Obituaries

We are always saddened to hear about people we have lost from our alumni community, but we greatly appreciate it when you let us know. Friends and family are welcome to send words for the obituaries section of the Mansfield magazine each year. We publish full obituaries on our website: https://www.mansfield.ox.ac.uk/news/obituaries. Below are summaries.

Dennis Trevelyan CB

PRINCIPAL OF MANSFIELD, 1989-96

1929-2024

Mansfield was sorry to learn of the death of former Principal Dennis Trevelyan CB on 19 July 2024.

Dennis was Principal during a transformative period in our College’s history. His leadership was instrumental in elevating Mansfield to full college status within the University of Oxford in 1995. Under his guidance, Mansfield was no longer on the periphery of University activities but firmly placed at the centre.

Before joining Mansfield, Dennis had a distinguished career in the Civil Service, serving as Director General of HM Prison Service (1978-83) and the First Civil Service Commissioner (1983-89), where his commitment to integrity and fairness was a hallmark of his work. We feel proud this ethos continues to permeate our College’s approach to recruiting students, academics and administrative staff. Dennis leaves behind a lasting legacy of tenacity, inclusivity, and vision.

Our condolences go to his children, Joanna and Jonathan.

Helen Mountfield KC Principal

Read the full obituary at: https://www.thetimes.com/uk/ obituaries/article/dennis-trevelyan-obituary-civil-servantwho-butted-heads-with-thatcher-bxv6brph7

David Marquand FBA FRHistS FRSA

PRINCIPAL OF MANSFIELD, 1996-2002

1934-2024

The Mansfield community mourns the passing of David Marquand. He was the first Principal to be elected after Mansfield obtained full collegiate status and the first not required to be a member of the United Reformed Church. David arrived at the College having made a stellar mark in three careers: as a centre-left politician, as an academic, and as a stylish political commentator.

David brought with him tolerance, congeniality, and an open and inquiring mind. He revitalised Mansfield’s goals, initially in two fields. The first resulted in a generous £2 million donation from Guy Hands (PPE, 1978), part of a concerted effort to put the College’s finances on a secure footing. The second goal was to focus on recruiting students from state schools and appoint an Access Officer.

In later life David became a champion of devolution and returned to his Welsh roots, both in joining Plaid Cymru and in moving to Penarth.

David’s long partnership with his wife, Judith, was a mainstay of his life, buttressed by her own experience as a senior economist in the Civil Service and academic author, and by their shared political sympathies.

When the vacancy for a Mansfield Principal arose, David’s name was the first in my mind and I wrote to sound him out. His response was characteristically positive and thus began a new chapter in Mansfield’s life – and in David’s, in a post he described as ‘the most enjoyable and worthwhile’ he’d ever had. We were fortunate to have had such a vigorous and committed advocate for the College, a man of warmth and vision in whose care Mansfield’s flourishing could be wholly entrusted.

Professor Michael Freeden Emeritus Fellow in Politics

Nigel Hall

HISTORY, 1988

1968-2024

In memoriam by his fellow alumni:

My undergraduate recollections of Nigel are of his highly successful tenure as JCR President, where he forged good relations with the SCR in something of a volatile period of relations (I recall at least).

Upon my return to Mansfield in 1994 to study postgraduate History, Nigel –or ‘Deano’ as we called him – was working on his doctoral thesis, but also as Junior Dean, College Porter and later as History tutor. So, if you needed an essay extension you asked Nigel, if you wanted a taxi, you asked Nigel and if you needed access to the wine cellars, you asked Nigel.

In recent times, Nigel wished he could go through the door back to his Oxford days. So do we all. The past is indeed a different country, but the memories remain open to us who knew Nigel at Mansfield, and we will always cherish his kindness, good humour, tolerance and patience, and the richness he brought to us in those halcyon years. Thank you, Deano.

Toby Purser (History, 1989)

Nigel was among my very best friends as an undergraduate – but that doesn’t mean I didn’t learn as much from him as those who saw him later as a tutor and mentor. His was an old and beautiful soul, one that delighted in shocking you out of your lazy ways of thinking and opening up the beauty of a world reimagined.

The world is a little sadder, a little less boisterous, a little less profound today, but his impact will reverberate in ways seen and unseen.

Simon Jones (English, 1988)

Nigel was a close friend at Mansfield, an older, good-humoured, understanding and kind presence in my troubled and messy life there. He never lost faith in me, put up with my foibles, and encouraged me all the way to somehow getting my IIi and leaving with my head held high. He taught me 19th-century European politics in my second year, tolerating my late essays, my cheeky appearances without any work done, and my general sloppiness. Nigel was a true, eccentric gentleman and a man of love. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Richard Washington (History, 1991)

Christopher Rivington OBE

ENGLISH, 1970

1952-2024

Christopher Edmund Thurston Rivington died peacefully on 25 April 2024, after a brave struggle with cancer. A member of the Rivington publishing dynasty, Chris spent much of his career near Chesterfield –the birthplace of Charles Rivington (Rivington’s founder) – having moved there with the Manpower Services Commission (MSC) in 1981.

During a gap year between Charterhouse and Mansfield, Chris went to Dundee as a Community Service Volunteer, and this began a lifelong commitment to voluntary work. He later worked for International Voluntary Service (IVS) in a variety of local groups, painting and decorating for elderly members of the community, and helping to take disabled children riding.

Professionally, Chris was a Fellow of the Institute of Personnel Management, and attained the role of Principal in his department. The MSC became the Department for Education and Employment and subsequently the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. Throughout his career, Chris was focused on creating opportunities for disadvantaged people. He became passionate about young people’s training schemes and other vocational training projects. He was proud of his work in steering bills on post-16 education through Parliament. In recognition of his achievements, he was awarded the OBE on his retirement in 2007.

In 1992, Chris married Dr Mary Elizabeth Holt, Consultant Rheumatologist at Rotherham General Hospital. They were married at St Mary Magdalene’s, Whiston, their local parish church, where they were both deeply involved. Chris served as a member of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) and for some years as PCC Secretary, and later Parish Safeguarding Officer. Following his retirement from the Civil Service, Chris joined the Board of Trustees for Age UK Rotherham, on which he served with distinction for many years, including as Co-Chair.

Chris is survived by Mary, his sister Anne, and his brother James.

David Ivorson (English, 1970)

Robert Adams FBA

THEOLOGY, 1959

1937-2024

Bob came to Mansfield from Princeton in 1959 to read for a second BA in Theology. After studying for his MA and PhD at Cornell, and a brief stint at the University of Michigan, he taught for many years in the Philosophy Department at UCLA. He moved to Yale in the early 1990s as the Clark Professor of Moral Philosophy and Metaphysics.

Bob retired from Yale in 2004 and returned to Mansfield as a Senior Research Fellow when his wife Marilyn McCord Adams was elected Regius Professor of Divinity at Christ Church. On Marylin’s retirement they returned to the USA, and in 2009 Bob became a Distinguished Research Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Bob’s final academic post was from 2013 as a Research Professor at Rutgers University, where he was one of the founders of the Rutgers Center for the Philosophy of Religion. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1991 and Fellow of the British Academy in 2006.

Bob was one of the leading Anglophone philosophers of his generation and one of the kindest people it has been my privilege to know.

Paul Lodge Professorial Fellow in Philosophy

Stuart James

PPE, 1992

1973-2024

It is with great sadness that I reflect on the events of Tuesday 9 July 2024. On this day we lost a great friend and former Mansfield student, Stuart James. He leaves behind a loving wife and three fantastic children.

Stuart attended Mansfield between 1992 and 1995, reading PPE. The wonderful experience he had made a lasting impact upon his life, and Stuart cherished the lifelong friendships he formed at Mansfield.

Anyone who remembers Stuart from his time at Mansfield will recall fondly his sense of style – a unique sense of style to which he always remained true. He knew what he liked, and he wore it regardless of anyone’s opinion. I always admired that confidence.

Following Mansfield, Stuart built a distinguished career in the legal profession which proved an ideal environment for his curious mind and great intellect.

Stuart had many qualities, including a profound tolerance of others. He was fascinated by difference and valued people based on whether they cared about others, were fundamentally decent, kind, and thoughtful. This explains the wide variety of friends Stuart made at Mansfield – and reflects the extraordinary qualities of the man himself.

Glen Smith (History, 1992)

Robert Skelly

ENGLISH, 1965

1946-2024

Bob Skelly was a supportive alumnus of Mansfield until his death in August 2024. He was a dedicated member of the Mansfield College Alumni Association Committee and made generous donations to varied initiatives and our students throughout his life. A Liberal Democrat councillor in Bermondsey since 2002, Bob also served as Mayor of Southwark 2007-08 after a long career as a teacher, school governor and trade unionist. We shall remember Bob’s great sense of humour, his passionate love of books, and we will sorely miss him as a member of our alumni community.

Tess McCormick Development Director

Read the full obituary at: https://www.remembering-bobskelly.net

John Muir

THEOLOGY, 1959

1938-2024

The Reverend John William Muir died on 2 October 2024, aged 86. John arrived at Mansfield in 1959, reading for a BTh in Theology. Mansfield played an enormous role in his life, and it was there that he met lifelong friends Donald (Theology, 1955) and Marta Sykes.

Below is a summary of his life and career:

1962: Ordained into Congregational Church

1962-65: Minister, Exmouth Congregational Church, Devon; Chaplain, Exmouth Cottage Hospital

1965-69: Minister, Low Fell Congregational Church, Newcastle

Joined Council for World Mission

1970-75: Minister, United Church of Zambia, Kitwe, Zambia

1975-78: Lecturer, Zambia Institute of Technology, Kitwe, Zambia; Director, Samaritans

Moved to Church of England

1978: Chichester Theological College

1978-1980: Curate, Brighouse Parish Church, Diocese of Wakefield

December 1978: Ordained Deacon, Wakefield Cathedral

July 1979: Ordained Priest, Wakefield Cathedral

1980-87: Vicar, Parish of Northowram, Diocese of Wakefield

1987-2001: Vicar of Sowerby, Diocese of Wakefield

2000: Appointed Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Calderdale

2002-09: Lecturer, Halifax Parish Church (now Halifax Minster), Diocese of Wakefield.

Stephen Muir

Peter Cutts

THEOLOGY, 1961

1937-2024

Peter was born on 4 June 1937 in Erdington, Birmingham. He attended King Edward VI High School, where he won an organ scholarship to Clare College, Cambridge. Following two years of National Service as a pianist in the Royal Army Service Corp Staff Band, Peter took up his place to study music at Clare College in 1958. After graduating in 1961, he continued his studies at Mansfield where he gained a second degree in Theology.

In 1963, Peter moved to Huddersfield, working as a Music Lecturer at Huddersfield Technical College and then the Oastler School of Education before being appointed Warden and Lecturer in Music at Bretton Hall College of Higher Education, where he taught from 1968 to 1989.

He is fondly remembered by many of his students for his musical and teaching abilities, but also for his kindness.

In 1989, Peter moved to Boston, where he worked as Director of Music at Andover-Newton Theological School and as Director of Music at several local churches. He lived in Boston for 16 years before retiring in 2005.

Peter never married. He enjoyed hosting enjoyable culinary evenings and at one point was an occasional reviewer for The Good Food Guide. He loved to travel, frequently visiting Europe as a young man and then travelling widely within the USA and Canada when living in Boston.

Having lived an extremely independent life, Peter finally moved to a care home in 2021 and passed away peacefully on 26 January 2024.

Diane Clarke and Sue Jackson

In memoriam

Anthony Coates

THEOLOGY, 1961

1937-2024

Read the full obituary at: https://www.oikoumene.org/ news/wcc-mourns-lossof-linguist-and-unitedreformed-church-ministerrev-tony-coates

Martin Idale

MODERN LANGUAGES, 1964

1945-2024

Read the full obituary at: https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/memorials/deathnotices/death/30614262. martin-idale

Christopher Joll

JURISPRUDENCE, 1969

1948-2024

Read the full obituary at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/ obituaries/2024/04/28/ christopher-joll-militaryhistorian-tournamentobituary

David Parry

HISTORY, 1965

1946-2024

Read the full obituary at: https://www.barnetsociety. org.uk/tributes-to-visionarycampaigner-for-the-opendoor-centre-high-barnet-samazing-community-huband-drop-in-cafe