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DOWNING COLLEGE ASSOCIATIONhim in good stead when he was able to return to his research full-time, a yearlater, with the help of a Research Fellowship from Clare Hall. In his thesis, forwhich he developed a deep knowledge of the Komi language and against all theodds collected a vast library of material, he gave an overview of 20th centuryKomi literature with detailed studies of some of their most prominent writers.It generated considerable interest among intellectuals of the Republic who hadit translated into Russian. Running into two volumes, it is also testament to hismeticulous scholarship and a true artistic sensibility.On completing his Ph.D. in 1968, Coates took up an appointment as Deanof Students and Lecturer in Finno-Ugrian Studies at the newly establishedUniversity of East Anglia. As Dean of Students, a challenging, full-time postwith professorial status, he was responsible to the Vice-Chancellor for allStudent Affairs other than the purely academic. His academic appointmentallowed him to continue his research interests in some measure and in 1974 hemanaged to organize an extended period of fieldwork in the Komi Republic,the first by a Western scholar, under the auspices of the Soviet Academy ofSciences and with a grant from the British Academy.After formal retirement in 1983 and then his subsequent move, in 1986, toMontgomery in the Welsh borderlands he continued to publish papers on Komisubjects and to take part in international conferences and to maintain closecontact with colleagues in the USSR, Eastern Europe and elsewhere. He alsostudied Welsh attending various courses, including the seven-week intensivecourse at Lampeter and was an enthusiastic member of local Welsh societies.He married Bobbie (Norma Stuart Bishop) in 1946 and they had two sons.She died in 1978. Their younger son also predeceased him. He is survived byhis elder son and by his partner of many years.Ian Henry Crombie (1951) died on 9th December 2011, aged 80. He read Law.The Rev. John Danson (1964) died on 15th February 2011, aged 73. He readEnglish. The following is adapted from a tribute by the Bishop of Lancaster.Father John Danson was born on 22nd May 1937 in Preston. He waseducated at Preston Catholic College. After training for the Priesthood atUshaw College, he was ordained on 17th June 1962. Father John served brieflyas Assistant Priest at St Mary’s, Great Eccleston and Star of the Sea, St. Anneson Sea in 1962, then at The Cathedral, Lancaster (1962–1963).Following this, he studied in Cambridge for several years, first at thePolytechnic and then at Downing College. He taught at Underley Hall (1967–1975), being appointed Vice-Rector there in 1973, and then served as DeputyHead of Upholland College (1975–1985).64