NEWS AND NOTES Updates from Balliol alumni around the world - A supplement to Floreat Domus 2020 - University of ...
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News and Notes NEWS AND NOTES We are delighted to share news from the Balliol community (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2016). My any rate contain one new piece by me 1940s more recent work is currently presented in ‘Papers of Edward Gelles’ on the in response to her introduction to the collection. Another surprise for me has David Grove (1941) Balliol College Archives & Manuscripts been Routledge’s proposal to republish On a sunny day in September my website. I have just added an essay during the course of 2020 my little A grandson Reuben (Exeter College, entitled ‘Some Gelles and Jaffe family Modern Introduction to Moral Philosophy, 2005) drove us to Oxford for one of migrations in recent centuries’ outlining first published by them in as long my rare visits to College. It was good our journey of the past 400 years from ago as 1958 – and so no longer really to meet Stewart Tiley (Librarian) and Prague to Poland and Lithuania, whence justified in bearing the term ‘modern’ Bethany Hamblen (Archivist and branches moved west to Silesia, Berlin, in its title! Records Manager) and hand over three and further into Germany, and south boxes of my papers for safekeeping in via Galicia to Vienna, with members of Sir Jack Stewart-Clark Bt (1949) the Balliol Archives. both these branches ultimately coming In 1999 I retired from the European to England just before the outbreak of Parliament, having served there Edward Gelles (1944) the Second World War. faithfully for 20 years. In 1996 I had Continuing my study of Jewish inherited my family home of Dundas families and their pan-European Derek Abrahams (1946) Castle near Edinburgh. My wife and I migrations – their history, genealogy, Some months ago I fell and broke a big set about a complete restoration and and genetic admixtures being related thigh bone, so now I hobble around on then turned our home into a wedding to the changing political, social, and crutches. I tripped coming out of the and corporate hospitality venue. We economic background of the countries gym. Otherwise, I’m fit and well and now do 60 weddings a year and have a they lived in and the ethnic groups getting quite good at hobbling. turnover of nearly one million pounds they encountered on their millennial per year. We are immensely proud journey. Beginning with the wider William Haines (1947) because for the second year running ancestral background of my own Angela and I have been paying for a we have won the prestigious VOWS family and its connections with many young Indian girl to train as a nurse. award for the best wedding venue in notable rabbis of the past, my study has She has qualified with firsts in BSc and Scotland. Life was exciting at 70 and expanded to represent in microcosm MSc Nursing and wants to pass the continued to 90 and hasn’t ended an outline history of European Jewry. English language exam, which she finds yet! I have founded a new charity My published books are An Ancient a struggle, so that she can work in the called SOHTIS (Survivors of Human Lineage: European Roots of a Jewish Family UK. Her command of English would Trafficking in Scotland) to try and (Vallentine Mitchell, 2006); four be improved if language courses were mitigate the effects of this evil trade. paperbacks: Family Connections: Gelles- transmitted on the local radio, like the Horowitz-Chajes, Gelles-Shapiro-Friedman, British Council and BBC courses on the Ephemeral & Eternal: Josef Gelles, a brief internet. The 35,000 primary schools life; Meeting My Ancestors: Genealogy, Genes and Heritage (Shaker Publishing, in India would also welcome lessons delivered by an English voice. Can 1950s 2008–2012); and my latest book, A Jewish anyone help, please? Roger Corman (1950) Journey: A Passage through European History On 13 July 2017 Roger was given the Alan Montefiore (1948 and Emeritus Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres, Fellow) the highest honour the French It is nice, if not a little surprising to Government bestows in the arts. me at my by now undeniably distinctly advanced age, to find myself reporting John Mallet (1950) the appearance of a collection of my Since my marriage to Diana Edwards pieces written over the years, and Murnaghan I spend nearly half the year published (some of them at least) in in Baltimore, Maryland. I celebrated one odd place or another, under the my 89th birthday by flying to Turin title Philosophy and the Human Paradox to deliver a lecture in Italian at a (Routledge, 2019). The collection is conference on the collecting of Italian edited by Danielle Sands, and does at Renaissance maiolica for museums. Front cover photo: Phoebe Lowry (née Grant-Smith) (2012) 1 FLOREAT DOMUS MAY 2020 on the day of her marriage to Dr Andrew Lowry
NEWS AND NOTES Weland Stone (1950) Professor Ian Macdonald (1952) Gospel until after the chance fishing At 87 and physically considerably ‘My way of life/Is fall’n into the sere, trip, when the disciples engaged in weaker, my main news is of continued the yellow leaf;’ so said Macbeth and so it could think of nothing better to existence. Alumni from my year seem thought I as I passed my 90th birthday. do. Following Richard Bauckham, I mostly to have died before their time. However, I am pleased to report on two am using the Fourth Gospel as first- However, I try to maintain my post- new honours that have come my way in hand witness, although it was written retirement hobbies of Latin classes, recent months. First, after many years by, possibly, John the Elder (as the embroidery and inexpert bridge and to of service, I was named an Honorary witness, who had probably been the maintain our acre of garden through Director of the Toronto branch of preserved fish delivery lad to the the labours of others. Enjoying a the Royal Commonwealth Society. I high priest’s household, was almost medical student and a classicist-cum- highly prize my relationship with the certainly illiterate). musician as two eldest granddaughters Commonwealth, having served for provides continuing interest and ten years as the volunteer chair of the Richard Tilney-Bassett (1955) motivation to keep going. Commonwealth of Learning. Second, After graduating some 50-plus years on 5 December last, I was inducted into ago, I’m still going! Still an avid reader Richard Wheadon (1951) the York University Sport Hall of Fame of Oxford and Balliol news as well as On Tuesday 15 October 2019 our in the Builder category. This recognised, New Scientist weekly. Living quietly now youngest son, Tristan, married Kirsty in particular, my role during ten years as in the south of France near Montauban in the church of St Pierre du Bois, President of York University, Toronto, – any visitors welcome. As some of you Guernsey, before a congregation of in creating the National Tennis Centre will know, my daughter is also a Balliol about 100. The following Sunday at York and in persuading Metro scholar and now lives in France near 20 October at the Chateau de Saint Toronto to establish the Metro Toronto Manosque. My son, who graduated Michel, St Girons, Ariège, in the Track and Field Centre at the university. from Exeter and the Open University, presence of a similar number, albeit On the personal athletic side, I continue lives near us close to Toulouse. The differently constituted, I conducted to play with our York Professors ice next generation after are just getting a service of blessing in which Tristan hockey team after 45 years. started, with one in Durham and and Kirsty reiterated their vows, their another in the University of Science plighting of troths and their exchange Robert Kernohan (1953) and Technology in Hong Kong. of rings. Unaccompanied, we all sang Old age is hard going, but it was together ‘Brother, Sister, let me serve worthwhile to struggle out to the David Benedictus (1956) you, let me be as Christ to you …’ Balliol reception at the Royal Society I have been commissioned to write to the tune ‘Servant Song’. It was a of Edinburgh. I am most grateful. My a new children’s book, subsequent to beautiful occasion. For me this was broadcasting and my writing are now Return to the Hundred Acre Wood (Egmont, not only an honour and a delight, but very limited but I still managed bits 2011), but details are not available as it also happened to complete the full and pieces on BBC Radio Scotland I am subject to an NDA. Watch this spectrum of my 25 years of service as a and some contributions to The space, guys! reader in the Church of England. That Scottish Review, mainly about the latest service has embraced not only leading Balliol Prime Minister’s impact on John Stabler (1956) and preaching at morning and evening the party which I have belonged I am pursuing a second career as a services, but also the conducting to for 70 years and to which (after mole-catcher in my Norfolk garden. I (with dispensation) of services of a little hesitation) I still belong. endeavour unsuccessfully to keep up communion by extension on Christmas with my wife Marjorie on our daily nights and services of baptism (one on John Ford (1954) dog walks on the coast at Holkham, Christmas morning); also, sitting with His book Rudolph Ackermann & the and I try to activate my few remaining the dying and the bereaved, conducting Regency World (Warnham Books, 2018) neurones by doing battle with the funerals and administering home has been widely praised as being a Listener Crossword every week. communion to the housebound. It has definitive work, a review by Mark been a wonderful experience and I Bills, the director of Gainsborough’s Professor Aaron Sloman (1957) thank God for it. House, Sudbury, in Print Quarterly After two years at Hull University, 27 calling it ‘a valuable and absorbingly years at Sussex University (apart from Kenneth Cavander (1952) interesting book, not just for print a one-year fellowship in Edinburgh), I have been commissioned to write and scholars, but for all those interested and 28 years at the University of adapt a new translation of Sophokles’ in the Regency period, an important Birmingham in the school of computer Antigone, for production later in 2020 book which will serve as the standard science, where I am now an Honorary at the Westport Playhouse, a nationally work on the topic for years to come’. Professor of Artificial Intelligence and recognised theatre in Connecticut, USA, Cognitive Science, I am still working performances to be timed with the run- Alexander Hopkinson-Woolley (1955) on a topic close to my DPhil thesis: up to the American general election. I am trying to write a booklet, in which i.e. trying to understand the biological it is suggested that the Temptation of mechanisms that allowed evolution to Noël Ing (1952) Jesus happened before the reported produce great ancient mathematicians I (re) married, on 18 August 2019, baptism and that Simon Peter did whose discoveries are still in regular Sandra Rosemarie Barnes. not start the work of spreading the use, but whose thought processes are NEWS AND NOTES 2
NEWS AND NOTES not yet modelled in AI or explained see my memoir The Waters of Lahore Robert Mash (1958) in psychology or neuroscience. I gave (2013): a copy is in the College Library. CBC in Canada are threatening to make a talk about this at the conference a TV series based on my book How to Keep on models of consciousness at the Geoffrey Cannon (1958) Dinosaurs (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2003). Oxford Mathematical Institute in Living in Brazil since 2000, my main September 2019: a video recording of work now is with the Centre for Malyn Newitt (1958) my talk happens to be first (because Epidemiological Studies in Nutrition Malyn Newitt published The Braganzas: ‘Aaron’ starts with two As?) in the and Health at the University of São The Rise and Fall of the Ruling Dynasties of collection of videos here: www.youtube. Paulo. We have devised the NOVA food Portugal and Brazil, 1640–1910 Reaction com/channel/UCWgIDgfzRDp- classification system. This identifies (London, 2019). PmQvMsYiNlg ultra-processed food products mostly manufactured by transnational Professor Jarle Simensen (1958) HE Kamal Uddin Azfar (1958) corporations as the driver of what Since my year at Balliol, on the The College treated us recently is now pandemic obesity. NOVA is Anderson Norwegian Scholarship, and emancipated students from the end of the basis of the 2014 official national with John Bryson (Fellow 1940–1963) the Raj – such as the Gandhian Ravi Brazilian food guide (English version and Christopher Ricks (1953 and Dayal (1959) and the Rhodes Scholar at http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/ Honorary Fellow) as tutors in English from India Manmohan Malhotra publicacoes/dietary guidelines_ literature, I have kept in contact with (1958) – like minor royals. The Fellows brazilian_population.pdf ) and it is the College and with friends I made. I thoughtfully placed me in the friendly recognised by UN agencies. My time have, though, neglected reporting for Dicey corridor to protect the South at Balliol I am now recording. The the Balliol records. So, in brief: Back in Asian from homesickness, a corridor story includes recollections of Patrick Norway, and after a Major in Russian, where I made lifelong friends. These Corbett (1945) (who told me that I was I took history degrees in British included Euan Macphail (1958); Sandy a journalist, which became true until colonial and African history (Nigeria Lindsay (1958), grandson of A.D. my mid-40s), Tommy Balogh (Fellow and Ghana), and from 1973 built Lindsay (Master 1924–1949); John Crow 1945–1973) and Paul Streeten (1944, up a programme in African history (1958) of the IMF; and the historian Fellow 1948–1978, Honorary Fellow in Trondheim, at the Norwegian Clive Jordan (1958), in whose rooms 1986–2019); Charles Taylor (1952) and University of Science and Technology, we heard with bated breath de Gaulle Michael Dummett (1947) of All Souls; while teaching international and global declaring Algerian independence. also Edgar Wind and Raghavan Iyer. history as an Adjunct Professor in Oslo. Centrally air-conditioned Holywell My story also includes the success in We moved to Oslo in 1998. In addition Manor housed other expats, including 1960 of Oxford Opinion, co-owned to African and international history, the political historian Alfred Stepan with Stephan Feuchtwang and initially my main research contributions have (1958), who won the head and heart edited by me and art edited by David been in the history of Norwegian of the charismatic Nancy Leys Usborne, which had contributions missions, Norwegian development from nearby Somerville, Alfred and from J.G. Farrell, Ian Hamilton, aid and technological transfer to Nancy both ending up as professors Richard Gott, Kevin Crossley-Holland Africa. I have spent much time on at Columbia as man and wife until and many others, notably Ian Cameron, interdisciplinary cooperation and on Alfred passed away in 2017. Among Mark Shivas, Victor Perkins and their establishing a university exchange other friends in Holywell Manor comrades who transformed thinking programme with Ghana. I have also were the erudite scholar from Canada about cinema and went on to create had stints as Pro-Rector in Trondheim masquerading night and day as a Movie magazine. In late 2018 with my and as head of the Norwegian German playboy in dark glasses Graham Nesbitt then 14-year-old son Gabriel I visited Historians Program. My wife, Aud (1958); Ashok Nehru (1957), belonging Balliol. Gabriel, refreshed as we sat with Marit, is a professor of applied to the high Bahman clan of the first coffee and cake outside the renewed linguistics (English), and with our two and greatest Indian Prime Minister, Buttery, was suitably impressed. I will children we have spent one research Jawaharlal Nehru; Charles DiBona be very glad to hear from ’58ers and year in London and three years at the (1957), married to the beautiful Evelyn, others from surrounding years. I am on University of Wisconsin, Madison. I whose parents and dazzling sister GeoffreyCannon1@gmail.com. am now much taken up with global Monica had been forced to emigrate to history. Back in my cottage on our Stockholm during the Second World Sir Richard Heygate Bt (1958) family farm in mountainous Norway, War; and Henry Lloyd (1958). The Just signed my third contract with I ask myself: How many worlds, how legend that in response to the opening the China Railway Group (largest many identities in my life? One bit question by Marcus Dick (1939, Fellow construction company in the world). of that puzzle is Balliol. More can 1947–1963, war hero and philosophy Working mainly in Africa, where the be found at www.hf.uio.no/iakh/ tutor, ‘Azfar, what’d you think government of Zimbabwe has awarded english/people/aca/history/emeriti/ Philosophy is about? I responded, ‘The me the title of Friend of the Country. I jarlesi/simensen-publications.html. search for the Absolute, I suppose,’ work closely with the diaspora, the new whereupon Marcus Dick said, ‘Good generation of Africans, highly educated, The Revd Dafydd Miles Board (1959) God,’ and offered me a glass of gin is who move to the West, but still love Hopefully, our family is just about to partly apocryphal. It was sherry. For their country and one day will return join the ranks of the many families more recollections and rites of passage, and make it into a giant. which have three generations of Balliol 3 FLOREAT DOMUS MAY 2020
NEWS AND NOTES was astounded to see that one of his John Hole (1959) favourite photographs was a ‘Schools I passed my eightieth birthday and had Eight’ I put together, composed of my fourth novel published in August men in their last term or who did not this year! The novel is Will Shakespeare’s want to row full time. The idea was to Secret, published by Austin Macauley. It take some competent rowers and race tells of the rumbustious life of theatre against less experienced crews in a low in Elizabethan London and it comes up division, making bumps so that we with some interesting and mysterious did not have to row too far and ideally facts about how it was that William pick up some blades. The plan was one Shakespeare’s success depended or two outings to get some cohesion, very much on his relationship with on race days down to the river around Christopher Marlowe; and also how lunchtime, practise on the way to it is thanks to the dedicated work of members. All our three will have the start, make a quick bump, back his fellow actors John Heminges and entered from different places and to College for tea and hit the books. Henry Condell that his many plays schools. Here’s an image from the Unfortunately we failed on the third have survived and seen such success. wonderful, and effortlessly impressive day, but the pain made us try harder Balliol Open Day, autumn 2019. At 80 and succeed on the Saturday. By the The Rt Hon Sir David Keene (1959) plus, I’m sitting with my grandson in time the crew photographs were taken I published a short memoir entitled my first study room on Staircase IV: Fred Ziegler (1960) had left. It does Leaving the Arena (Bloomsbury, 2019), both of us, Dafydd and Efan Meilir not look good to be one short. This dealing mainly with my time as a Owen, physically spanning three Balliol was the era of the Satire Revival and barrister and then as a judge. generations. Efan was later offered a General Irreverence, with the Oxford place, provisionally on A-levels of magazine Mesopotamia morphing Colin Wyman (1959) course, for Michaelmas 2020. Plus: into Private Eye. So it was ideal to fill I have been reading a law with politics behold the sort of coincident dates the empty seat with Russell Meiggs, degree at Buckingham University for journalists love. On that memorable who had an appropriate somewhat the past three years and have been Balliol Open Day 2019, it was almost to eccentric image. At first glance, it is awarded and upper 2.1 LLB. the day 60 years before that I had first a standard crew picture, but in fact entered that room, IV.3, when coming was an attempt at a send-up. Meiggs up as a Fresher. Our family joy in was concerned about my hedonistic January following the third-generation offer letter from the College was well lifestyle. So, after Finals results were published, I was greatly pleased to 1960s expressed by Efan’s mother, Lowri, my receive his note congratulating me David Gordon (1960) daughter, who said truly that we were on my second ‘as it seemed there President of the Sierra Madre Playhouse, ‘hapus dros ben’ which translates as was a real possibility of a fourth’. In a 99-seat live theatre in the town in ‘summit happy’ or ‘happy right over the fact I was really not that wild. This Los Angeles, where we live; French top’. The entire family rejoiced, was a time when the worst sin at on Tuesdays; pilates on Wednesdays; including Balliol man number two, Dr Oxford was to be a ‘Grey Man’. Image hiking on Thursdays; massage on Steffan Miles Board (1986), my second was all. I am now nearing the end Fridays; grandpa in San Diego every son, who at present is in Nairobi, as of my 44th year in Paris, working other weekend, summers in London. Minister Counsellor at Canada’s High on obtaining French nationality, Typical routine of the new young old. Commission in Kenya. to be able to retain my status as a Citizen of Nowhere. I continue to Ian Watson (1960) Malcolm Brahams (1959) cultivate my irreverential credo. As regards academia, being a science After nearly 40 years I have retired fiction writer I gave the keynote from the Council of the Medico-Legal address for the University of Porto Society, although I continue to take (Portugal) in April 2019 at More Meals an active interest in its activities. The to Come: An International Conference, rest of my time is taken up with my a three-day event with the rubric of grandchildren (eight so far and one ‘Utopia: Alimentação e Futuro’. My on the way) and my U3A activities. address, appearing in 2020 along with These include leading a current affairs the other proceedings, was entitled discussion group which was founded ‘Better than Being Fossilised!’ just before the 2017 election and, thanks to recent political turmoil, Professor Richard Hyman (1961) has been hyperactive ever since. After 25 years running the European Journal of Industrial Relations I have just Malcolm Forrest (1959) handed over to a new editor, though In the article in the November e-News Dermot Glynn (1959) I will retain a role as founding editor. about Russell Meiggs (Fellow 1939– My oldest grandchild, Matilda, came up Rebecca and I plan to spend more time 1970, Honorary Fellow 1970–1989), I to Balliol this year to read physics. on our canal boat in France, unless we NEWS AND NOTES 4
NEWS AND NOTES become collateral damage in the Brexit Publications: ‘Interconnectedness: team ensures we are a multinational madness. mapping the shadow banking system’, and multifaith outfit. Next term sees in Banque de France Financial Stability us enrolled in a Liverpool University Knobby Clarke (1962) Review, April 2018; revised version extramural course on the Architecture Last Easter, while attending the annual forthcoming as ‘Interconnectedness: of Liverpool – more listed buildings Viol School in Canberra, I met a woman shadow banking and Capital Markets here than in Bath and outstanding whose PhD thesis concerned the Union’, in F. Allen et al., eds, Capital Victorian commercial buildings still in extensions to music Braille needed to Markets Union, MIT Press, 2019; Global use. It’s still a rewarding life! support the accurate representation of Dimensions of Macroprudential Policy early music. Since then, I have written (with Tuomas Peltonen and Antonio Professor Russell Bryant (1963) the specification of a computing system Sanchez Serrano), European Systemic As an active 79-year-old I visit the gym, to implement the automation of those Risk Board Report, forthcoming; jog and swim daily at a nearby state ideas on cheap commodity computing ‘Shadow Banking’, London Business School park. (I am always amazed at how much hardware and software. The Faculty of Review, October 2018; ‘Can We Escape faster I can swim when being chased Engineering at Melbourne University Boom and Bust?’, London Business School by an alligator.) This year I hope to has accepted this specification as Review, October 2019; ‘Carry Trade finish the first draft of my biography of the subject for a year-long capstone with Chinese Characteristics’ (with Yi the British financier-turned-diplomat development project to be undertaken Huang and Ugo Panizza), Vox China, 13 Lord D’Abernon. I have just gotten by a team of students for the degree of June 2018 http://voxchina.org/show- him through the French occupation Master of Software Engineering. I am 3-85.html; ‘Putting the Greek Debt of the Ruhr in 1923. As someone who presently supervising that team. Problem to Rest’, with B. Eichengreen, taught British history for 30 years at an E. Avgouleas, M. Maduro, U. Panizza, American university, I remain mystified John Cookson (1962) B. Weder di Mauro, C. Wyplosz, VoxEU, that Balliol, which educated the two I am maintaining a role in the NHS 20 March 2018, at https://voxeu.org/ prime ministers who put the UK into as a psychiatrist in a male intensive article/putting-greek-debt-problem- the European Union, also produced care unit in east London, and teaching rest; ‘Restoring Trust in Iceland: the one taking her out. Was there psychopharmacology. Iceland’s IMF programme’ (with Fridrik something earlier in the water that was Mar Baldursson), in Sigurjonsson, subsequently removed? Professor Sir Andrew Likierman T.O., Bryant, M., & Schwarzkopf, D. (1962) (2018). The Return of Trust? Institutions David Willington (1964) Since stepping down as Dean of the and the Public after the Icelandic Financial My third novel, A Palestine Affair, London Business School, I’ve been back Crisis, Emerald Publishing Limited, should be published commercially in on the faculty and researching human Bingley, UK; ‘Corporate Foreign Bond the summer. It is set in the British judgement. What is it? How do you Issuance and Interfirm Loans in China’ Mandate in Palestine, which ended in know you’ve got it? How do you know (with Yi Huang and Ugo Panizza), 1948. Unputdownable, I would say! other people have got it (such as before NBER Working Paper 24513, CEPR you hire them)? How can you improve Discussion Paper 12865, April 2018. Sir Michael Burton (1965) it? My focus is on management, but I The year 2019 for me was crowned have also extended it to professions, Brian Westcott (1962) with the announcement in the the relationship to artificial intelligence I have been invited to Bologna in Queen’s Birthday Honours List of my and its use in the difficult personal May 2020 to participate in a licensed appointment ‘for services to the Rule decisions we make during our lives. advanced hypnotic practitioner of Law’ as Knight Grand Cross of the This is a fascinating topic, if alarmingly seminar run by Dr Richard Bandler. British Empire (GBE), a great honour broad in academic terms, since it marked by going to the Palace with my spans many different disciplines and Philip Bishop (1963) four daughters in November, and the literatures, as well as raising questions After 46 years of life in Nottinghamshire grant of a solid gold chain or collar, of how it crosses geographic and we moved to Liverpool in 2017 to be which I can only wear on Collar Days (I cultural boundaries. I have produced a near family. We are enjoying life in am working on an occasion!) and has to framework (published in the January/ this battered but big-hearted city. be given back by the girls on my death! February 2020 Harvard Business Review) A lively six-year-old granddaughter That apart, I have been still judging in and would be interested to hear from keeps us active, along with gym for the Commercial Court and elsewhere, anyone in the Balliol community about me and Nordic walking for Pam, my disciplining Chartered Surveyors, and ideas and applications. wife. The Royal Liverpool Phil is on doing a smidgen of arbitrating and a roll at present – seven of Mahler’s mediating; some acting and singing Professor Richard Portes (1962) symphonies to come in the next seven too. Also I was blessed with my 10th Appointed Chair of Advisory Scientific months as well as much Schubert and grandchild. Committee of European Systemic Risk some outstanding chamber concerts. Board (ESRB). Re-appointed co-chair of We are increasingly involved in a food Martin Cree (1965) ESRB Joint Expert Group on Non-bank bank for asylum seekers run by the I have sold my business and have fully Financial Intermediation. Supervised two cathedrals as well as in support retired. My wife Anne was diagnosed publication of ESRB Non-bank Financial for new residents. The presence of with Alzheimer’s three years ago and I Intermediation Risk Monitor 4, July 2019. former asylum seekers in our support now have more time to care for her. 5 FLOREAT DOMUS MAY 2020
NEWS AND NOTES Peter Hacker (1965) 18th book – the most difficult yet. It is Stuart Baldock (1966) I was appointed to an Honorary UCL about our broken world – particularly After over 50 years living and working Professorship at the Department with respect to the impending in the property industry in France, of Neurology at University College extinction brought about by climate during which time I acquired French London. I published Intellectual emergency. The difficulty for me citizenship, I have now realised a long- Entertainments: Eight Dialogues on Mind, has been the darkness of extinction term ambition and moved with my Consciousness and Thought (Anthem despite the pacifying alternative of wife and youngest child to Athens. I Press, 2020) (it was in fact published impermanence. My books are not commute to France whenever business in October 2019). I also published candidates for intellectual sophistry requires. a second edition of Wittgenstein: or for theological nicety. As a set of Meaning and Mind, Volume 3 of an signposts they may be valuable if the Christopher Currie (1966) Analytic Commentary on the Philosophical signposts are not held on to after My Senior Research Fellowship of Investigations, Part I – Essays, Part II their usefulness is exhausted. It is the the Institute of Historical Research – Exegesis, sections 243–427 (Wiley- reader’s inner experience, as a result (University of London) was renewed Blackwell, 2019). of the words, that is truly worthwhile. in November 2019. I continued to This kind of knowledge lies beyond be research active, with an article in Hubert Murray (1965) the formulas found in books and the Vernacular Architecture appearing in My wife, Nancy Uhlar (LMH, 1967), intellectual constructions of clever November and a chapter in Fifty Years of and I celebrated our 50th wedding talk. If you cling to a formula in the Medieval Technology and Social Change, ed. anniversary this year. We were mistaken belief that it holds the truth, Steven A. Walton, in September. I am introduced to each other by Ron then be prepared for disappointment. currently listing all known examples in Berenbeim (1966) in the Balliol Formulas for truth expand into rigidly England, Wales, and Ireland of tenants’ JCR in the heady days of 1968. Our held beliefs, which deny reality as copies of court roll before 1400, and children, based in Tunis and Barcelona it is. This leads to an escape that is would be interested to hear from any respectively, and under instructions not particular and strategic. The escape is Old Member who has come across one. to wantonly increase carbon emissions, from knowing and experiencing the More important, my granddaughter orchestrated from afar an anniversary energy of inner consciousness. When Niamh Adiesua Tallon was born on 1 treasure hunt involving a book reading, these dependencies are abandoned March 2019. a spectacular meal and a memorable through trust in your inner journey, play – in that order. PPE taught me to your own experience of inner truth, of Professor Benjamin Fine (1966) interpret the world. My architectural your true nature, then celebrate what I published: Material Cultures of degree has allowed me to change it, has always resided within. That is what Financialisation, co-edited with K. Bayliss if only incrementally. Having spent a I hope readers will reconcile with as and M. Robertson (Routledge, 2018); and career planning, designing and building a viable strategy for our times, so that Race, Class and the Post-Apartheid Democratic schools and universities as well as they, citizens and leaders are equipped State, co-edited with John Reynolds highways and train stations, I am now with the tools that can generate and Robert van Niekerk (University of in my retirement working with a team understanding, compassion and non- KwaZulu-Natal Press, 2019). of Palestinian teachers designing and violent reconciliation. developing a kindergarten in Aida Martin Kaufman (1966) Refugee Camp in Bethlehem. This Lord Angus Stewart (1965) Having set up the Institute of little school for 100 children will be On 16 November 2019 I retired as Fundraising (IoF) Cultural Sector bound to make a huge and positive Senator of the College of Justice in Network in 2014, which has organised difference for families living in very Scotland for the Presidency of the the largest cultural sector fundraising difficult conditions. To be working Stair Society, Scotland’s premier legal conferences in Europe, I handed over together on this project is a wonderful history society, with effect from 31 to my successor in November 2019. antidote to the vortex of despair one March 2020. I am to be succeeded in However, in July 2019 I became Chair can so often feel on listening to the the office by Hon. Lady Wolffe (1984), of the IoF RAISE Steering Committee, morning news. If anyone is curious as Senator of the College of Justice funded by Arts Council England to to what we are doing architecturally in Scotland. I will deliver the Stair enhance and support cultural sector and pedagogically, I can be contacted Society Annual Lecture 2020 with fundraisers throughout England at hmurray2012@gmail.com. the title ‘Sir Walter Scott: Law and (outside London). I have a great Imagination’. nationwide committee, but would be Michael Paling (1965) keen to speak to Balliol alumni involved Packing real cheese, as I write this, to Benjamin White in arts and heritage fundraising who take to Guatemala, to see me through (1965) would like to know more. what will be be my twelfth overseas I published trip as a medical volunteer. Queso does Agriculture and Philip Kendall (1966) not work for me!!! the Generation Appointed a trustee of the Oxford Problem: Agrarian School of Drama (OSD). Established in Professor James Prattis (1965) Change & Peasant 1986, based in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, Shattered Earth: Approaching Extinction Studies (Fernwood the OSD is one of the UK’s leading (Manor House Publishing, 2019) is my Publishing, 2020). drama schools, with distinguished NEWS AND NOTES 6
NEWS AND NOTES alumni in film, television, and theatre. and friends. Their two daughters, Lucy Following the appointment of a new and Rosie, with their husbands and principal from RADA, the school has six grandchildren were all present to ambitious plans for expansion. celebrate the joyful occasion at Rhodes House. Best man Htun Aye (1966) and Michael Venning (1966) his wife were also present, as were After a career in medicine – teacher, members of the Canadian family. After researcher and university hospital receiving his DPhil in 1970 and working specialist clinician – I am switching as a management consultant, in 1973 career to spend the next decade or Tony joined the Canadian government so using my maths PhD, teaching in Ottawa, where he worked on secondary school maths. So far so streamlining various government good: my UCAS application to train to programmes and procedures. In 1981 he Alan Wilkie (1967), former High Court teach is in. It will keep me in funds to was seconded to the World Intellectual judge, and Sir John Holmes (1969), watch Manchester United at home and Property Organisation, a United chairman of the Electoral Commission, overseas, and I should get a grant for Nations Specialized Agency in Geneva, that makes three members of the the training! where he worked until 2004. Later Tony 1971 Balliol College football team (see lectured at the University of Geneva for photo) with Ks. This is one more than Martin Walker (1966) the International Organisations MBA the England 1966 World Cup winners The year 2019 saw the publication programme. After retirement the family who have been knighted. I hadn’t of The Body in the Castle Well, the 12th continues to reside in Switzerland. To realised we were so good. I regard novel in the Bruno series of Perigord have been married for 50 years seems myself as the Balliol Gordon Banks, i.e. mysteries, which have now sold more to be almost unimaginable in the the goalkeeper who didn’t get knighted. than 4 million copies in 18 languages. modern, technological age and Tony It also saw the launch of Bruno’s Garden and Deborah are very happy to have The Very Reverend Michael Cookbook, written with my wife Julia, beaten the statistics! Sadgrove (1968) at the Frankfurt Book Fair. I was Three score years and ten this year. honoured to be elected a member of Anthony Sheppard (1967) Enjoying retirement near Hadrian’s the Jurade of the wines of Montravel Now starting my seventh year as Hon. Wall. Pleasures include grandchildren, and a magistrat of the wines of Duras, Treasurer of the British Institute at writing and blogging, European travels, and we produced 7,000 bottles of my Ankara and seeking a successor, as I am the landscapes and history of North own Cuvée Bruno wine. approaching my ‘use by date’! Anybody East England (Balliol’s homeland), interested is welcome to get in touch photography, music and volunteering. Dennis Childs (1967) via hon.treasurer@biaa.ac.uk. Beyond baffled by Brexit, which goes Caro and I have lived in France for 14 against everything I learned at the years now, but only after the Brexit Professor Jonathan Slack (1967) diverse, internationalist, outward- referendum did we apply for French I am still writing scientific books. In looking Balliol of 50 years ago. http:// nationality. In December 2019 we 2018 The Science of Stem Cells came out, northernwoolgatherer.blogspot.com. were officially naturalised. It makes published by Wiley. This is intended to surprisingly little difference to our provide ‘all the basic science you need David Satter (1968) status here, but as we were in line to to know’ to be a stem cell biologist, Never Speak to Strangers lose our right to vote in UK elections including developmental biology, tissue and Other Writing from from 2020, at least we will be able to culture technology, transplantation Russia and the Soviet vote in the French ones. biology and so on. I have just Union was published finished the fourth edition of Essential in April 2020 by Tony Keefer (1967) Developmental Biology, also published by Iibidem Press/ Tony Keefer (Rhodes Scholar from Wiley. This is my basic textbook. This Columbia University Ontario) and Deborah were married in edition is a joint project with my old Press. It is a Balliol College Chapel on 12 July 1969. colleague Les Dale, from UCL. It should collection of my writing and reporting In 2019 they celebrated their Golden be out by the end of 2020. on Russia over more than four decades. Wedding anniversary there with family Professor Terrell Carver (1968) Sir John Holmes (1969) I published this ‘accessible’ book Currently Chair of the UK Electoral in 2018: www.wiley.com/en-us/ Commission. Interesting and at times Marx-p-9781509518173. And I am challenging. Dividing my time between continuing full-time at the University London and Oxfordshire. of Bristol. Robin Poulton (1969) Eric Hanslip (1968) I Dance Therefore I Am: A Memoir of Scotland, Following the report in last year’s News America and Dancing (independently and Notes that Sir Ian Davis (1969) had published, 2019) is available from been knighted, I observe that with Sir Amazon in print or as e-book. This 7 FLOREAT DOMUS MAY 2020
NEWS AND NOTES amusing memoir about Scotland to trial, where he was convicted of of the coastal trade to create an online and dancing promotes Scottish 13 counts of perverting the course of ‘virtual archive’ and research platform Enlightenment ideas (Hume) against justice and fraud. He was sentenced to for an in-depth analysis of the origins the French (Descartes). Poulton 18 years. The others falsely accused by and operation of the trade in plants includes limericks, great stories of Beech (Lord Bramall, Lord Brittan and and people as well as gold, ivory and drinking and dancing, travels along the Harvey Proctor) all received substantial firearms. The ethno-botany and culinary Silv’ry River Tay honouring haggis and compensation from the Metropolitan history of the Atlantic slave trade have, bagpipes, the revered Robert Burns and Police, reflecting the serious errors of to date, been understudied. Yet the the unforgettable William McGonagall, the police in this wholly misguided trade and subsistence patterns emerging and J.S. Mill’s ‘the greatest happiness and reckless investigation costing from this period continue to shape of the greatest number’. This poem will millions of pounds. Many of the senior and constrain current food systems make you laugh: police officers involved left the force in throughout Africa. Current public disgrace. A parliamentary committee policy concerning African food systems Catriona, a wonderful lass, has been convened to look into the could benefit from the pursuit of these Had a truly remarkable ass: conduct of the police at all levels. studies (see https://bit.ly/2TTTsq7). We Not rounded and pink Edward Heath is of course not alive need help in interpreting these early As you probably think: to see his reputation restored. But maps, and we hope that the digital It was grey, had long ears, for posterity, and for Balliol, I would platforms for sharing this primary and ate grass. like to take the opportunity to record material online will stimulate extended in these notes the damage done to a discussions among anthropologists and Dr Poulton danced his first Highland distinguished Balliol man and former historians concerning the early-modern Fling at the age of five. Passionate about prime minister. We never doubted his European maritime empires and their Scotland’s dancing heritage, Robin tells innocence and the record should show impact upon Africa and around the his grandchildren how important dance that we and all those who knew him world. Balliol has a strong tradition of and music are for their culture, at a were right. historical studies, and it has created time when entertainment is consumed its own impressive archive to preserve through screens. He is passionate about Peter Taylor (1969) valuable papers and manuscripts for intelligent women and promoting equal Nine PPE and History men gathered scholarly consultation. It is hoped opportunities. Each chapter celebrates in College for a private dinner in that this virtual archive of slave trade at least one brilliant woman and her September 2019 to celebrate the documents can be made accessible to gifts to dancing. The book visits many alarming fact that it was 50 years since Balliol Fellows, MCR and JCR members types of dance (contra, English, African, their matriculation. Pictured left to alike in the future. Irish, German, French, Scandinavian, right: Tony Cothey, Michael Stewart, flamenco, salsa, ballet, waltzing) but Michael Donithorn, Richard House, focuses especially on the Celts and the Peter Gavan, Peter Taylor, Nicholas benefits of Scottish dance for mental, physical and spiritual health. Jokes, Mansergh, Kenneth Grimshaw, Nicholas Kenyon (all 1969). 1970s dance and ghost stories enliven the Professor Dennis Goldford (1970) memoir … and a whodunit: who really Still teaching undergraduates, doing was Robin’s Scottish grandfather? some writing, and serving as a political Read the book to find out. The perfect analyst for print and broadcast media Christmas or birthday present. organisations covering American elections generally and the Iowa Lincoln Seligman (1969) precinct caucuses in particular, yet Some five years ago the Metropolitan beginning to contemplate retirement. Police embarked on Operation Midland, an investigation into paedophile Philip Mansel (1970) offences allegedly committed by My book King of the World: The Life of various senior politicians including Louis XIV was published by Allen Lane Sir Edward Heath (1935, Honorary in July 2019. Fellow 1969–2005). Operation Midland Professor Timothy Weiskel (1969) was followed by Wiltshire police’s Following on the DPhil work started Professor Anand Pillay (1970) Operation Conifer, which concentrated at Balliol in social anthropology and I was the Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw on Edward Heath. The trustees of his African history more than 50 years ago, Visiting Professor in the School charitable foundation, and I as his I am currently learning more about of Mathematics, University of godson, had to work non-stop for newly available digital technology Manchester, in June and July 2019. four years to defend his reputation. in order to expand an international That he was eventually exonerated is community of scholars in Europe, Professor Ian Williamson (1970) due in large part to the diligence of Africa and the Americas and to focus Currently editing Bruckner’s Symphony Northumbria Police, who investigated upon Atlantic slave trade documents. No. 6 for a new Complete Edition the source of the allegations, a fantasist We are starting by ‘digitising’ some of published by Musikwissenschaftlicher called Carl Beech. They brought him the 16th-, 17th- and 18th-century maps Verlag of Vienna. NEWS AND NOTES 8
NEWS AND NOTES Professor Jon Berrick (1971) thoroughly revised it. (Needless to say, Highlands and Islands – my sixth Jon Berrick has retired from National the references needed a bit of updating degree since leaving Oxford. I can University of Singapore and Yale-NUS after four decades!) Plunging into that now claim to have been a student College, though remaining as Emeritus material brought back memories of my at the oldest and one of the newest Professor there (www.yale-nus.edu.sg/ original struggles with it as a Balliol universities in the country. about/faculty/a-j-jon-berrick/). He’s graduate student, lo these many years. returned to his hometown, Sydney, Simon Bishop (1972) where two small grandsons keep him Ravi Sekhar (1971) Still working on cultural history and busy. He is also Honorary Professor Taking retirement at 45 from a vintage photography. You can find me at the University of Sydney, Adjunct comfortable corporate job with an on LinkedIn. Will soon be looking at Professor at Western Sydney University, international bank for nearly 25 unusual photographs taken while at and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the years was the best decision, opening Balliol in the 1970s. And a painting Australian Mathematical Society. myriad vistas for self-awareness of Maurice Keen (Fellow and Tutor and enrichment. The next 25 years in Modern History 1961–2000 and Professor Richard Bronaugh (1971) have passed in delivering leadership Emeritus Fellow 2000–2012) in Balliol After 34 years as founding and lead coaching to C-suite executives in India Hall, as I was lucky enough to sit next editor of The Canadian Journal of Law and and abroad under the aegis of a global to my inspiring old medieval tutor Jurisprudence (CJLJ) I am leaving that training organisation; travel to near and on Gaudy night. He was a great and editorial responsibility. The journal flew far off lands; writing over 800 travel conscientious tutor. on its own wings until we partnered reviews for a leading travel advisory with Cambridge University Press company; attending personal and Martin Fisher (1972) (CUP) six years ago. This formation has professional events across the country; One year in I got a bit bored with resulted in much wider distribution; and catching up with contemporaries retirement and trying to be the house indeed, CUP counted worldwide from Oxford and old friends, putting ‘domestic goddess’ while my wife 145,606 single-article downloads from social media avenues to good effect. continues to earn money, so I have CJLJ during the year 2018. I will soon I have held the position of President started work as a Citizens Advice count myself as fully retired from the of the Camford Society – so named volunteer adviser in Liskeard two days University of Western Ontario, which because the former outnumbered a week. Very challenging, and opening I joined in 1962, teaching in both the the latter – and now offer advice as up vast areas of law and social need Department of Philosophy and finally a committee member. I continue to that had previously passed me by. Still in the Faculty of Law. offer mentoring and other coaching helping run Truro 3 Arts, a chamber services on a pro bono basis. Now I am music winter series of six concerts, and Sir David Gilmour working alongside my wife Jyotsna in now writing all their programme notes. (1971) her social enterprise, Totum, which Another challenge but a more purely In 2019 Penguin aims to empower underprivileged enjoyable one! published new women from the slums in Pune by revised editions of teaching them bag weaving, thus Neil Record (1972) three of my books, providing them an opportunity to Neil Record is still chairman of the Curzon: Imperial make a steady income. We celebrated firm (Record plc) he founded in 1983. Statesman, The our 68th birthday recently (we were He spends more of his time now at the British in India: Three born on the same day) and the large Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), of Centuries of Ambition turnout of family, friends, and well- which he is chairman, and several other and Experience and The Long Recessional: wishers was wonderful and made our free-market or right-of-centre think The Imperial Life of Rudyard Kipling. day. Our girls, Devika and Namita, are tanks. He has had a long association doing well, the elder pursuing a career with Nuffield College, Oxford, and is Thomas Sancton (1971) in business development with a hotel now chairman of the Remuneration After a long career at Time magazine, chain in Mumbai and the younger a Committee there. He has just retired I am now living in France with my product strategist in New York. I would after 12 years as a governor of Magdalen wife Sylvaine. Sylvaine is an artist; I welcome hearing from others who have College School, Oxford – presiding, write books. My current project deals made such mid-career or life changes inter alia, over the arrival of sixth-form with the notorious 1978 kidnapping and been richer for it. girls at the formerly all-boys school. He of Baron Empain, a leading French sees quite a few Balliol alumni in the industrialist. Title: The Last Baron. Simon Walker (1971) course of his activities, including Mark Publication is expected in 2022. I have been appointed Chairman of Littlewood (1990) and Shanker Singham Before that, however, an American the UK Trade Remedies Authority, a (1986) at the IEA and Charlotte Leslie university press is publishing a revised statutory body which will in future deal (1997) of the Conservative Middle East and updated version of my Oxford with anti-dumping and trade disputes. Council. His eldest son, Chris (2006), DPhil thesis: Sweet Land of Liberty: The is now a Registrar in Neurology at St French Left Looks at America, 1848–1871. I John Armstrong-Gregson (1972) George’s Hospital, Tooting (see page submitted the thesis in 1979, and never After retiring in 2018, I enrolled on 23). His daughter Helen kicked the thought much about it until last year, an MLitt course in Viking Studies at family Balliol habit by going next when I took it out of the drawer and Orkney College, University of the door to Trinity College, Oxford. Neil’s 9 FLOREAT DOMUS MAY 2020
NEWS AND NOTES firm Record Currency Management Christopher Catherwood (1973) that annually distributes about three (the main subsidiary of Record plc) is I am getting used to being a widower – quarters of a million Bibles and New a beneficiary of an unusual Record– thank you to Balliol members such as Testaments in the UK, facing the Balliol intern arrangement, in which Stuart Jamieson (1975) who reached out challenges of being the safety director Record encourages applications from in sympathy, and ongoing profound for a heritage steam railway at a time Balliol undergraduates for (well gratitude to Andrew Whittaker (1974) when the regulator is taking greater paid!) internships, leading for the and his wife Clare and daughters interest in the sector, and enjoying six right applicants to permanent full- Charlotte and Rosie, who have all been wonderful grandchildren. time posts. Record currently has five kindness personified. I am enjoying permanent staff arising from this life in the junior university (Churchill Lawrence Hutter (1973) intern scheme, ranging in Balliol College is a wonderful academic home) Having started Alvarez & Marsal’s now dates from 2009 to 2015. In return, and teaching clever American study- thriving Corporate Transformation Record sponsors bursaries for Balliol abroad students for the Wake Forest Practice in Europe seven years ago, I undergraduates who are planning to INSTEP programme in Cambridge have stepped down from being a full- go into public or charitable service. (I am now Academic Director). I am time partner to a pleasantly flexible This very happy relationship is now in still writing history books, enjoying Senior Advisor role doing the work I its 11th year, and shows every sign of attendance at All Saints, Little enjoy most. This was partly prompted continuing. Shelford, and slowly catching up on by being diagnosed with relatively the rest of life. aggressive prostate cancer, which is Sam Schulman (1972) under control, though I had left it I am relieved to announce that the The Hon Dr Paul Flather (1973) a bit late before having a thorough Two Thousand-Teens just past is the Here is an image of Dr Paul Flather medical. If you are in your late 50s first decade, including the one in (right), currently a Fellow of Mansfield or early 60s, get checked regularly! I which I matriculated, in which I have College, receiving the Honorary Jan do not plan to retire because I love not conceived even one child. The Masaryk Silver Medal (named after what I do. I have just accepted the daughters of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s are the first democratic Prime Minister of role of chairman of an innovative and on their own, or well launched; the son Czechoslovakia) from His Excellency, disruptive marketing research and of the Aughts, now aged 10, demands the Czech Ambassador Libor Sečka, analytics business called the Brand the usual attentions of an energetic at a special ceremony in London Experience Group. We are working young father in his spare moments – marking the 30-year anniversary of the on an Investment Memorandum for fortunately I have many of those. We 1989 Velvet Revolution. He received those who want to join us on what is live on a small ex-tobacco farm near the award for ‘special contributions’ likely to be an exciting and rewarding Charlottesville, Virginia, and when supporting the development of the journey over the next few years as we not fetching/delivering or playing Czech and Slovak nations. expand globally. The family is thriving. basketball with a young man, I am Fae works for Google doing clever stuff engaged on a couple of book projects I don’t completely understand; Ben and polemical articles in defending is leading his first clinical research the Jews in spite of our many faults, programme; Joe is pursuing a career and carping about and criticising the in the business of sport and works for well-meant suggestions of other Jews. Arsenal FC; Clara has graduated in law I also help my wife in her university and is applying for a training contract admissions marketing consultancy with (hard); Luc is doing his A levels, is very more carping and criticism, for which talented, and I am trying to persuade she is unable to find words to express him to apply to Balliol. Philippa holds her gratitude. We have lived here for 15 it all together, as she has done for the years now, and our Pathfinder traffic has last 30+ years. understandably fallen off to an every- few-years visit from the flood of Balliol Matilda Simon (1973) men and women we loved to host I am now retired from lecturing in when we lived in Manhattan. But it is a design but I use my engineering skills fascinating place, full of the kindest and and research background in sustainable most diverse supporters of the current design to make furniture and useful president, and near a college town items from local hardwood. I also full of the kindest and most diverse founded and help run a 3-hectare despisers of the same chap. Do call. community woodland, work as a simulated patient in the medical Graham Beamson (1973) Iain Gray (1973) school, volunteer in secondary schools After nine years of studying courses in I retired in 2017 after 40 plus years for Diversity Role Models and am part earth sciences, astronomy, evolution in the nuclear industry. As with most of an art collective who run a gallery in and statistics with the Open University Balliol Old Members, life is just as New Mills. I am oddly proud of having I have been awarded a BSc (Open, 1st busy. This includes serving as a regional been one of the first women at Balliol, class Honours). director for a national Christian charity even though nobody was aware of it. NEWS AND NOTES 10
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