211075 Downing Record 07 - Downing College - University of ...

gone to university, and he was astonished and overjoyed to find himself here ina Cambridge college as a Fellow. But he was the right man for the job, and he wasable to put his many gifts to use in this new context. He kept an eye on theconstruction of the Howard Building for the college. When the foundations forwere being put in, he found that he knew all the workers on the building site byname from his previous projects. Another reason for his success as a DomesticBursar was that he genuinely liked young people; even when they hindered ratherthan helped him in his work. He was unfailingly good tempered in dealing withstudents, as well as colleagues. He continued to solve problems with fairness andwisdom and worked hard to keep the College running smoothly. He regarded histime at Downing as the happiest in his working life, and enjoyed the friendshipshe made here. He is remembered in Downing also for his wonderful fund of storiesabout his time in the Royal Engineers and in the construction industry. Sadly, hewas never persuaded to write his memoirs. Since he himself had not really knownwhat to expect when he joined the Fellowship, he always made a point of seekingout newcomers and making them feel at home. College dinners were a highlight;at his splendid retirement dinner, he winked at Paul Millett and announced inLatin, quoting Cicero, that he intended now to enjoy otium cum dignitate i.e.dignified leisure! And this turned out to include tending the beautiful garden inBarrow Road, and playing games of bridge and rounds of golf and always caringvery lovingly for Monique. He remained full of determination, drive and energyto the end of his life, dying suddenly and unexpectedly in his sleep.The Richmond LectureThe 2007 Richmond Lecture entitled “Daumier’s Children: Illustration andMagazines in Paris at the end of the 19th Century” was given on February 23rd2007 by Quentin Blake (1953), Honorary Fellow of the College and President Electof the Association. He described how he had been particularly influenced by thework of Honoré Daumier and André François amongst the French illustrators andpolitical cartoonists of the late 19th century. The Richmond lectures were startedby Sir Herbert William Richmond, Naval Historian, Master of Downing(1935–1946) as a series of lectures on foreign affairs and the progress of theSecond World War for the junior combination room. Following his death theywere continued as an occasional public lecture given by a distinguished lecturerchosen by the JCR/MCR.69