behind his radical poetic politics, philosophy and poetry. ‘experiments’. Throughout his career, his work was championed by some By the time he returned to his native Lake and ridiculed by others. Reviewing District in December 1799, he had published The Excursion (1814), a book-length three volumes of poetry and had inherited poem Wordsworth composed as a from a friend a modest legacy that enabled companion-piece to The Prelude, one him to live independently and pursue his critic commented: ‘This will never do. literary ambitions. Over the course of the … The case of Mr Wordsworth, we following decade he wrote some of the perceive, is now manifestly hopeless; and most memorable and enduringly popular we give him up as altogether incurable, poems in the English language, including beyond the power of criticism.’ the daffodils poem (‘I wandered lonely as a cloud’), which was inspired by reading An original printed copy of that his sister Dorothy’s description of daffodils wonderfully savage review was among a in her journal, two years after they had number of items displayed in the Library encountered them when walking together Exhibition Area during Lent and Easter on the shore of Ullswater. terms, to commemorate Wordsworth’s
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250th birthday. Drawing on the Library’s removed Wordsworth ‘came into breakfast Wordsworth Collection, the Archive’s with his usual cheerfulness and delighted admissions records and the College’s & awed us by his illustrations & bursts of picture collections, the exhibition told the inspiration.’ story of Wordsworth’s time at St John’s, as well as charting his friendships with some of the greatest poets and artists of his Access a digital version of the Wordsworth time (including fellow Lake Poets Samuel at 250 exhibition on the College website: Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey) joh.cam.ac.uk/online-exhibitions. Read and reflecting on his literary career and Rebecca’s published poetry on her personal his enduring reputation. website: rerebeccawatts.weebly.com
Several unique artefacts, shown alongside the manuscripts, correspondence and printed books, offered a more intimate glimpse of the man behind the poems. The beautifully decorated porcelain breakfast set that Wordsworth purportedly used every day between 1816 and 1850 had been a gift to him from the poetry enthusiast and powerful art patron Sir George Howland Beaumont, whose vigorous campaigning and substantial donations brought about the founding of the National Gallery, and who proved a loyal friend to all the Lake Poets. Wordsworth’s life mask – a cast of his face, taken by the artist Benjamin Robert Haydon when the poet was 45 – preserves exactly to scale the distinctive high forehead, strong nose and shapely mouth that we have come to recognise from the numerous painted portraits. The seriousness of Wordsworth’s expression is justified by the image of the famous poet in a dressing gown, his face smothered in wet Henry William Pickersgill completed this preliminary drawing of Wordsworth at Rydal plaster and straws stuck up his nose, sitting Mount (Wordsworth’s family home, just north perfectly still while his friends peeked of Ambleside). He then began work on the large canvas shown on page 20. The original drawing round the door to laugh at him. According was donated to St John’s in 1897 by the artist’s to Haydon’s diary, when the cast was granddaughter.
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Donors to the library
The following donors supported St John’s College Library through gifts of books, journals and other items, between 1 May 2019 and 30 April 2020. Supporters of the Library’s ‘Sponsor a Shelf’ scheme are indicated by an asterisk (*). Donors who are members of the College are listed by their year of admission.
1937 1956 Charles John Geoffrey (Geoff) Stanley Professor Francis M Burrows Nicholas Wood* 1946 Tony Greeves 1957 Professor (George) Adrian Horridge Dr D. J. H. (Ben) Garling (Fellow) Sandy Grant 1947 Patrick Field* 1958 Dr Peter Hacking* Dr John Crompton Christopher Joseph* 1948 Michael O’Hara Hugh M. F. Barnes-Yallowley* 1959 1950 Professor David McMullen (Fellow) Dr John H. W. Shaw* Dr James McMullen Sir Roger H. Palin (Honorary Fellow) 1951 Professor Richard Tomlinson* 1960 Professor Edmund King 1952 Professor Malcolm Schofield (Fellow) Professor Bob Aliber John R. Morris* 1961 The late Dr Peter Linehan (Fellow) 1953 David M. Wright* 1963 Bill Ball* 1955 Alan Daniels (in memoriam Reginald W. Estate of Dr Edward James (Fellow) Daniels)* Professor Claudio Vita-Finzi 1964 Stephen Boys Smith
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1965 1977 Dr Martin Heyworth Garth Lindrup* Stuart Southall 1967 Dr Peter Cunningham 1981 Clive Horrell 1968 David Hughes Dr Michael Neiditch Mark Wells
1969 1982 Dr Gareth Jones Dr Greer Haskell
1970 1984 Professor Martyn Barrett Professor Geoffrey Horrocks (Fellow)
1971 1985 Ian Boulton* Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta (Fellow)
1972 1993 Peter Hartnell Professor Deborah Howard (Fellow) Professor Manucha Lisboa (Fellow) 1973 Christopher Brain 1997 Peter Hardyman Professor Tim Whitmarsh (Fellow) The Revd Dr Malcolm Torry 1999 1975 Dr Mark Nicholls (Fellow) A. A. Marcoff Barney McCullagh 2000 David Shilston Francesca Frame Anita (née Moss) and Lionel James Lee 1976 Dr Paul Cockerham* 2001 Dr Terence Denman Dan Burt (Honorary Fellow) Simon Holmes Christine Schoenzart Professor Stefan C. Reif (Fellow) Dr Martin Worthington (Fellow)
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2003 Robin A. Butlin Dr Bernard Freudenthal Mervyn Capel Greg Lowden* Shane Carmody Roderick Conway Morris 2004 Robert Garry Sylvana Tomaselli (Fellow) Andrew Ginger Hilary Glasscock 2012 Barbara Goodman* Christina Ostermann Judith Hinsley Sarah Wayman Iacovos Kareklas Hazel Lawrence 2014 Rebecca Le Marchand Hayk Saribekyan Professor Arthur M. Lesk Nora Topor-Kalinskij The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization Max Planck Institute for Social 2015 Anthropology Skye Fletcher Kathryn McKee Jean-Robert Lalancette Dr Juliet Mitchell MJP Architects 2016 Dr John Pickles Dr Mark Breeze Michael Pitman Fionn Dillon Kelly Jo Tynan Samuel Watt Irene Vest* Rebecca Watts 2018 Anne Williams The Revd Canon Mark Oakley (Fellow) Tim Wright
2019 Professor Gabriel Cornelli The Biographical Librarian would also (Beaufort Visiting Scholar) like to thank members of the College and their families, and other researchers and organisations, who have kindly provided Private individuals, foundations and material about the lives of Johnians for the other institutions Biographical Archive. ASA Cultural Tours David Baker Mrs C. Barringer Dr John Battley The Bhavaraju Family Katie Ann-Marie Bugyis
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242 THE LAST Photo: ‘The Fire Juggler’, Winner of the Staff Photography Competition 2020 Credit: Louise Hanzlik WORD
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Goodbye and thank you
This year’s adverse and unprecedented circumstances resulted in Cambridge students returning home for Easter term, taking part in distance learning and virtual examinations. Editorial Assistant Sophie Hill (2017) is a 2020 graduate, and in this concluding article she reflects on the rapidly changing global political and health situations, how the College and University have had to adapt, and the effect that this had on finalists who missed out on their final term in the city.
Sophie with the Master’s Garden in the background
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It is June, and my friend just told me that range of approaches to managing forms of he has a leek in his fridge. That spelling distant assessment as diverse as there are is correct, although I did initially wonder subjects, as I can well attest to. whether New Court was now flooded and slowly evaporating some toxic chemical I am one of the lucky ones. I have a home into an already gasping and polluted in England that I returned to without issue, atmosphere. Rather, his concern was about I have not been seriously ill with COVID-19 having to deal with the aforementioned and I have not been working in hospitals at vegetable, now probably in an advanced the peak of the crisis. When I first arrived state of decay, on his return. As a result at St John’s, I was incredibly apprehensive, of the pandemic, Cambridge students pre-emptively homesick and worried about returned home at the end of Lent term, fitting in. On my first day, at a prize-giving and my final glimpses of the eerily empty ceremony, my family and I started chatting cloisters and courts were a strange way to to a man and woman hanging around leave a place that had been, for the most the Master’s Lodge, and it transpired part, a vibrant and joyous home for me for that they were the Master of the College, almost three years. To those remaining, Chris Dobson, and his wife Mary – which whether because of estrangement, surprised us more than it should have, given homelessness or the closing of borders, it the venue. Sadly, Chris died last year, but I must have seemed a ghost town. will always remember how kind and down to earth he was, and the role that he and There is a broad disparity between Mary played in making me feel at home individual student experiences, with many here, not to mention the parts played by of us suffering the consequences of not porters, Fellows, friends and a whole host prophetically preparing our home lives of other wonderful people. I’m aware for a worldwide shutdown and a global that not everyone is fortunate to settle apocalypse-esque pandemic. Poorer into university life as easily as I did, but students have fewer resources, space and Cambridge was for me a hugely liberating support than their more affluent peers; and inclusive place, and the students and students with disabilities are navigating staff here are working hard to make such their own adjustments to working routines; a prevailingly positive experience be as and the difficulties that any number of universal as can be hoped for. students are facing during the lockdown further highlight the existing issue of attainment gaps, created through varied ‘For me, losing this final term on-site has schooling, which reverberate into adapting proven what I love most about St John’s and thriving in an academic environment and what I will miss the most: it is a huge at university level. Furthermore, ecosystem of incredible people, beautiful examinations have been thrown into buildings, learning and opportunities.’ turmoil, with the faculties employing a
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This year all final students, regardless of of American police brutality, has resulted familial or economic circumstances, will in protests and a drastic re-evaluation of be missing the traditional rites of passage racial issues across the world. After having that mark the progression from one chapter to partially rewrite this article because my of life to the next: the much-mythologised comments had become dated within a few graduation, lying on the Backs in a self- days, I cannot begin to say what the situation deluded pretence at revision on a summer will be like when these words finally make it day, and walking to Grantchester when to press, and whether the righteous anger that exams are over with friends one might not this has prompted will result in meaningful have seen for the duration of revision. For change or will once again have died out. As me, losing this final term on-site has proven we try to navigate a complex College and what I love most about St John’s and what I University heritage with regard to the past, will miss the most: it is a huge ecosystem of the words of one canonically famous alumnus, incredible people, beautiful buildings, learning William Wilberforce, remain relevant: ‘you and opportunities. It is not a museum but a may choose to look away, but you can never home, and this experience can never fully be again say that you did not know’. regained by later visits or distance learning. University is a time of great change in the lives of many undergraduates, but now the ‘Cambridge taught me the value of University itself is having to change and having critical conversations, and it is in to adapt to the world around it, as it has this engagement with wider issues and so many times before. world events that student contributions remain relevant.’ When I first planned this article, the biggest political demonstrations on our radar were Extinction Rebellion turning Trinity’s lawn The status quo is leaking, and how exactly into a jigsaw puzzle, and our lecturers striking to mop up its pollution is a complex matter, in the hope that they might be allowed to by no means settled. Cambridge taught me properly commit to a career in academia and the value of having critical conversations, be supported in their professions of learning and it is in this engagement with wider issues and teaching. In what now feels like the distant and world events that student contributions past, LGBT+ activists campaigned for gender- remain relevant. The burning political neutral toilets, which the College has included questions with which we are all faced have in the plans for the proposed Community indelibly shaped our unique personal Hub, and student unions promoted gender experiences in this place we have called home. equality and championed the consent And it is for that reason that I express my own workshops we held in Freshers’ Week. heartfelt thanks as I bid a warm goodbye to Cambridge and to St John’s. Now the ‘pandemic of racism’, after the horrific death of George Floyd at the hands Sophie Hill (2017)
246 THE LAST WORD Credit: Sophie Hill (2017)
The Backs, as seen from the Bridge of Sighs, approaching sunset
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Beccy Pickering’s entry for the St John’s welfare bake-off
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johnian.joh.cam.ac.uk joh.cam.ac.uk johnianhub.com St John’s College, Cambridge CB2 1TP medium.com/@stjohnscamalumni Alumni enquiries: 01223 338700 facebook.com/stjohnscambridge General College enquiries: 01223 338600 twitter.com/stjohnscam Email: [email protected] instagram.com/stjohnscam Registered charity number 1137428 flickr.com/sjc_cambridge