Univ Record 2018

1967
NICHOLAS JOHN GORDON LACK (Whitgift)
died on 2 February 2018 aged 69. His brother Alastair,
who came up to Univ in 1964, has kindly supplied this
obituary:
My younger brother, Nick Lack, came up to Univ
in 1967 from Whitgift to read Modern History. We
overlapped for a year. He gained a second, played
cricket, acted, made friends for life and above all, met
and married Nora.
His career was with The British Council, where he
worked for 30 years. He found The Council stimulating
and believed in its work. Over the years he and Nora had
several overseas postings, along with their growing family of Jessica, Ben and Hannah.
He was first in India, and found time to play plenty of cricket for the British High
Commission team. I have a report of one game: “Nick Lack showed brilliant form from
the start. He proceeded to pierce the off-side field with perfectly timed cover drives. He
was a joy to watch and gave immense pleasure to all those present”.
After India, Nick and the family spent five years in Bangladesh, his most enjoyable
posting as he much enjoyed Bengali culture. Further postings included Saudi Arabia,
Portugal and Kenya. He retired in 2008.
It was an interesting and sometimes adventurous life. Nick had to interview new
employees for the Palestinian office at gun point at Israeli checkpoints and was honoured
by The British Council for his work in Iraq after the invasion, where he organised in
difficult and dangerous circumstances the re-opening of the Council offices in Basra and
Baghdad, always travelling with an armed guard.
Nick was always much liked by his staff. When he returned to Dhaka, many former
employees made long and difficult journeys by boat or on foot to greet him again. And
when he left Kenya, he was presented with a “talismanic” walking stick, signifying that
he was an honoured and wise man – he was proud of that.
In retirement in Kingston he worked for the Citizens Advice Bureau, continued
travelling and had a late flowering as a writer and historical lecturer.
Above all, Nick was a family man, happiest when surrounded by Nora, Jessica, Ben,
Hannah, partners and grandchildren.
He died of a lymphoma and bore his illness with courage and stoicism. He was 69.
Nick’s funeral was a warm and uplifting occasion. Many family, friends and colleagues
from all stages of his life gathered to remember a man who was intelligent, sensible,
loyal, witty and universally liked.
1969
NICHOLAS BETTS-GREEN (mature student) died on 19 April 2018 aged 83. He read
History at Univ, and then stayed on for a further year to obtain a teaching qualification.
He taught for a while at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, but eventually became Head of
History at Farlingaye High School, Woodbridge.
86