MAN-10265 MAGAZINE.indd - Mansfield College - University of Oxford

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months ‘fl ying a desk’ – awaiting my demobilisation. This fi nally occurred in 1947, and I then applied to Worcester for re-admission under the scheme. The then tutor for admissions confi rmed that they supposed they would have to take me back in due course – but I would have to take my turn, there being many more eligible for re-entry ahead of me on demobilisation and that it was likely that there would be at least a seven year delay. I was then aged 22, so I got married to a childhood sweetheart: among other things, I thought it a better option. However I had to keep a wife (invariably non-working then) and body and soul together. My father had just restarted the family quarrying business, and I was persuaded to join this. I soon decided that I was the world’s worst businessman, and I kept re-applying to Worcester, but without success, so for 22 years I managed a quarrying business learning a lot about quarrying Portland stone, but knowing little of lithology and applied geology. Moreover, it seemed to me that practice without theory was irrational, and that theory without practice was sterile, so I gave up and decided to become a school master, by means of a four year B.Ed degree course at Southampton University (1970-74). Incidentally, my only daughter graduated at St Hilda’s in 1974; so I attended her graduation, and she attended mine. I taught Geography until 1979 in a small public school, and thereafter – as a last desperate throw, applied to Worcester to take me back – which they did at the mature age of 54, to read Geography. They conceded that I would need to do only two years (as my fi rst war-time successful 6 months was counted acceptable). So in 1981, I obtained my fi rst Oxford degree, some 38 years after matriculation. (Some studying the date sequences of my Oxford debut must have concluded that either this chap must have been extremely thick or similarly indolent). So at 56 I resumed teaching in boys’ public schools. Time was running out for aging schoolmasters, and I so missed Oxford and its ambience that I applied there to do a D.Phil. I applied to Mansfi eld, and was accepted there at the hoary age of 65 (I am sure to the grave doubts of the then Fellow for Admissions, Dr. Lemon). So after six further years of enjoyable (but dirty) fi eld work in Coastal Geomorphology, in 1996 I fi nally completed my doctorate. Better late than never I suppose: an Oxford span of 1943-96 invites scrutiny! Now at the age of 83 I still lecture twice weekly in Coastal Geomorphology at the Poole and Ferndown branches of the ‘University of the Third Age’. ● Ken Coombe Ruby Wedding David Parry History 1965-68 David Parry married Jill in 1968 at Mansfi eld. This summer, they returned to College for their Ruby Wedding Anniversary celebration. More than 60 friends and family members joined David and Jill Parry at the College on 14 September for their Ruby Wedding Anniversary – exactly 40 years to the day! The weather was wonderful – unlike the rain in September 1968 – and the College quad and buildings made the perfect backdrop to the occasion. All three children, Rachel, Jonathan (Mansfi eld, PPE 1994-97) and Judith, contributed to a service of celebration and worship at which the Rev Shaun Atkins gave a typically insightful thought for the day based on Ephesians 5: 21-31. Joyful orchestral music was provided by Judith and John Brearley and wonderful choral music, sung by members of the New London Singers brought together especially for the day by Susie May, echoed round the College Chapel. Philip Burley, Jill’s brother and David’s best man in 1968, read Psalm 128 and Nerys Parry, one of David’s sisters and Jill’s bridesmaid, presented Jill with a surprise bouquet of fl owers at the start of the service. The service was followed by a drinks reception during which the three grandchildren, Wesley, Lydia and Megan, were watched over proudly by their great-grandmother, Mrs Cicely Burley. Lunch followed in the College Dining Room which looked magnifi cent. A sung Gaelic Blessing sent guests on their way at the end of a really memorable celebration. ● David Parry 21 MANSFIELD COLLEGE MAGAZINE
A Year in the “Chain Gang” Bob Skelly English Language and Literature 1965-68 Patron of Mansfi eld I retired from teaching in 2001 at 55 whilst still having the energy to have a go at something else, and in 2002 to my surprise was elected to Southwark Council at the 10th attempt. After two and a half years as the Executive Member for Education and Culture in the Borough and then spells in Planning and Scrutiny, just over a year ago I was, at very short notice, presented with the opportunity of becoming Mayor of the Borough. I was immediately plunged into frenetic activity with only fi ve days off during the year, but it was a dream come true and I loved every minute of it. There were numerous opportunities to listen to people’s life experiences and to get involved with the rich diversity of life in Southwark. I met schoolchildren, pensioners, volunteers, charity workers, bishops, business people and many others from all communities and ages, most of whom are unsung heroes of one sort or another. It is a tremendous privilege to be able to tell them that it is impossible to put a price on what they do. The Mayor is usually asked to say “a few words” and it has been another privilege to fi nd the words to encourage and vastly challenge such different groups of people. It is amazing how pleased everyone is to see the Mayor. He or she takes an impartial interest in everything that goes on in the Borough and is a non-threatening, nonpolitical presence who represents everyone. Like most municipalities, in Southwark we still have the old concept of the Civic Mayor who gives up politics for the year, rather than the new breed of highly political elected Mayors. One of the most interesting duties I have had to perform is to preside over Citizenship Ceremonies. In Southwark alone approximately 250 people a month are becoming British citizens and, in groups of about 60, after sitting through a speech from the mayor, they pledge their allegiance to the Queen and loyalty to the United Kingdom before singing the national Anthem. The preponderance is from West Africa but with representatives from all over the world except Western Europe. Not surprisingly, Iraq, Afghanistan and Eastern Europe are well-represented, but so are Australia and New Zealand. Southwark has the largest Sierra Leonean community in the country, and it was an honour to welcome the President of that nation to the Town Hall. We have welcomed people from everywhere in the world where there is war and confl ict, famine and starvation or oppression and denial of human rights, and their children are in our schools – 106 mother tongues at the last count! The world has come to us, and what is remarkable is that everywhere I go in the Borough I am touched by the generosity of spirit and tolerance of everybody. I particularly pay tribute to the churches and other faith groups who contribute so much to the life of a Borough where 80% of the population claim to have a faith. Not only do they proclaim their faith, but are a virtual second tier of social service, particularly when it comes to nurture the young people of the Borough and helping them to fi nd themselves. By and large we get on very well together. Nevertheless it is impossible to ignore the notorious incidents of gun and knife crime in the Borough and in South London generally. Peckham particularly, in the heart of Southwark, has acquired an unenviable reputation, generally quite unjustifi ed, for violent incidents. I have been tremendously impressed with the energy, talents and accomplishments of Southwark’s young people in music, art, sport, drama and many other areas, but I decided at the beginning of the year to make my charity appeal – another Mayoral tradition – for the Damilola Taylor Trust. This is named after the ten year-old schoolboy who was attacked and killed on his way home from Peckham Library after school, having only been in the country for four months. He had come here for better educational opportunities. The Trust was set up by his parents to try to reach the kind of youths who attacked their son, and the most vulnerable young people in the area. Their work concentrates on mentoring within schools and using reformed gang members from the same background to speak to the teenagers and show them better ways of gaining respect and self esteem. I made a rather daring pledge at the beginning of the year that we would raise £50,000 for the Trust – daring because it was nearly three times what any other Mayor had raised in the past. Our confi dence was justifi ed however, and the fi nal total will be in the region of £60,000. One of the delights of being a member of the “Chain Gang” is the collegiality with the other Mayors of the 32 London Boroughs. We meet and share experiences on many occasions during the year at events as diverse as concerts, funerals, anniversary celebrations, receptions, balls and occasions such as the Mayor’s Service in Westminster Abbey, dining in the painted Hall at Greenwich and the “Whittington Walk” from Highgate Hill to the Mansion House in the city – fortunately all downhill – are lifetime memories. People didn’t believe I could walk fi ve miles but I’ve got a certifi cate to prove it! The London Mayors Association is a very active and vibrant body which keeps present and past Mayors in fellowship and organises a trip abroad to a major city every year. This year many of us went to Vienna where we were received at the Rathaus and by a number of Mayors in small towns in the Danube Valley, happily in wine producing areas. Being Mayor has been tiring but more importantly an inspiring and humbling experience and I would recommend a year ‘in chains’ to anyone. ● Bob Skelly ALUMNI NEWS 22
Page 1 and 2: Mansfield The Mansfi eld College Ma
Page 3 and 4: Student Academic Successes 2007-200
Page 5 and 6: Access at Mansfi eld: Oxford Furthe
Page 7 and 8: SCR Newcomers Dr Carl Anderson Juni
Page 9 and 10: Women at Mansfi eld Tutor For Women
Page 11 and 12: An Interview with Dr Mary King Fell
Page 13 and 14: instance, is ‘the morning star of
Page 15 and 16: Donald MacDonald English 1984-88, P
Page 17 and 18: From the Archives: the Changing Lan
Page 19 and 20: We aim to do much more than stand s
Page 21: countries: examining one’s own cu
Page 25 and 26: company, trawling through the City
Page 27 and 28: Dana Dunne PPE 1983-84 (VSP) Patron
Page 29 and 30: Alumni News Dhruti Shah English 200
Page 31 and 32: issues.” Dorothy was still busy i
Page 33 and 34: Eighth Annual Hands Lecture “AFTE
Page 35 and 36: Roy Cooper Alexander Dacre Amy Icke

MAN-10265 MAGAZINE.indd - Mansfield College - University of Oxford

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