Retired Senior Members’ Association

We all know what a terrible year this has been for everyone. Not surprisingly for the Retired Senior Members Association, all of whom by definition are over 65 and many much older and frail, lockdown has been a dangerous and isolating experience.

All our usual social events, in and out of College, site visits to gardens and museums, our coffee mornings, have been cancelled until further notice.

However, with characteristic resilience, the Committee has maintained a number of its key functions: Libby Jared edited a 40-page bumper annual Newsletter in 2020, and there were reports from the Committee and news about College sent out regularly by Clare Ryan from the Bursar’s Office. As usual we maintained contact with sick and isolated older members via email and Zoom. Every week Philip Stephenson gave us his riveting personal insight into works of art at the Fitzwilliam Museum.

The RSM Committee continues to meet regularly on Zoom. Like everyone else we long for the return of normality, or even approximate normality, so we can once again enjoy a distanced coffee morning in College.

Sadly, this year we have lost a number of older members, but gained a few new retirees. Among the losses were John Chapman, a much-loved Head Porter, fondly remembered by students from the 80s and 90s, as well as Dr Jill Richardson, who taught Psychology with memorable pizazz. She and Mike Bibby made a great partnership and were always very sociable and welcoming to younger members of staff and students alike.

We also mourn the loss of Barbara Pointon MBE, Head of Music at Homerton, who became nationally famous for her TV documentary on Alzheimer’s and the harrowing decline of her husband, Malcolm, also a former Head of Music. Barbara was one of those exceptional Homerton characters who made a mark on all who met her, especially her students who enjoyed performing music or singing with her.

More recently we have to report the loss of George Hume. George was a member of the mathematics department and is remembered fondly by many people. Some colleagues knew George when he first arrived from Uganda after being ejected by Idi Amin in 1972. Despite having lost a lot – both emotionally and financially – he always seemed cheerful, caring and positive with a splendid sense of humour. Others recall that he had the knack of helping to take the heat out of tricky situations, hence his appointment as our first Dean of discipline. There was never a kinder, more gentle Dean in Cambridge than George. He lived in France for a number of years after retirement before moving back to the Cambridge area.

We welcome new retirees from the Faculty of Education: Keith Taber, Professor of Science Education, who joined Homerton in 1999, but a year later transferred to the Faculty, and Dr Peggy Watson who was appointed to Homerton in 2007 as Senior Research Fellow in Sociology and as Director of Studies in HSPS (Human Social and Political Sciences). A specialist in post-Cold War studies in Eastern Europe, Peggy focused on the sociology of health and critical gender studies. She had first-hand experience of living and studying at the University of Warsaw in the final years of the Cold War, but had also worked later in the USA and Helsinki.

It is interesting now to welcome retiring College Fellows into the RSMA as they complement the majority of older members who

remember Homerton before ‘convergence’ with the University. We also welcome Robin Surtees, who was deputy librarian for nearly 20 years at a time of considerable change for the College and its students. She saw the number of triposes offered for undergraduate study expand exponentially – a great deal of book purchasing was therefore required every year to keep up with these new courses and other essentials such as skeletons for medics! During Robin’s time there was also a complete refurbishment of the new library.

In spite of Covid-19, keeping in touch is relatively easy with mobile phones, newsletters, email, and Zoom, but nothing compares with an hour of sitting down with old friends, having a chat, and catching up with College gossip. Hopefully we shall return to that soon in some shape or form in 2021 n

Photograph by Helen Andre-Cripps