Wolfson College Record 2021

were descended from just seven ancestral mothers. Such was the interest in this
latter finding that Bryan was inspired to write The Seven Daughters of Eve (2001),
in which he melded scientific fact with the imagined names and lives of his Seven
Daughters and their extrapolated time of existence.
Huge interest followed publication of the book, with readers principally from
the UK, USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, wishing to discover from
which of the Seven Daughters they were descended. Hence the foundation of
Oxford Ancestors in 2000, the world’s first genealogy company, offering analysis
of mitochondrial DNA which would identify with one of the Seven Daughters’
reference sequences. The paternal equivalent or Y-line service which traced son
to father, to grandfather and so on, was added later by Oxford Ancestors and
described in detail by Bryan’s second book, Adam’s Curse (2003), which advanced
the contentious view that the life of the Y chromosome might be limited and
the extinction of men would follow. A third book, Blood of the Isles (2007), built
on the Y chromosome theories to suggest Viking or Celtic origins for those of
relevant descent.
Research for Blood of the Isles took Bryan on an extended trip to the highlands of
Scotland. The mountains, the geology, people and myths, took their hold. His love of
the Isle of Skye in particular lasted even into the last few months of his life; it was a
place where he often found the time to write, far from the disturbances of city life.
Bryan married Sue Foden in 1978 and although the marriage was subsequently
annulled he and Sue remained close. Later in life he met Ulla Turner with whom
he enjoyed a special relationship until his death in 2020.
Perhaps Bryan’s greatest joy in life was his son Richard, born 1991. Richard was an
intellectual challenge, especially in chess tournaments, and a wonderful companion
in person and spirit in so many adventures. Their shared sense of fun and laughter
was a delight, nowhere more evident than in their travels by train from the
American East Coast to the West Coast during his research for a later book, DNA
USA (2012).
Bryan valued his life in Wolfson College, as Wine Steward and Vicegerent in
particular. Guestnight dinners gave him the time to enjoy good food, good wine
and unfettered conversation, the opportunity of talking late into the night about
science and nature, philosophy, ancient history or politics. Never did the kindness
of College staff go unnoticed. With the pride he felt at receiving a DSc from
Oxford, he took seriously his responsibilities in College for mentoring students,
enjoying their youth, their inquisitive minds and their energy. Oxford Ancestors
sponsored a new College boat for Torpids and Eights, aptly named Tara, his
favourite of the Seven Daughters.
wolfson.ox.ac.uk
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