NEWS AND NOTES Updates from Balliol alumni around the world - A supplement to Floreat Domus 2022 - Balliol College
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NEWS AND NOTES
Updates from Balliol alumni around the world
A supplement to Floreat Domus 2022
NEWS AND NOTES Stuart Bebb
News and Notes
NEWS AND NOTES
We are delighted to share news from the Balliol community
Professor Jonathan Meakins Shmuel Gelles of Siematycze, and Leonard Barden (1949)
(Nuffield Professor of Surgery and became known as Moses Gelles, scholar Leonard Barden still contributes his
Professorial Fellow 2002–2008) of the Brody Klaus. I am his 6th- weekly chess columns to the Guardian
Jonathan Meakins is to be inducted to generation descendant. On my mother’s www.theguardian.com/sport/chess,
the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. side, the ancestor of my grandmother where they began in 1955, and to the
Chawa Wahl was Saul Wahl (1545–1617), Financial Times (from 1975). His daily
Carl Woodall (Fellow and Domestic scion of the Katzenellenbogen Chief Evening Standard puzzle, which began in
Bursar, 2000–2009) Rabbis of Padua and Venice. I am 1956 and continued for more than 63
Now Director of Facilities, House his 14th-generation descendant. The years, was the longest-running daily
of Lords (since 2009) and member family of my great-grandmother, column by a single individual in all
of the House of Lords Management Sarah Matel Chajes, left Portugal in journalism when it ended, because of
Board (since 2009). Also Chair, the 15th century and came to Prague editorial cutbacks, in January 2020.
Parliamentary Safety Assurance Board, via Provence. My ancestor Isaac ben
and Chair, Parliamentary Fire Safety Abraham Chayes was Chief Rabbi of
Board. Married Caroline Mary Newell, Prague and brother-in-law of Rabbi
September 2013 in Oxford (married by
former Balliol Chaplain and Emeritus
Judah Loew (c.1520 – 1609). Many
Chajes rabbis and scholars followed
1950s
Fellow Dr H.D. Dupree). in Galicia, Italy, Vienna, and the New John Mallet (1950)
World. Notable ancestors also included Last year saw the publication of Maiolica
Cohen (HaKohen, Katz, Sacerdote) in Italy and Beyond: Papers of a Symposium
and Levites (Halevi, Halevi Segal). in Celebration of Timothy Wilson’s Catalogue
1940s For details see ‘Papers of Edward
Gelles’ at http://archives.balliol.ox.ac.uk.
of Maiolica in the Ashmolean Museum
(Ashmolean Museum, 2021) of which,
Edward Gelles (1944) with Elisa Sani, I was joint editor and
I continue my researches into my Thomas Hughes (1947) to which I also contributed a paper. It
ancestral background. I was born Thomas L. Hughes is the subject of a contains essays by a number of Tim’s
in Vienna and my parents were Dr new biography published by Brookings friends in Great Britain and overseas
David Itzig Gelles and Regina Griffel, in Washington, The Last Gentleman: including Elisa and myself, besides a
who came from old Jewish families Thomas Hughes and the End of the American bibliography of the writings of this
in Austrian Galicia. My paternal Century by Bruce Smith (2022). The distinguished ceramic historian with a
grandparents, Rabbi Nahum Uri book contains much new information Balliol connection (Emeritus Fellow).
Gelles and Esther, daughter of Rabbi about US foreign policy in the 1960s
Zvi Aryeh Weinstein, had Horowitz – especially Cuba and Vietnam. Robin Minney (1950)
mothers. I am a 7th-generation Hughes was Assistant Secretary of In January I had my 90th birthday. Our
descendant of Chief Rabbi Isaac State (Director of Intelligence and eldest son came with his wife and she
Horowitz of Hamburg. I am a 6th- Research) in the Kennedy and Johnson made not only the magnificent cake
generation descendant of Chief administrations, and subsequently but also lunches for two sessions, all
Rabbi Shmuel Helman of Metz; 8th- Minister in the US embassy in London
generation descendant of Chief Rabbi (1969–1970). Hughes still lives in
Nathan Nata Shapiro of Cracow and Washington, age 96.
10th-generation from his eponymous
grandfather, Chief Rabbi of Grodno; Lionel Scott (1948)
and 10th-generation of Rabbi Moshe My book, Pytheas of Massalia: Texts,
Heilprin of Berdishev and Solotwina Translation, Commentary, was published
and of Uri Feivush ben David, Chief by Routledge on 22 November 2021.
Rabbi of Vilna and later head of the Pytheas deserves to be better known
Ashkenazi community in Jerusalem. than he is, because it was his account of
I am a descendant of Mordecai Jaffe his pioneering voyage from Marseille
(1530–1612), Chief Rabbi of Prague, into the Atlantic in c.325 BC that
Grodno, and Posen, known as the brought the very existence of the
Levush. His descendant Moses Mendel island of Britain to the notice of the
Levush married a daughter of Rabbi Mediterranean world.
Front cover: Caryn Davies (2013) and friends: see her entry on page 24.
Opposite: Old Members gather outside Hall at the Balliol Society Weekend, September 2021. NEWS AND NOTES 2
NEWS AND NOTES
served on palm leaf plates and bowls. era in the United States. Fast forward but my only other formal connection
Because of the pandemic, we invited 40 years and I was attending the was to be allocated a ‘Moral Tutor’,
only local friends to come in four Commonwealth Heads of Government Heinrich Kuhn (Fellow and Tutor in
sessions: coffee and cake; lunch one; Meeting in Auckland, October 1995, Physics 1950–1969). I saw him twice
lunch two; or tea and cake. Everyone as Chair of the Commonwealth of a year. His field was Fundamental
had a piece of cake, so I lit the candles Learning. I introduced myself to the Physics and we did not know what
four times and then blew them all out, head of Guyana, Dr Cheddi Jagan, we were supposed to do. So we talked
and people sang ‘Happy Birthday’. Our and asked if he remembered the about his work connected with the
eldest son also had a birthday a year or Oxford meeting and the brash young Manhattan Project.
so ago, which he celebrated by taking Canadian who asked him a question.
out a shell four on the Thames. I rowed He exclaimed: ‘It was you!’ and gave me Richard Grassby (1954)
wearing my Leander pink socks – I am a big hug. How pleased I was to remind I published a new book in December,
still a member after 70 years. him that we had established the Cheddi 2021: Richard Grassby, Aesop Redux: Fifty
Jagan Lecture at York University. Fables of the Modern Era.
James Taylor (1951)
In a ceremony at the residence of the Robert Kernohan (1953) Alexander Hopkinson-Woolley (1955)
Japanese Ambassador in Ottawa on I am resigned to being a spectator My second book, Where is the Evidence?
8 September 2021 I was awarded the of the world’s worries and not a Finding the Truth in the Gospel of John
Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and participant. Giving up driving has been (Troubador, 2022), is now in print.
Silver Star. more isolating than legal lockdowns. An important strut in the framework
In old age one can still share in the of the argument is that the writer
Richard Wheadon (1951) new worlds explored by one’s children; of the Gospel was writing while
On 2 August 2021 my wife and I when very old one draws increasingly questioning the witness. This process
celebrated our Diamond Wedding on grandchildren. Isolation gave me is best illustrated by the account of the
anniversary. We originally met on a time to absorb the thesis on aristocratic informal trial of Jesus following his
‘blind date’ organised by her father, Victorian visitors to Australia and arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Group Captain F.C. Richardson, who New Zealand which secured my The writer asked where the party went
was President of the RAF Rowing Club. granddaughter Kirsty a doctorate in after the arrest; the witness answered
I was a Flying Officer and Captain, anthropology from Aberdeen. that they went to the house of Annas
coach and member of the RAF VIII. It first and then to the house of Caiaphas.
seems that I was found to be a suitable Emeritus Professor Colin Apelt (1954) The writer then asked what happened
escort for his daughter at the Coastal Two articles in Floreat Domus May and wrote his account without
Command Summer Ball on 19 July 2020 highlighted how much Balliol checking in which house the events
1957. Thereafter neither of us ‘went has changed since my time there. occurred. As a result all the events that
out’ with any other; we announced our The article ‘Balliol women: 40 years actually took place in the house of the
engagement on 19 July 1959 and the on’ told of their major contribution High Priest are said to have occurred
rest, as they say, is (also) history! to College life since the first women in the house of Annas. C.S. Lewis
were admitted in 1979. I recalled remarked on the authentic character
Professor Ian Macdonald (1952) correspondence I had with Sir David of the stories in John’s Gospel. This
It was 70 years ago that I came to Lindsay Keir (Master 1949–1965), after book tries to show how the witness
Balliol to begin a wonderful three years my return to Australia. At Christmas gathered the information and suggests
in Oxford. To be accepted by Balliol was 1961, I reported the birth our first that the witness had a most retentive
one of the greatest joys of my life. This child, a daughter, but regretted that and detailed memory of all the
milestone year has led me to reflect on she would not be able to follow me experiences. If this thesis is accepted,
many experiences during my Balliol at Balliol. The Master replied that he the presentation of Christianity will
years such as going to a public meeting hoped that he would never see that need to be modified.
to hear Dr Cheddi Jagan, Marxist day. Sir David died in 1973 so he did
leader of the independence movement not have to come to terms with that Malcolm Fluendy (1956)
in Guyana. He was on a mission to change! The article ‘New rooms for No publications, no awards, just
the UK to seek constitutional change students’ reported one outcome from enjoying life!
for his country. Part way through the the new buildings at the Master’s Field
meeting, someone threw a smoke bomb would be to house more of Balliol’s Professor Roger Doherty (1957)
into the hall, which was promptly graduate students. I was delighted to Sadly, for the last two years Covid
evacuated. When the meeting resumed, read how well Balliol now is welcoming has eliminated my regular biennial
a question period followed and I asked: and making special provision for stay, together with my wife, Judy
‘Dr Jagan, what is it that you are seeking graduate students. I recalled that when (LMH 1960), at the Indian Institute
for Guyana?’ He replied: ‘I want to I went up to Oxford to undertake a of Technology, Bombay – as it’s still
deliver my people from colonial rule DPhil in Engineering Science, I felt officially titled, although the city is
and provide them with a free society.’ that Balliol did not quite know what otherwise always called Mumbai –
I said: ‘That is good enough for me.’ to do with graduate students. I was where I work as a Visiting Professor
Remember that this was in the midst fortunate to be accommodated in with an ex-PhD student of mine from
of the Cold War and the McCarthy Holywell Manor for the first two years Drexel University in Philadelphia. He
3 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2022
NEWS AND NOTES
has a very active and stimulating group oncoming climate catastrophe may just Ian Watson (1960)
of research students with whom I have be avoided. Late in the year, I grieved for In February 2021 NewCon Press (UK)
been able to maintain contact via email Archbishop Desmond Tutu, outspoken published in signed hardback and
and Skype, and thus contribute to a champion of real Christianity, fighter paperback my novella The Monster, The
series of research publications. Covid for human rights and against apartheid Mermaid, and Doctor Mengele. Suppose
also deprived us of our regular tourist in South Africa and elsewhere. I that Victor Frankenstein fulfilled
visits to other places in India (and also met him when I was working in his promise to the Monster to make
to Nepal), which were a vital part of Johannesburg in the early 1980s. He him a mate, on the lonely Scottish
our months there. I have often told my had been talking about sanctions. I said: island. Suppose that the Monster duly
younger colleagues at Drexel, where ‘What about foreign investment?’ His disappeared into
I continue as an Emeritus Professor: reply was a splendid guffaw! South American
‘Always treat your students well – they jungles to live in
may later invite you for enjoyable visits Malcolm Brahams (1959) blissful secrecy
to interesting places.’ More seriously, I have been an active member of various with his equally
Covid also restricted our regular four- groups in our local Hampstead Garden long-living mate
yearly visits to our son, Steven, in Suburb U3A since my retirement in 2017 – until the arrival
Sydney, which oddly always seemed to (and have been running two of them) of Nazi war
coincide with the Ashes series; and so, but I have now become one of their criminals after
for the first time in well over a decade, trustees so, if I previously had any free the Second World
we missed them. I suppose one can be time, that has taken up a good deal of it. War … (69 pages.)
grateful for small mercies. Also, I turned 80 in August 2021 and my
children treated me to a ‘surprise’ lunch Professor Roger Green (1961)
Brian Richardson (1957) in the Balliol Old Common Room. It My translation and commentary of/on
I celebrated my 85th birthday in 2021 was a delightful occasion and persuaded the Latin poems of Sidonius Apollinaris
with help from all my extended family at least one of my grandchildren to comes out this summer, as will a study
here in Canada. I’m still working as aspire to an Oxbridge education. of the very different Latin poems
an organist for the Anglican church, written in the mid-16th century by
funeral homes, and wedding venues; Roderick MacLean of Iona, produced
and plan to continue as long as possible. with the help of the Scottish historian
Alan MacQuarrie (introduction,
Anthony Sperryn (1957) translation, and commentary). I have
In 2021, I continued my internet also contributed to the forthcoming
commenting, as Britain fast becomes Cambridge History of Later Latin Literature
a fascist state and its rulers ditch the and to the new edition of the Oxford
conventions that should underlie Dictionary of the Christian Church. My wife
our ‘democracy’. My own health has and I continue to enjoy life in North
deteriorated, in part because I have Yorkshire, close to the Dales (or at least
been caught up in the dismemberment Professor Richard Dawkins (1959 one of them), having left Scotland,
of the National Health Service, with and Honorary Fellow) where I spent a life in the universities
some items forbidden for staff to deal I published two books in 2021. Books of St Andrews and Glasgow, teaching
with. In April, after a six months’ wait, do Furnish a Life (Bantam Press) is Latin and Classics. After the windswept
I experienced a priceless moment when a collection of my book reviews, west coast of Scotland, the average
the hospital consultant administered a forewords, afterwords and other book- windspeed is not so different.
treatment saying: ‘I’m not supposed to related essays; Flights of Fancy (Apollo) is
do this.’ Successive governments have an account for young people of flying: Professor David Kirk (1961)
been neglectful about wellbeing, caring all the methods of staying aloft that It is some time since I appeared in
only about finance, which is completely have evolved in insects, pterosaurs, bats, News and Notes. However, there may
the wrong way round to deal with a birds and man-made flying machines. still be some interested in my more
vital service. In September, I renewed recent activities. After I retired from
my contact with the College with the clinical surgical practice in 2005, I
very enjoyable Balliol Society weekend. continued to be involved in the
I had previously made a donation of
a new economics book (P. Allen, P.
1960s examinations for surgical trainees.
During the last few years this was as an
Konzelmann and S. Toporowski (eds), Timothy Ades (1960) assessor – overseeing the examiners
Return of the State: Restructuring Britain for Rhyming Translator-Poet on Facebook rather than examinees. As I had started
the Common Good, Agenda, 2021) and I and YouTube. Three sons, five examining in 1984, before most of the
hope my interventions on that front grandchildren. recent candidates were born, I decided
will help stir things up. There is a magic in 2014 the time had come to stop.
money tree, but it needs to be handled Professor Michael Reeve (1960) Since we moved to Dunblane, Gill and
for the common good and not only, as In October I published The Transmission I have become involved in the activities
happens now, for those at the centre of of Pliny’s ‘Natural History’ (Storia e of its cathedral (about which, see Record
power. If people understand this, the Letteratura, Rome, 2021). 2010; 29–34). Despite its name, this is
NEWS AND NOTES 4
NEWS AND NOTES
Astronomy, and is published by Springer, turns of corporate life! It will not be
who publish the scientific journal easy for her as most of the investors
Nature. The title is a phrase which was in US hotels franchised with IHG vote
used journalistically after the first Republican.
detections of gravitational waves were
published in 2016, to refer to the fact Professor Wieland Gevers (1962)
that gravitational waves are a way of After obtaining a medical degree
exploring the universe by a means other in Cape Town, I came to Oxford as
than electromagnetic radiation. But for a Rhodes Scholar to complete the
the book I expand the use of the term honour school in Biochemistry in
to include the variety of methods of one year and a DPhil in Biochemistry
one of the Church of Scotland’s parish detecting astronomical sources, across by 1966 under Sir Hans Krebs. I
churches. We are both elders and are the full electromagnetic spectrum, have recently become an Emeritus
involved particularly in the work of its as well as using neutrinos, cosmic Member of the Academy of Science of
Pastoral Care Committee, of which I rays, meteoritic material, and indeed South Africa (ASSAf ), of which I was
am convener. A historically important gravitational waves. Each of 12 chapters President from 1998 to 2004. I had
building, it has a Society of Friends (in is based on one technique, describing previously been a Helen Hay Whitney
1930 the first such organisation to be how and when it originated, the physics postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory
set up in Scotland). Coincidentally, behind it and also the results it achieves, of Dr Fritz Lipmann at the Rockefeller
Lord Blanesburgh (1880), who was the including the most recent results University, New York, before returning
College Visitor from 1933 to 1946, was in each field. to South Africa successively to build
also the Society’s first President and Although I had two new departments of medical
later its patron. Gill served as its the New Scientist biochemistry at the Universities
secretary for 18 years until 2019; I am a reader in mind, of Stellenbosch and Cape Town; I
member of its council, a trustee and friends have said was a deputy vice-chancellor at the
the convener of its Projects Committee. that the book latter institution from 1992 to 2002.
Also, I have been documenting the is suitable for I founded and directed UCT’s new
history of early days of the society. A Level physics Institute of Infectious Disease and
Inevitably, since March 2020 the students, or as Molecular Medicine (IDM) from 2002
pandemic has interrupted or curtailed an introductory to 2005. For many years I managed and
most of these activities. Perhaps by the text for first-year chaired the selection committee for
time you read this we may be in undergraduates. the Oxford Nuffield Medical Fellows
happier times. from South Africa. I was elected to
Hugh Beevor (1962) Fellowship of the World Academy of
Neil McQueen (1961) Magdalena and I remain well and Sciences (TWAS) in 2005. My wife
Last year I read that Stephen Jessel enjoying our full-of-light flat in Elizabeth, whom I married in Oxford
(1961), with whom I lunch occasionally Putney but hoping for a better set of in 1963 in the University Church on
in Paris where we both live, has a new politicians to govern the country. Our the High Street, passed away at the end
nationality, French, and that my old daughter, Mariana Szebrat (Economics of 2016; we have four children living
friend Doug Rosenthal (1961) had a and Management, Pembroke 2000), in three countries. Of all the phases in
new love. I, in turn, now have an Irish made use of her 2020 furlough time by our lives, that spent in Oxford was the
passport, through my late mother, and following a Cambridge online course most memorable.
so remain European after the awful on sustainability. She posted a 29-
Brexit. Also had lunch with Bob Huddie page report on her LinkedIn entry, Mike Morris (1962)
(1960) – first meeting in 58 years. ‘A Practical Guide to Environmental What do Balliol people do when they
Sustainability’, which was seen and retire? It’s the golf course for some, but
Richard Morris (1961) liked by hundreds. From reading it, for me it’s writing letters to prisoners.
As it has for many, 2021 has been a year we decided against further long-haul I got into this through the choir I sing
to forget. Advancing years bring the travel, sold our diesel car and now use
joys of prostate cancer and spouse’s her petrol car while mostly she travels
Alzheimer’s, but these have at least by bicycle and train. By a strange quirk
brought me into new fields of research of business life, after IHG plc had
as a patient specialist. The complexities made her and many others redundant
of setting up current medical research and she had started to build a profile
are a revelation. in sustainability consulting with NFP
work in Wandsworth, she was invited
Professor John Beckman (1962) by IHG plc to take on the project
In July 2021, after dedicating my years of management of their zero carbon
professional work to articles in learned strategy as a consultant and more
journals, I finally published a book with recently to rejoin as an employee at a
a style more appropriate to teaching higher level than before as Director
and outreach. It is called Multimessenger Global Decarbonisation. The twists and
5 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2022
NEWS AND NOTES
with (bear with me on this). The South graduates, and a tertiary support Professor Andrew Carstairs-
London Choir supports a charity called programme for university students. McCarthy (1963)
Liberty Choir, which sends volunteers The College can, we believe, take At Balliol I was a reluctant classicist,
into prisons to sing with prisoners. It pride in SAEP’s many and diverse since linguistics was not available. But
was a sight to behold, 30 prisoners and contributions to SA’s post-apartheid I have now published a book which
volunteers – mainly women – singing education and development. We thank exploits what I learned about the Aeneid
numbers from A Chorus Line complete all those associated with Balliol for the and Homer from Robert Ogilvie (1950,
with the dance movements. Of course, generous support and encouragement Fellow and Tutor in Classics 1957–1970)
since lockdown we haven’t been which made this possible. and Jasper Griffin (1956, Dyson Junior
allowed in. So instead, we write letters. Research Fellow 1961–1963, Tutorial
Every Thursday morning finds me Professor the Hon Robin Wilson Fellow in Classics 1963–2004): Zeus,
sitting down and writing, as you can see (1962) Jupiter, Jesus and the Catholic Church: What
in the picture. Some never write back, Four hundred years ago saw the Good Is a God? (Cambridge Scholars
but others do and then it becomes founding of Oxford University’s Publishing, 2021). Also I have become
really interesting. Savilian Chair of Geometry, the a Catholic, despite being in a same-sex
earliest university-based mathematics relationship for 30 years. How come?
Professor David Pugsley (1962) professorship in England. To God does not correct humans’ mistaken
Published on 17 December 2021, ‘Albert commemorate this event, I organised a beliefs by force. That is why Jesus could
Borowitz v. Jane Leigh Perrot,’ JASNA, one-day meeting for the British Society do no miracles at Nazareth. Hence
Persuasions online, vol. 42, No. 1, after for the History of Mathematics at the also the Catholic Church did not
reading Graham Avery’s article on Jane Bodleian Library in November 2019, at unequivocally condemn slavery until
Austen in the Annual Record 2017. which seven lectures were presented. the Second Vatican Council. And the
I have now edited their presentations Church on earth still makes mistakes.
Norton Tennille (1962) into a book, Oxford’s Savilian Professors She condemns masturbation and
In 2021 my wife Jane Keen and I retired of Geometry: The First 400 Years, which homosexuality because they cannot
from active leadership of the South has just been published by Oxford lead to conception – yet she does not
African Education Project (SAEP), University Press (2022). Written for forbid married couples to have sex after
an educational and charitable NPO the general interested reader, the book the wife’s menopause. The Church also
based in Cape Town created in the is highly illustrated, and three of the allows a woman to represent Christ in
US in 1994 (www.saep.org). SAEP’s chapters have Balliol authors: myself, baptising a baby – yet not in celebrating
original mission was environmental Keith Hannabuss (1963, Fellow and the Eucharist. Such contradictions
education and sustainable development Tutor in Mathematics 1971–2012 and benefit no one except the devil. The
in the new South Africa. I arrived in Emeritus Fellow), devil parallels Jupiter in the Aeneid that
Cape Town three weeks after Nelson and Frances Virgil wrote in case Augustus should
Mandela’s inauguration and have Kirwan (1981, fail. This Aeneid is identical to the one
lived here and devoted my life to Fellow and Tutor he wrote for Augustus’s success. The
SAEP ever since. SAEP was Balliol- in Mathematics second is what almost everybody reads,
led from the outset. Its founding 1986–2017 but the first is more subtle and more
board included then Master (1989- and Emeritus powerful. Jupiter deceives Aeneas. Even
1994) Baruch Blumberg and fellow Fellow), the so, Aeneas emerges as the hero. His
Old Members Daniel J. O’Flaherty current Savilian pietas earns him
(1965) and Oliver St C. Franklin (1967 Professor of the same praise
and Honorary Fellow). A number of Geometry). as is lavished
Balliol students and graduates joined on the young
SAEP as volunteers in the early years, Professor Gerald Wright (1962) warriors Nisus
seven with financial support from I have for nearly nine years been a and Euryalus at
the College. Many Old Members member of the National Board of the the World Trade
supported us from the US, including Canadian International Council. The Center memorial:
Jim Rogers (1964), who hosted some council is approaching its centenary ‘No day shall
of our earliest events in NYC, and year (2028) and, as well as producing erase you from
long-time board member Walter B. the International Journal and an online the memory of
Slocombe (1963). The Rhodes Trust magazine, Open Canada, has 19 branches time.’
under Warden Anthony J.P. Kenny that give it a presence across Canada
(Master 1978-1989) provided early – no small feat in a country that Professor Carlos Corrêa (1963)
support from the UK. Twenty-six years spans six time zones and is bounded I’m 85 years old and I’ve been retired
later, SAEP is a flourishing community- by three oceans. I am also teaching since 2006. Death will certainly be the
based project in Philippi township Asia-Pacific Economic and Political next news.
with programmes in environmental Relations in the Norman Paterson
education, youth development, early School of Ottawa’s Carleton University, John Hamwee (1963)
childhood education, primary and an interest that was awakened by two John Hamwee married Scilla Elworthy
secondary education, a ‘bridging year’ visiting appointments, 30 years apart, on 19 June 2021, only 36 years after he
programme for recent high school in Japanese universities. proposed.
NEWS AND NOTES 6
NEWS AND NOTES
Paul Williams (1963) David Willington (1964)
I read maths, psychology and 2021 has been of necessity a quiet year.
philosophy at Balliol in the 1960s, However, we were able to celebrate
followed by a career in teaching and our Golden Wedding anniversary with
research in the field of social care. Last all the family, whether in Scotland or
year I reported writing my life story London. Congratulations to Mary for
during lockdown and a few fellow putting up with me for so long. My
alumni requested it. I would still be hip operation at the end of last year
pleased to email it to anyone who has been a great success. Five months
might be interested: paulgwilliams@ later, I climbed a Munro with the
btinternet.com. grandchildren. I now have an electric
bike, which takes the misery out of
Professor Charles Burroughs (1964) hills, and there are a lot of hills in
Charles Burroughs is about to teach his Perthshire. Look out for An African
absolutely final class, having already Romance, my fifth novel, which will be
retired twice. Recent article on the coming out in the spring.
idea of boundary in humanist culture
Eric holding Ben Franklin terracotta
in the early 16th century and current Sir Michael Burton (1965)
medallion by Nini, 1777.
work on the crowd of tousled thinkers I have finally left the Commercial
in Raphael’s fresco The School of Athens. Court in November 2021, driven out
Like being back at Balliol, or the Monty by statutory incapacity at 75, with a interest in numismatics continues: I
Python sketch on the philosophers’ valedictory performed in court in the have two books published and donated
soccer game. best traditions of the Balliol Players: two large collections to the Ashmolean.
though I continue judging on Zoom for Over the years, I and my partner
Sandy Gray (1964) the Commercial Court of Abu Dhabi Robert Bell have received visits from a
The small group of ’64/65-ers (chemists, and appealing chartered surveyors, number of travel scholarship winners
engineers, a medic and a historian) and the odd arbitration and mediation. of what started as the Coolidge
reported last year continues to Zoom More time to spend with my family Pathfinders scheme (now the William
every six weeks or so, between the Alps including 10 grandchildren! Westerman Pathfinders programme).
in the east, across the UK, to the Rockies
in the west. We celebrate the successes J. Eric Engstrom (1965) Phillip Gordon (1965)
of Oxford science, lament the state of Graduating from Dartmouth College in I’m happy to report that while my
politics generally, worry about the world the US, I had only one year at Balliol career as a practising lawyer is drawing
our grandchildren may inherit, but (as a Recognized Student) due to a to a close, I remain active in charitable
very much enjoy each other’s company. limited military service deferment. causes, such as charter schools, Jewish
Floreat Domus de Balliolo! I studied history and numismatics studies, the fight against anti-Semitism
at the Heberden Coin Room of the and support of the College. I am looking
Nicholas Stoy (1964) Ashmolean while living at the Manor. forward to showing my numerous
With support and encouragement from Next was Law School at University grandchildren around the College
my old tutor, Denis Noble (Emeritus of Chicago and then work at the this summer when we visit the UK
Fellow), I am currently a Visitor Dewey, Ballantine New York City law (assuming that we aren’t barred by health
in the Department of Physiology, firm before I was called to active duty. concerns). I’m also engaged in assisting
Anatomy and Genetics at Oxford I was an Army Captain and served in a family member who is developing
and have had a paper published Vietnam as a General Staff Officer, a golf resort on the coast of Oregon,
during 2021 in the journal Frontiers being decorated with two bronze stars. golfing when the weather permits and
in Immunology, entitled ‘Involvement Upon leaving the service I returned travelling, so boredom isn’t imminent.
of interleukin-1 receptor-associated to my home in Wichita, Kansas, and
kinase 4 and interferon regulatory joined a law firm where I practised Roy Hay (1965)
factor 5 in the immunopathogenesis corporate law for nearly fifty years until We managed to resume the Australian
of SARS-CoV-2 infection: implications the onset of Parkinson’s Disease forced rights to Aboriginal People and Australian
for the treatment of Covid-19’; article my retirement. Football in the Nineteenth Century: They Did
accessible in full in Pubmed. I have During my career, I was very involved Not Come from Nowhere and published
nearly completed another paper on with historic preservation. I am an a paperback edition in November
Covid-19 which might appeal to a Advisor Emeritus for Kansas to the 2021. The UK edition was shortlisted
more general readership; it is written National Trust for Historic Preservation for the Lord Aberdare Prize of the
specifically for non-immunologists and and served on the state’s Historic Sites British Society of Sports History. My
should contain a programmable model, Board of Review under nine governors biography of Albert Pompey Austin: A Man
if I can ever get it to work! for over 40 years. When the Board of Between Two Worlds was commended
the Wichita Art Museum asked me to in the Victorian Community History
become interim Director I continued Awards. I’m still behind my mother-
my law practice along with the museum in-law, Catherine Wells, who did not
position for some thirteen months. My publish her first book till she was 86.
7 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2022
NEWS AND NOTES
Ian Mertling-Blake (1965) past and present as a whole, and to all political trust/legitimacy crisis, as the
who chance to read this missive. Be authority of knowledge, indeed the
Losing It? well; and may the force be with you. authority of authority itself, erodes; and
an international system/geopolitical
‘Do you know who you are?’ they say. Ian Prattis (1965) crisis, as the post-Second World War
Now she’s asking, ‘Name to-day.’ The revenues from my 2021 book – international system loses cogency and
Then ‘What month?’ and next ‘What Past, Present, Future: Stories that Haunt – effectiveness, shaped by and deepening
year?’ created the Dr Ian Prattis Scholarship rivalry and hostility between the
They think I’m going potty I fear, for Indigenous, Black and Racialized US and China. The Commission’s
Just because when, said and done, Students at Carleton University, aim is to have a significant impact
I’ve reached the age of ninety-one! Ottawa. Value $2,000. Established in on public discussion in the media,
‘Now tell me, backwards, from September 2021. Awarded annually by expert commentary, and specialised
December months of the year. If the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral fora, and directly on policy decision-
you remember Affairs on the recommendation making in government and other
Them all and recite them in right order, of the Chair of the Department of bodies at national and international
That will mean we can recorder a Sociology and Anthropology to an levels. We will be launching a
Tick on the form we both must sign outstanding Indigenous, Black or number of specific action-focused
Just down here on the dotted line.’ Racialized student. I was a professor initiatives, treating lessons learned;
Shall I pull her leg? Pretend there from 1970 to 2007. I present the establishment of pandemic early-
I’m already half-way round the bend? the scholarship to graduates who are warning systems; managing and costing
Stumble when I get to June? outstanding, diligent and intelligent. risk and resilience; and building trust/
Put in April much too soon? I wrote the book because I had to. treating truth decay. Briefings of
I’d better not in case they might My responsibility of holding the pen senior government leaders in several
Send plain van, strong men in white was a mere posture to place words countries are in process. In personal
Coats. (I don’t think I could hack it in a sequence that would resonate news, daughter Rebecca gave birth to
However warm their padded jacket.) in the reader’s mind. I had a sense granddaughter Vivian Selah in New
Now where did I put down my keys … of reciprocity about what I felt was York in October, joining a company
When I came in? NURSE! Help me necessary to heal the world from of 11 other grandchildren living in
please. climate emergency and pandemic. The Toronto, Amsterdam, Boston, Tel Aviv,
chapters play their part throughout as and New York.
NB I heard that these are some of the a sort of call and response meter that
questions when testing for senility. leans on kinship and community rather Lord Angus Stewart (1965)
than corporate greed. The chapters My wife Jenny and I joined the 2021
Michael Paling (1965) become as seeds in the mind of the reunion of Modern History alumni
Being well past my allotted three score reader, so my work cannot be buried from the years 1965 to 1968. The
years and ten, I sense the presence of or lost. There is a strong emphasis on reunion took place in north London
Father Time’s footsteps behind me, indigenous wisdom that pulls chapters from 7 to 10 September. The enjoyable
getting closer, and ready to tap me on together while displaying how easy it is event was hosted and superbly
the shoulder. Funny how one can take to fall into destruction. Take a look at organised by Andrew and Dorothy
for granted the progressive decrepitude ianprattis.com/PastPresentFuture.html Irving. Other participants were: Martin
of aging as just part of ‘the suchness of to purchase the book. Folks in Ottawa Cree, Alan and Lidia Knight, Alex and
life’, albeit hastened by high mileage. are welcome to get Past, Present, Future Riitta Pravda, Michael and Jane Orr,
Regrettably I had to cancel my from my home and also receive, free, David and Sue Walmsley. The group
volunteer trip to Guatemala at the last any prior book – no costs for postage. visited the site of the Battle of Barnet
minute for health reasons, and sadly (1471); Alexandra Palace (where there
I think it unlikely that I shall make Berel Rodal (1965) was privileged access to the historic
it there again. Just when my Spanish In case of interest as the world enters BBC television studios); the Royal Air
was getting tolerable – curses! It is the third year of the pandemic: the Force Museum, Hendon; Highgate
many years past that in my travels I Global Commission for Post-Pandemic Cemetery; and Kenwood House.
found the profound benefits of insight Policy, which I co-founded and Andrew and Dorothy arranged for
meditation, and therein my acceptance co-direct with Bill Emmott, Editor- exceptionally good expert guides at
that there is no enduring self occupying in-Chief Emeritus of The Economist, each location. Ron and Jane Berenbeim
this corpus. Watching birds, squirrels, made up of 34 eminent thinkers and (USA), and Chris Saunders (South
tortoise, and the occasional snake going doers from around the world, has Africa) took part by internet link on
about their business in the garden published its initial assessment. A the second evening. Bill and Mary
reinforces my understanding that I core idea is that, from its inception Makin and Alan and Naomi Fell sent
am in no way different from any other an accelerator of fractures and their regrets and good wishes. This
sentient being on this planet, and that fragilities, the Covid-19 pandemic is was the 15th such reunion since 2004.
in time we shall all meet the same fate. being experienced as four intersecting Earlier in 2021 Ron and Jane Berenbeim
Thus I think this is a fine time to offer and mutually reinforcing crises: the (USA), John Green (Canada), Andrew
my very best wishes to all past friends public health crisis; an increasingly and Dorothy Irving, Alex and Riitta
at Balliol, to the Balliol community emergent ecological/climate crisis; a Pravda, Angus and Jenny Stewart,
NEWS AND NOTES 8
NEWS AND NOTES
David and Sue Walmsley, and non- younger person, and probably ten Professor Christopher Pelling (1966)
Balliol others took part in an online more years to publish, I experimented Just publications: three books this year,
play-reading of A. Chekov’s The Cherry with combining a conventionally one of them – Classical Scholarship and Its
Orchard. Great fun! There is a plan for printed and published article with History: From the Renaissance to the Present:
some of the group, led by Alan Knight a set of transcriptions and rough Essays in Honour of Christopher Stray (De
and Andrew Irving, to canoe from translations online. The transcriptions Gruyter, 2021, tinyurl.com/2p9am93w)
Lechlade to Oxford in May 2022. have been on British History Online – co-edited with Professor Stephen
(www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/ Harrison (1978). The other two are
Stuart Baldock (1966) tenants-copies-pre-1400) since April Thucydides: The Peloponnesian War Book
During lockdown I wrote a book. It Fools’ Day 2021, and the article, VI and Thucydides: The Peloponnesian War
is an adventure story called Hit Loose, duly approved for April publication, Book VII (both Cambridge University
published online at www.amazon.co.uk, finally appeared in December 2021 Press and available at www.cambridge.
and Balliol is a protagonist. I of course in Archives, volume 56, part 1 (British org/highereducation/).
recommend it highly! Records Association, 2021). Much
is owed to two helpful editors. Andrew Scull (1966)
Ronald Berenbeim (1966) Andrew Scull’s new book, Desperate
As 2020 began, I had a great career Andrew Moore (1966) Remedies: Psychiatry’s Turbulent Quest to
ahead of me. I spent the summer My first scientific publication was with Cure Mental Illness, will be published by
of 2019 in Shanghai teaching high Paddy Phizackerley (Fellow and Tutor Harvard University Press in the USA
school seniors who wanted to apply in Biological Sciences 1960–1994) in and Allen Lane/Penguin in Britain in
to English-speaking universities the 1972; a recent publication marks the April 2022.
Global Business Ethics Practices course start of a sixth decade of scientific
that I had developed over 25 years. I publishing. It is all rather surprising. Martin Walker (1966)
was offered a contract for 2020. Later A few years ago I was elected to a Martin Walker, whose ‘Bruno’ novels
that year, my wife and I attended Fellowship of the Royal College of are set in the Perigord region of France,
a splendid ‘History Boys’ reunion Anaesthetists, and, to me rather more was awarded the Prix Charbonnier
hosted in Malta by Michael Orr touching, to an honorary membership by the Alliance Française for his
(1965). We also visited our daughter in of the International Association for services to French culture. The Bruno
Cambridge, where she is a member of the Study of Pain (joining Balliol Cookbook, which won the Gourmand
the English Literature Faculty and a Emeritus Fellow Henry McQuay). International prize as ‘World’s Best
Fellow of Jesus College; we welcomed Otherwise spending time pretending French Cookbook’ when it was
our second grandson and helped to to be retired. As an aside, back in the published in German, comes out in
take care of the first. The 2020 summer late 1960s Balliol ran summer schools English this year.
class in Shanghai didn’t happen, and for underachieving boys from around
it was nearly two years before we saw the country. The idea was (as I recall) Oliver Franklin (1967 and Honorary
our daughter and grandsons again. I that these were boys considered to Fellow)
did collaborate with a colleague on have considerable potential but who I survived the pandemic in Philadelphia
an anti-corruption education book were not engaged with learning or by working with the College on the
chapter that was published in a SAGE developing. I was involved in one in ‘Slavery in the Age of Revolution’
Handbook. I wrote an article on Ethical 1968 or (more likely) 1969. I recently exhibition and project. It was an
Stewardship for an IIC Netherlands found this picture in a drawer from that excellent opportunity to get back in
publication and gave a seminar on school, with Chris Hill (Master 1965– touch and realise why the College
Ethical Hygiene as part of a webinar 1978), Denis Noble (Emeritus Fellow), is special in so many ways. On the
series, Coffee with Leaders, which I and Neil MacCormick (Tutorial Fellow business side, I was appointed to the
hasten to add did not much resemble in Law 1967–1972), though apart from Ethnic Advisory Board of the NatWest
the visions of Vienna and Paris that Phil Devon (also 1966) in the front Banking Group. And, on a personal
it conjures. As Brooklyn Dodger fans row names escape me. I am not there, level, we became grandparents.
used to say, ‘Wait till next year.’ though perhaps I was behind the
camera – who knows? A recent article Brendan Horton (1967)
Christopher Currie (1966) on Balliol’s outreach programme to Not much to report on this year, as
My Senior Research Fellowship of the schools reminded me of this. life has been largely dictated by living
Institute of Historical Research was with Covid. Have continued with my
renamed, perhaps ominously, a Senior book on the history of stabilisation
Fellowship. No marriages or births and adjustment in Morocco. Sadly, our
this year, and no death yet. No book younger daughter Charlotte was fatally
either, but a dual publication on a injured in a car crash in October in Los
similar scale. I had been researching a Angeles. She was 34. We were fortunate
moderately numerous type of medieval to have our older daughter Rebecca with
document that had previously been us for three months, till she returned to
thought hardly to exist. Rather than Edinburgh, where she is the operations
a full printed edition, which would director of an engineering company.
have taken a lifetime’s work for a Her presence helped ease the pain.
9 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2022NEWS AND NOTES
Professor Jonathan Slack (1967)
Stuart Bebb
Slack, J.M.W., Stem Cells: A Very Short
Introduction, second edition (Oxford
University Press, 2021); Slack, J.M.W.
and Dale, L., Essential Developmental
Biology, fourth edition (Wiley-
Blackwell, 2021).
Professor Sir Drummond Bone (1968
and Honorary Fellow)
Having finally given up my role at the
Arts and Humanities Research Council,
the diary space has been filled in by
becoming the Chair of the National
Library of Scotland. Working too on
a second edition of the CUP Byron
Companion for the anniversary of his
death in 2024.
Julian Manyon (1968)
I have a book coming out entitled
Kidnapped by the Junta (Icon Books, 2022).
It takes its cue from my kidnapping in
Buenos Aires in May 1982 during the
Falklands War while I was reporting
for Thames Television. Newly released
On 11 March 2022 Fred West (1969) and his wife Debbie stayed in
CIA documents have identified the
College to celebrate the 50th anniversary of when they first met at
kidnappers as a gang working for
Balliol on 11 March 1972.
the Argentine secret police led by a
notorious killer, and the book explores
their role both during the so-called
‘Dirty War’ between the Junta and 2019 with good friends from the 1968 Professor Timothy Weiskel (1969)
left-wing revolutionary groups and in intake Chris Dunabin, Tim Healey, Beyond my daily work on long-term
the war with Britain. Publication to John Horne and Joe Azizollahoff, human survival strategies amidst our
coincides with the 40th anniversary of just weeks before everything closed global ecological and epidemiological
the Falklands conflict on 2 April 2022. down. In other news, Natasha and crises, I have followed with great
I now have two granddaughters interest Balliol’s recent initiative
Professor Patrick Thomas (1968) (Kushla Non and Amala Mali) who are in examining ‘Slavery in the Age of
My duties as chair of trustees at indescribably delightful. And finally, Revolution’. Inspired in part by Balliol’s
Theatr Gwaun, our little community increasingly fed up with the sound impressive exhibit and important
theatre which miraculously survives and the connotations of Nigel, I now celebrations of it, I have convened an
on a shoestring, drive out much use my middle name of Patrick, for international group called the ‘Africa
else that I hoped to do when I preference. Photo taken in the Côte Map Circle’ to expand international
retired, although some writing and Brasserie on George Street, Oxford. scholarship in African historical
editing continue. It was a pleasure cartography. The point of this new
to meet in Oxford in October Sir Nicholas Kenyon (1969 and digital humanities research and
Honorary Fellow) teaching initiative is to help African
Nicholas Kenyon completed 14 years historians and anthropologists to learn
as Managing Director of London’s more about the ecological and social
Barbican Centre in September 2021, legacy in Africa of the trans-Atlantic
having previously been Controller of maritime trade. Newly available
BBC Radio 3 (1992–1998) and Director technologies for digitising rare and
of the BBC Proms (1996–2007). He delicate documents combined with
has taken up new roles as Opera Critic Zoom conferencing communications
of the Telegraph, and Visiting Scholar now make it possible to convene
at the Faculty of Music, University of international conferences between
Cambridge. He recently published The experts on multiple continents
Life of Music: New Adventures in the Western to examine the relation between
Classical Tradition (Yale University Press, European, American and African
2021) and edited Building Utopia: The history from multi-disciplinary and
Barbican Centre (Batsford, 2022). multi-cultural perspectives, never
previously possible.
NEWS AND NOTES 10NEWS AND NOTES
1970s Andrew Craig (1971)
Since retiring from IBM I have gained
sufficient accounting qualifications
Michael Hodges (1970)
to act as independent examiner for
Appointed Architectural Correspondent
small charities with gross income up
of the Catholic Herald (aka ‘The Pointed
to £250,000. I do not charge for this
Arch’) in March 2021.
service. If you know of a charity that
is currently paying an accountant and
HE Philip McDonagh (1970)
would rather save that fee for their
The centre at Dublin City University
charity’s beneficiaries, then do get in
of which I am Director – the Centre
contact via the Development Office
for Religion, Human Values, and
(development.office@balliol.ox.ac.uk)
International Relations – was
to discuss.
inaugurated by the Taoiseach (Prime
through. In family news our eldest
Minister) in April 2021. In Vienna
Professor Adam Fairclough (1971) son Oliver got married a couple of
in October, we led a session at the
Now in my fifth year of retirement, I years ago and is a computer systems
EU Fundamental Rights Forum on
live in Washington DC, about three engineer, making robots do helpful
religious actors and public values. We
miles north of the 6 January 2021 crime things without catching fire; second
have projects with the churches and
scene. Last year saw the publication of son Alex (2010) is now using his First
religious communities on the island
my Bulldozed and Betrayed: Louisiana and to good effect by engaging in the wine
of Ireland aimed at new thinking on
the Stolen Elections of 1876, a study of a trade and emptying my bank balance.
the economy and Europe. Through
presidential election in which there He got married last September. Our
the OSCE Network of Think Tanks
were genuine, rather than spurious, daughter Verity (New College 2013) is
and Academic Institutions, we are
disputes. In contrast to 2021, moreover, finishing a PhD at Edinburgh, tracking
developing a research project in the
in 1877 the leaders of both parties in the philo-genetic evolution of viruses
perspective of the 50th anniversary of
Congress agreed to resolve the disputes including Covid-19. She has a different
the Helsinki Final Act in 2025 and the
peacefully. When a Democratic editor understanding of PPE and goes to
role that a revived European diplomacy
called for 100,000 protesters to descend a post at Yale this summer. I’m still
founded on values might play in the
upon Washington, party leaders quickly involved in theatre and singing from
revival of global diplomacy as envisaged
shot down the proposal. The prospect time to time, and am the doting owner
by the UN Secretary General in ‘Our
of violence in the nation’s capital of two Land Rovers (Gussie and Gertie)
Common Agenda’ (September 2021).
appalled Democrats and Republicans and a small tractor (Albert).
alike: they feared the ‘Mexicanisation’
Professor Anand Pillay (1970)
of American politics. Implicitly Nigel Bryant (1972)
I began in Balliol in 1970, Mathematics
and inadvertently, my study of the Nigel Bryant published Chrétien’s Equal,
and Philosophy. I have just been
1876–1877 electoral crisis illustrated a translation of the complete works of
appointed a Somins Distinguished
the uniquely appalling nature of the Raoul de Houdenc (Boydell & Brewer,
Visitor at the Fields Institute, Toronto.
insurrection of 6 January and the 2021).
Here is a link:
decline of the civic virtue that is so
www.fields.utoronto.ca/news/Anand-
necessary for making such an unwieldy Kim Beazley AC (1973)
Pillay-receives-inaugural-Simons-
political system function. On a lighter My daughter Hannah was elected to
Distinguished-Visitor-appointment
note, I am currently researching the the West Australian State Parliament
history of the Daily Mirror, where my at this year’s election. She joined a
Jonathan Cox (1971)
father worked between 1947 and 1973. Labour party Caucus of 53 out of 59
As someone who has to take two types
When not reading and writing, I like seats in the Legislative Assembly. She
of immunosuppressant I have spent a
to collect, repair, and take photographs polled 64% of the primary vote and
lot of time indoors. Still manage to do
with film cameras, the oldest being a 78% of the two-party preferred vote.
a bit of voluntary community work,
still functioning 1915 Kodak. The best I ever managed in the Federal
reading Jordan Peterson and laughing
division covering the same area would
at the woke. I recently purchased the
Simon Hill (1971) have been 58%. I acknowledge a vastly
Harry Potter series, not to read the
Having semi-retired from a career superior politician.
books (my grandson can do that) but
in the City a couple of years ago, my
as an expression of support for J.K.
wife Jane and I have taken the big Peter Grant (1973)
Rowling and the LGB Alliance. Sorry, I
step of embracing the retirement gig Happy to be fully retired and to have
would like to support the College but
fully with a move to Cornwall – the changed our residence to our house
cannot do so until both the Governing
first time I’ve lived more than 30 in the south-west of France, just
and Student Bodies condemn the
miles from London in my life. We’ve before the Brexit deadline. The Gers
cancel culture. Academic freedom
taken on a Georgian farmhouse and is a beautiful part of the world, quiet
underpins democracy but the cancel
a large garden near Liskeard, and with friendly people. Still very upset
culture cares little for that.
I’d be delighted to hear from any about Brexit, but at least it inspired
Balliol alumni who know me that are us to change residence (and where we
either in the south-west or passing mainly pay tax).
11 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2022NEWS AND NOTES
Brian Groom (1973) Martin Kochanski (1974) Adam Lloyd (1976)
My book Northerners: A History, From the My book The Creed in Slow Motion is being In Golden Bay we have branched
Ice Age to the Present Day was published published by Hodder & Stoughton in out from avocadoes into Cos lettuce
in April 2022 by Harper North, a new April 2022. Gripping and accessible, production; in Nelson I’ve helped set
imprint of HarperCollins. It’s the first combining rigour with vigour, this book up a new organisation to help autistic
general history of northern England to is for believers who are too busy saying young people into employment (called
be published for more than 30 years. It the Creed to hear what it says, and for ‘The Buzz’) but other than that have
shows how the region, with its history non-believers who want to know exactly little to report, which has got to be a
of migration, invasions and battles, has what it is that they are disbelieving. As good thing!
had a profound impact on European a Balliol mathematician I like to take
culture and the global economy – and everything back to first principles; and James Ogilvie (1976)
how northerners have shaped Britain as a Balliol philosopher I find myself Published A Brief History of the Forestry
and the world in unexpected ways. Our approaching (as the Schools examiners Commission (Royal Scottish Forestry
second grandchild, Sidney, was born in kindly put it) every question as if for Society, 2020), setting out the story of
December. the first time. creedinslowmotion.com 100 years of British state forestry.
Neil Stuart (1973) Giles Vardey (1974) David Rossington (1976)
I have for many years admired and My executive coaching practice In spite of the pandemic, Sarah Mossop
envied those of my peers who are able continues to grow and it is work I and I were able to hold our civil
to cite their latest erudite publications can do hopefully for many years yet. I partnership ceremony last summer,
and it therefore gives me great continue to enjoy rowing in a mature and are well settled in east Oxford. I’m
pleasure to report that I have been gentleman’s quad: we try and get in and now semi-retired after a career in the
unpublished: one of my letters to out of the boat without grunting. That Civil Service, and am continuing with
the Daily Telegraph has been included remains a challenge. some work for public sector bodies and
in their annual book of unpublished charity trusteeships.
letters still thought worthy of belated Robert Waller (1974)
publication. In case you wish to rush Published ‘What if FDR had died of Professor Tom Schwartz (1976)
to buy a copy it is entitled Wake Me Up polio in 1921’ in Duncan Brack (ed.), One bright spot of last year was the
When It’s All Over (Aurum, 2021). I have Prime Minister Priti … and Other Things That chance to visit London and give the
also had four letters actually published Never Happened (counterfactual history) Saki and Michael Dockrill Memorial
this year, which is something of a (Biteback, 2021) and ‘Rutherford Hayes’ Lecture at King’s College, London.
record and shows how bored I have in Iain Dale (ed.), The Presidents (Hodder I knew, respected, and loved both
been. I have had visits from Paddy & Stoughton, 2021). Saki and Michael and grieved their
Payne (1971) and Nick Demery (1973), untimely deaths. The opportunity to
both of whom are thriving. I look Professor Ronald Beiner (1975) honour them through this lecture,
forward to visiting the College later I’m now pleasantly retired from the based on my book about Henry
this year unless the government University of Toronto, after being Kissinger, was a special privilege to me.
backtracks again. happily employed there since 1984. It was also a privilege to meet Lord
2021 also saw the birth of my gorgeous Owen, who attended the talk. However,
Martin Edwards (1974) grandson, Kai Nikko Zhi-Ai Yao Beiner. last year was also one of terrible loss, as
In 2021, I published another novel, my ex-wife, Dr Amy Kirschke, passed
The Crooked Shore (Allison and Busby), Giles MacDonogh (1975) away in November from an aggressive
while Howdunit (Collins Crime Club, I have been elected a Fellow of the brain cancer. Amy and I were divorced,
2020), about the craft of crime writing, Royal Historical Society. but it was a ‘friendly divorce’, and we
won the CrimeFest H.R.F. Keating had been married for 20 years and
Award for best critical/biographical Ian Fletcher (1976) still held a deep affection for each
book about crime fiction. 2022 sees This relic of 1970s Balliol is alive and other. Our three incredible daughters
the publication of my history of crime well in Taiwan. set up a scholarship in her honour
fiction, The Life of Crime: Detecting the to help economically disadvantaged
History of Mysteries and their Creators students attend college: full details at
(Collins Crime Club), and my latest www.gofundme.com/f/amykirschke. I
novel, Blackstone Fell (Head of Zeus). hope to get back to the UK, Omicron
permitting, sometime in 2022.
Professor John Helliwell (1974)
I have completed my donations to the
Balliol College Library of my books,
three on crystallography, and four in
my general, ‘scientific life’, series: Skills
for a Scientific Life (2017); then the Whys
(2019), the Whats (2020), and the Whens
and Wheres of a Scientific Life (2021).
NEWS AND NOTES 12You can also read
