2012 Annual Report - Jesus College - University of Cambridge

142 OBITUARIES I Jesus College Annual Report 2012
Inc. By the mid 1980s he had become the president and owner of the company.
Despite the distance, Jim and his wife, Patricia, often returned to Jesus to visit
cherished friends and in 2004 he became a member of the Society of St Radegund.
MEARES, Dennis Neville Frederick (1943) died on 9 October 2011 aged 85.
Dennis Meares was born on 11 December 1925 in Cardiff. Educated at St Edward’s
School, Oxford, he came up to college in 1943. He read Engineering, graduating BA
1946; MA 1950. The highlight of his time at Jesus was rowing in the boats which came
Head of the River in the March Eights in 1944 and 1945.
We are grateful to Peter Meares for the following:
“He joined the Royal Navy as Probationary, Acting Temporary Midshipman (E). After
basic training he served in the submarine branch (it paid more), travelling all over the
world. During this period he married Lesley and they had three children. In 1976 Dennis
left the service having reached the rank of captain, and joined GEC in Melksham, where
he was a contracts manager for baggage handling systems. When he finally retired, he
settled down to his large vegetable plot, and maintaining the family home, which at
600+ years old always kept him busy. In retirement he was a very active member of the
village society, the Meares’ being well known for their hog roast RNLI fund-raising,
and safari supper.”
MILLS, Ronald Gerald (1950) died on 14 November 2011 aged 81.
Gerry Mills was born on 17 May 1930 in Guildford. Educated at the Royal Grammar
School, Guildford, following National Service he came up in 1950 to read Mathematics.
A talented table tennis player he played regularly for the university’s unofficial team.
He graduated BA 1953; MA 1957. Following graduation he worked for Standard
Telephones and Cables whilst also studying part-time for a Masters at London. He
subsequently went on to work for Elliott brothers before setting up Mills Associates Ltd
in 1962. He grew this business into a successful nationwide computer company
employing hundreds of staff over multiple locations. After Mills was sold in 1998,
Gerry became a leading light in the British Go Association, a group set up to promote
the oriental board game, Go. He also continued to walk mountains and was still helping
to build new businesses up to his death.
He married Moira Eileen Johnson in 1952; they had two sons and a daughter.
MURDOCH, James William (1940) died on 11 May 2011 aged 89.
James Murdoch was born on 12 October 1921 in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire.
Educated at Epsom College he studied for a year at the East Sussex School of Agriculture
before joining the Royal Engineers. He came up in 1940 to study the Royal Engineers
short course, and following his six months in Cambridge returned to his regiment
serving overseas. After demobilisation he trained in medicine at the London Hospital;
practising over a forty year career in Trinidad, Derby, New Zealand and Hove.
In retirement he enjoyed playing golf.
He married Evelyn Theodora Vaux in 1949; they had two daughters and a son.