The Mysterious Mr Blackadder
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the Queen’s College newsletter supplement The Mysterious Mr Blackadder Compiled by Lucy Hudson Old Members’ Assistant Did he exist? The answer is an emphatic yes. Almost 60 Old Members have written to confirm that there was indeed a Mr Blackadder (known as Joe, Joey or Jack, but chiefly as Joe) working for the College between the 1940s and the 1970s. There was even some outrage at one Old Member’s suggestion that no such person ever existed. At least two Old Members went to the trouble of checking various telephone directories to verify that this unusual surname exists, and Mr N H Hughes (1958) writes that to his recollection Blackadar was the correct spelling—although no one else seems to agree. His Honour Judge Dobkin (1966) points out that ‘to suggest that Joe Blackadder did not exist is absurd. If he had not existed it would have been quite impossible to invent him. Or his name!’ Mr J S Morris (1950) declares ‘Let no-one doubt whether Joe Blackadder really existed. He certainly did and will never be forgotten by those who knew the life at Iffley Road.’ Who was he? Mr Blackadder is first remembered, by those who (1960) remembers ‘our College servants’ as ‘a friendly were here in the early 1940s, as a scout in Drawda but very distinguished band of men’, Mr A Wilkinson Hall and Little Drawda. Others inform us that by (1945) comments that ‘we didn’t seem to know what the mid- to late 1940s (and right up until the 1970s) status the various College servants enjoyed or what he was caretaker of the Iffley Road Annexe, where they specifically were responsible for; we accepted he had living quarters in the basement with his wife them simply as polite but friendly people – the same and daughter. By the early 1950s he was also SCR as our fellow undergraduates, except that they had a Butler. In the 1960s Mrs Blackadder seems to have different life-style’. Mr J S Morris (1950) writes of Mr been in charge at Iffley Road, and Mr Blackadder Blackadder, ‘We sometimes asked ourselves what more in evidence in his role as College butler. He is exactly his rank and position were. He was obviously also referred to as the Provost’s butler, steward ‘or the boss in Iffley Road, and we could see that he some other high official’. In the early to mid-1970s was the butler at High Table every evening at dinner. another correspondent recalls Mr Blackadder working In time we also learnt that he was the Provost’s in the Buttery, in a position that remains unclear. He private steward. We were unaware that his official may have moved between roles or worked in various position was that of SCR Butler as shown on your capacities simultaneously, as descriptions overlap or photograph.’ Perhaps it would have been considered slightly contradict each other. impertinent to ask. This uncertainty may reflect a certain distance between Where did he come from? students and College staff. While Mr M S Harrington According to Dr R B Angus (1963) Mr Blackadder came from Tyneside. The surname itself may originate in the North-East or Scottish Border areas. during the war he was employed at Pressed Steel at Mr M S Harrington (1960) has found a ‘tiny settlement Cowley, where because of his experience in dealing of Blackadder’ near Berwick, to the north of which are with the upper classes, his workmates elected him as the Blackadder Water and the Whiteadder Water, both their shop steward. However this post did not last for tributaries of the Tweed; he recalls Mrs Blackadder long because Joe could always see the employers’ saying that her name came from the Berwick area. point of view so that the workers’ demands we seldom met.’ Piecing together the anecdotes we have received regarding Mr Blackadder’s life before Queen’s, a Finally, Dr S R F Price (1972) has this unlikely story: rather patchy and uncertain biography emerges, it was ‘our belief that his previous employment had although it begins plausibly enough. It is thought been as a hangman, and that he had the distinction that Mr Blackadder previously worked as a valet or of having hanged the last man in England.’ (The latter butler. According to Dr R A Lee (1952), ‘before arriving claim is incorrect.) in Oxford he had been butler to Judge Greenwell of Greenwell Ford at Lanchester in County Durham’. Mr W Etherington (1943) recalls: ‘His story as he told it Appearance and character to me was that he had been a gentleman’s gentleman Mr Blackadder was distinguished by his ‘upright in London but his employer had moved owing to the carriage’ and ‘general smartness of manner’ according war, so Joe had to go down the ladder and come to to Mr W Etherington (1943), and there is unanimous Queen’s’. And Prof G C L Hazlehurst (1970) writes: agreement. He was ‘always impeccably dressed, ‘He told me had been valet to Sir Reginald Brade… head held back and high’, according to who had been Secretary to the War Office 1914-20’. Mr G J Beakhust (1962), who writes that ‘as you can see from the photo—a classic pose—he was a proud By 1943 Prof G L Wilson (1942) believes that and short man’. Mr M S Harrington (1960) writes, Mr Blackadder ‘had just been invalided out of ‘Although he was a small man, his erect stance and the army—his health at that time wasn’t good.’ dignified bearing made him instantly recognisable’. Dr R A Lee (1952) relates the following: ‘It is said that Mr J R E Shaw (1968) remembers him wearing a grey double-breasted suit; Mr K W Frankland (1963) describes him wearing a raincoat and bicycle clips Joe Blackadder did indeed exist, was certainly over a suit and tie when cycling to and from the Iffley SCR Butler in the 1960s, and did indeed live Road Annexe. His Honour Judge Dobkin (1966) in the Iffley Road Annexe. In fact he and his remembers him as ‘not the tallest man in the world, wife lived in a flat in the basement, and it was about 5ft 3ins I’d imagine, but he had a way of Mrs Blackadder who was in charge of the lengthening his stride as he walked’. building—at least when I lived there (1962-63). She served unforgettable breakfasts—frequently Many remember Mr Blackadder with affection. cold by the time we arrived—and had a daughter Mr A R Brown (1960) found him ‘an amiable man’, who had ‘married a Queen’s graduate’. In fact Mr A Wilkinson (1945) ‘friendly without trying to be Mrs Blackadder provided me with my scholar’s “chummy”’, and Prof G L Wilson (1942) ‘very cheerful gown (previously belonging to her son-in-law) and friendly’. Mr W H Alexander (1944) recalls his for a knockdown price of 30/-. Her bacon and ‘willingness to put one’s wristwatch right if it had other fried items had such a peculiar flavour that gone wrong’ as does Dr R B Angus (1963). one of my contemporaries speculated that she Mr W Etherington (1943) remembers Joe Blackadder probably manufactured her own oil. as ‘very kind and tolerant of the raw lad from Hull who was my younger self’. She ruled us and the scouts with a rod of iron, while Joe was a much milder character, He seems to have elicited a mixture of responses in departing early for College on a bike larger than others, ranging from awed respect to fear, or even in a he was, and returning late. We hardly ever saw few cases resentment—particularly in his capacity as him there, but he was always in evidence in Hall, the Iffley Road caretaker, where he had the authority serving at High Table. to punish misbehaviour. His Honour Judge Dobkin Prof B R A Jenner (1962) (1966) describes Mr Blackadder as ‘redoubtable’, and Mr J S Morris (1950) writes ‘Joe was formidable… we treated him with the very greatest respect, especially as he could charge us cash and even lock us out if we came home too late in the evening’. Wonderful photo of the College scouts in the Dr S A Cockle (1964) describes him as the Queen’s newsletter of Michaelmas Term 2009! Joe ‘ever-vigilant eagle-eyed caretaker of the Blackadder was indeed the SCR Butler and no figure Iffley Road Annexe’; Mr R N Smith (1951) of fun. He had little to do with us undergraduates, of remembers him in his capacity of SCR Butler course, but presented himself round the College with as ‘a person we first year undergraduates were much dignity. slightly in awe of’. Mr N Coulton (1953) To add to this confusing picture, Mr Blackadder is also remembered as a convivial spirit. The Mrs Blackadder Blackadders’ parties at the Iffley Road Annexe were Many correspondents remember Mrs Lily Blackadder ‘splendid occasions’ according to Dr R A Lee (1952), as the more imposing figure, and the Iffley Road and Mr D B Bryan (1954) remembers that ‘at formal Annexe as her domain. Prof B R A Jenner (1962) meals he would ensure that his Iffley Road gentlemen writes ‘it was Mrs Blackadder who was in charge of had their glasses refilled frequently!’ His Honour the building… she ruled us and the scouts with a rod Judge Dobkin (1966) recalls that (as College butler) of iron, while Joe was a much milder character’. ‘he was best known for the punch he prepared for Mr G S Palmer (1951) agrees: ‘He was a reserved and summer parties.