2011 Hertford College Magazine (Issue 91)

human nature which, as an economist,
he was committed to ignoring in theory.
Other memories? Roger conducting the
Investment Committee in his rooms after
dinner, dispensing brandy all round, pretending
to ask our opinions. We would nod
sagely out of the armchair depths of our
total ignorance at his carefully researched
recommendations as to which shares the
College should buy or sell. Or Roger as
hands-on father, hard at work with a sleeping
baby in a pram in the corner of his room.
“ Roger understood the aspects
of human nature which, as an
economist, he was commited to
ignoring in theory ”
We have heard about Roger’s lasting
achievements, which continue to benefit
the College and the University, but an important
part of his legacy lay in what he
was, in his example. Those who had dealings
with Roger came to realise that, in
spite of everything, the world can and does
contain good, reasonable, compassionate
and modest people who live by high
standards and look for the best in others.
He and I differed somewhat in our furthest
views, for he had more of an economist’s
idea of what is politically desirable
and possible than I had, but in all our near
and middle-distance views we agreed.
Because he came to Hertford before
I did, I tended to think of him rather
as an elder brother, although he was a
lot younger than I, and it is not too much
to apply to my feeling for him during our
years together some lines from Seamus
Heaney’s recent book Human Chain: ‘a
love that’s proved by steady gazing / Not
at each other but in the same direction’.
John Torrance,
Fellow and Tutor in Politics 1964 - 1996
HERTFORD COLLEGE MAGAZINE
Hertford year
The Chapel
Leanne Roberts
Hertford year: The Chapel
The Choir goes from strength to strength
and this summer visits Dubrovnik
in Croatia with a programme of concerts.
Led by our Organ Scholars Grace
Newcombe and Jen Law, it retains its
reputation for being the friendliest and
most sociable choir in the University.
Once again we have been fortunate in
our guest preachers for the year. These
have included the Bishop of Monmouth,
Rabbi Alexandra Wright, and the Very
Revd Fr John O’Connor OP; we have
heard from those who minister in a variety
of contexts, and students have enjoyed
meeting the speakers after Evensong.
Our preachers often comment that
it is a real joy to speak in a place where
students are so attentive and engaged.
Michaelmas term saw our Freshers’
Welcome Evensong and various ‘special’
services: a sung Eucharist for All Saints’
Day, and our annual Requiem Eucharist
– this year the Choir sang the challenging
contemporary Requiem setting by Gabriel
Jackson. As ever, the term ended joyfully
with our Service of Readings and
The Dean & daughter at work on Christmas crafts
37.