2013 Annual Report - Jesus College - University of Cambridge

156 OBITUARIES I Jesus College Annual Report 2013
“My father initially worked for ICI before becoming a dairy farmer in his own right.
Firstly in North Moreton, Oxfordshire, and then in Mapledurham, Berkshire. He had a
very happy and successful second career as a schoolmaster, teaching Biology at The
Junior King’s School, Canterbury. He was very involved in instructing boys in dinghy
sailing whilst there, and we had our own family boat which was a source of huge
pleasure to my father – a 42 ft ketch, built c1925. He retired in 1985 and my parents
bought 17 acres of land in Rolvenden, Kent, where they set up a very successful
vineyard-producing wine to his typically high standards! I think these retirement years
were in many ways the happiest of their lives.”
The couple died a few months apart.
LUCAS, Stephen (1942) died on 26 January 2013 aged 88.
Stephen Lucas was born on 16 April 1924 in Hughenden, Buckinghamshire. Educated
at Sedbright School, Kidderminster, he came up in 1942 to read History on the RAF
short course. After going down he returned to the RAF and took part in a number of
sorties in a Lancaster bomber. He was demobilised in 1946 and resumed his degree.
At Cambridge, he performed in the Footlights May Week production, helped with
College plays and assisted in the production of a new opera for the Cambridge Festival.
After graduation he became a teacher and spent most of his career as a History Master at
Victoria College, Jersey. Pupils of the college fondly remember “Spike” as a dedicated
teacher who demanded the highest standards but in return enthralled them with his
wicked sense of humour and passion for his subject. In retirement he updated the History
of Victoria College, sang with the Island Singers and played competitive scrabble.
MATHEWS, John Alan (1951) died on 24 April 2013 aged 78.
We are grateful to John’s friend Thomas Dann (1951) for the following:
“John Mathews was born on 19th June 1934 in London, where he attended
Haberdashers’ Aske’s School. He came up to Jesus in 1951 to read Natural Sciences
(for Medicine), graduating BA in 1954, MB BChir in 1957, MA in 1958 and MD in 1985.
He then proceeded to Guy’s hospital for his clinical training. After several junior
hospital posts two years was spent in general practice. John then followed the career
path to becoming a consultant rheumatologist at St Thomas’ Hospital, London, ending
up as a senior rheumatologist. During his time he published numerous papers and
contributed chapters in several text books. Elected FRCP, he was also a Fellow of the
Royal Society of Medicine. He was visiting Consultant Rheumatologist to the British
forces in Germany and Honorary Civilian Consultant in Rheumatology to the Army.
Reflecting his musical interests he founded the Musicians Clinic at St Thomas’ and
became Honorary Physician to the BAPAM, a charity for musicians. He jointly won the
Council prize of the British Association of Physical Medicine and Rheumatology. His
long association with St Thomas’ Hospital was reflected in his becoming a governor to
the Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust. John was a very good violinist and enjoyed
playing in various chamber groups and the Doctors Orchestra. He was a keen concert
goer and even chose to live within walking distance of most of the London concert halls.
Whilst at College he was a keen Rooster and remained so throughout his life. He
became increasingly fond of the College as he grew older and visited as often as he
could. As a specialist in disorders of the neck it was ironic that he suffered a severe neck
injury whilst skiing off piste, necessitating rescue by air ambulance. This episode was
recreated by the BBC in a television series.
He married Wendy Dewhurst in 1957 and they had one son and two daughters.