NEWS AND NOTES Updates from Balliol alumni around the world - A supplement to Floreat Domus 2021 - University of Oxford
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News and Notes NEWS AND NOTES We are delighted to share news from the Balliol community Thomas Huxley (1949) provided limited scope for activities of 1940s No news. Just keeping my head down in our wee Perthshire village and note. In fact, the most significant event impacting my life was the closure of Edward Gelles considering myself to be exceedingly our indoor ice arenas, which resulted (1944) lucky still to be walking the dog, have in the likely end of my 80-year ice My study of an amazingly kind wife and be able to hockey career with both ‘a bang and European Jewry keep on with various projects. We have a whimper’. This had been the one began 20 years our Covid jabs tomorrow. Best wishes consistent chapter in my life story ago with a search to Balliol and all who sail in that ship. – through membership on school for my family teams, in competitive organisations, antecedents. It at the University of Toronto for four has developed years, with the OUIHC for three years into the much wider tracing of Jewish migrations in the context of our 1950s (including the legendary 29–0 win over Cambridge in 1955), and with continent’s history. I embarked on Roger Corman (1950) Oldtimer teams over the past 65 years, this interdisciplinary study of history, On 14 November 2009 Roger Corman culminating in my induction into the genealogy, genetics, and onomastics, was given an Oscar by the Academy Canadian Oldtimer Hockey Hall of drawing on birth, marriage, death, and of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Fame. Of my many memories, nothing other community records, marriage for his ‘rich engendering of films and can match being invited to perform contracts and property transactions, filmmakers’. On 13 July 2017 Roger was the ceremonial face-off at the 100th tombstone inscriptions, and all manner given the Commandeur des Arts et des Oxford–Cambridge Match on 24 March of ephemera, supported at times by Lettres, the highest honour the French 2018 in St Moritz, Switzerland, and to DNA tests, linguistic considerations, government bestows in the arts. be the Honorary Coach of the Oxford and much else. My first published team. As for the future, I have now book on the subject, An Ancient Lineage John Mallet (1950) resolved to write and publish more. (Vallentine Mitchell, 2006), presented My news is that some kind friends in a large amount of research material the London-based French Porcelain Colin Simpson (1952) on my ancestral descent from many Society put on a Zoom symposium My first great-grandson, Alwyn Charles of the leading European rabbis and on the evenings of 7 and 8 November Simpson, was born on 10 September their families over the past five 2020, in recognition of my 90th 2020. centuries. The study expanded to take birthday. My own contribution to the in the inter-marriages of more than a occasion was a talk on ‘Collecting for Alan Spencer (1952) hundred families. My sixth book, The the Victoria and Albert Museum’. After such a year with many sad losses Jewish Journey (Bloomsbury Publishing, of friends along the way, it feels almost 2016), outlined some of the religious, Professor Hugh Burkhardt (1952) embarrassing to report that one is still social, economic and other changes My main project currently is working here and feeling just the same as ever. leading to periods of tolerance or to convince the government, There was a Jerome K. Jerome reference persecution, with voluntary or enforced mainly through the Royal Society, to someone whose only achievement religious conversions in the course of that improving education needs an was displayed in his (presumably millennial movements across Europe. ‘engineering’ approach, like that smallpox) vaccination certificate hung My continuing work on this history in medicine, which uses research on the bedroom wall. That about sums has included the study of genetic methods to develop effective tools for up my lockdown year, although I was admixtures and is recorded on the practitioners to use – see e.g. Burkhardt, warned by a friend not to boast about Balliol College Archives & Manuscripts H. (2019), ‘Improving Policy and it since it only shows how ancient and website – Papers of Edward Gelles. Practice. Educational Designer, 3(12)’. decrepit you are. Hoping fervently to In the past year I have put together Retrieved from: educationaldesigner. stay much the same until the next issue. a book of Photographs Relating to My org/ed/volume3/issue12/article46. Family and Ancestral Background (CEWE, Derek Clements (1953) 2020) and I am preparing my eighth Professor Ian Macdonald (1952) I have now reached the stage where book, Facets of My Family History, As with most people my age, lockdown my bodily integrity has been severely which can be read on the website. at home since mid-March of 2020 compromised by the insertion of an Front cover photo: Julian Mylchreest (1987) at the South Pole NEWS AND NOTES 2
NEWS AND NOTES assemblage of spare parts. As a result I lately been limited to ‘Thought for Day’ Brian Doman (1955) am now a fine example of the miracle on BBC Radio Scotland. But at least I I don’t remember whether I reported of modern medical engineering no got well past 500 pieces there, plus a the death of my second daughter less. However, writer’s osteocramps handful on BBC Radio 4’s version. Juliette on 12 March 2019 from a have not yet overtaken me and I sudden brain haemorrhage. She was a have used the lull in my proposed Donald Rickerd (1953) fervent campaigner for human rights excursions into foreign territory I’m presently a Senior Fellow of Massey and animal welfare. She had spent five (mainly Cornwall and Australia) to College, the University of Toronto’s years administering a small Spanish start writing my life history. Mostly graduate college, and a Senior Research language school up in the mountains for my grandchildren, I admit, but Associate at the University’s Trinity of Guatemala. She attended the trial of they are the ones more likely to be College. After practising law and two generals accused of human rights interested in stories of rushing out then teaching at York University, I violations during the Guatemalan civil to shovel up horse droppings for the became the President of the Donner war. With the help of an interpreter garden after the delivery of various Canadian and Max Bell Foundations she interviewed Guatemalan women household comestibles. Apart from of Toronto, and the William H. who had suffered gross human rights that, I have been self-isolating for Donner Foundation of New York. abuses. On her return to England she what seems like an eternity, thereby I also sat on the boards of German, was documenting all of this in a PhD making a mockery of a large painted Swiss and Jamaican Foundations. I thesis entitled ‘Transitional Justice’. sign in my home town that for many was volunteer chair of the boards of Her supervisors and contemporaries years graced the wall of a building Central Hospital and the Ontario were so impressed with the material with the words ‘Where will you spend College of Art, now the Ontario College that they determined to complete the eternity?’ I have also spent some of my of Art and Design University, both writing up. A Google search on ‘Juliette time wondering how I came to miss of Toronto. I served four difficult but Doman’ gives more detail of the work Covid Nos. 1 to 18. Perhaps I was just very stimulating years in Ottawa on she was doing. too young to remember them. Finally, the Royal Commission on Certain as my world has been turned upside Activities of the Royal Canadian Alexander Hopkinson-Woolley (1955) down this year due to the wretched Mounted Police, acting as one of three My book is now awaiting the virus, I have decided to do the same Commissioners. Its reports, based on preliminary print version which with my age and have determined to investigations and hearings across should be sent to me in early January. be only 68 next year (work it out). Canada, led to a major reorganisation I am very keen that the book should of Canada’s security and intelligence appear and be paid for before I die! The Barry Day (1953) operations and the establishment of first photograph, of a painting by my For some years a separate Security and Intelligence mother of Ezekiel’s vision in the first I have been Service, better known to Canadians chapter, is to be the front cover of the literary advisor as CSIS. In addition to having taught book, while the second photograph is to the Noël for a time in Chengdu, PRC, I am now of Margaret, my wife, and me. Coward Estate. pursuing my interests in Asia. I have I am also chair developed a special interest in the of the Coward Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Archive Trust. I which I have visited on a number of have written and occasions, beginning in 1996. For the performed in last several years, I have organised several cabaret revues based on Coward one-week visits to Toronto for groups material in the US and UK and written of North Korean professors studying or edited books such as Complete Lyrics, at the University of British Columbia. Theatrical Companion, Letters, Complete Verse, Coward Reader, Coward Screenplays, Vivian Rivlin (1953) Coward on Film, Star Quality: The Treasures We have been back in our Somerset of Noël Coward, Coward in his Own Words. home for quite a long time. Our usual In 2021 Alfred Knopf will publish routine, alternating between the UK Coward on Theatre. and Chile, has been interrupted and it looks as if we shall be here for the Robert Kernohan (1953) foreseeable future. It means the family Lockdowns have been knockdowns, is split up. Our son and his family are though they have probably only brought settled in Santiago. He appears to be some things sooner rather than later. I doing very well in academic admin. gave up driving and broadcasting and lost the notion to pontificate in print Professor Paul Sheats (1954) amid so many pandemical uncertainties. I was saddened to read that Christopher I miss the broadcasting, even if a career Gardner (1954) has passed away. I’d sideline, which had ranged from Round appreciate hearing from anyone who Britain Quiz to BBC Radio 3 talks, had can tell me more. 3 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2021
NEWS AND NOTES Professor Paul Braterman (1956) People’s Chancellor, the Skwawkbox Gabriel, our 16-year-old, and I have Paul Braterman continues to write and Jewish Voice for Labour. The now completed our second 1,000-piece occasional pieces about science (and pandemic has caught the government jigsaw: first Manhattan, second its enemies), and his work this past out badly and the December 2019 Japanese temple. I have now also year has appeared in The Panda’s Thumb, General Election showed the dire finished ‘Learning’, the story of my life 3 Quarks Daily, and his own blog at effect of Establishment power and its aged 0–21, with a book-length account paulbraterman.wordpress.com, as well failure to work for the common good. of my time at Balliol 1958–1961. If as The Conversation, where his articles My protests against the cruelty towards you would like a copy, please contact have now attracted over a million reads. the people of Palestine led to me being me at geoffreycannon1@gmail.com. ‘administratively suspended’ from John Stabler (1956) the Labour Party and I have observed Philip Daubeney (1958) In 2006 I published a Dictionary of with horror as it moves further away Spending lockdown in more garden Norfolk Furniture Makers 1700–1840. I’m from being democratic or representing planting of shrubs and trees to now working through the 1,500-odd the people of this country. All this is Gertrude Jekyll’s plans from 1905. entries, reconfiguring them for an a long way from when I witnessed, Now proficient in chairing meetings of online compendium called British and with some wonderment, Harold Parish Council using Zoom, although Irish Furniture Makers Online. I hope Macmillan (1912) emerge from the one misses the real human eye contact! to finish before catching Covid. Master’s Lodgings, in his robes, about to be installed as Chancellor of the Sir Richard Heygate Bt (1958) Harry Johnstone (1957) University. The lady from Somerville I am still working for China’s largest My history of the 18th-century London College and her friend, Ron, have a lot state-owned company, CREC, as Academy of Ancient Music, some 50 to answer for, because their actions international consultant. Our problems years in the making, has been published set the path not just to the storming in implementing President Xi’s ‘Belt as a long article (136 pages) in the Royal of the Capitol in early January 2021, Road’ strategy have been ones of Musical Association Research Chronicle, but also the fiasco of Brexit that culture and capability in setting up vol. 51. I also have an edition of the followed the market fundamentalism overseas offices and projects. Luckily complete harpsichord music of Maurice adopted by the European Union, help is at hand. The UK’s international Greene (1696–1755) in press, to be and more so in Britain. How long it engineering consultancy companies published as vol. 106 in the series Musica will take for the world as we know Gleeds, Arup and Mace all have the Britannica (of which I am now General it to end in a ball of fire remains to capability we need and offices all Editor Emeritus). At age 85, I am still be seen. I keep in touch with my over the world. Unlike so many UK active as a musicological researcher. contacts on the Continent because companies they have well established some of them do have influence in presence in China itself. A partnership Brian Richardson (1957) the way things could move forward. could well be a first for the UK in I had the great pleasure of completing relations with China. We certainly 50 years as a church organist and HE Kamal Uddin Azfar (1958) need one, with the EU establishing choir director in Canada, mostly for I have published a collection of essays such a link whilst the UK was sucking the Anglican church, in the year 2020. on the Orientalist Dr Leitner, the first up to Mr Trump through grossly In addition to this, I have played for Principal of the first undergraduate unfair treatment to Huawei (the only countless funerals and weddings, and college where I was a student in the foreign investor who put £1 billion am now organist on call for all the Indus Valley, Government College into our country during the Brexit funeral homes in the city of Victoria, University, Lahore, established in 1864 announcement slide). When will we capital city of British Columbia. by the British Raj after the liberation wake up to realise that the future is in from the Muslim majority province the East (China GDP up 8.5% in 2021) Professor Aaron Sloman (1957) of the Punjab in 1864. The Judaic Dr and we are shutting ourselves into the In May I was awarded the American Lietner chose ‘Courage to Know’, Kant’s past, with a soon plunging dollar and Philosophical Association (APA) Barwise definition of the Enlightenment, as the a failure to join the new developing Prize 2020 (for research on philosophy motto of the university. country trade groups like RCEP? Even and computing): blog.apaonline. the big US investment banks have org/2020/05/26/aaron-sloman-awarded- Geoffrey Cannon (1958) got the message and are investing the-2020-barwise-prize/. The award Thanks to wife Raquel, the family eastwards in a way they once did with lecture was presented at the APA 2021 here is well and safe, living above the City. In the words of Oliver Hardy, Eastern Division Meeting. Juiz de Fora, a big provincial city, ‘Who will get us out of this fine mess surrounded by Mata Atlántica forest. we have got ourselves into?’ Anthony Sperryn (1957) Don’t believe sweeping generalisations I have been writing and networking about Brazil: its regions vary culturally Graham Nesbitt (1958) a lot, trying to make a contribution and politically. All human life is here! Graham Nesbitt retired from the to straight thinking, much via the I have become one of 19 scholars practice of law in Montreal several medium most readily open to me, based in Brazil to be among the Web years ago, remarried in 2000, and now namely Facebook. This has been of Science most cited researchers has two sons of 18 and 19: his first political, with me being at times a in the world 2020: publons.com/ children … Everyone well in these ‘top fan’ of John McDonnell – the researcher/4130735/geoffrey-cannon. difficult times. NEWS AND NOTES 4
NEWS AND NOTES Malyn Newitt (1958) Professor Richard Rubenstein (1959) Cristina Macía Malyn Newitt, ed. and trans, Journey I have edited a book (with my Which Father António Gomes Made to the colleague Solon Simmons) entitled Empire of Manomotapa, (OUP for the Conflict Resolution after the Pandemic: British Academy, 2020). Building Peace, Pursuing Justice, published by Routledge Press in February. My Stephen Winkworth (1958) school at George Mason University At the request of the eminent Italian has been renamed the Jimmy and publisher Roberto Calasso of Adelphi Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and editions, I am compiling a collection of Conflict Resolution. See carterschool. the writings of my father, the sinologist gmu.edu for a description of its William Wilberforce Winkworth, who personnel and activities. was a Balliol scholar in 1919. From there he took up employment in the Colin Wyman (1959) British Museum. When he left this Gave a Zoom lecture, ‘Wedgwood and position his friend Lytton Strachey Beyond’, for the Oxford Ceramics asked him why. ‘Was it because you Group; available (not encouraged) on weren’t clever enough? or was it, the group’s website. perhaps, because you were too clever?’ He went on to write for the Burlington Magazine, and for other journals in the Ian Watson (1960) field of connoisseurship and the arts. I am making a selection of his writings 1960s In July 2020 the University of Pisa celebrated the 850th birthday of and adding a biographical essay. Timothy Ades (1960) mathematician Fibonacci with a As a rhyming translator-poet I’ve specially commissioned anthology of Peter Buckman (1959) produced eight books: most are science fiction stories in Italian, Ipotesi Peter Buckman continues chairing the bilingual, with my English text facing per Fibonacci, including my own ‘The Ampersand Agency, though handing the French or Spanish original. Kidnap of Fibonacci’. Since Fibonacci’s over day-to-day management to younger I’ve won some awards. I also tackle famous number sequence isn’t exactly colleagues has given him time to return German and, rarely, Greek, and appear his, since his name only survived to writing. He has self-published in the best journals, such as Agenda by sheer chance and wasn’t in any his latest novel, Breaking Cover, partly where I’m a trustee, and Long Poem case his real name, and since nobody to avoid upstaging the authors he Magazine which recently published my knows what he looked like, maybe only represents, and partly because he lacks ‘Calypso’s Song’, a wonderful Greek science fiction can pin down the truth! the patience to wait around for editors poem by Sikelianós. In 2020 the My story starts in Oxford in the year to make up their minds. Victor Hugo in Guernsey Society (he 2050 CE then visits medieval Algeria, lived there) put a single long poem just as it should. www.ianwatson.info. Professor Charles Leedham-Green into the schools – Covid stopped (1959) me visiting – and ran a competition The Rt Hon the Lord Alan Beith PC My translation of Newton’s Principia is which I co-judged. My bookstall of MP (1961) about to be published by Cambridge translated poetry hasn’t been out for a I am sad to report that my wife University Press. year. I am on Facebook and YouTube. Baroness Maddock, former MP for Married to Dawn for 54 years with Christchurch and former President two grandchildren in London and of the Liberal Democrats, died from three in Denmark; the composer cancer on 26 June 2020. Timothy Ades is one of our sons. Professor Richard Hyman (1961) Matthew Nimetz (1960) In 2020 I was elected a Fellow of the Matthew Nimetz completed his 20-year British Academy (why?, and why now?, service as Personal Representative of I ask myself ). So I fear that I have the UN Secretary-General, successfully broken the Groucho Marx rule. mediating the ‘name’ dispute between Greece and (now) North Macedonia, in Stephen Jessel (1961) 2019. He recently published an article In mid-November I received about the dispute and its resolution, notification that my application for ‘The Macedonian ‘Name’ Dispute: French citizenship had been approved. The Macedonian Question Resolved?’, Logical enough request: I have lived in Nationalities Papers, Cambridge outside the UK for 42 of the last 43 University Press, 2020: tinyurl. years, 35 of them in France. It is also com/6mztw8uz. the case that I no longer recognise or relate to the Britain, or perhaps the England, of my treasured Balliol days. 5 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2021
NEWS AND NOTES Doug Rosenthal (1961) people forced to change direction or her children. Chairing Curdridge As the pandemic was isolating us in worse still those just starting or at a Parish Council provides a welcome March, I requested some information key educational stage. We have kept distraction, especially as we are from a high school classmate I had not well but miss the delight of a young working with Action Hampshire to seen in 63 years. We started to talk by grandchild, which is the main sadness develop a small ‘Rural Exception Site’ phone each evening, as I found her along with not seeing good friends. to build some affordable housing in engaging. We talked each night for 100 Last year we managed to book and the village. The government’s planning straight days. She lives in New York enjoy three country retreats with our proposals are causing consternation City, in an apartment overlooking young family, which was a joy with an throughout Winchester district, as they Central Park, and I live in Washington, active two-year-old. This year looks are based on an erroneous metric for DC, close to the Maryland border. She even more unpredictable and difficult affordability – instead of comparing has led a fascinating life in theatre, to plan anything. More treading water. house prices with the earnings of those music, art, publishing and commercial who live in the district, they compare design in NY City, has travelled widely Richard Bevan (1962) with the earnings of those working with her musician husband of 55 years, After retiring from consulting and in the district, ignoring commuters and has two accomplished children. We teaching about ten years ago I found into local town and cities. The result is finally arranged to meet in September myself newly occupied with writing to elevate the number of new houses – and declared our love shortly and publishing through my own ‘required’ by around 50%. Curdridge is thereafter. Neither of us was looking for imprint ChangeStart Press. So far I’ve doing its bit to provide housing, and a relationship, but this chance phone produced four books of my own and has supported a planned development call, and the isolation of the pandemic, helped three other writers publish near Botley station. The pandemic has brought us together. We have been their work. My books are Changemaking meant no trips since March for the together since, in Washington, but (2011) and The Changemaking Checklists IBM Hursley Retirees’ Club, which I hope, eventually, to divide our time (2015), both dealing with the also chair. We are organising lectures between our two cities, and enjoy our management of change; The Galley Slave’s and other events on Zoom, but are four children and four grandchildren, Handbook (2010, revised edition 2020) holding off from physically meeting, as and friends, and travel, when feasible. on provisioning and cooking for an many of our members are in high-risk ocean voyage; and The Hidden Triceratops, groups, and would be unwilling even to David Wickham (1961) a story for children in the 4-to-8 age attend with social distancing. Perhaps I was fascinated to read in the 2020 range. The latter, a Covid lockdown we’ll all be vaccinated by the time News and Notes what Malcolm Forrest project, is illustrated beautifully by you read this, and enjoying the wide (1959) had to say about the worst 12-year-old Io Shepard. Assuming that variety of trips previously arranged. Oxford sin of being a ‘Grey Man’. a little shameless self-promotion is I had heard that phrase only once permitted in these pages, I will add that John Dalton (1962) before. In the 1960s I was instantly all these are available at Amazon or can John Dalton has welcomed a recognisable in Balliol as a member be ordered from your local bookshop. granddaughter, Sophia Grace Dalton, of the first and ultimately finalist born 10 August, 2020. College team for University Challenge. I was also much given to wearing Professor Richard Portes (1962) a heavy but natty brown corduroy Still working full-time for London jacket which survives in a dark corner Business School. We often strain of my wardrobe and, though never broadband capacity with our daughter worn, can just about accommodate in school and my wife and I teaching, my fuller figure. Around that time a speaking, or in meetings. One daily College contemporary, I think Stephen walk in Regent’s Park over the road. Jessel (1961), accosted or described The real news is my other job. The me loudly, in public and perfectly macroprudential authority (responsible amicably, as ‘the most colourful of for financial stability) of the EU is the the grey men’. I had not heard the European Systemic Risk Board. I chair phrase before but took it as a huge its Advisory Scientific Committee, compliment, as I still do nearly sixty co-chair its committee on ‘shadow years later. Someone in a position to banking’, and sit as a voting member on know had recognised my ‘specialness’, the General Board. When we realised my uniqueness even. Floreat Jessel! Eric Bodger (1962) in mid-March that the economic and Slowly coming to terms with the death financial impact of the pandemic Hugh Beevor (1962) of my wife Pamela on 26 October 2020. would be dramatic, ESRB went into Covid lockdown feels like treading She was an enthusiastic and skilful ‘crisis mode’. We chose five priority water but for those of us retired with gardener, so my family and friends topics to develop policy responses. an adequate pension and close to green rightly expect a deterioration from Along with the Governor of the Bank spaces as in Putney, it is a comfortable her high standards. My children have of Spain, I supervised all five working if frustrating experience. Nothing been a big help, and I’m in a support groups and chaired one. Each drew like the challenge of mid-career bubble with my daughter Laura and up recommendations, addressed NEWS AND NOTES 6
NEWS AND NOTES to regulatory authorities. Endless Professor Brian Cosgrove (1963) wrote much of the material contained meetings in April and May, chaired My wife and I became grandparents therein. I had thought my days of by Christine Lagarde, in which we for the first time on 2 November last; publishing were over when I retired had to convince national central bank we are both in our late seventies. My in 2010, but during the past year I governors and other officials to adopt youngest daughter and her husband have become a regular contributor to our proposals. There followed a series called her Sadhbh, a traditional Irish a physical fitness blog under the aegis of measures and reports (see ESRB name, pronounced ‘Sive’. It is apparently of a company called Set For Set whose website). These and our subsequent derived from Proto-Celtic and means primary product is exercise maces (or actions have, I believe, contributed ‘sweet and lovely [lady]’. It is said to be macebells, as they are more properly significantly to avoiding a financial related to the Latin word suavis. called). Well, it has been a colourful meltdown like that of 2008–2009. writing career from ancient battles to I now co-chair a task force charged Derek Davis (1963) firearms (lots and lots on firearms) with producing a report and policy I visited Russia last January for the to fighting dogs and now maces! As I measures to deal with undesirable first time since 1962, attending the close in on my ninth decade, I have to effects of the prevailing low interest 225th Griboyedov Jubilee Conference wonder what’s ahead for me … rate environment. For me, all this at Khmelita, where I gave a paper on beats retirement and other less Pushkin’s Journey to Arzrum and even Richard Mills (1963) desirable alternatives. But frustrating appeared briefly on TV (Rossiya-K). My In 2020 I finally retired as Director to live in London with no opera, live wife Diana and Carolyn McMillan then of the International Union of Air music, theatre, restaurants, museums joined me for a quick tour of Moscow Pollution Prevention Associations, a … Still, I’ve had my first jab. and Petersburg. The Royal Asiatic post I had held since retirement from Society are publishing my translation the Civil Service, only to find that Professor the with commentary of the Pushkin – the time this liberated was soon lost Hon Robin begun in 1963 on Staircase XV and to increasing commitments as the Wilson (1962) well underway by the time Chris Bayly non-governmental representative on Last summer (1963) and I passed through Erzurum the board of the Climate and Clean Oxford in 1965 en route to India, just ahead of Air Coalition, which now includes University Press fellow Cliftonian Chris Trease (1964) more than sixty national governments published Number who, sadly, died climbing Ararat that and inter-governmental agencies. So Theory: A Very year. Diana’s groundbreaking book The perennial neglect of the garden (and Short Introduction. Tastemakers: British Dealers and the Anglo- much else) goes on. This was my 50th Gallic Interior, 1785–1865 (Getty, 2020), book, and has tracing the emergence of the modern Paul Williams (1963) been presented ‘antique’, has been well received in I have used lockdown to write to the Balliol College Library. specialist circles and even made a a biography of my life. Nothing Christmas booklist. spectacular, just the story of an Professor Russell Bryant (1963) ordinary person who happened to go I feel guilty reporting that 2020 has Jan Libourel (1963) to Balliol and has led an interesting been a good year for me. Why? My Over the years my writing and life. It’s not too long; it takes about an former student and the MSNBC publishing career has taken some hour to read. If anyone is interested I’d anchor, Joe Scarborough, has endowed strange turns: I had anticipated be pleased to email it. Please contact a scholarship in my name at the having a career in higher education, me at paulgwilliams@btinternet.com. University of Alabama, where I taught and during my few years teaching for 30 years. For the second time a I did publish some few articles on Professor Alexander Broadie (1964) former student has named a son after Greek and Roman history. After my Alexander Broadie (ed.), The Cambridge me. Moreover, I finally finished the enforced exile from the groves of Companion to the Scottish Enlightenment, first draft of my biography of the academe, I was reduced to writing 2nd edition (co-editor, Craig Smith) British financier and diplomat Lord nothing more than the fine print of (Cambridge University Press, 2019). D’Abernon. In December I celebrated insurance contracts – a dreary time Alexander Broadie (ed.), Scottish my 80th birthday in good health. that! From 1979 to 2010, I was in the Philosophy in the Seventeenth Century Finally, I have made it to the end of field of firearms journalism, including (Oxford University Press, 2020). Recent this horrendous year without catching 13 years as editor of Handguns and appointment: Honorary Vice President, the coronavirus. I am looking forward 11½ years editing Gun World. During The Saltire Society, since July 2020. to 2021 being an even better year. that time I generated a positively I remain grateful that I was lucky enormous quantity of verbiage on Professor Stephen Clark (1964) enough to attend Balliol. So many of firearms in the form of product Books published in 2020: Can We its graduates I subsequently lectured reviews, editorials and miscellaneous Believe in People: Human Significance in an on and many formed part of Lord articles. For four years around the Interconnected Cosmos (Angelico Press, D’Abernon’s story. turn of the century I also edited the 2020); Plotinus: Ennead VI.9, on the Good periodical of a breed club for Japanese or the One: Translation and Commentary Tosa fighting dogs (banned in the UK (Parmenides Press, 2020). under the Dangerous Dogs Act) and 7 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2021
NEWS AND NOTES Sandy Gray (1964) Daljit Singh (1964) 1990s. I had a hip replacement operation Positive Covid consequences! An I have not kept in touch since towards the end of November 2020. It initiative taken up by George Russell, graduating in 1966 in PPE. I worked was a major bit of carpentry, but already Howard Shaw, and myself (all 1964, in the Singapore Ministry of Defence I am a new man and I look forward to Chemistry) in May 2020 has resulted (1966–1979) as an analyst of politics resuming golf and cycling in the spring. in a 4–6-weekly Zoom gathering of and international relations of Southeast chemists moderated by other Balliol Asia and then Head of Research in Robert Yates (1964) men of the same vintage but various the organisation. During this period I In 2020 I marked two anniversaries, other disciplines. At each session, 2–3 spent an academic year (1970–1971) at both at the end of the year. It is now 40 hours are spent in animated sharing of the Center for International Studies, years since I nearly died from chronic views and knowledge of various topics Massachusetts Institute of Technology, kidney failure; and ten years since I of current or future significance. We USA, working on the policies of the received my third transplant, which are normally guided by a loose agenda Soviet Union in Asia. There was a is still going strong. In 1980 my wife which is never completed. Inevitably, good deal of travel in Southeast Asian was pregnant but we were assured that Covid and US politics have been key countries for seminars/discussions kidney failure was not hereditary; but topics each time so far (as of January with the various defence ministries, medical opinion has changed now. My 2021), but other learned topics will including a couple of familiarisation son Gilbert is now 40, but in 2009 he now be debated more frequently and tours of South Vietnam during the too was diagnosed with chronic renal extensively. Participants, all but one Vietnam war. In 1979 I was posted to failure; and it is the tenth anniversary of 1964 matriculation, are George the Ministry of Culture (later re-named of his transplant as well. We have both Barisas (1965, Chem., Rhodes Scholar), Ministry of Information and the Arts) as contributed to ongoing research into Philip Burns (Chem.), Jonathon Director of Information in charge of the the genetic causes of kidney failure. Davies (Eng.), ‘Sandy’ Gray (Chem.), government’s publicity work and had For 40 years I have received wonderful Anthony Hall (Chem.), David Long frequent interactions with the media, care from a wide variety of people (Hist.), Robert Munford (Medicine, including the foreign correspondents – family, friends and many aspects Rhodes Scholar), Kenneth Picton based in Singapore. I retired from of the medical profession. During (Chem.), George Russell (Chem.), the Civil Service in 1991 and joined periods of all the sorts of dialysis, and Howard Shaw (Chem.) and Richard a research institute in Singapore, the of transplantation, I have managed to Weyman (Eng.). An early discussion Institute of Southeast Asian Studies pursue a career in the second-hand topic was ‘Governments today are (now called ISEAS-the Yusof Ishak and antiquarian book trade, mostly being led by science: why aren’t there Institute), as a scholar/researcher, where working for myself. This has been a lot more science trained members of I still am as a Senior Fellow and where of fun, and I have seen the trade change governments?’ Good question! from 2012 to 2019 I headed the Strategic dramatically, from crusty characters and Political Studies department. In presiding over dusty shops to the global Professor Edwin Hartman (1964) 2019 I spent five weeks as a visiting internet-enabled system of today. Less Springer has published my Arriving scholar at the Sigur Center, Elliott fun now, but certainly more efficient! Where We Started: Aristotle and Business School of International Affairs, George Ethics in its Eminent Voices in Business Washington University, Washington, Sir Michael Burton (1965) Ethics series (2020). It traces my work DC, working on US foreign policy to In this otherwise miserable year I from Aristotle to management theory Southeast Asia. I have published papers, have still continued to try cases in the to business ethics to an Aristotelian book chapters, op-eds over the years Commercial Court, the Abu Dhabi approach to business ethics. and also edited or co-edited books, Commercial Court and the RICS including, since 1991, Southeast Asian Appeal Tribunal, all virtually, with very Christopher Moxon (1964) Affairs, the annual review of the politics, little if any loss of effectiveness. During the first Covid lockdown I economics and foreign relations of used the time to write and publish a Southeast Asia and its constituent Phillip Gordon (1965) memoir of my 40-year career in theatre member states. My wife and I love I continue to practise law although at a administration. Entitled Teamwork travelling to enjoy different natural far less hectic pace than in the past. My it is available from Amazon or from landscapes, cultures and histories. wife and I celebrated our 50th wedding www.lulu.com. This is the sixth book anniversary in January, regrettably in that I have written or edited since David Willington (1964) isolation from our children and ten my retirement in 2011. Most of these These are strange times, indeed. As we grandchildren, due to the pandemic. have been genealogical books about have not been anywhere, I have had Nevertheless, we are happy to have family history, but the first, published more time to write without distraction. been able to celebrate this milestone in in 2013, was the fulfilment of a My fourth novel, A Polish Adventure, will good health. promise I made in 1972 to write up the be out in 2021. It is a Cold War story, but doctoral thesis that I wrote at Balliol, not in the le Carré mould. Researching Michael Levene (1965) on the social and economic history the period has been as enjoyable as the Michael Levene celebrated his Bar of a small market town – Ashby-de- actual writing. I am currently engaged Mitzvah in late November 2020 under la-Zouch – in the 17th century. on a story set in Kenya during the Mau Tier 3 restrictions at the Orthodox Mau period, the impetus being the Synagogue, Park Row, Bristol. Only 60 three visits I made to the country in the years late! NEWS AND NOTES 8
NEWS AND NOTES Hubert Murray (1965) Ian Prattis Emeritus of the Economist) the Global A short piece written in May appearing (1965) Commission for Post-Pandemic in Oxford Magazine on the effects of Past, Present and Policy, to enable informed discourse the coronavirus on higher education Future: Stories and decision-making regarding the seems to stand up to scrutiny seven that Haunt by pandemic and interconnected crises: or eight months later. Delayed but Dr Ian Prattis globalcommissionforpostpandemic unbowed, colleagues and I are nearing (2021). Intention: policy.org. Have been confined to completion on a kindergarten in Aida this collection quarters with Alti in Ottawa since camp in Bethlehem and building a contains stories, March; looking forward to again teaching team. Very happy to be in personal essays communing other than Zooming touch with Charles Burroughs (1964), and futuristic with our six children and eleven Mark Glouberman (1966) and Ben writings. They grandchildren on three continents. White (1965). Deeply sorry to lose Mike illuminate facets Prescod (1964). of humanity that are both wholesome Professor Graham Anderson (1966) and deadly. There is a subtle tapestry I have published Fantasy in Greek and Professor Stephen Oppenheimer from Indigenous Wisdom throughout Roman Literature and Ancient Fairy and (1965) the three phases that must apply to Folk Tales: An Anthology (both Routledge, Please find my Google scholar page at: our damaged planet if Homo sapiens is 2020). tinyurl.com/jw76787c and follow the to have a home. The past dwells on links there to my homepage and my the significance of indigenous history Professor Charles Baden-Fuller research interests. I cannot vouch for and beliefs, a spirituality that crosses (1966) my Wiki page, which has numerous centuries to realise redemption and I was elected a Fellow of the British errors, e.g. ‘He is a graduate of Green connection. These stories stand in Academy. I am also a Fellow of some Templeton College, Oxford and an contrast to the ethnocentric illusions long standing of Strategic Management honorary fellow of the Liverpool of the wider society where violence, Society (only active UK Fellow among School of Tropical Medicine.’ fear and betrayal are rampant. Present the 88 Fellows in a society with includes flash fictions to highlight the membership of many thousands), AsSS Michael Paling (1965) destructive illusions and the gentle and BAM. Early last year I was in the third month memories of modern society. The of work at my volunteer post at the remaining chapters seek to mentor Stuart Baldock (1966) Hospitalito Atitlan in the Guatemala and inspire children to save the world. I moved to Athens (Greece) last highlands, when the imminent closure ‘Respecting Indigenous Wisdom’ year with my wife and our youngest of the national airport was announced. provides a pause through poetry to daughter, who is enrolled here at the I was fortunate, the next day, to get outline a different foundation for Lycée français in her penultimate year. the last seat on the penultimate flight humanity. Future is not kind to Homo Covid has prevented me from being out of the country, which being in sapiens and their habitation of Mother able to commute regularly to France, first class was a novel experience for Earth. Scientists scramble to provide so business is conducted online as far me, but quite disappointing in value. an exit from the Earth, seeding faraway as is practical. Back home in the USA life soon planets. A single person remains in the became subject to the restrictions High Arctic’s last outpost while pioneers Christopher Currie (1966) that we all have experienced. Regular who occupy a new planet must fight to No real news this year. I remain a Senior meditation, which I began years ago prevent terrorists from taking it over. Fellow of the Institute of Historical when working in Cambodia, is helpful Very little has changed. Humanity owes Research and have been busy with that, in understanding that adversity is an apology to the children of the world. as well as attending seminars, including simply a part of the ‘suchness of life’. a few of the Balliol online lectures. Thus the unexpected time available Berel Rodal (1965) due to the pandemic proved valuable Co-founded and codirecting (with Aidan Foster-Carter (1966) for self-improvement. I read more, Bill Emmott, Editor-in-Chief My life now, I dare say, is rather including cover to cover James Joyce’s different from most of my magnum opus Ulysses. Hard work contemporaries’. After half a lifetime but interesting, to say the least! My in Yorkshire – briefly Hull, mostly Spanish is improved, and my chess Leeds and Bradford – in 2006 game is stronger, both courtesy of everything changed when love drew the internet. The bizarre political me to Exeter. Kate Hext and I were antics that have transpired here have married in 2011; Rufus was born that given rise to much outstanding dark year, and Laurence followed in 2016. comedy, as we adjusted our common Raising children again in one’s 70s mindset to that of life in a ‘banana is a wonderful tonic – and fitness republic’. Gun sales have set records, programme. Devon is a lovely place to even for a nation that already had dwell, even (or especially) as the times more firearms than people. We darken. Workwise, having long ago left indeed live in interesting times. academe – in the previous century, 9 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2021
NEWS AND NOTES already! – I still write about Korea; Richard Heller (1966) Michael Venning (1966) including for Oxford Analytica, ever I have just published a new book, Back to work in the NHS in January since the 1980s. Never a dull moment The Prisoner of Rubato Towers (Xerus 2021 as vaccinator at the Etihad Stadium, there: the North just gets worse; the Publishing, 2020). It is an increasingly Manchester (employed as healthcare South could teach us how to handle crazed account of my life in London assistant until they needed me to Covid competently. And since Kate is lockdown, shared with a literary mouse, draw up the Oxford vaccine – then now head of her department – English a poetic cockroach and a bridge-playing promoted to senior staff nurse grade). and History, at Exeter University’s goldfish, and blighted by two sex-crazed Great teamwork, happy patients and Cornish campus: a challenging role urban foxes. It contains songs and satire we are contributing to herd immunity these days – I’m also becoming more of and many new ways to insult Donald – albeit Boris Johnson (1983) and his a house husband, very contentedly. The Trump and the Balliol man ruling delays in taking precautions in the face wider world is a worry, especially the the country in my place. It reveals of Covid-19 have contributed greatly to retreat from liberal internationalism. fascinating details of the secret lives of herd immunity already by allowing the Imperfect though that was, the famous people who know me. ‘Raises virus to spread while the government alternatives – Trump, Brexit, and I’m English comic prose to heights never were wondering when to act. afraid the Balliol chancer in Number before attempted, let alone achieved,’ Ten – are all palpably worse. Never said one of them, when I asked. Martin Walker (1966) have the ideals of 1968 seemed so Although the Covid lockdowns remote. I hope my children will Martin Kaufman (1966) prevented my usual US and European see, and make, a better planet. As Martin Kaufman Philanthropy, I am book tours, my new Bruno novel still providing strategic and practical Connaisseur simultaneously topped the Professor Mark Glouberman (1966) fundraising advice to charities, mainly bestseller lists in Germany, Austria Building on The Raven, the Dove, and in the educational and cultural sectors. and Switzerland. The lockdown also the Owl of Minerva (2012), and on ‘I AM’ Although I only went down to watch prevented my debut at the German (2019), Persons and Other Things (2021), the Balliol Eight perhaps six times National Opera House in Berlin, concludes the case for the Torah’s (max.) in my Balliol career, I have been singing on stage during their jazz week. being a work of philosophy. (Search advising on a fundraising campaign It is now rescheduled for 28 March ‘Glouberman’ at utorontopress.com.) It for rowing for an East London group 2021. Bruno’s Garden Cookbook won the isn’t a sheer fortuity that such a word of academies which want to break the Gourmand International prize for about the Hebrew Bible should come barriers facing state school rowing! I World’s Best French Cookbook of the forth from Balliol. ‘I never knew any don’t have to get into the water for Year. And in association with Coda Trinity men,’ remonstrates the Balliol that one, I’m glad to say … Facing this Media in New York, we launched the man Lord Peter Wimsey. ‘The Jews pandemic, and staying well and safe, Bruno Fellowship, to support five have no dealings with the Samaritans.’ I have helped organise – in my role young journalists over five years to In the JCR’s Book of Wagers, a bold as chair of the Chartered Institute cover stories that might otherwise undergraduate of my day put his soul of Fundraising’s RAISE: Arts Culture never be told. My monthly wine at hazard on the proposition of God’s Heritage Steering Committee – a columns in The Bugle, the anglophone existence. (A brown-edged hole which survey of cultural fundraisers during paper in France, are now also published only the terminally literal would the pandemic, in partnership with the in the German wine magazine attribute to the business end of a lit University of Sheffield Management Weinseller. My own wine, Cuvée Bruno, cigarette signalled the other party’s School. This was followed up by went on sale this year in Germany and acceptance.) If a coin decides, the Zoom interviews, and we should be the USA as well as in France. The New soul’s survival requires an edge-on publishing the results around March. In York Times suggested ‘It’s impossible landing. Or so I argue in the Bible’s a nutshell, it’s no change and all change to read a Bruno novel without getting name. And me? ‘No change,’ replied – fundraising has to go on if arts and hungry and thirsty,’ and the Minneapolis poker star ‘Devilfish’ Ulliott to the cultural organisations are to survive, but Star-Tribune reckoned I had created panhandler. ‘Still living in the big there has been a great deal of creativity ‘France’s answer to James Bond’. house; still driving the big car.’ The and resilience to try to create a hybrid spoils apart, I echo the punter as I model in these challenging times, Oliver Franklin (1967) enter my 50th year of teaching. which almost certainly we will have On 13 November 2019, I attended a to further adapt in the post-pandemic Consilium dinner in honour of my Alan Heeks (1966) world. Very happy to hear from any election as an Honorary Fellow of the Amid the mesh of restrictions we’re all alumni who want to quiz me further! College. It is a great honour to have in, I’ve found gaps where I can make a received the Fellowship. I expected to contribution. One is online resilience Philip Kendall (1966) return in May 2020 to work with the workshops, the other is increasing Covid provided the perfect opportunity College on the ‘Balliol and Slavery’ local communities’ food security – to return to the English countryside. exhibition scheduled to open this something we can all help in. See more C12th churches, the stunning Welland coming Michaelmas Term in the at www.seedingourfuture.org.uk. I Valley in Rutland, historic Dam Library. Naturally, we’ve working can also highly recommend growing Busters’ 1942 practice bombing runs digitally and it’s a real pleasure to be your own vegetables as an antidote to over the Eyebrook outside Uppingham. involved intensely with the College lockdown! Unbeatable! again. In addition to the exhibition, NEWS AND NOTES 10
NEWS AND NOTES we’re planning an Oxford/Philadelphia on the history of her native American countryside and charming villages. We teacher seminar, as teaching the family – she is part Creek, part are looking forward to exploring further transatlantic slave trade to secondary Cherokee, part black. It is a study of how and enjoying more family time together school students can be a daunting different categories of people with tribal as soon as that becomes possible. task. Two highlights for this year: our affiliations (citizens and freedmen) first grandchild arrived, and I had were deprived of their rights, property David Gartside (1968) a dynamic discussion with Sudhir and human alike, during and since the In a year that has been so difficult for Hazareesingh (1981 and CUF Lecturer Allotment period, and both within the so many people I can report a modest in Politics and Tutorial Fellow in tribe and more broadly in the country advance. My fledgling journalistic Politics) on his extraordinary epic as a whole. The book – Untangling a Red, career saw a doubling of printed output biography of Toussaint Louverture White, and Black Heritage: A Personal History compared with 2019. I had an article (check it out on Zoom: tinyurl.com/ of the Allotment Era – is now available in published in Swiss Express, the quarterly j3vsxkrd). Still in isolation and working paperback and on Kindle. The internet journal of the Swiss Railways Society, as a senior advisor, board director and webinars offered by the College have and another in Signpost, the quarterly British Honorary Consul. Cannot wait been a lovely way to keep in touch, and journal of the Peak & Northern to walk through the Balliol gates again. broaden knowledge. Keep them up. Footpath Society. It’s hard to avoid the See you at the exhibition! conclusion that they were desperate Anthony Klouda (1967) for copy. Professor Francis Green (1967) I have finally given up on the world of I am still working at UCL Institute of international aid; rather sickened by it, Professor David Gowland (1968) Education for four days a week. With it must be said, and its development into Recently my life has been dominated my historian friend David Kynaston a rather corrupt industry over the last by the diagnosis of bowel cancer and we published Engines of Privilege: Britain’s decade or so. In retirement I’ve taken a major operation on 30 December Private School Problem in 2019, with up translation of French monographs 2020 to remove it. By an unfortunate Bloomsbury Publishing. This was my of 18th- and 19th-century ships into coincidence it was diagnosed on the first attempt at a non-academic book. English. That, and using the plans anniversary of the diagnosis of my son I am now a co-founder of Private to model in wood those very ships, Edward with sarcoma (he eventually Education Policy Forum. Other than certainly occupies me intellectually died aged 22) in 2017. researching private schools, I continue and manually in this time of lockdown. to contribute to the multidisciplinary I also now have a rare blood cancer William Outhwaite (1968) field of work and job quality studies. I recently diagnosed, but since I may In October 2019 my co-editors (Luca have at last given up cricket, and last live up to ten more years with it, as Corchia and Stefan Müller-Doohm) year played instead my first competitive long as the treatment continues its and I presented Jürgen Habermas with tennis match since representing good work, I’ll be delighted if I can Habermas global – Wirkungsgeschichte Balliol nearly half a century ago. Alison get to 80. My website documenting eines Werks (Suhrkamp) at a conference and my first grandchild, Sophie, was some of my experience is at www. in the delightful town of Cortona born on 15 April 2020 and joins the klouda.co.uk and I have a Facebook in central Italy. In February 2020 I pandemic generation. page called ‘The Poor-Poor Divide’. published Transregional Europe (Emerald). Brendan Horton (1967) Professor Terrell Carver (1968) David Satter (1968) Now in my 15th year of retirement, Busy year with the bicentenary of the I have been named to the academic wondering where the time has gone. birth of Friedrich Engels, though after advisory board of the Victims of The last year has been a mixture of a celebratory conference in February in Communism Memorial Foundation in the usual and abnormal due to Covid, his hometown Wuppertal, Germany, all Washington, DC. which has kept us pretty housebound else has been online. I published two here in Washington. I have been kept books marking the event: Engels Before Professor Richard Healey (1969) busy by continuing to work on a book Marx (Palgrave, 2020) and The Life and Julie and I are now living on our fruit on the economic history of Morocco, Thought of Friedrich Engels: 30th Anniversary farm in the hills ten minutes from the specifically a retrospective on the Edition (Palgrave, 2020), the latter with Mediterranean coast of Spain, where country’s experience with stabilisation a somewhat autobiographical new I will retire to from my professorship and structural adjustment since the introduction. at the University of Arizona in May. 1980s, when they ran into a debt Meanwhile we wait out the pandemic crisis. Interesting and intellectually Paul Frith (1968) in seclusion as I prepare a volume of challenging task, trying to present a Finally left the North East and moved to papers for publication and participate view other than that of the IMF and East Sussex to be nearer our daughters in worldwide Zoom virtual seminars. the World Bank. Two main conclusions: and grandson. We loved being there, stabilisation is difficult but can be enjoying all the Dales, the Lake District Sir John Holmes (1969) achieved in a relatively short period. and the North York Moors, but it’s time Just completed terms as chair of the Adjustment and economic are, however, to look to the future as we get older and Electoral Commission and of the much more difficult and take much travelling long distances becomes harder International Rescue Committee – longer. I hope to finish this year. My for everyone. We are in the High Weald UK, the former not voluntarily. Now wife, Darnella Davis, has written a book AONB which has delightful rolling looking for new challenges. 11 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2021
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